Our 35 Best 15-Minute Dinners (2024)

These quick, healthy meals are perfect for weekdays. We rely on convenient ingredients, like rotisserie chicken, canned soup and dried or frozen pasta for simple dinners that you can make in 15 minutes or less. Whether you're in the mood for tacos or a fresh salad, there's a four- or five-star recipe for you. You'll want to keep recipes like our Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles and BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw in your back pocket for busy days.

01of 35

BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw

View Recipe

This zippy, creamy slaw is so good you might find yourself making it for other sandwiches. Still, it pairs beautifully with the tangy pulled chicken for an incredibly quick dinner you can make even on your busiest nights. To save even more time, use a preshredded coleslaw blend.

02of 35

Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon

View Recipe

Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don't forget to reserve some pasta water--its starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth.

03of 35

Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

View Recipe

Enjoy classic shrimp scampi lightened up with a white wine-butter sauce and zucchini noodles in place of pasta. The tomatoes add some sweetness and color, while the cheese contributes nuttiness and richness.

04of 35

3-Ingredient Sweet Potato & Brussels Sprout Hash with Chicken Sausage

View Recipe

Apple-flavored chicken sausage adds flavor and protein in this quick dinner hash that uses a bag of shaved Brussels sprouts as its hearty, high-fiber base. Steaming the cubed sweet potatoes in the microwave cuts way down on total cook time.

05of 35

Lemon Chicken Pasta

View Recipe

In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby zucchini, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes.

06of 35

Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad

View Recipe

This zesty quinoa salad is delicious all on its own, with some serious Mediterranean flair. Make a double batch for lunches later in the week.

07of 35

Linguine with Creamy White Clam Sauce

View Recipe

Ripe tomato and fresh basil give this quick recipe tons of flavor. Serve this healthy pasta dinner with crusty garlic bread and steamed green beans.

08of 35

Creamy Spinach Pasta

View Recipe

This might be one of the creamiest light pasta dishes you've ever had! The mascarpone cheese adds a richness to the spinach pasta that's unexpected--especially in a healthy pasta recipe.

09of 35

Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

View Recipe

Loaded Black Bean Nacho Soup

View Recipe

Jazz up a can of black bean soup with your favorite nacho toppings, such as cheese, avocado and fresh tomatoes. A bit of smoked paprika adds a bold flavor kick, but you can swap in any warm spices you prefer, such as cumin or chili powder. Look for a soup that contains no more than 450 mg sodium per serving.

11of 35

Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken

View Recipe

In this healthy copycat of a takeout salad favorite we combine precooked (or leftover) chicken and poppy seed dressing with fresh greens, strawberries and goat cheese for an easy throw-together meal that's ready in 10 minutes.

12of 35

15-Minute White Bean, Kale & Kielbasa Soup

View Recipe

This quick soup recipe is done in only 15 minutes thanks to convenience products like frozen chopped onion and precooked kielbasa. You'll have a warming winter soup on the table in no time!

13of 35

15-Minute Salmon & Creamy Orzo with Spinach & Mushrooms

View Recipe

In this quick salmon dinner, salmon fillets are paired with creamy orzo, wilted spinach and earthy mushrooms. Cooking the salmon at a high temperature helps speed up the cooking in this healthy dinner recipe. Look for pre-sliced mushrooms to speed it up even more.

14of 35

Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

View Recipe

We love the retro vibe of these egg salad lettuce wraps. Iceberg lettuce makes a perfect low-carb swap for bread to serve the egg salad.

15of 35

Quick Shrimp Puttanesca

View Recipe

Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets a makeover with shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). If you can't find frozen artichoke hearts, sub in drained canned artichoke hearts.

16of 35

Green Goddess Grain Bowl

View Recipe

This healthy grain bowl packs in the greens with peas, asparagus and a creamy yogurt dressing. Tofu adds protein while keeping it vegetarian, but you could also swap in cooked shrimp or chicken for a satisfying dinner or packable lunch ready in just 15 minutes.

17of 35

Toaster-Oven Tostadas

View Recipe

Would you believe us if we said you can have restaurant-style tostadas at home in just 15 minutes? It's no problem! Simply layer black beans and Cheddar onto corn tortillas and toast in the toaster oven.

