Quick Dinner Ideas for Busy Nights: 150+ Easy Meals for When You’re Short on Time

It’s 5:30, everyone is hungry, and nothing is thawed. That’s usually the moment the takeout menu comes out.

It doesn’t have to be. With a few staples in the pantry, a couple of meals in the freezer, and a short list of dinners you can make without thinking, a busy night is just another night.

This guide has more than 150 quick dinner ideas. They’re sorted by how much time you have and what’s in your kitchen: 15-minute meals, 30-minute dinners by main ingredient, takeout fakeouts, pizza nights, sheet pan and air fryer dinners, freezer-to-table meals, no-cook nights, and a backup list for the nights when nothing went to plan. You’ll also find the pantry staples that make fast dinners possible and simple ways to build them into your week.

My go-to quick meals

Having a meal plan or freezer meals helps a lot. But here’s a few of my go-to quick meals:

• Pasta and jar sauce (fresh or frozen ravioli is one of the easiest)
• Fried rice
• Tacos or wraps, such as chicken Caesar
• Soup and sandwich
• Stir-fry
• Salads
• Burgers
• Sloppy joes
• Quesadillas
• Nachos

Why quick dinners are worth planning

Takeout adds up fast. Americans now spend more on food away from home than on groceries. In 2023, restaurants, takeout, and other food away from home made up 58.5% of all U.S. food spending, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. A few quick meals you can count on are one of the easiest ways to bring that number down at your house.

Most of us don’t have an hour to cook. On an average day, Americans spend about 27.5 minutes on food preparation, according to the ERS, which studied time-use surveys from 2014 to 2017. A good quick dinner fits in that window.

Deciding is the hard part. On a busy night, the cooking is rarely what stops you. It’s figuring out what to make. When you already have a list of quick dinners, you skip the decision and go straight to the stove.

If you’re new to planning meals, start with our guide on how to meal plan. Quick dinners slot right into any plan.

Stock a busy-night pantry

Quick dinners start at the grocery store. When these staples are on hand, you can make a meal from what you have instead of running out for one missing ingredient.

Pantry:

• Pasta in two or three shapes
• Rice, including instant or microwave rice
• Canned beans: black, pinto, kidney, and chickpeas
• Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and a jar of pasta sauce
• Canned tuna and chicken
• Broth or bouillon
• Tortillas and taco shells
• Peanut butter
• Salsa
• Ramen or other quick noodles
• Seasoning mixes, like taco seasoning and Italian seasoning

Refrigerator:

• Eggs
• Shredded cheese
• Butter
• Sour cream or plain yogurt
• Precut vegetables or a bagged salad
• Lunch meat, bacon, or sausage

Freezer:

• Frozen vegetables, like broccoli, peas, corn, and stir-fry blends
• Ground beef or turkey, frozen flat in bags so it thaws fast
• Cooked shredded chicken and browned ground beef
• Chicken breasts or tenders
• Frozen ravioli or tortellini
• Bread, rolls, and pizza crusts

For the full list, see our guide on how to stock a pantry on a budget. You can make your own taco seasoning and other blends with our homemade seasoning mixes.

Good to know

Freeze ground beef flat in a zip-top bag, pressed about 1/2 inch thick. A flat bag thaws in the refrigerator overnight much faster than a brick, and you can break off what you need.

15-minute dinners

These are the meals for nights when you have almost no time at all. Most use one pan and ingredients you already have.

• Quesadillas: Cheese, beans, and leftover chicken in a tortilla, browned in a skillet
• Scrambled egg tacos: Eggs, cheese, and salsa in warm tortillas
• Ramen stir-fry: Ramen noodles tossed with frozen stir-fry vegetables, an egg, and soy sauce
• Fried rice: Leftover rice, frozen peas and carrots, eggs, and soy sauce
• Pasta with butter and Parmesan: Add frozen peas or leftover chicken to make it a meal
• Black bean tostadas: Crisp tortillas topped with refried beans, cheese, lettuce, and salsa
• Omelets: Fill them with cheese, ham, peppers, or whatever vegetables need using up
• Hot dogs and baked beans: Simple, filling, and quick
• Loaded baked potatoes: Microwave the potatoes and top with cheese, broccoli, bacon, or canned chili
• Nachos: Chips, canned beans or leftover taco meat, and cheese under the broiler
• Chili dogs: Hot dogs topped with canned chili, cheese, and onions
• Egg fried noodles: Leftover spaghetti fried with eggs, garlic, and green onions
• Pita pockets: Pitas stuffed with deli meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato
• Chicken salad on crackers: Canned or rotisserie chicken mixed with mayonnaise and celery

30-minute dinners by main ingredient

With half an hour, you can make a real home-cooked meal. Start with whatever is in your refrigerator or freezer.

