These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (2024)

Sometimes, you just need dinner fast. Bookmark these 15-minute meals for those nights when time is extra tight, and everyone is hungry. Keep your freezer stocked with frozen shrimp and peas—and make sure you have some fresh vegetables in your crisper drawer. Eggs and jarred salsa should be on hand in the refrigerator; of course, you'll have pasta and rice in your kitchen cupboard. If there's leftover cooked rice in the fridge or freezer, all the better.

These ingredients will help you make dinner quickly, whether it's an easy pasta, main dish salad, quick chicken entrée, or dinner-party-worthy fish dish.

20 Budget-Friendly Meals You'll Want to Add to Your Regular Dinner Rotation

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Sunny-Side-Up Egg and Baby-Spinach Flatbread

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (1)

A quick route to a delicious, healthy dinner is to top store-bought, whole-wheat flatbread with baby spinach, thinly sliced red onion, and fried eggs.

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02of 17

15-Minute Lentil Soup

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (2)

This hearty soup is made with canned lentils and store-bought vegetable or chicken broth—that's why it's so fast. There are also onions, carrots, and celery in the soup. All you need for serving is some crusty bread.

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03of 17

Broccoli Rabe Pesto With Whole-Wheat Pasta and Turkey Sausage

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (3)

Lean, spicy turkey sausage adds heat and might to this simple pasta dish. The recipe calls for whole-wheat linguine, but use any long noodles you have to make this quick dinner.

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04of 17

Chicken, Red Cabbage, and Carrot Salad With Soy-Lime Dressing

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (4)

Use rotisserie chicken, leftover roast chicken, or extra chicken thighs you grilled on the weekend to top this colorful salad of shredded red cabbage and carrots, fresh cilantro, and mint leaves. Everything is tossed with a lively dressing made with soy sauce, lime juice, and minced jalapeño.

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05of 17

Tuna-Salad Hand Rolls

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (5)

Our easy homemade sushi hand rolls are a fabulous way to use good-quality canned tuna in something other than a sandwich. Toss the tuna with a little mayonnaise, lemon juice, and cilantro, then arrange the mixture on toasted nori sheets along with rice, sliced vegetables, and avocado. Roll up and enjoy!

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06of 17

Avocado, Salsa, and Cilantro Omelet

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (6)

Breakfast for dinner is a fast and satisfying way to get a meal on the table stat. Our avocado-and-salsa stuffed omelet gives the concept a fresh flavor and takes less than 15 minutes to make. Pair with toast or tortillas—or chips.

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07of 17

Easy Chicken Posole

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (7)

Using store-bought ingredients like chicken stock, guajillo chile salsa, and shredded cooked chicken in this simple soup means dinner comes together in 10 minutes.

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08of 17

Breakfast Bowl With Fried Eggs, Yogurt, and Vegetables

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (8)

Another breakfast for dinner option? Yes, please! Start by cooking fried eggs in heart-healthy olive oil, then serve over plain Greek yogurt alongside leftover roasted vegetables, sliced chiles, and plenty of fresh herbs.

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09of 17

Crispy Panko Shrimp Salad

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (9)

We give shrimp an extra dose of flavor by coating them in Dijonaise (a genius combination of Dijon mustard and mayonnaise) and crispy panko breadcrumbs. Serve them over spring-mix greens for a hearty dinner salad.

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10of 17

Broken Noodles With Tomato Sauce and Ricotta

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (10)

All you need is four ingredients for this 15-minute meal—jarred marinara sauce, pappardelle pasta, ricotta cheese, and fresh basil. It's creamy, comforting, and guaranteed to please your family.

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11of 17

Pasta With Preserved Lemon and Anchovies

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (11)

Dress your choice of noodles—think spaghetti or linguine—with minced garlic, oil-packed anchovies, chopped preserved lemon, flat-leaf parsley, and plenty of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

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12of 17

Seared Halibut Tacos With Grapefruit-Avocado Salsa

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (12)

When Taco Tuesday rolls around, make these refreshing bites. Serve pan-seared halibut filets with segmented ruby red grapefruit, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, and shredded Napa cabbage.

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13of 17

Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (13)

Arctic char is the start of this 15-minute dinner for two. It's similar to salmon and just as delicious and nutritious. The fish is glazed with soy sauce, lime juice, and honey, and served with sautéed baby bok choy.

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14of 17

Tofu With Ginger-Cilantro Sauce

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (14)

Extra-firm tofu is brushed with olive oil, then grilled and served with a flavor-packed sauce made from fresh cilantro, chopped jalapeño, fresh ginger, lime juice, and scallions in this vegan main. Serve over spring greens or noodles or sandwich in a fluffy bun for dinner.

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15of 17

Spaghetti With Collard Greens and Lemon

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (15)

In just 15 minutes, you can make this nutritious and satisfying meal. We used farro or whole-wheat spaghetti, but whatever you have on hand works here. Toss the cooked pasta with toasted pine nuts, lemon juice, collard greens, and plenty of freshly grated Pecorino Romano.

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16of 17

Easy Tuna Rice Bowl

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (16)

Layer canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and edamame over cooked rice for this easy bowl. Dress everything with a mixture of soy sauce, fresh lime juice, and olive oil.

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17of 17

Fried Omelet With Shrimp and Snap Peas

These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (17)

Save time on dinner prep by using pre-cooked shrimp and blanched sugar snap peas in this easy eggs-for-dinner recipe. Serve the omelet over cooked rice with spicy chili sauce for a complete meal.

