I've rounded up over 40 easy 15 minute meals that are perfect for those busy nights when you need to get something on the table in a pinch. You'll find chicken dinners, quick pasta dishes, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, skillet meals, meatless options, and more.
We all have those nights when dinner sneaks up on us. Maybe you spent the afternoon running errands, the kids have activities, work ran late, or you simply don't feel like spending an hour in the kitchen. That's when having a collection of 15 minute meals can save the day.
You don't need to rely on takeout or another bowl of cereal, either. There are plenty of delicious meals you can put together in about 15 minutes using simple ingredients, pantry staples, leftovers, and a few smart shortcuts.
These 15 minute meals have been compiled from all kinds of bloggers across the U.S.A and have been tested time and time again. I hope that this list of 15 minute meals will help you out when you are in a pinch and need a main dish, appetizer, or dessert in a snap. You can find a lot more of these recipes in my 15 Minute Meals ECookbook.
Bookmark this list for the next time someone asks, “What's for dinner?” and you realize you haven't thought that far ahead!
What Can You Really Cook in 15 Minutes?
Fifteen minutes might not sound like much time, but you'd be surprised at what you can make.
The trick is choosing ingredients that cook quickly or are already partially prepared. Thin cuts of meat, ground meats, shrimp, eggs, canned beans, tortillas, refrigerated pasta, rotisserie chicken, and leftover cooked meats are all fantastic starting points.
Some of my favorite shortcuts include:
- Rotisserie chicken
- Pre-cooked grilled chicken
- Frozen vegetables
- Bagged salad mixes
- Refrigerated tortellini or ravioli
- Canned beans
- Jarred pesto
- Prepared sauces
- Microwave rice
- Tortillas and flatbreads
- Shredded cheese
- Leftover steak, chicken, or pork
There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking a shortcut when you're trying to feed your family on a busy evening.
15 Minute Meals You Can Make in a Pinch
Over the last 10 years of being a homeschooling mom and working from home AND helping my husband build his business, I had to be creative and make delicious meals on the fly and I am so glad that I worked hard at it. Because of that, I am able to share so many delicious recipes with you.
Of course, you can ALWAYS purchase my 15 Minute Meals E-Book that has over 60 recipes in it!
15 Minute Meals You Can Make in a Pinch
This list of amazing 15 minute meals will have you cracking out dinner in no time flat.
This taco dinner skillet is perfect to use as a dip with chips or simply eating right out of the pan.
Shrimp Ceviche is an easy appetizer you can make to serve guests in a pinch.
This is my all time favorite quick and easy recipe when I need a shot of Chinese.
One thing that I have come to love eating is shrimp and you can add it to anything and it tastes good. These shrimp tacos cook up in 15 minutes!
The sauce is simple and easy — heavy cream, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese. This recipe literally takes about 15 minutes to come together. And — if you did not want to use steak, you could totally do grilled chicken breast instead.
One of my favorite things to do when life is crazy (like it is right now), is to fix quick and easy dinners for my family. Now — this dish may not look like much, but let me tell you — my Chiptole Chicken Nachos are SO good.
This recipe for Spaghetti Squash Fritters with Tomato Basil Salad is the perfect breakfast or brunch dish. It’s light and healthy and so filling!
Ina Garten’s Summer Pasta Salad is the most filling and delicious pasta salad I have had in a while. It comes together in less than 15 minutes.
This herbed ricotta toast with sauteed tomatoes is absolutely easy and delicious. It’s so filling that you can eat this as a meal!
This recipe for grilled pork chops with garlic herb butter will become your favorite way to grill this spring and summer!
This delicious recipe is perfect for brunch or brinner (breakfast for dinner) and comes together in less than 15 minutes.
My new favorite way to eat grilled brats is by turning them into tacos and topping them with this delicious Lime Horseradish slaw we came up with.
When the weather starts warming up, all I can think of is getting outside and grilling. One of my favorite cuts of meat for grilling is pork. It is so versatile and can be made in so many ways, like my delicious Hawaiian Pork Kabobs.
My recipe for Gluten Free Chicken broccoli pasta has a secret ingredient that I cannot wait to tell you about! Keep reading for the recipe and my new favorite pasta ingredient.
These pizza pinwheels are some of my favorite appetizers to make during the holidays.
