Easy Recipes That Take Less Than One Hour

When you're short on time, a collection of quick dishes in your culinary arsenal can be game-changing. These delicious and easy recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner take no longer than 60 minutes to make and are packed with bold flavors. Now you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time reading that book, finishing that movie or even organizing that closet.

Nothing says quick and easy like breakfast tacos packed with crispy potatoes, melted cheese and the perfect fluffy scrambled eggs. It's a foolproof recipe for when you don't have the time, but do have a few mouths to feed.

For the Breakfast Tacos recipe, click here.

This fantastic sandwich hits all the right notes. It's slightly tart from the balsamic vinegar, a little sweet from the caramelized onions, creamy and crunchy from the oozing brie cheese and crusty bread. This elegant twist on a classic grilled cheese sandwich comes together in under 20 minutes.

For the Balsamic, Mushroom and Onion Grilled Brie Cheese Sandwich recipe, click here.

You don't really need a recipe to make frittatas, which is one of the reasons they make a fantastic lazy dinner with a side salad. Once you've nailed down the base of eggs, milk (or heavy cream) and salt and pepper, you can add just about anything you'd like before popping it in the oven. If you're trying to get more veggies into your diet, frittatas are a great way to sneak some greens in along with a few other unexpected ingredients.

For the Vegetable and Cheese Frittata recipe, click here.

Try this low-carb and keto-friendly frittata for a quick and filling breakfast or a light brunch that still feels gourmet. With the help of an Instant Pot, you can serve a fluffy and flavorful frittata packed with ham, melted cheese and broccoli in under an hour.

For the Broccoli Frittata with Ham and Peppers recipe, click here.

With just-right poached eggs and spinach, this comforting dish is a welcome spoonful on chilly afternoons. It's a terrific way to sneak in more fiber to your diet and comes together easily in an Instant Pot.

For the Lentils and Poached Eggs recipe, click here.

Store-bought puff pastry is a genius ingredient to have on hand and can be made into a number of different dishes. Just remember to defrost it for 15 minutes before rolling or cutting it out. This tart is a sophisticated option for a light dinner or brunch with an egg on top, garnished with prosciutto, asparagus and fontina cheese.

For the Puff Pastry Egg Tart recipe, click here.

Pesto is a lot simpler to make than one might imagine considering it's so full of flavor. All you need is good-quality, fresh ingredients and a food processor or blender. This 15-minute recipe has toasted pine nuts and uses green garlic, which is similar to green onion. Keep an eye out at your local farmers market for the stalky vegetable.

For the Green Garlic and Basil Pesto recipe, click here.

Think soup is something too complicated to make at home? Think again. A hearty pot of soup doesn't have to take all day to make. In fact, it can easily be made in under an hour. To maximize flavor in this creamy tomato basil soup, cook the onions, carrots and garlic in hot oil before adding the diced tomatoes and broth. You'll need a blender to puree everything until it's smooth before returning it back to the pot to simmer gently.

For the Creamy Tomato Basil Soup recipe, click here.

Flatbreads and pizzas are very customizable and super fun for supper. Next time you're looking for a creative dinner dish to spice up your week in a hurry, try this barbecue chicken flatbread. Topped with a flavorful barbecue sauce, sauteed red onions and roasted jalapeno peppers, this sweet and spicy combo will become a family favorite.

For the BBQ Chicken Flatbread recipe, click here.

An Instant Pot can really save the day when it comes to quick meals. This protein-packed casserole consists of bacon, sweet potatoes, onions and peppers and requires only five minutes of hands-on cooking. The rest of the dish magically comes together in under 30 minutes.

For the Instant Pot Bacon Casserole recipe, click here.

Pizza night is fun and easy with these 15-minute naan pizzas. You can find good-quality fresh or frozen naan at most major supermarkets that bake up beautifully as a doughy, crispy crust. And to make it even easier, use any jarred tomato sauce and your favorite toppings. To get you started, try a classic Margherita with tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. The options are endless.

For the Mini Naan Pizzas recipe, click here.

This vegetarian recipe can be made for lunch or dinner, and while the tomatoes bake in the oven, feel free to make a side of lean salmon or salad. Stuffed tomatoes are an easy homemade dish that can be filled with just about any combination of ingredients — rice, beans, meat or even couscous like in this Mediterranean-inspired recipe.

For the Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes recipe, click here.

This chicken parmesan recipe is a game-changer and is made in the ever-popular air fryer. It makes flawless crispy breaded chicken without all the oil and eliminates the mess of pan-frying. Set up a breading station, pour your sauce, shred some cheese and have a seemingly complicated dinner on the table in under 40 minutes.

For the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe, click here.

Instead of spending time dipping and flipping, this recipe has all the flavors and warm gooeyness of French toast in one pan for a spectacular brunch. Brioche, when mixed together with classic French toast ingredients, baked and drizzled with maple syrup, is absolutely delectable.

For the Maple Glazed French Toast Casserole recipe, click here.

