How to cook dinner fast Pakistani style 

Why Pakistani Quick Dinners Are Needed Today Life in Pakistan today is fast-paced. Most households juggle school schedules, office work, and evening responsibilities. Cooking a heavy dinner like biryani or nihari daily is simply not practical. That’s why people search for: 

• Quick dinner recipes 

• Budget-friendly meals 

• Desi food high in protein 

• Dishes that can be prepared in 10 to 15 minutes 

• Healthy Pakistani dinners The goal is clear: less time cooking, more time for family, rest, or study, without compromising on taste. The recipes below are created to help you prepare tasty meals easily using ingredients available in almost every Pakistani kitchen. 

1. Quick Chicken Ginger 

Why It’s Perfect for Quick Dinners Chicken Ginger is usually a restaurant-style dish, but the quick version uses boneless chicken, which cooks faster and absorbs flavor instantly. 

Ingredients 

• 400g boneless chicken strips 
• 1 tbsp ginger (julienned) 
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 
• 1 tbsp soy sauce 
• Three to Four green chilies (slit) 
• Salt & pepper 
• 2 tbsp oil Instructions 

1. Heat oil in a wok and add ginger-garlic paste. 
2. Add chicken and stir-fry for 5 minutes. 
3. Add salt, pepper, soy sauce, and green chilies. 
4. Add half a cup of water and cook on high flame. 
5. Garnish with fresh ginger strips. 

Why It Works 

• High protein 
• Very flavorful 
• Minimal ingredients 
• Ready in 12–15 minutes Serve with rice or chapati. 

2. Anda Paratha Roll 

Why It's a Fast Classic You will find anda paratha rolls from Karachi to Lahore everywhere. They are easy to make at home with simple ingredients. 

Ingredients 

• 1 paratha 
• 1 egg 
• Chopped onions 
• Green chutney 
• Ketchup or mayo Instructions 

1. Fry a paratha on tawa. 
2. Cook a whisked egg on the tawa and place paratha over it. 
3. Flip so egg sticks to paratha. 
4. Fill with onion, chutney, ketchup, or mayo. 
5. Roll and serve. 

Why It Works 

• Zero effort 
• Kids love it 
• Can be made for one individual or the entire family 
• Very filling 

3. 15-Minute Chicken Karahi (Boneless) 

Why This Version Is Fast Traditional karahi uses whole chicken and requires long bhunnai. For quick cooking, this version uses blended tomatoes and boneless chicken. 

Ingredients 

• 400g boneless chicken 
• 2 blended tomatoes 
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic 
• 1 tsp red chili 
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp crushed coriander 
• 2–3 green chilies 
• Fresh coriander 

Instructions 

1. Heat oil and add garlic paste. 
2. Add chicken and sauté for 4 minutes. 
3. Add tomatoes, red chili, and salt. 
4. Cook uncovered on high flame for 8 minutes. 
5. Add green chilies and coriander. 

Why It Works 

• • A true karahi flavor 
• • Less than 20 minutes 
• • Pairs beautifully with naan or roti 

4. One-Pot Vegetable Pulao 

Why It’s a Pakistani Comfort Food Pulao is aromatic, light, and perfect for a simple dinner. This quick version uses only a few vegetables and cooks in one pot. 

Ingredients 

• 2 cups rice 
• 1 onion 
• One cup of vegetables 
• 1 tbsp whole spices (sabut garam masala) 
• Salt 
• Oil Instructions 

1. Sauté onions in oil while adding all-purpose spices. 
2. Add vegetables and salt. 
3. Add water and rice. 
4. Cook until rice is fluffy. 

Why It Works 

• Great for kids and adults 
• Mild flavor 
• One-pot meal 
• Ready in 15 minutes 

5. Instant Aloo Qeema 

Why It’s a Weeknight Hero Qeema cooks quickly because it doesn’t need long simmering. Adding small potato cubes makes it filling. 

Ingredients 

• 250g chicken or beef qeema 
• 1 potato (small cubes) 
• 1 onion 
• One tomato 
• Salt, red chili, turmeric 
• 1 tbsp oil Instructions 

1. Fry onions until golden. 
2. Add qeema and spices. 
3. Add potatoes and tomato. 
4. Cook for 10–12 minutes. 

Why It Works 

• Very fast 
• High in protein 
• Perfect for roti or rice 

6. Masala Anda Chana 

Why This Is an Energy Meal Eggs and chickpeas together give protein + fiber, perfect for a busy family. Ingredients 

• 1 cup boiled chana 
• Two fried eggs 
• 1 tomato 
• 1 onion 
• Salt, chili, cumin 

Instructions 

1. Fry onions and tomatoes with spices. 
2. Add boiled chana and simmer 5 minutes. 
3. Add sliced eggs on top. 

Reasons It Works 

• Super economical 
• Very satisfying 
• Cooked in 10 minutes 

7. Boti Tawa Chicken 

Why It’s Popular Tawa chicken boti can be prepared on the stovetop in just a few minutes and tastes like barbecue. 

