Raise your hand if you’ve ever looked at the clock and found it says 5 PM and you actually have no idea what you’re doing for dinner that night. ME! When I was single and childless it was never a big deal, but with a family it can be stressful. So I like to have a few last minute dinners in my pocket that I can prepare in a very short amount of time.
Many fast dinner lists feature slow cooker recipes, but I specifically didn’t want that because when you have a slow cooker planned ahead of time, you don’t need a quick dinner. Dinner is indeed cooking while you go about your day. (You can check out my slow cooker section for good ideas though.)
So, without further ado, here are fifteen wonderful ideas to save for later, just in case you ever need a quick, last-minute dinner!
Note on ingredients: It’s impossible for me to know what items you have in your pantry, but I’ve tried to select recipes that have relatively few ingredients. You may have to make a quick stop at the store if you don’t have all the ingredients.
Note on timing: These recipes are recipes every 15-20 minutes. Some of the times on them say 30 minutes, but I consistently get these under 30 minutes. Some of these are literally five minute recipes. Enjoy!
Ricotta Tomato Toast
Okay, so this recipe is at its best when you’re in the summer peak season for tomatoes, but honestly, when you’re hungry and need a meal in just minutes, it doesn’t get any easier. I’m not sure I would use tomatoes in the jar unless you strained them, but you could use chopped grape tomatoes and get pretty close. It’s a quick meal and really filling!
Lemon tuna salad with capers
People often look to the can of tuna for a quick meal, and with good reason. It’s fast, healthy, and fairly economical. But with just a few ingredients, you can whip up your tuna salad in minutes and make a truly delicious tuna salad.
Curry Chickpea Sandwiches
Speaking of opening the can and eating dinner, these curry chickpea sandwiches are one of my favorite no-cook meals. You stir all the ingredients together and smash it between toast. It’s absolutely delicious. Bonus: This recipe is very flexible. If you don’t have all the parts, it will probably still work.
Spicy Avocado Egg Salad
Oh egg salad! More quick salads! The longest part of this meal is preparing the hard-boiled eggs, but after that it’s super quick and I love the tangy kick and avocado twist of a regular egg salad.
Crispy Chickpea Patties
OK. I guess these chickpea pies actually require turning on a stove. But they’re quick to make and get super crispy after just a few minutes in a pan. Top with some yogurt and sour cream and they’ll feel fancy after about 10 minutes of work.
Grilled skirt steak – perfect every time
When you need a quick meal, the broiler is your friend. You could be eating a steak in less than 10 minutes! In a pinch, I could make a meal out of this grilled skirt steak, some toast, and the quick chimichurri sauce. Yummy.
Fried pork chops
Keeping with the broiler theme, these pork chops take a little longer than the steak, but not by much, and instantly feel like a full dinner. Serve them with a quick salad or minute rice and you’re in business.
Rice paper eggs
When I think of last-minute dinners, I often think about breakfast. Most breakfast recipes are quick to prepare and I love breakfast flavors. These fun rice paper eggs take just minutes to make and you can stack several for a seriously delicious dinner.
Easy breakfast tortilla with bacon and cheese
For quick breakfast ideas! I use these breakfast tortillas to clean up the fridge. Add almost any protein or vegetable and crisp it up on the outside in a skillet or griddle. Maybe 10 minutes at most to get dinner on the table.
Easy kimchi noodle bowls
Some pasta recipes can be very complicated, but there are also some unicorn pasta recipes that are a 10-15 minute kitchen adventure. These bowls use fast cooking noodles and the kimchi does most of the flavor work.
Chicken and pasta with crispy parsley crumbs
Egg noodles cook up quickly, but the trick to really making this recipe last minute is to use a rotisserie chicken. Then it’s almost too quick to cook. But plan some time for the crunchy breadcrumbs. You are worth the few minutes!
Chicken smash burger with cheddar and onions
A full burger in the crunch? Secure! These chicken smash burgers cook in about five minutes and they’re a nice twist on the classic beef smash burger. Top with some cheese and pickles and serve with a quick side dish like fries or a salad.
Shrimp Salad Wraps with Avocado
Shrimp is always a good choice for last minute dinners. They cook in minutes and can be used in a million recipes. These lettuce wraps are light, healthy and delicious with the dipping sauce.
Peach Grilled Cheese
Don’t forget the ultimate last minute dinner: The Grilled Cheese! I have a ton of grilled cheese recipes on Macheesmo, but this peach version is one of my favorites, especially in late summer when peaches are perfect.
Turkey Crunch Wraps
After all, a sort of mash-up between burgers, quesadillas, and sandwiches, these crunch wraps really aren’t meant to be as fast as they are. They almost act like a cheat code. So tasty and would be a great way to unwind with a beer after a long day.
Do you have any last minute dinner ideas?! Leave a comment with your favorites!