These quinoa burrito bowls are super easy to make and filled with heart-healthy quinoa, chicken sausage and all the taco toppings. It's a delicious time-saver for when you're craving tacos but don't have the bandwidth to top, layer and fold each individual tortilla or shell. With cheese, crispy lettuce, salsa, cilantro and fresh sliced avocado, this 15-minute meal will become a go-to lunch or dinner.

For the 15-Minute Quinoa Burrito Bowls recipe, click here.

These are a flavor-packed spin on the typical breakfast taco. The only time-consuming element of this is the 20-30 minutes it takes to slowly caramelize the onions. But once you've got the onions taken care of, all you need is a few more minutes to stuff your tortillas with fluffy scrambled eggs and black beans.

For the Sweet Chili Caramelized Onion Breakfast Tacos recipe, click here.

If you're looking for an easy appetizer that doesn't require hours to make, these honey bacon-wrapped Tater Tots are ideal. They require no more than three ingredients and 20 minutes from start to finish.

For the Honey Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots recipe, click here.

Though a boxed mac and cheese might be more appealing if you're pressed for time, nothing beats a home-cooked meal, especially if it can be done in an hour tops. To make an extra-creamy mac and cheese, use a combination of sharp cheddar and colby jack, and a generous pour of heavy cream and chicken broth in the sauce. Now all you have to do is add some unexpected ingredients that go great with mac and cheese to make it pop.

For the Mac and Cheese recipe, click here.

These cranberry-orange rolls will make your kitchen smell like a bakery and your family will not believe it took you only 45 minutes. The store-bought refrigerated rolls are taken up a notch and studded with cranberries, pineapple, ginger and walnuts. Throw these in the oven while you brew a big pot of coffee and you'll have breakfast and dessert for a couple days.

For the Bejeweled Cranberry-Orange Rolls recipe, click here.

Buffalo-flavored anything is always a crowd-pleaser. These buffalo roasted cauliflower bowls are such a brilliant way to eat the starchy vegetable and are anything but boring. Take a store-bought buffalo sauce and douse it over the cauliflower florets before baking them. While those cook, cut up some vegetables of your choice, mixed greens and any other mix-in you want to build the bowls.

For the Buffalo Roasted Cauliflower Bowls recipe, click here.

If you're looking for more upgrades to the typical grilled cheese or just to sneak in some extra vegetables, which are particularly healthy when they are in season, try out this easy recipe that showcases asparagus. In under half an hour, you can make a sandwich of buttery toasted bread packed with roasted asparagus and gooey cheese that even your kids will love.

For the Asparagus Grilled Cheese recipe, click here.

Cauliflower gnocchi is one of those Trader Joe's products that customers love the most. Super simple to make, just saute them from frozen with a generous drizzle of olive oil and pair with your favorite marinara. But this baked version takes it even further by roasting the frozen gnocchi in an even layer before layering the sauce and cheese and baking it all again until it's bubbly and delicious.

For the Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Bake recipe, click here.

Enchiladas are a Tex-Mex classic that is a must-try at the best Mexican restaurants in America. It might seem daunting to make them at home, but with a few grocery store shortcuts, you can have homemade enchiladas in a little over 30 minutes.

For the Easy Chicken Enchiladas recipe, click here.

Rice pudding is an old-fashioned dessert that is as comforting as it is mouthwatering. This Instant Pot rice pudding is a shortcut variation of kheer, which is a wildly popular sweet treat in India and uses cardamom for a special kick.

For the Instant Pot Indian Rice Pudding recipe, click here.

Smoothie bowls are thicker than a regular smoothie and topped with things like granola, fruit and berries — and in this case, coconut and banana chips as well. The base of the smoothie bowl includes frozen bananas, frozen or fresh mango and pineapple chunks and dairy-free yogurt, which comes together in a quick whirl from the blender.

For the Tropical Smoothie Bowl with Dairy-Free Yogurt recipe, click here.

Perfect for an effortless lunch or even dinner, this hash is made of bright sweet potatoes, hearty Italian sausage, crispy Brussels sprouts and fried eggs. The pinch of spices adds just the right punch of flavor.

For the Lazy Sweet Potato Hash recipe, click here.

Great Italian food can be less than an hour away. The best part of this quick dish is that you probably already have everything on hand. It requires only six ingredients, including eggs and parmesan cheese, which coat the spaghetti in a luxurious and simple sauce.

For the Simple Spaghetti Carbonara recipe, click here.

With teriyaki sauce, pineapple, ham and provolone cheese all baked inside slightly sweetened fluffy Hawaiian rolls, this fun take on classic sliders is an instant winner. The traditional Easter flavors will be a welcome addition to any spring brunch.

For the Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe, click here.

This Greek-inspired pasta dish is incredibly savory with black olives and sun-dried tomatoes. The feta cheese adds a salty creaminess and the spinach complements each of the flavors nicely. And not only will it take just 30 minutes to prepare, but the pasta salad is also a great way to use up pantry staples.

For the Penny with Black Olives, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Feta and Spinach recipe, click here.

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