Ingredients 

• 300g boneless chicken 
• 2 tbsp yogurt 
• 1 tbsp tikka masala 
• Lemon juice 

Instructions 

1. Mix chicken with yogurt and tikka masala. 
2. Cook on tawa for 10–12 minutes. 
3. Add lemon juice and serve. 

Why It Works 

• No marination needed 
• Fast BBQ flavor 
• Kids love it with paratha 

8. Masala Omelette with Roti 

Why This Is a Lifesaver Meal When you’re tired or hungry, an omelette with roti is the quickest desi dinner. 

Ingredients 

• 2 eggs 
• Onion 
• Tomato 
• Green chili 
• Salt 
• Pepper Instructions 

1. Mix all ingredients. 
2. Cook on tawa for 2 minutes. 
3. Serve with freshly cooked roti. 

Why It Works 

• High protein 
• Low cost 
• Perfect for bachelors, students, or late nights 

9. Daal Fry with Rice 

Why It’s a Staple Daal is easy, comforting, and healthy. Masoor or moong daal cooks very fast. Ingredients 

• 1 cup masoor or moong daal 
• Garlic 
• Ghee or butter 
• Salt 
• Haldi Instructions 

1. Boil daal with salt and haldi. 
2. Temper garlic in ghee. 
3. Pour over daal. 

Why It Works 

• Perfect for winter nights 
• Great for digestion 
• Ready in 15 minutes 
• Pair with rice or roti 

10. Pakistani Chicken Shawarma 

Wrap Why It's Modern and Beautiful Shawarma is a modern favorite, but Pakistani homes make a quicker version using leftover chicken. 

Ingredients 

• Shredded boiled/grilled chicken 
• Garlic mayo 
• Cabbage 
• Pita or roti Instructions 

1. Combine the chicken and garlic mayo. 
2. Fill pita or roti. 
3. Add cabbage. 
4. Wrap tightly. 

Why It Works 

• No stove time needed 
• Fast assembly 
• Great for kids and office workers 

Bonus: 15 More Pakistani Quick Dinner Ideas Here’s a list for even more variety: 

1. Chicken Quesadilla (Desi style) 
2. Quick Bhindi Fry 
3. Aloo Gobi Masala 
4. Chicken White Handi (quick version) 
5. Lemon Garlic Rice 
6. Veggie Egg Fried Rice 
7. Chicken Macaroni 
8. Aloo Anda Curry 
9. Chapli Kabab Burgers 
10. Tawa Fish Masala 
11. Wrap with Chicken Seekh Kabab 
12. Keema Paratha 
13. Chicken Corn Soup 
14. Vegetable Chow Mein 
15. Curry made with simple chicken (fast bhunnai method) These meals can all be completed in 10–25 minutes. 

Time-Saving Tips for Pakistani Quick Dinners 

1. Use Boneless Chicken It cooks 50% faster than bone-in. 
2. Prepare your vegetables once per week. Refrigerate chopped tomatoes, garlic paste, and onions. 
3. Use Pressure Cooker for Daal It cuts cooking time in half. 
4. Keep Frozen Parathas at Home Great for quick wraps and rolls. 
5. Make Masala Base in Advance Blend tomato + onion + spices and freeze in small portions. 
6. Maintain canned chickpeas Instant chana dishes in minutes. 

Healthy Options for Pakistani Quick Dinners 

Try these if you're watching what you eat: 

• Grilled chicken boti 
• Curry made with brown rice 
• Boiled egg salad 
• Vegetable soup 
• Steamed fish with lemon 
• Olive oil stir-fry chicken These are low in oil and high in nutrition. 

Budget-Friendly Pakistani Quick Dinners For economical meals: 

• Anda chana masala
• Aloo qeema (small quantity of meat) 
• Vegetable pulao 
• Daal chawal 
• Aloo paratha These meals feed a whole family for a low cost. 

Final Thoughts 

Pakistani cuisine doesn’t always have to be slow-cooked or complicated. You can enjoy the following Pakistani quick dinner ideas: • Real desi flavors • Fast cooking • Affordable ingredients • Healthy options • A new show every night Whether you love chicken, vegetables, eggs, or rice dishes, there is something in this list for every taste and every age group. In addition, these recipes keep meals exciting and delicious while reducing stress during hectic evenings. Cooking doesn’t have to take hours. Great Pakistani meals can be prepared in ten to twenty minutes with clever methods and simple ingredients.