Good to know

Ground beef should be cooked to 160°F and chicken to 165°F, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. A quick check with a food thermometer takes the guesswork out of a fast dinner.

Ground beef dinners

Ground beef cooks fast, freezes well, and goes with almost everything.

• Taco skillet: Ground beef, taco seasoning, beans, corn, and rice in one pan, topped with cheese
• Cheeseburger macaroni: A homemade version of the boxed classic
• Sloppy joes: Ground beef in a sweet tomato sauce on buns
• Skillet lasagna: Broken noodles, sauce, ground beef, and cheese, all in one pan
• Spaghetti with meat sauce: Brown the beef while the water boils
• Beef and broccoli: Ground or thin-sliced beef with frozen broccoli and a soy-garlic sauce over rice
• Chili mac: Chili and elbow macaroni cooked together and topped with cheese
• Ground beef stroganoff: Beef, mushrooms, and sour cream over egg noodles
• Beefaroni: Macaroni, ground beef, and tomato sauce
• Taco spaghetti: Spaghetti tossed with taco meat, salsa, and cheese
• Haystacks: Rice or chips piled with seasoned beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream
• Hamburger gravy: Ground beef in a simple brown gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, or toast
• Stuffed pepper skillet: All the flavor of stuffed peppers, with rice, beef, peppers, and tomatoes in one pan
• Beef and rice with tomatoes: Ground beef, rice, corn, and a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles
• Teriyaki beef bowls: Ground beef in teriyaki sauce over rice with steamed vegetables

Chicken dinners

Chicken breasts cook faster when you slice them thin or pound them flat. Tenders cook faster still.

• Chicken and broccoli Alfredo: Pasta, chicken, frozen broccoli, and a quick cream sauce
• Chicken fajitas: Strips of chicken, peppers, and onions with warm tortillas
• Chicken Parmesan: Thin breaded cutlets topped with sauce and mozzarella, served with spaghetti
• Lemon pepper chicken: Thin cutlets seared in a skillet with rice and a green vegetable
• Chicken stir-fry: Chicken and frozen stir-fry vegetables in a soy-ginger sauce over rice
• Chicken and rice skillet: Chicken, broth, rice, and broccoli, finished with cheese
• Honey garlic chicken: Bite-size chicken in a sticky honey, garlic, and soy sauce
• Cashew chicken: Chicken, cashews, and vegetables in a simple brown sauce
• Pancit: A fast Filipino noodle stir-fry with thin rice noodles, chicken, cabbage, carrots, and soy sauce
• Chicken tenders: Bake or pan-fry and serve with dipping sauces and a vegetable
• Barbecue chicken: Thin chicken breasts brushed with barbecue sauce, with corn and coleslaw
• Chicken teriyaki rice bowls: Chicken, rice, and steamed broccoli with teriyaki sauce
• Creamy Tuscan chicken: Chicken in a cream sauce with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes
• Chicken tacos: Seasoned chicken strips with your favorite toppings

Pork, ham, and sausage dinners

Smoked sausage and ham are already cooked, so they only need to be heated through.

• Sausage, peppers, and onions: Serve on rolls or over rice
• Kielbasa and potatoes: Sliced sausage browned with diced potatoes and green beans
• Pork chops: Thin chops cook in about 10 minutes in a hot skillet
• Egg roll in a bowl: Ground pork and coleslaw mix stir-fried with soy sauce and ginger
• Sausage and tortellini: Italian sausage, tortellini, and spinach in a tomato cream sauce
• Ham and cheese sliders: Baked on slider rolls and brushed with butter
• Ham fried rice: Diced ham, rice, eggs, and peas
• Red beans and rice with sausage: Canned red beans, smoked sausage, and rice
• Sausage gravy over biscuits: Breakfast or dinner, it works either way

Fish and seafood dinners

Shrimp cooks in 3 to 5 minutes, and fish fillets in about 10.

