31 Speedy 15-Minute Dinners to Save You This January (Meal Plan)

January is busy enough—dinner shouldn’t add to the stress. These fast 15-minute dinners will help you get a satisfying meal on the table every night this month.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published January 03, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
Overhead view of a stoneware bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans next to a spoon and all on a white background

Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

Getting a fresh cooked meal on the table doesn’t mean you have to spend a long time preparing it. With the help of store-bought ingredients like rotisserie chicken, premade sauces, ravioli, and frozen dumplings, you can be sitting down for a satisfying dinner in 15 minutes. Recipes like creamy Tuscan-Style Beans, decadent Dump-and-Stir White Chicken Chili, and flavorful Chorizo Sloppy Joes are on the menu! Whether you choose just a few to try or follow for the full 31 days this month, these speedy dinners will surely satisfy.

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  • One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

    One-Pan Ravioli in a pan with a large spoon

    Simply Recipes

    “Instead of waiting for a large pot of water to boil, the ravioli steams in the skillet with a small amount of water, similar to how you would cook a potsticker, reducing the time and cooking vessels needed.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Dumplings with Peanut-Chile Sauce (15 Minutes, 5 Ingredients)

    Dumplings on a plate topped with peanutchili sauce and garnished with sesame seeds and herbs with a hand pouring chili oil from a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “I like using smooth, creamy peanut butter for its rich texture that drizzles beautifully. That said, chunky peanut butter works just as well if you like extra texture. For those with peanut allergies, a one-to-one swap with tahini works perfectly. It has a similar nutty flavor and creamy consistency.” —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

  • Tuscan-Style Beans

    Overhead shot of Tuscan butter beans in a skillet topped with dollops of ricotta toasted bread on the side

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “The type of sun-dried tomatoes you use in these Tuscan-style beans matters. My grocer carries sun-dried tomatoes in jars packed in oil and sun-dried tomatoes in bags on their own. Use the kind packed in oil here, since the salt and oil they contain are an essential part of creating the sauce.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy Chili Crisp Pasta (4 Ingredients, 15 Minutes)

    A plate of farfalle pasta with chili crisp seasoning and a creamy sauce

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “It’s a true comfort on nights when I don’t even want to dirty a cutting board, because it requires no chopping. The whole thing comes together while the pasta boils. All that’s left to do is serve up the steaming noodles with some extra spice or eat straight from the pan (which, let’s be honest, always tastes better).” —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

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  • Pizza Cottage Cheese Toast (8 Minutes)

    Cottage cheese toast topped with sundried tomatoes on a ceramic plate

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    “For a classic cheese pizza version, simply follow the recipe as-written. I like to finish with a little extra parm, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil or the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. If I have basil handy, it’s going on top. But this is pizza, so you have options!” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Quick Peanut Chicken Noodles (4 Ingredients, 15 Minutes)

    Plate of peanut chicken noodles garnished with a lime wedge

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “If I have them handy, I love topping the noodles with green onions for a little fresh bite. They’re also amazing with a quick cucumber salad or mixed greens with sesame dressing.” —Rebecca Fennel, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy White Beans and Greens

    Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    You can use any canned white bean for this dish, but I prefer cannellini or butter beans as they have a softer texture that works really well here. Make sure to drain the beans in a strainer set over a bowl as you’ll need the aquafaba.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Pesto Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes

    5-Ingredient Pesto Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes in a Bowl Next to Cherry Tomatoes on a Vine

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “I like to toast up some very simple garlic bread while the shrimp are cooking in order to make this a full meal. I simply slice a baguette, lay out all of the slices on my toaster oven baking sheet, and let them go until they have a little golden brown color. Once they’re toasted, I rub each slice with a raw garlic clove, then drizzle on some olive oil. You can add a little flaky salt or Parmesan cheese if you like.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

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  • Tomato-Spinach White Beans (15 Minutes, One Pot)

    Pan of stewed beans with spinach and tomatoes wooden spoon and sliced bread on a cutting board