18of 35

Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes

View Recipe

Looking for a new way to turn a bag of frozen cheese ravioli into a satisfying and healthy dinner? This easy pasta recipe calls for just five ingredients but is loaded with fresh flavors. By using grape tomatoes, prewashed spinach and prepared pesto, we eliminate all prep work, making this 15-minute Caprese-inspired ravioli the ideal weeknight meal.

19of 35

Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

View Recipe

In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

20of 35

Marinara Meat Sauce Topped Baked Potato

View Recipe

Break out of your pasta routine by subbing in a baked potato in this simple and satisfying dinner for one.

21of 35

Salmon Sushi Grain Bowl

View Recipe

Get all the delicious flavors of sushi without the time-consuming rolling with this quick grain bowl recipe. All you need is 15 minutes to get this healthy dinner on the table or to pack it up for lunch at work.

22of 35

Ham and Broccoli Topped Baked Potato

View Recipe

Jazz up your simple baked potato with a quickly microwaved topping.

23of 35

Spring Roll Salad

View Recipe

All the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.

24of 35

Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl

View Recipe

Get the flavors of spicy Buffalo chicken wings, without frying, in this nutritious couscous bowl loaded with protein and crisp veggies.

25of 35

BBQ Pork & Smoked Gouda Quesadillas

View Recipe

These satisfying quesadillas get a smoky flavor from the cheese and pork, sweetness from the sauce, and a crisp crunch from the red onion. The pickled jalapeños offer a twist on a typical barbecue sandwich pickle and add a touch of heat.

26of 35

Chopped Cobb Salad

View Recipe

This single-serving recipe for Cobb salad swaps chicken in for bacon, which makes it a great source of protein for lunch. If you prefer another salad dressing, feel free to use that instead of our honey-mustard vinaigrette.

27of 35

Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad

View Recipe

This easy salad recipe allows for a wonderful use of leftover cooked chicken. Look for escarole in the produce section near the leafy greens; if you can't find it, you can use romaine instead.

28of 35

Chhole (Chickpea Curry)

View Recipe

Made with convenient canned beans, this quick and healthy Indian recipe is an authentic chickpea curry that you can make in minutes. If you want an additional vegetable, stir in some roasted cauliflower florets. Serve with brown basmati rice or warm naan.

29of 35

Spanakopita Scrambled Egg Pitas

View Recipe

This meatless dinner comes together in only 15 minutes, thanks to the convenience of frozen chopped spinach and crumbled feta. We've added a flavorful burst of sun-dried tomato tapenade to spread over the whole-wheat pita before nestling the scrambled eggs inside. If you can't find it, basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto also work well.

30of 35

Citrus Lime Tofu Salad

View Recipe

This veggie-packed salad has plenty of protein and fiber, so you'll feel full and satisfied. Prep the ingredients ahead of time for an easy vegan lunch idea to pack for work.

31of 35

White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi

View Recipe

Turn lower-carb cauliflower gnocchi into a complete and satisfying meal with this riff on classic brown butter and sage gnocchi. We added beans to amp up the fiber and protein for a fast and healthy dinner.

32of 35

Cheese Quesadillas with Peppers & Onions

View Recipe

These 15-minute quesadillas are a notch above basic with the addition of sautéed peppers and onions. Let the kiddos load them up with the toppings at the table.

33of 35

15-Minute Broiled Cod with Tomatoes & Herbed Mayonnaise

View Recipe

Cod broils quickly in this healthy dinner recipe that's done in only 15 minutes. Sliced tomatoes on top give it a pop of color, while your favorite chopped herbs flavor the mayonnaise that tops the fish.

34of 35

Two-Ingredient-Dough Margherita Pizza

View Recipe

You won't believe how quick and easy it is to make this healthy pizza. Thanks to a two-ingredient dough that combines self-rising flour and Greek yogurt, there is no need for a rise time. Just roll, top and bake, and you'll have a delicious dinner on the table in under half an hour.

35of 35

White Bean & Avocado Sandwich

View Recipe

White beans mash seamlessly into a creamy protein-packed spread for a satisfying healthy sandwich that makes for an easy lunch or dinner. Mix it up by trying it with canned chickpeas or black beans. This vegetarian sandwich recipe is also a fiber superstar: avocado, beans, greens and whole-wheat bread team up to give it 15 grams of fiber, more than half of what most women should aim for in a day.