What’s for dinner…AGAIN?! Here are our favorite 15 minutes dinner ideas for when you just can’t do frozen pizza again but everyone must eat.
There are days where I can muster the energy to cook an elaborate dinner but many nights with 3 kids as a single mama that simple survival food is all I’ve got left. Here are a roundup of some of my favorite go to meals when everyone is starving and needs to eat 2 hours ago ideas (and some I want to try).
I’ve separated them into my go to exhausted cooking categories to help quickly jog your memory of recipes you maybe already have in your repertoire!
SANDWICHES, BURGERS & HOT DOGS – Any sandwich, burger or hot dog can be whipped together and bumped up in flavor with a few tweaks.
Club Sandwich Recipe with a Fried Egg
Pile up cold cuts with fried eggs, lettuce and tomato for delicious dinner sandwich. Drippy egg perfection!
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Jamaican Black Bean Burger with Mango Jicama Slaw
Frozen black bean burgers (or salmon/beef/chicken etc) are so easy to throw into the air fryer or on a pan to make up a quick meal. While they cook go to town on making an interesting slaw or sauce to take them to the next level and crisp up the buns on an electric griddle.
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Air Fryer Hamburgers
Air Fryer Hamburgers are packed with flavor and quick to make! They can even be cooked from frozen for a quick, tender, and juicy meal!
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Air Fryer Bacon (for BLT’s)
Throw your bacon in the air fryer and grab everything you need for delicious BLT (Bacon Lettuce Tomato) Sandwiches for a quick dinner everyone loves. Top with an egg if you are feeling extra!
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Salad Kit Chicken Salad Pitas Recipe
One salad kit plus a rotisserie chicken and yogurt mixes up for a delicious easy lunch or quick dinner. Stuffed into pitas or wrap up in lettuce wraps.
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Hot Dogs with Summer Slaw
One of my go to quick and easy summer dinners is good quality hot dogs in the air fryer plus some kind of slaw or veggies dumped all over it. This summer slaw is a family favorite.
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15-Minute Philly Cheese Steak Grilled Cheese
Extra cheesy Philly cheese steak grilled cheese – an easy, yet indulgent dinner in less than 15 minutes! Any ingredients you have on hand can be stuffed into a grilled cheese for a quick & easy dinner win!
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Balsamic BBQ Pulled Pork
Make this with canned or store bought pulled pork to make this even faster for a busy night. The slow cooker pork recipe is included and is fantastic as well.
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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Parm with Chicken Patty
Turn frozen chicken patties into a quick chicken parmesan for an easy dinner everyone loves. Add a bun or eat them over spaghetti for a kid approved easy dinner!
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DINNER SALADS – Remember those vegetables rotting in your fridge drawer? Pull them out and start chopping
Easy Taco Salad Recipe
A delicious taco salad made with ground beef, black beans, lettuce, shredded cheese, and the best taco toppings!
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Thai Noodle Salad with the BEST EVER Peanut Sauce
Vegan Thai Noodle Salad loaded up with healthy veggies and fresh herbs in the BEST-EVER peanut sauce. Vegan & Gluten-Free
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Thai Chicken Salad with Creamy Peanut Hummus Dressing Recipe
This Thai chicken salad is packed with veggies, keeps perfectly for days and takes 5 minutes. Add rotisserie chicken or toss a few tenders in the pan or air fryer for a high protein healthy dinner option in under 15 minutes.
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Chicken Fajita Wedge Salad
Our refreshing Chicken Fajita Wedge Salad is topped with all the best Mexican food toppings.
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STIR FRIES – Keep ready to cook stir fry noodles in your fridge to make quick stir fry dishes with rapid reach. They work great in soups too!
Almond Chicken Stir Fry
Use two pans simultaneously to cook the chicken and the vegetables to cut this recipe cook time to just 15 minutes! Ready to go noodles are one of my fridge staples for midweek to get stir fries on the table quick and easy.
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Kimchi Udon Noodles Stir Fry
This kimchi udon noodles stir fry is an easy weeknight meal you can put on the table in just 15 mins. With a bit of spicy kick, this vegan dish offers a fine balance of savory and spicy flavors. Pump it up with chicken or tofu and veggies to take it to a complete meal.
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Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry
This Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry is way better than ordering out! Try this 15 minute dinner idea for a quick and delicious meal tonight!
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Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Noodles
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Noodles, a complete meal that can be cooked in well under 15 minutes (apart from marinating).