• Shrimp scampi: Shrimp, garlic, butter, and lemon over spaghetti
• Shrimp tacos: Seasoned shrimp with coleslaw and lime
• Shrimp fried rice: Shrimp, rice, eggs, and frozen peas and carrots
• Garlic butter shrimp and rice: Shrimp sautéed in garlic butter over rice with a vegetable
• Baked fish: White fish fillets baked with lemon, butter, and breadcrumbs
• Breaded fish fillets: Bake with frozen fries and coleslaw
• Salmon patties: Canned salmon, breadcrumbs, and an egg, fried until golden
• Tuna noodle skillet: Egg noodles, canned tuna, peas, and a creamy sauce
• Tuna pasta salad: Pasta, tuna, peas, and mayonnaise, served cold

Pasta dinners

Pasta is the fastest pantry dinner there is. Start the water first, and dinner is ready in the time it takes to cook.

• Baked ravioli: Frozen ravioli layered with sauce and cheese, baked until bubbly
• Pasta bake: Penne, jarred sauce, and browned ground beef, topped with mozzarella and baked until the cheese melts
• Pasta primavera: Pasta with whatever vegetables you have and a little olive oil or sauce
• Tortellini with jarred sauce: Fresh or frozen tortellini cooks in about 3 minutes
• Pasta with broccoli: Pasta and broccoli tossed with garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan
• Creamy pesto pasta: Jarred pesto, a splash of cream, and chicken or peas
• Pasta with garlic and oil: Spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and parsley
• One-pot spaghetti: Noodles, sauce, and water cook together in one pot
• Mac and cheese: Homemade on the stovetop in the time it takes to make the boxed kind, or baked under a buttery cracker crumb topping
• Pierogies with sausage and onions: Frozen pierogies browned in a skillet
• Spaghetti pie: Leftover spaghetti baked with eggs and cheese until it holds its shape

Soup dinners

Soup made with broth and canned goods is ready in about 30 minutes. Serve it with bread, crackers, or a sandwich.

• Chicken tortilla soup: Broth, canned tomatoes, beans, corn, and shredded chicken
• Black bean soup: Canned beans, broth, salsa, and cumin, blended until smooth
• Egg drop soup: Broth, eggs, and green onions, with fried rice on the side
• Tortellini soup: Tortellini, Italian sausage, spinach, and broth
• Hamburger soup: Ground beef, frozen mixed vegetables, canned tomatoes, and broth
• Quick chicken noodle soup: Rotisserie chicken, broth, carrots, celery, and egg noodles
• Potato soup: Diced potatoes, broth, milk, and cheese, topped with bacon
• Lasagna soup: Broken lasagna noodles, ground beef, and tomatoes, topped with ricotta

Meatless dinners

Beans, eggs, and cheese make filling, inexpensive dinners with no meat at all.

• Bean and cheese burritos: Refried beans, rice, and cheese, wrapped and warmed
• Black bean quesadillas: Black beans, corn, cheese, and salsa
• Vegetable stir-fry: Zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, and spinach, or a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables, over rice or noodles
• Rice and beans: Seasoned rice with black or pinto beans and salsa
• Frittata: Eggs, cheese, and vegetables, finished under the broiler
• Spinach and white bean pasta: Pasta, canned white beans, spinach, garlic, and Parmesan
• Veggie fried rice: Rice, eggs, and whatever vegetables you have
• Cheese enchiladas: Tortillas, cheese, and enchilada sauce, baked until bubbly
• Black bean chili: Beans, tomatoes, corn, and chili powder, ready in 30 minutes

Takeout fakeout: better than delivery

These homemade versions of takeout favorites are often ready before a delivery driver would be.

• Orange chicken: Breaded chicken in a sweet orange sauce over rice
• Hibachi chicken: Seared chicken with zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions, served with rice
• Lo mein: Spaghetti or lo mein noodles with vegetables and a soy sauce mix
• Sweet and sour chicken: Chicken, peppers, and pineapple in a sweet and sour sauce
• Burgers and fries: Smash burgers and frozen fries in the oven or air fryer
• Chicken nuggets: Homemade or frozen, with honey mustard and barbecue sauce
• Philly cheesesteaks: Thin-sliced beef, peppers, onions, and provolone on rolls
• Gyros: Seasoned chicken in pita with cucumber sauce, tomatoes, and onions
• Burrito bowls: Rice, beans, chicken, corn, salsa, cheese, and sour cream
• Crispy chicken sandwiches: Breaded chicken on buns with pickles and mayonnaise
• Calzones: Refrigerated pizza dough filled with cheese, pepperoni, and sauce

Pizza night shortcuts

Pizza is the dinner almost everyone agrees on. These skip the homemade dough.