If you grew up on Hamburger Helper, you are going to LOVE this recipe for Cheeseburger Pasta. Everything is cooked right in one pan!
If you want a great salsa, my pineapple salsa is AMAZING!
I here give you my new found love for breakfast – Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk. Not one but in 2 ways. I know what you think. It’s cool,right?
Quick and easy veggie lo-mein that can be made in less than 15 minutes.
Pasta Caprese is a tasty summer dinner, ready in 15 minutes. On a hot summer day that‘s all we need. This inspired by famous Caprese Salad pasta has only a few ingredients, but it‘s really packed with flavor.
Prepping for family mealtime is quick and easy, when you make my vegan Mexican skillet recipe. This is a dish that my family loves, so I make it often.
Creamy gorgonzola sauce with walnuts, brightened up with crisp wine and lemon zest! This gorgonzola walnut pasta is great as an easy and quick dinner or as an appetizer.
This shrimp and zuchinni dish comes together in no time flat. You will absolutely LOVE the flavors.
Lunch doesn’t get more satisfying than an Asian Rice Bowl! This one is even better because it can be made ahead. Then it’s so quick to have it on your plate.
This recipe for Shrimp Scampi Zoodles is a healthy alternative to eating fatty pasta without losing the flavor.
This Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe is one you will want to add on your to make list again and again.
Y'all know how much I love Mexican food, so anytime I can create a new recipe like my delicious Pork Burrito Bowl I am all about it. This recipe features one of my new favorite cuts of meat -- pork -- the other white meat.
I love that this recipe incorporates some of my favorites and is SO healthy! I love a good healthy delicious lunch and this one for my One Pan Lemon Shrimp and asparagus is AMAZING!
Lunchbox Chickpea Salad is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and very flexible. It requires a bowl, 10 minutes, and you will have lunch for days!
Dukkah recipe with almonds, sesame seeds, coriander, fennel, anise, and salt. It’s my own take on Trader Joe’s dukkah. This recipe comes together in minutes. And it makes enough to last you for a long while.
The perfect simple and easy weeknight pizza recipe! This Easy Margherita Pizza Recipe is ready in under 15 minutes and is perfect for both kids and adults. The perfect combo of cheese, marinara sauce, fresh basil and homemade pesto!
Instant pot Mexican Fiesta Rice – A party on your plate and a party in your mouth!! If you’re looking for a super quick, simple, and delicious Mexican Rice recipe — you’ve come to the right place. Simple and easy weeknight dinner for the family.
Instant Pot Spicy Thai Noodle Bowl -The easiest noodle 🍜🍜 recipe ever! A quick recipe for flavorful Asia inspired noodle made right in the instant pot. You can get a family favorite meal on the table even faster on busy nights!
This is just a super basic, healthy chicken salad recipe. There’s nothing super fancy about it except for maybe the dill. Is fresh dill fancy? Anyway, the recipe itself is easy, delish, and takes about a minute or two to make.
A quick spinach apple walnut salad recipe made with red apples, dried cranberries, walnuts and feta cheese. With a healthy orange vinaigrette dressing this salad is slightly sweet with a nutty salty flavour.
Caesar wraps may not seem like typical road trip food, and it probably isn’t. We usually find a rest area or a park for lunch time and when we stop I quickly throw these together. We typically eat them at our stop, but you could assemble and eat in the car too.
I also make these wraps at home for lunch or dinner. They aren’t just for road tripping.
Introducing this sticky, richly-flavoured Shanghai chicken with rice. It’s quick and tasty – ready and on the table in only 15 minutes, making it just perfect for a mid-week meal.
People sometimes ask what to eat with ratatouille – we think it can be used as a tasty accompaniment to most kinds of meat, or on its own as a simple vegetarian meal. It is really delicious and this vegan ratatouille recipe is extremely easy and quick to make.
On some occasions when we are just too tired to cook, this chicken curry sandwich does the trick.
This Quick and Easy Tuna Pasta recipe is cheap, easy, tasty and very quick to make. It has lots of return for little input (just what I like in a recipe!) It is ready in 15 minutes.
These delicious Southern Salmon Croquettes are a quick and easy soul food classic done right! Nice and tender on the inside full of salmon flavor and aromatics, yet crunchy and delicious on the exterior from an irresistible cornmeal breading, you will make these time and time again.