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Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles
Asian Beef Ramen Noodles made with caramelised ground beef, a tangle of noodles and a secret 4 ingredient Asian sauce, finished with sesame seeds!
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GRAIN BOWLS – Rice steamer packets or frozen rice packs make rice bowls within reach in under 15 minutes. You can also use minute rice if you prefer!
Huevos Ranchero Rice Bowl With Guacamole Salsa Recipe
This heuvos rancheros rice bowl is the easiest weeknight dinner ever! My go to meal when I haven’t thawed any meat and just want dinner done quick.
Tropical Jerk Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe
I keep pre-made rice packages or cook up a big batch of rice for the week (can also freeze it!) to make rice bowls in 15 minutes. This tropical jerk chicken doesn't always get all the goodies in a rush but the basics still make a bomb quick dinner.
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Bacon Mango Fried Rice (15 min meal)
The mango caramelizes with the crisp bacon for an exotic flavor combination. This fried rice has only 3 ingredients and it takes about 15 minutes to make!
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Chicken Burrito Bowls with Hatch Chile Rice
Chicken Burrito Bowls with Hatch Chile Rice is an easy dinner idea that will only take 15 minutes to make, and features popular Hatch Chiles from New Mexico.
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Pork Fried Cauliflower Rice Recipe
This family classic gets a fresh spin with an amazing new product…frozen cauliflower rice! All the flavor and you get to wear your skinny jeans!
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QUICK PIZZAS – Naan and flatbreads make pizzas an easy weeknight option. You can also make any of these with premade pizza dough or frozen cauliflower crusts to cut down on carbs.
Easy Vegan Flatbread Pizzas
Any kind of veggie toppings work on flatbreads with pesto and cheese for a quick meal. Pepperoni, canned chicken or rotisserie chicken are easy meat choices work great. I've also been known to throw frozen meatballs in the air fryer for a few minutes while I prep ingredients and then chop them up as a topping.
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Quick Tomato and Mozzarella Naan Pizza
This super speedy 15 Minute Tomato and Mozzarella Naan Pizza is the perfect mid week meal! Delicious, quick and even the kids can help!
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Chicken Satay Salad Flatbreads
Fresh crunchy and dripping in satay sauce, these Chicken Satay Salad Flatbreads are crazy delicious and only take 15 minutes to cook.
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BREAKFAST FOR DINNER – From pancakes to dutch babies and quick egg skillets, breakfast for dinner is always a win.
Best Blender Buckwheat Waffles Recipe
The best blender buckwheat waffles ever! Kids and adults alike go nuts for these! Packed with protein, sweetened with bananas and naturally gluten free, they whip up in just 60 seconds in the blender!
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Meyer Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes
This simple batter is made with whole wheat flour and no artificial sugar to form the base for these beautiful Meyer lemon poppyseed pancakes. Light and sweet with just the right bit of crunch.
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Poached Egg And Avocado Toast
Simple and easy poached egg and avocado toast. Classic breakfast comfort food that is easy enough for weekdays and fancy enough for the weekend.
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Pumpkin French Toast Waffles
Breakfast for dinner gets a fun twist with this pumpkiny french toast baked in a waffle iron. Works great on a large electric skillet to quickly get breakfast dinner on the table in no time flat.
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Easy Blender Crepe Recipe
These crepes are perfect for breakfast or make a lovely dessert crepe too!
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How To Make Pancakes From Scratch
Making pancakes from scratch is easy and fun! This recipe even offers some healthy whole grains and natural honey to help get your day off right!
Dutch Baby Pancake
Pile on fruit and powdered sugar or go savory with a Dutch Baby German Pancake Pizza if you want something with a bit more structure to the base.
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Breakfast Burritos
Make these up quickly or make them and freeze them for quick dinners and breakfasts when you are exhausted.
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WRAPS, BURRITOS & QUESADILLAS – Lighten it up with lettuce wraps or dive into the tortillas to wrap up something delicious.
Asian Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps
Use canned or frozen pulled pork to make these quick lettuce wraps faster on weeknights! The recipe includes the slow cooker pork recipe which you can make and freeze part of for future busy nights.
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Chicken and Avocado Ranch Burritos
Chicken and Avocado Ranch Burritos – These come together with just 15 min prep! You can also make this ahead of time and bake right before serving. SO EASY!
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Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas: Restaurant quality, tasty baked fajitas. A few seasonings, shrimp, peppers, onion, and an oven is all you need for this decadent meal
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The Best Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Skip the sweet potatoes in this recipe and just do the black bean portion with extra salad goodies for a quick 15 minute dinner.