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These Quick Dinner Recipes Take Just 15 Minutes to Make (2024)

FAQs

What takes 15 minutes to cook? ›

15-minute meal recipes
  • Prawn laksa curry bowl. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Miso & ginger prawn noodle salad. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  • Sardines & tomatoes on toast. ...
  • Prawn & coconut soup. ...
  • Creamy tomato courgetti. ...
  • Tahini noodles with red cabbage & Sichuan peppercorn slaw. ...
  • Beetroot, feta & grain salad. ...
  • Citrus salmon salad.

What takes 20 minutes to cook? ›

Under 20-minute recipes
  • Salmon with beetroot, feta & lime salsa. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Basic omelette recipe. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. ...
  • Air fryer sausages. ...
  • Air-fryer lamb chops. ...
  • Air fryer salmon. ...
  • Burrata bruschetta. ...
  • Air-fryer garlic bread. ...
  • Smoked mackerel, courgette & butter bean salad.

What takes 10 minutes to cook? ›

No worries with these quick and easy family-friendly mains that are ready in just 10 minutes.
  • 1Creamy vegan sun-dried tomato and broccolini gnocchi. ...
  • 2Peanut chicken coconut curry. ...
  • 310-minute chicken fajita tray bake. ...
  • 4Barbecued tandoori lamb cutlets with coconut rice. ...
  • 5Quick cajun fish tacos. ...
  • 6Chicken satay noodle bowl.

What is the best quick meal? ›

Best, Easy Dinner Recipes For A Family
  • Sheet Pan Olive Bar Chicken. Full of rich flavors, almost NO prep, and using only one pan, this dish is destined to become a new favorite. ...
  • Five Spice Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner. ...
  • Sheet Pan Quesadilla with Jalapeño Ranch. ...
  • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

What can I cook in 5 minutes? ›

25 healthy recipes you can cook in 5 minutes or less
  • Pea and broad bean couscous.
  • Fast home-made baked beans.
  • Porridge.
  • Pasta with cherry tomatoes and rocket.
  • Home-made hummus.
  • Smashed avocado and wilted spinach.
  • Cucumber (or potato) raitha.
  • Quick pitta pizzas.

What can I cook in less than 30 minutes? ›

Our Best 30-Minute Recipes
  1. Chili and Cheese Pockets.
  2. Easy Beef Stew in Biscuit Cups.
  3. 2-Ingredient Chicken and Dumplings.
  4. Biscuit Hamburgers.
  5. Garlic Cheddar Biscuit Turkey Club.
  6. Cheesy Chicken-Bacon Ranch Crescent Rolls for Two.
  7. Cheesy Southwest Chicken Crescent Rolls for Two.
  8. Crispy Chicken-Bacon-Ranch Crescent Rolls.

What can you cook in 8 minutes? ›

8-minute recipes (91)
  • 8 minute Spanish rice. ...
  • 8 minute spicy Ramen. ...
  • 8 Minute Fudge. ...
  • 3 Minute Bread Pudding (for breakfast and snacktime) ...
  • Easy Egg Sandwiches in 5 Minutes! ...
  • California Farm Panfried Halibut with Asparagus. ...
  • SHRIMP FETTUCCINE ALFREDO 😋❤️😘💋💋💋 ...
  • Glossy!

What cooks food quickly? ›

Here are some of the most effective techniques:
  • Stir-frying: This method involves cooking food quickly in a hot pan with a small amount of oil. ...
  • Grilling: Grilling is a fantastic way to cook meat, fish, and vegetables quickly. ...
  • Pressure cooking: Pressure cooking uses steam to cook food quickly.
Nov 8, 2022

What food takes all day to cook? ›

If you have extra time to kill and are looking for a special, intensive recipe to try, here's some inspiration.
  • Spinach and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli in Tomato Cream Sauce. ...
  • Homemade Udon Noodles. ...
  • Simple Challah Bread. ...
  • Hearty Dutch Oven Beef Stew. ...
  • Pork Carnitas. ...
  • Easy Homemade Pizza Dough. ...
  • Homemade Bagels.
Apr 23, 2020

What to cook when no time? ›

27 Weeknight Dinner Ideas For People With Literally No Time
  • Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
  • Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
  • Cacio e Pepe. ...
  • 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
  • Italian Chopped Salad. ...
  • Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza. ...
  • Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls. ...
  • Chicken Cucumber Avocado Salad.
Nov 8, 2023

What cooks food in a short amount of time? ›

Techniques for Quick Cooking

Methods of this cooking technique include airfrying, deep-frying, baking, roasting, grilling, sauteing, searing, stir-frying and microwaving. Moist-heat cooking calls for liquids, such as water or steam, to transfer heat to the food.

What can you cook in 3 minutes? ›

Three-Minute Meals
  • Mushroom Toast. 1 piece whole-grain toast. ...
  • Spring Salad with Shrimp and Brown Rice. ...
  • Italian-Style Ratatouille with Chicken Sausage. ...
  • Quick Vegetarian Tacos. ...
  • Mediterranean-Style Loaded Baked Potato. ...
  • Breakfast for Dinner: Vegetarian Omelette. ...
  • Asian-Inspired Stir Fry. ...
  • Whole Grain Flatbread Pizza and Salad.
Jun 7, 2017

What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What food takes a long time to cook? ›

Roast meats: Large cuts of meat such as beef, pork, or lamb can take several hours to roast in the oven until they reach the desired level of doneness. Stews and braises: Slow-cooking methods such as stewing or braising can take several hours to fully cook meat and vegetables until they are tender and flavorful.

Which cooking method has the shortest cooking time? ›

a. As fast as boiling cooks food, steaming is even faster because the temperature of steam is much higher than that of boiling water. Shorter cooking times save energy and keep more nutrients in the food rather than washing them out in boiling water.

What is the longest time cook? ›

The current record for the longest cooking marathon is 119 hours and 57 minutes, according to the Guinness World Records.

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