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    “These beans are fabulous alongside fresh crusty bread—think sourdough, ciabatta, or a baguette. If you have extra time to make a side dish, I recommend crispy roasted potatoes or easy roasted cauliflower.” —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

  • Peanut Butter Noodles (4 Ingredients, 15 Minutes)

    Peanut butter noodles garnished with sesame seeds and scallions in a bowl with serving utensils

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “It’s so simple to throw this dish together. Just boil a pot of noodles, whisk up the sauce, then toss everything together in a big bowl. If you like, you can add some chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, and/or toasted sesame seeds on top.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • 15-Minute Wonton Soup

    wanton soup next to a small bowl of sliced scallions

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    “Add greens. Spinach, bok choy, broccolini, kale, or even shredded cabbage. If it's green and edible, it's fair game. Depending on what you choose, you'll have to determine when to add it. For heartier vegetables, add them while the broth is simmering. More delicate greens, like spinach, can go in after the wontons have cooked.” —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

  • White Bean and Salami Toasts

    White Bean and Salami Toasts on a plate

    Simply Recipes /

    “It’s the kind of dish that you might make in a pinch, just because all the ingredients are so easy to keep around, but once you taste it, you’ll make it again and again.” —Georgia Freedman, Recipe Developer

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  • Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts (5 Ingredients, 15 Minutes)

    Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “This recipe is super simple to make and only requires five ingredients (aside from the oil, salt, and pepper) to pull it all together. Serve with a side dish that will soak up the delicious garlic butter sauce. Mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or crusty bread are all good options.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • 3-Ingredient Dumpling Salad

    A bowl with the Trader Joe's Miso Crunch Chopped Salad Kit and dumplings

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    “One of the best things about this “recipe” is how flexible it is. I’ve made it with all sorts of dumplings, from shrimp to pork and cabbage to vegetable to chicken—everything works. You can change it up to suit your mood and your diet.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Tuna and Butter Bean Stew (15 Minutes)

    15-Minute Tuna and Butter Bean Stew in a bowl with spoon, bread on the side

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “Make this dish even more filling by adding greens like escarole or Swiss chard. Sauté the greens with the onions and garlic before building the broth.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Minute Black Bean Nacho Bowl

    bowl of black bean nacho salad with a dollop of sour cream

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    “The best part of the meal is that everyone can create their bowl however they like. That makes it easy for you and easy for the people you’re feeding. I like to set everything out in bowls on my kitchen countertop and then encourage everyone to have fun making their own meal.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

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  • 5-Ingredient Turkey Taco Bowls

    Ground beef turkey taco bowl with bowls of toppings

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    “For our vegetarian friends, we love draining extra-firm tofu, grating it on the large holes of a box grater, and sauteing it in a pan! The resulting texture is very similar to ground turkey.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 15-Minute Tortellini Soup

    A serving of tortellini soup with a tomato based broth in a bowl, topped with parmesan cheese, with a spoon in the bowl

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “There’s hardly any prep required to make this soup (virtually none if you use frozen or jarred minced garlic instead of chopping your own). It consists of just a handful of pantry staples simmered in a pot until the pasta is tender.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • 15-Minute Shrimp Scampi

    Elise Bauer

    “I keep a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer just for those times when I'm too busy to plan but want a quick and easy meal. I'll put some frozen shrimp in a bowl of ice water. If I'm serving them with pasta, by the time the pasta water has come to a boil, the shrimp are defrosted enough to cook. Shrimp scampi has to be one of the easiest ways to quickly prepare shrimp!” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Falafel Bowls (10 Minutes)

    overhead view of Falafel Bowl - pita, feta, falafel, hummus, lemon slice, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “The centerpiece of this backup plan is Whole Foods' Frozen Falafel Burgers. I discovered them after Simply Recipes released its grocery awards, and now I keep a box on hand at all times. You can also substitute your frozen falafel of choice.” —Lara Eucalano, Recipe Developer

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  • 15-Minute Black Bean Soup

