Four Great Meal Ideas in Fifteen Minutes

We all have days that, for one reason or another, fall apart fast and dinner is the last thing you have energy or time for. You family is counting on you, but don’t you panic. Read these dinner ideas that utilize a few pantry or freezer staples to get dinner to the table in fifteen minutes or less, even up against the obstacles of limited time and a diminished stock of food.

Personal Pizzas
Get creative with the crust; you can use pita bread, English muffins, French bread, buns, tortillas, or even refrigerated biscuits. Think beyond regular old pizza sauce. I usually do keep that as a pantry staple, but I have also used leftover pesto, Alfredo, taco sauce, or even salsa. Use remnants of meals past to top—onions, peppers, cheese, chicken, spinach, tomatoes, crushed tortilla chips. Pizza is a crowd pleaser no matter how you serve it, and most of these combinations bake together in ten minutes or less. Plus, you can make great use of “odds and ends” ingredients.

Quick Quesadilla
Similar to pizza, the quesadilla is a classic quick fix entrée idea. Imagination is the key to using leftover ingredients combined with pantry staples to rapidly assemble a meal.  Flavor combinations can include refried beans, cheese, taco sauce, and onions for a south-of-the-border sensation, or try a Mediterranean variation by using spinach, feta, and roasted red peppers. Whatever the combination, you can count on a melty quesadilla to come together in a few minutes and satisfy your family’s appetite.

Pasta
Pasta boils in about ten minutes; in a pinch, that ten minutes will give you enough time to craft a sauce to top it with. Canned fire-roasted tomatoes coupled with grated parmesan and/or fresh herbs make a great sauce. You can also create a kid/adult friendly version of mac and cheese. I use penne noodles, then make a cheesy sauce out of reduced fat cheddar, skim milk and a dab of butter. Jazz it up for adults by adding diced green onions, black beans, and chopped tomatoes. Leftover buns can turn into a great side dish of garlic bread to accompany any pasta combination. A meal in minutes using items you have on hand!

Grilled Cheese
On your busiest night, a slice of cheese sandwiched between two slices of bread can qualify as a meal. Think beyond the standard grilled cheese to create a more satisfying speedy sandwich. In fifteen minutes or less you can use two slices of whole grain bread, sauté onions, peppers, and mushrooms (or any combination of veggies on hand), and top with reduced-fat mozzarella cheese. Serve hot and dip in marinara sauce. Use tuna, ham, or a meaty portabella mushroom to add more substance to your sandwich.

Use these four dinner ideas when time is tight and supplies are short.