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Tacos Rancheros (Huevos Tacos) Recipe
Huevos tacos are the perfect easy egg & bean tacos for those times when you haven't grocery shopped in ages. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or a quick dinner!
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Chickpea tacos with avocado cream
A simple chickpea taco filling, served in flour tortillas and dolloped with a luxurious avocado cream made with Greek yoghurt.
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Oven Nachos
Pile on whatever goodies you have onto a pan full of cheesy chips for an easy family pleasing dinner. Canned pulled chicken or pork, shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked meats work perfectly here.
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Gooey Chicken Quesadillas
Classic snack attack at our house. Cheesy chicken quesadillas start as the base and then add whatever goodies you have lying around to bump up the flavors!
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NOODLES & SOUPS – quick pastas, upgraded tuna noodle casserole and quick soups in your instant pot all made the cut here.
Easy Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa
If all you have is boxed mac and cheese toss it with hot dogs, kielbasa or chicken for a quick dinner. If you have dried pasta and canned alfredo sauce step it up with this recipe. Rotisserie chicken swaps in perfectly for a cheater 15-20 minute Chicken Alfredo.
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15-Minute Easy Spaghetti
This Easy Spaghetti Recipe is ready in just 15 minutes and is a hearty, comforting meal during cooler months. Pair with a side salad or steamed veggies for a full meal and enjoy!
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15-Minute Gnocchi Fish Pie
Tuna Noodle Casserole meets gnocchi and a skillet and has a baby. Easy and all the flavors of that childhood classic. Top with panko for extra crunch.
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15 Minute Lo Mein
15 Minute Lo Mein! Made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, a pinch of sugar, ramen noodles or spaghetti noodles, and any veggies or protein you like. SO YUMMY! vegan, vegetarian.
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15-Minute Zucchini Pasta w/ Poached eggs and Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce.
Fresh heirloom tomatoes mixed with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, lemon, and garlic makes for a fast and tasty pasta topping. The poached eggs create another layer of flavor and coats the pasta. Thus creating a creamy, cream-less, no-cook sauce.
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Creamy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (Instant Pot)
Creamy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup – easiest and fastest Thai coconut chicken recipe ever! Takes 15 mins and dinner is ready !
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Chickpea Coconut Curry with Wilted Greens
This chickpea coconut curry with wilted greens is ready in under fifteen minutes. It’s a quick, easy, vegan, gluten-free weeknight meal.
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MEAT & SEAFOOD – Last but certainly not least delicious simple proteins if you just need something delicious but hold all the extras. Mix and match these with any base ideas above for a delicious dinner.
Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp
Sticky Honey Garlic Shrimp—This smoky and sweet honey garlic shrimp is SO good for busy weeknights or for entertaining guests. Only few ingredients and on the table in less than 15 minutes!
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Honey Dijon Garlic Chicken
Honey Dijon Garlic Chicken – delicious chicken with honey Dijon mustard sauce on skillet. An amazing and budget-friendly dinner recipe.
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Hoisin Sriracha Chicken
Hoisin Sriracha Chicken – Crazy delicious chicken dinner for the family! Marinated with hoisin, sriracha and honey. This one technically takes 20 mins but it looks so good!
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Honey Lime Salmon
Honey Lime Salmon – sweet and zesty salmon with honey, lime juice and soy sauce. Takes 15 mins and great for tonight’s dinner!
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Garlic Scallops (in Yummy Garlic Sauce!)
One of the best scallop recipes is garlic scallops sauteed with butter and wine sauce. Quick and easy recipe that takes 15 mins from start to finish.
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Lime Chicken (marinade – great for grilling!)
Lime in the marinade provides a zesty boost, while cilantro adds a fragrant note to this Coriander / Cilantro Lime Chicken grilled on the stove or a barbecue. And the secret weapon: A dash of fish sauce for an umami bump. These beautiful fresh flavours make for perfect outdoor or summertime dish.
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For more amazing dinner ideas.
101+ Simple Dinner Ideas
24 Dinners For People Who Love Beef Recipes
25 Romantic Dinner Recipes
29 Chicken Breast Recipes That You Need To Try
Happy cooking!
So many delicious ideas! Thanks for including my tacos!
Quick and fantastic food ideas together. Just great. With a growing toddler need new and vibrant ideas every day:-) This will help a lot. thanks a ton.
Helpful and vibrant ideas ; all at one place ! Who could ask for more ? Thank you !