    A bowl of black bean soup, topped with avocado cubes, jalapeño slices, pickled onion and and cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “The only vegetable prep needed is chopping the garlic and onion, and you’re welcome to buy prechopped ones if you’d like to simplify things even further. Either “jarlic” or frozen garlic cubes are a good substitute, and most grocery stores sell prechopped onions in the produce section these days.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Red Lentil Coconut Soup (20 Minutes)

    Coconut Lentil Soup garnished with yogurt in a bowl with a spoon, naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “Red lentils are a great pantry staple to keep on hand as they’re quicker to cook than other types of lentils and lose their shape when cooked, meaning they melt away into various creamy soups, stews, or dips.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Tortilla Soup (5 Ingredients, 15 Minutes)

    Bowl of tortilla soup with avocados chips and cilantro garnishes

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “The beauty of all this is that your current favorite salsa is the one that will be best for your soup. I usually choose fresh salsa made in the grocery store where I shop, but this element is truly the chef’s choice (that’s you!).” — Mackenzie Schieck, Recipe Developer

  • Salmon Piccata (15 Minutes, One Pan)

    overhead view of platter of Salmon Piccata fillets

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “This salmon piccata is indeed saucy, but not overly so. I love serving it over farro, orzo, or garlicky sautéed spinach, which catches extra sauce drippings but doesn’t steal any away from the fish itself.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

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  • Dump-and-Stir White Chicken Chili (15 Minutes, No Chop)

    overhead view of a bowl of Dump-and-Stir White Chicken Chili

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Craig Ruff / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

    “If you’d rather not use canned chicken, you can swap it for 2 cups of shredded, cooked chicken. A rotisserie chicken is very handy here.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Vegetable and Couscous Skillet (15 Minutes)

    A skillet containing couscous, arugula, roasted vegetables, and cheese crumbles, with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    “The secret ingredient is couscous, which has the superpower of only needing five minutes in hot liquid to become tender and plump. If you are unfamiliar with couscous, it’s easy to think it’s a kind of whole grain, like quinoa or rice. It’s actually a tiny pasta made from semolina wheat.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans (15 Minutes)

    Overhead view of a stoneware bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans next to a spoon and all on a white background

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “You just need five ingredients (plus a little oil) and 15 minutes to make this dish from start to finish. You’ve got protein from the beans and cheese and a nice dose of vegetables from the broccoli. Eat it as-is or pair it with a little crusty bread, and dinner is done in record time.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Sausage White Bean Soup (15 Minutes, 4 Ingredients)

    A white bowl with kale, white bean and sausage soup, places on a dark green plate on a wooden serving board

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    “The soup is good without toppings, but if you have crushed red pepper or grated parmesan cheese, I recommend adding them. I always serve this soup with some kind of toasted, sliced bread for dipping in the flavorful broth. I love sourdough, but a baguette or even a soft roll would be fantastic.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

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  • Easy Noodle Bowl (15 Minutes)

    A bowl of noodle soup with an egg, kimchi, vegetables, and chopsticks lifting noodles, garnished with sesame seeds

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “They’re my desperation dinner for a reason: These noodle bowls are quick to make, they require zero brain power, and they fill my belly. As a bonus, they are also incredibly versatile, making it easy to use up anything left in the fridge or switch up the flavors based on my mood.” —Emma Christensen, former General Manager

  • Chorizo Sloppy Joes (15 Minutes)

    Chorizo sloppy joe (with avocado slices and crushed Fritos) on a plate with a fork at a table setting with another serving on another plate, two glasses of beer, a bowl of crushed Fritos, and a colorful stripped kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    “Skillet sauces, like Frontera, are a fantastic way to add flavor quickly. Pick your favorite flavor profile, mix it with chorizo, and enjoy the easiest sloppy joe in the world!” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

  • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio With Olives

    Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with garlic

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    “The key to making the most delicious version of this recipe is to be very patient with the garlic. You want to cook it over very low heat to ensure that the garlic infuses the oil without burning. Burnt garlic is bitter, and it will ruin the sauce.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

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