• French bread pizza: Split a loaf, add sauce, cheese, and toppings, and bake
• English muffin pizzas: A kid favorite that’s ready in 10 minutes
• Tortilla pizzas: Crispy, thin, and ready in about 8 minutes
• Naan or pita pizzas: One per person, so everyone picks their own toppings
• Pizza quesadillas: Mozzarella, pepperoni, and sauce in a tortilla
• Pizza pasta bake: Pasta, sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni baked in a dish
• Pepperoni bread: Refrigerated pizza dough rolled up with pepperoni and cheese
• Bagel pizzas: Bagel halves topped and toasted

Sandwich and wrap dinners

A hot sandwich and a bowl of soup or some fruit is a full meal.

• Grilled cheese and tomato soup: A classic for a reason
• Tuna melts: Tuna salad and cheese on bread, toasted under the broiler
• Meatball subs: Frozen meatballs, sauce, and mozzarella on rolls
• BLTs: Bacon, lettuce, and tomato, with chips or fruit on the side
• Hot ham and cheese: Baked in foil until the cheese melts
• Chicken Caesar wraps: Rotisserie chicken, romaine, Parmesan, and dressing in a tortilla
• Sliders: Ham and cheese, turkey, cheeseburger, or barbecue chicken on a pan of slider rolls, baked together in about 20 minutes
• Patty melts: A burger with grilled onions and Swiss cheese on rye
• French dip sandwiches: Deli roast beef on rolls with warm broth for dipping
• Barbecue chicken sandwiches: Shredded chicken in barbecue sauce on buns
• Open-faced turkey sandwiches: Turkey on bread with hot gravy
• Egg salad sandwiches: Make the eggs ahead, and dinner takes 5 minutes

One-pan and sheet pan dinners

Sheet pan dinners are about as hands-off as cooking gets. Everything roasts together at 400°F to 425°F, and there’s only one pan to wash.

• Sausage and potatoes: Smoked sausage, diced potatoes, peppers, and onions
• Chicken and vegetables: Chicken thighs with broccoli, carrots, and potatoes
• Sheet pan fajitas: Chicken or steak strips with peppers and onions
• Sheet pan nachos: Chips, beans, ground beef, and cheese, baked until melted
• Sheet pan quesadillas: One giant quesadilla made from overlapping tortillas
• Pancakes on a sheet pan: Pour the batter in, add fruit or chocolate chips, and cut into squares
• Meatballs and green beans: Frozen meatballs roast alongside the vegetables
• Salmon and asparagus: Season, roast, and serve with rice
• Kielbasa and cabbage: A hearty, budget-friendly fall supper
• Ham and pineapple: Cubed ham, pineapple, and peppers glazed with a little brown sugar

Freezer-to-table dinners

A stocked freezer is the best friend a busy cook can have. When you’ve already done the work, dinner is just a matter of reheating.

• Casseroles you assembled on the weekend: Lasagna, baked ziti, or chicken and rice
• Soups and chili: Freeze in portions, then reheat on the stove
• Meatballs: Make a big batch and use them for spaghetti, subs, or Swedish meatballs
• Burritos: Wrap them individually and microwave as needed
• Cooked shredded chicken: Ready for tacos, soup, casseroles, and wraps
• Browned ground beef: Ready for tacos, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce, and chili
• Slow cooker freezer kits: Raw ingredients bagged together and dumped into the slow cooker in the morning

Browse more than 900 freezer meals in our Freezer Meals library, including casseroles and soups that go from freezer to table on a busy night.

No-cook dinners

Some nights are too hot, too busy, or too tiring to turn on the stove. These need no cooking at all, or just a microwave.

• Snack board dinner: Cheese, crackers, lunch meat, fruit, vegetables, and dip
• Chef salad: Lettuce, ham, turkey, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and dressing
• Taco salad: Lettuce, beans, cheese, salsa, and crushed tortilla chips
• Wraps and pinwheels: Tortillas rolled with cream cheese, lunch meat, and spinach
• Chicken salad sandwiches: Rotisserie chicken mixed with mayonnaise, celery, and grapes
• Tuna salad: Serve on crackers, in a sandwich, or stuffed in a tomato
• Pasta salad: Make it the night before with leftover pasta and vegetables
• Hummus plates: Hummus with pita, cucumbers, carrots, and olives
• Bagel sandwiches: Bagels with cream cheese, lunch meat, or egg salad

Breakfast for dinner

Breakfast for dinner is fast, cheap, and loved by just about every kid. Most of it uses ingredients you already have.

