22 15-Minute Meals For When You Just Don't Feel Like Cooking (2024)

    Got 15 minutes? Here's what's for dinner.

    by Hannah LoewentheilBuzzFeed Staff

    Are you experiencing cooking fatigue? If so, you're not alone. Skip the time-intensive meal tonight for one of these easy recipes, each of which comes together in about 15 minutes.

    Pinch of Yum

    Put leftover chicken to use by serving it with edamame, cucumbers, and noodles in an easy sesame soy sauce. If you don't have chicken, you can use tofu or frozen shrimp or stick to veggies. Get the recipe for meal prep sesame noodle bowls here.

    Busy Budgeter / Via busybudgeter.com

    Boil some pasta, fry some bacon, slice some cherry tomatoes, and whip up this crowd-pleasing pasta salad. Get the recipe for BLT pasta salad here.

    3. Quick & Easy Wonton Soup

    22 15-Minute Meals For When You Just Don't Feel Like Cooking (2)

    Kay's Clean Eats / Via kayscleaneats.com

    Use mini gyoza or whatever frozen pot stickers you can get your hands on, and toss them into chicken broth with whatever vegetables you have on hand. Get the recipe for quick wonton soup here.

    The Forked Spoon / Via theforkedspoon.com

    Get a skillet nice and hot, add some olive oil until it's sizzling, then drop in the pork chops, butter, and fresh thyme. Cook for a few minutes on each side until it achieves that perfect crispy sear. Get the recipe for garlic butter pork chops here.

    Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

    It doesn't get much easier or decadent than this one-pot dinner made with frozen gnocchi and sun-dried tomatoes cooked in cream, Dijon mustard, and white wine. Get the recipe for creamy tomato and basil gnocchi here.

    6. Korean Beef Tacos With Spicy Mayo

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    Midwest Foodie Blog / Via midwestfoodieblog.com

    Ground beef gets a serious kick from hoisin sauce, ginger, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Serve it in tortillas with shredded cabbage or kimchi, jalapeño, and scallions. If you want to simplify things, you can make a homemade spicy mayo with just mayonnaise and Sriracha. Get the recipe for Korean beef tacos here.

    The Rising Spoon / Via therisingspoon.com

    Start with store-bought flatbread, pita bread, or naan, and add hummus, shredded chicken, and all your favorite veggies. Fold them up and dig in. Get the recipe for chicken hummus naan wraps here.

    My Food Story / Via myfoodstory.com

    Sometimes the best meals are the simplest ones, like this spaghetti, which is tossed with sautéd mushrooms, garlic, chili flakes, and olive oil. Get the recipe for mushroom spaghetti aglio olio here.

    Dinner Then Dessert / Via dinnerthendessert.com

    This meal may seem totally fancy, but in reality it couldn't be easier. Take some scallops and sprinkle them with salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, butter, and panko bread crumbs. Bake them in the oven until golden brown and crispy. Get the recipe for crispy baked scallops here.

    The Mom 100 / Via themom100.com

    Pick a noodle such as angel hair pasta, spaghetti, or udon and toss with peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, chili paste, brown sugar, and garlic. Get the recipe for noodles with peanut sauce here.

    11. Pork Fried Rice

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    First Home Love Life / Via firsthomelovelife.com

    Don't have pork chops in your fridge? You can make this Chinese-inspired fried rice with either bacon or pancetta. In fact, that will make this meal even quicker. Get the recipe for pork fried rice here.

    Via halfbakedharvest.com, Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    Remember the instant ramen you once made in your college dorm room? Yeah, it's all grown up now. Get the recipe for garlic butter ramen here.

    Serve this creamy shrimp on top of pasta, rice, orzo, or any of your favorite grains. Get the recipe for shrimp in tomato basil cream sauce here.

    14. Spicy Fish Tacos

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    A Sassy Spoon / Via asassyspoon.com

    Coat any flaky white fish in a bunch of spices — paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and chili pepper — and cook it in a skillet for about four minutes on each side. Add the fish to store-bought tortillas with your favorite taco toppings. Get the recipe for spicy fish tacos here.

    Midwest Foodie Blog / Via midwestfoodieblog.com

    This recipe is vegetarian, but you can absolutely toss in some shrimp, flank steak, or cubed boneless chicken without much additional cooking time. Get the recipe for vegetable lo mein here.

    Gimme Delicious / Via gimmedelicious.com

    Start with flank steak or chuck beef and cut it into thin strips. This brings the cooking time way down and results in a delicious and speedy dinner. Get the recipe for beef and broccoli stir-fry here.

    Cooking Classy / Via cookingclassy.com

    Sprinkle diced chicken with some flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, then sauté it in butter and olive oil. Serve with some five-minute couscous or microwave quick rice. Get the recipe for garlic butter chicken bites here.

    The Almond Eater / Via thealmondeater.com

    It doesn't get much easier than this glazed salmon, which calls for just six ingredients. Get the recipe for honey soy salmon here.

    19. Chili Garlic Shrimp

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    Jo Cooks / Via jocooks.com

    Herby, spicy, and savory thanks to garlic, chilis, and parsley, this skillet shrimp tastes delicious over any grain or pasta. Get the recipe for chili garlic shrimp here.

    20. Spicy Udon Stir-Fry

    22 15-Minute Meals For When You Just Don't Feel Like Cooking (7)

    Seasons and Suppers / Via seasonsandsuppers.ca

    Pro tip: Keep some store-bought udon noodles on hand. Combine them with your favorite veggies and a few basic condiments, and you've got a seriously satisfying supper that tastes better than takeout. Get the recipe for udon stir-fry here.

    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    A simple mixture of maple syrup and orange juice gives this salmon a delightfully crisp exterior, but the inside is tender and flaky. Get the recipe for orange maple glazed salmon here.

    22. Coconut Curry Noodle Soup

    22 15-Minute Meals For When You Just Don't Feel Like Cooking (8)

    The Woks of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com

    Never underestimate the power of a good homemade curry. This one features rice noodles, coconut milk, fish sauce, red Thai curry paste, and chicken broth, but feel free to add whatever protein and veggies you have on hand. Get the recipe for coconut curry noodle soup here.

    22 15-Minute Meals For When You Just Don't Feel Like Cooking (2024)
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