In the time you would spend waiting on your takeout order to be delivered, you could make a home-cooked meal.

It’s been a long, stressful day at work. You’re out of energy. Your hand reaches for the phone to order a pizza or to use a deliver-my-food app – even though you know you’ll regret it tomorrow for budgetary or diet reasons. 

But wait! You don’t have to give into temptation! In the time it takes for the food delivery guy to arrive, you can cook a truly satisfying, nutritious meal that tastes far better. And it probably costs less than takeout, too.

Your secret weapon: seafood. Most fish and shellfish cook up super fast. Seafood dishes rarely need fussy preparation, tons of ingredients nor complex preparation.

In addition, a seafood dinner is convenient, even if you don’t have a fish shop on your way home. With so much quality seafood flash-frozen, you can throw a package into the refrigerator before you head into the office in the morning, and it’ll be defrosted and ready to cook by the time you get home. (If not, defrost the fish by running cool water over it – still in the packet – while you chop vegetables or preheat the oven.)

Need some inspiration? Here are five McCormick recipes that you can get done – start to finish – in under 20 minutes. Make a simple side dish, and supper’s ready!

 

Lemon Pepper Fish

15 minutes, start to finish

It doesn’t get simpler than this: Choose a white fish (tilapia, flounder, or other thin filet) and broil it with lemon pepper. Steam your favorite green vegetable (perhaps broccoli?) and shout, “Dinner’s ready!”

 

Grilled Lime Glazed Salmon

22 minutes

Another stress-free choice: fresh lime, honey, and herbs poured over salmon (or another sturdy fish, such as swordfish or mahi mahi). Put it on the grill or in the broiler while you slice up a tomato to go alongside.

 

Creole Catfish

20 minutes, start to finish

Ready for something that tastes more complex – but is still a fast dinner when you have other things to do? Microwave green bell pepper, celery, and onion while you bake catfish filets and serve them over rice.  

 

Big Easy Shrimp with Creamy Creole Mustard Sauce

21 minutes

You’ll want a loaf of French bread to sop up the tasty sauce served with this shrimp dish, which features ale, Creole mustard, thyme, and garlic.

 

Oven Roasted Salmon with Pomegranate Ginger Sauce

15 minutes, start to finish

It’s hard to imagine that you can cook such an elegant dinner in less time than it takes your kids to put away their school things. But with five minutes of prep time to combine thyme, ginger, and pomegranate juice, then pour it over a salmon filet, and 10 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a meal to be proud of.