• Pancakes or waffles with bacon or sausage
• Scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit
• Breakfast burritos
• French toast
• Biscuits and sausage gravy
• Egg sandwiches on English muffins
• A breakfast casserole you made ahead
• Hash browns with eggs and cheese

Slow cooker and pressure cooker dinners

A slow cooker does its work while you’re at work. Ten minutes in the morning means dinner is waiting when you get home. A pressure cooker does the opposite: it turns long-cooking meals into 30-minute ones when you forgot to plan.

Slow cooker:

• Pulled pork: Serve on buns with coleslaw
• Chili: Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices
• Pot roast: Chuck roast with potatoes and carrots
• Salsa chicken: Chicken breasts and a jar of salsa, shredded for tacos or rice bowls
• Beef stew: Stew meat, potatoes, carrots, and broth
• Chicken and dumplings: Add refrigerated biscuits for the last hour
• Barbecue meatballs: Frozen meatballs and a bottle of barbecue sauce
• Potato soup: Diced potatoes, broth, and cream cheese, topped with bacon and cheese
• Italian dressing chicken: Chicken breasts with a bottle of Italian dressing, served over rice or pasta
• Ham and beans: Dried beans, a ham bone or diced ham, and onion
• French dip: Chuck roast cooked in broth, sliced thin for sandwiches

Pressure cooker:

• Chicken and rice: Chicken, rice, broth, and vegetables in one pot
• Shredded chicken tacos: Chicken breasts with salsa and taco seasoning
• Chili: Ready in about 30 minutes, start to finish
• Spaghetti: Noodles, sauce, and ground beef cook together
• Mac and cheese: Creamy and ready in less time than boiling water on the stove
• Beef stew: Fork-tender in under an hour

Air fryer dinners

An air fryer heats up in minutes and crisps food without a pot of oil. It’s ideal for small batches.

• Chicken tenders or nuggets: Homemade or frozen, crispy in about 12 minutes
• Chicken thighs: Seasoned and cooked until the skin is crisp
• Pork chops: Golden outside and juicy inside
• Salmon: Done in about 8 to 10 minutes
• Shrimp: Frozen shrimp cooks in just a few minutes
• Meatballs: Frozen or homemade, for subs or spaghetti
• Burgers: No splattering stovetop
• Quesadillas: Crispy without flipping in a skillet
• Baked potatoes: Crisp skins in about 40 minutes, hands off
• Egg rolls and taquitos: Frozen ones taste almost fresh-fried

Grocery store shortcuts that still count as dinner

There is no rule that says every dinner has to be made from scratch. These shortcuts get a meal on the table with almost no effort, and they still cost less than takeout.

• Rotisserie chicken with a bagged salad and microwave rice
• Frozen lasagna with garlic bread and a salad
• Frozen meatballs with jarred sauce and pasta
• Frozen potstickers with fried rice
• Frozen orange chicken with steamed vegetables and instant rice
• Bagged salad kits topped with chicken, tuna, or hard-boiled eggs
• Deli chicken salad on croissants
• Frozen burritos baked with enchilada sauce and cheese
• Refrigerated tortellini with jarred pesto or Alfredo sauce
• Boxed macaroni and cheese with tuna, ham, or frozen peas stirred in
• Frozen fish sticks with tater tots and coleslaw
• Canned soup with grilled cheese

Rotisserie chicken dinners

A store-bought rotisserie chicken is one of the best shortcuts there is. It often costs less than a raw chicken, and it’s ready to use.

• Chicken tacos or quesadillas
• Chicken noodle soup with broth and egg noodles
• Chicken Caesar salad
• Barbecue chicken sandwiches
• Chicken Alfredo
• Chicken fried rice
• Buffalo chicken wraps
• Chicken pot pie with a refrigerated crust

Refrigerate rotisserie chicken within two hours of buying it, and use the leftovers within three to four days, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. If you won’t use it in time, pull the meat off the bones and freeze it.

Turn leftovers into a quick dinner

Leftovers are the original fast food. Make extra of one meal, and the next one is half done.

