Recipes That Take 15 Minutes Or Less To Prep

Nobody ever complains that they have too MUCH free time. According to the American Psychological Association, 26% of adults skip meals due to lack of time. We all know eating is important, and that sluggishness that follows skipping a meal is never fun. There's only so many hours in the day, but eating is one of those things you have to make time for.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be much time. We've gathered some great recipes for lunches, dinners, sides, and even a dessert, none of which will take you longer than 15 minutes to prep. Then, while your food is cooking, you can get back to whatever else you need to be getting done. Just remember to set a timer in case you get so busy you forget about your food!

You can also plan ahead to spread the benefit over several days. Make a double recipe and then, during the following week, you'll have a readymade dish that just needs to be reheated, saving you time for days. Home cooking doesn't have to be time-intensive. Read on if you could use some recipes with prep times of 15 minutes or less!

This smart recipe for enchilada casserole has that same great enchilada flavor, but with a time-saving advantage. Regular enchiladas require that you heat the tortillas in order to roll them without breaking the tortilla. The heating and the rolling both take time, and that time easily adds up, depending on how many you're making.

With this recipe, you've got the same ingredients, but instead of rolling the ingredients up in the tortillas, you're just stacking them all. You won't believe how much time that simple change saves! You still have to brown the meat, but then layer the ingredients, and your prep is done. If you're feeding a crowd, make two casseroles, and you're set with leftovers for the next day.

For this twice-baked potato recipe, your prep time actually comes in the middle. You start by baking the potatoes for the first time, then mix your ingredients together before baking the potatoes again. Potatoes take a long time to bake, and luckily, you don't have to stand their waiting while they do. You can prep your other ingredients while the potatoes are cooking and still have time left over to get other things done.

These potatoes include lots of great ingredients, including green onions, tomatoes, and cheese. You can also top them with cilantro and jalapeños. But if you're looking for a main dish, dig in your freezer for some shredded or ground meat that you've already cooked. Top your potato with the added protein to make this a filling main course.

This yummy roasted cauliflower recipe has a mouthwatering, buttery flavor. And since it needs only 5 minutes of prep time, it isn't a chore to make. No matter how crazy your schedule is, you should be able to scrape out 5 minutes to put together this dish. Cauliflower has many benefits, including being high in antioxidants and fiber. That makes it a healthy addition to any meal. Even if you don't like raw cauliflower, this recipe packs a great flavor that will make you a new fan of the vegetable.

Just because a meal doesn't take long to make doesn't mean you're skimping on the flavor. This recipe for chicken alfredo has lots of seasoning and a smooth, creamy sauce. You won't believe that all that only takes 10 minutes of prep work — but it's true!

While chicken alfredo may not be the healthiest dinner, it is great comfort food, especially with this sauce that includes cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. You can even work in a few extra nutrients by adding some green vegetables to the dish. Broccoli or green beans blend well with the creamy pasta and can make you feel a little better about a cheat dinner like this.

For those days when you're craving something sweet to get you through the rush, here's a sugar cookie recipe that only needs 10 minutes of prep time and about 16 minutes in the oven. In less than half an hour, dessert is ready. Skip a trip to the store for packaged cookies and make your own instead!

If you don't like basic sugar cookies, you can always dress them up. Trade the vanilla extract for almond extract or lemon extract for a different flavor, or add sprinkles or frosting (or both!). Just because sugar cookies are traditional doesn't mean yours have to be.