• Leftover chili becomes chili dogs, chili mac, or baked potatoes with chili.
• Leftover taco meat becomes nachos, taco salad, or quesadillas.
• Leftover rice becomes fried rice or rice bowls. Our list of rice add-ins has 54 more ways to dress it up.
• Leftover spaghetti sauce becomes pizza, baked ziti, or sloppy joes.
• Leftover pot roast becomes beef and noodles or hash.
• Leftover ham becomes ham fried rice, ham and potato soup, or omelets.

Our guide to cooking once and eating twice has dozens more ways to turn one meal into two.

The “nothing planned” backup list

Every family needs a short list of meals for the nights when the plan falls apart. Keep the ingredients for two or three of these on hand at all times, and you’ll never need to grab takeout because there’s nothing in the house.

1. Spaghetti: A box of pasta and a jar of sauce, with frozen meatballs if you have them
2. Breakfast for dinner: Eggs, toast, and whatever fruit is in the house
3. Quesadillas: Tortillas, cheese, and a can of beans
4. Soup and sandwiches: Canned or frozen soup with grilled cheese
5. Fried rice: Rice, eggs, and a bag of frozen vegetables
6. Baked potatoes: Microwaved and topped with cheese, broccoli, chili, or bacon
7. Frozen pizza: Dress it up with extra cheese or vegetables

Write your list on a card and tape it inside a cabinet door. When someone asks what’s for dinner, you’ll have an answer.

10 ways to get dinner on the table faster

1. Plan your meals. Even a rough plan for the week means you know what to start when you get home.
2. Prep when you unpack groceries. Chop onions and peppers, wash produce, and portion meat before it goes in the refrigerator. Our guide on how to meal prep for the week shows you how.
3. Cook a protein in bulk. Brown 3 pounds of ground beef or cook a big batch of chicken, then freeze it in meal-size portions.
4. Double your recipes. Make two casseroles and freeze one.
5. Thaw tomorrow’s dinner tonight. Move meat from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before.
6. Use shortcuts without guilt. Bagged salad, frozen vegetables, jarred sauce, and rotisserie chicken all count as dinner.
7. Start the water first. Put the pasta water or the oven on before you take off your coat.
8. Keep the sides simple. A bagged salad, steamed frozen vegetables, or sliced fruit is plenty.
9. Clean as you go. Load the dishwasher while dinner cooks so you’re not facing a pile afterward.
10. Let the family help. Kids can set the table, wash vegetables, stir, and grate cheese.

Build quick dinners into your week

You don’t need every night to be a quick night. Look at your calendar, find the busy evenings like practice nights, late workdays, and church nights, and plan your quick dinners there. Save the bigger meals for the nights when you have more time.

Theme nights help, too. A Thirty-Minute Thursday or a Slow Cooker Saturday gives your busiest nights a plan before the week even starts. Find more than 100 ideas in our guide to theme night dinner ideas.

When you’re ready to put it all together, the Meal Planner can fill in your week for you, and our guide to meal planning on a budget will help you keep costs down.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest dinner to make? Quesadillas, scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, and tuna melts can all be ready in 10 to 15 minutes. Pasta with jarred sauce takes about 15 minutes, most of it waiting for the water to boil.

What can I make for dinner when I have nothing in the house? Check for eggs, pasta, rice, canned beans, and tortillas. With any two of those, you can make fried rice, quesadillas, breakfast for dinner, or pasta with butter and cheese.

How do I make dinner faster on weeknights? Plan your meals ahead, prep vegetables and meat when you get home from the store, and keep cooked ground beef and chicken in the freezer. A slow cooker started in the morning also saves time at night.

What are some quick dinners for kids? Kids love breakfast for dinner, English muffin pizzas, quesadillas, chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and hot dogs. Letting them build their own tacos or pizzas makes dinner fun.

Are quick dinners healthy? They can be. Add a bagged salad, frozen vegetables, or fruit to any quick meal. Frozen vegetables are picked and frozen at their peak and are a fast, affordable way to add vegetables to dinner.

What’s the cheapest quick dinner? Beans and rice, pasta with sauce, fried rice, egg dishes, and baked potatoes are some of the least expensive meals you can make, and they’re all ready in about 30 minutes.

How do I cook frozen meat quickly? The safest ways to thaw meat are in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Meat thawed in cold water or the microwave should be cooked right away. Ground beef frozen flat thaws fastest.

How many quick meals should I plan each week? Most families do well with two or three quick meals each week, set on their busiest nights. Add one leftover night and one backup meal, and the week is covered.