10 Minute Dinner Ideas

Quick enough for the busiest of weeknights, easy enough that you don’t need an exact recipe, these 10 minute dinners are perfect for those evenings when you just need to eat. The meals listed here will require you to heat up a pan or the oven, and/or prep a few ingredients, but they’re almost as low-effort as you can get. They’re a bit more satisfying than our no-cook meals, and a bit less hassle than our 20-minute meals — right in the sweet spot! 

This list is part of our Insurance Meals Series; click here to read more about what insurance meals are and how to use them as part of your weekly meal plan.

1. Black Bean Quesadillas

What You Need:

• Tortillas
• Shredded Mexican blend cheese
• Oil or spray oil
• Canned black beans
• Frozen corn 
• Avocado
• Lime juice

Directions:

Heat a skillet over medium heat, then spray or brush the bottom with oil. Sprinkle on a Mexican cheese blend, and add drained black beans and frozen corn. Keep the fillings sparse, or it’ll be hard to flip! Top with more shredded cheese and a second tortilla. Flip it once the cheese on the bottom is melted. Meanwhile, toss chopped avocado with a squeeze of lime juice. Once the quesadilla is done, serve it with avocado on top.

Ingredient Swaps:

Instead of black beans and corn, try baby spinach, leftover cooked ground meat, or pinto beans. 

2. hot dogs

What You Need:

• Hot dogs
• Hot dog buns
• Condiments of your choice
• Veggie sticks (look for pre-chopped to save time)

Directions:

Simply cook the hot dogs according to the package directions. Meanwhile, heat your buns for 10 seconds in the microwave, 30 seconds to 2 minutes on a grill pan, or 2 to 5 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Serve with your choice of ketchup, mustard, relish, or hot sauce, and a side of veggie sticks, like carrots, celery, and bell peppers.

Ingredient Swaps:

Chips or grapes can be swapped for the veggie sticks.

3. Pasta with lentil tomato Sauce

What You Need:

• Pasta
• Jarred tomato-based sauce
• Canned lentils
• Shredded cheese (mozzarella, parmesan)

Directions: 

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Heat the sauce in a saucepan. When it’s hot, stir in the drained lentils and heat for another minute or two, until the lentils are warmed through. Ladle the lentil sauce over the pasta, then top with cheese.

Ingredient Swaps:

Frozen meatballs can be used instead of the lentils.

4. Grilled Cheese with Canned / Boxed Tomato Soup

What You Need:

• Bread
• Butter
• Cheese slices
• Shelf-stable tomato soup of choice

Directions:

Butter one side each of 2 slices of bread, then layer the dry side of 1 slice with sliced cheese, and top with the other slice (butter side out). Grill in a pan on medium heat on both sides until crispy and melted. Heat the tomato soup according to package directions and enjoy alongside grilled cheese (or dip the sandwich into the soup!).

Ingredient Swaps:

Any type of soup works well here. You can add a slice of tomato or a few leaves of spinach to the grilled cheese, but keep the fillings light and put cheese on either side of the fillings, so ingredients won’t fall out.

5. Eggs on Toast with Fruit Parfaits

What You Need:

• Eggs
• Bread
• Butter
• Berries, fresh or frozen
• Yogurt, plain or Greek

Directions:

Everyone loves breakfast for dinner! Divide yogurt between small glasses or serving bowls, and top with berries. Heat a frying pan over medium heat, add butter, and fry the eggs. While eggs are frying, toast and butter the bread. Serve the eggs on top of the toast with the parfaits on the side.

Ingredient Swaps:

Turn your parfait into a smoothie, and sub any type of fruit for the berries. Eggs scrambled with spinach would work well in place of the fried eggs.

6. Avocado Toast with Fried Egg

What You Need:

• Avocado
• Bread
• Lemon
• Spring mix
• Tomato
• Egg
• Everything Bagel seasoning

Directions:

Toast bread, if desired. Mash avocado with a squeeze of lemon juice, and spread onto toast. Top with spring mix, tomato slices, and a fried egg. Finish the dish with a sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning.

Ingredient Swaps:

Instead of spring mix, use any greens of your choice. Add smoked salmon, microgreens, or cheese.

7. Fish Fingers Rice Bowl

What You Need:

• Leftover cooked rice (or any leftover cooked grains)
• Frozen fish fingers
• Salad greens
• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Bottled salad dressing
• Lemon

Directions:

Reheat rice while fish fingers are baking / air-frying according to the package directions. Assemble your bowl by adding a scoop of rice at the bottom, salad greens on top, and chopped cucumber and avocado on top of that. Dress with salad dressing. Top with fish fingers and serve with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over everything.

Ingredient Swaps:

Instead of cucumber and avocado, use your salad toppings of choice.

8. Hummus Dinner Sandwich

What You Need:

• Bread
• Hummus
• Dijon mustard
• Romaine lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Sliced provolone cheese
• Bottled vinaigrette (or make your own in advance)

Directions:

Spread hummus on one slice of bread and mustard on the other. Top one piece of the bread with lettuce, tomato slices, and cucumber slices, then drizzle on a little vinaigrette, salt, and pepper. Top with a slice of cheese (this will protect the top bread from getting soggy from the vinaigrette), then the other piece of bread.

Ingredient Swaps:

Use pesto instead of hummus (or leave it out), and of course feel free to add mayo. Use any kind of greens in place of the romaine, and add or sub sprouts, avocado, leftover grilled vegetables, or deli meat.

9. Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper, and Ham Omelet

What You Need:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Butter
• Shredded cheese
• Spinach
• Jarred roasted red peppers
• Deli ham

Directions:

Chop the roasted red peppers, spinach, and ham. While heating a small nonstick pan over medium heat, whisk eggs with some salt and pepper. Coat the bottom of the pan with butter, add the eggs, and cook without moving until the bottom is set. Then add your veggies, ham, and shredded cheese. Fold over one half of the egg, and continue cooking until nearly set.

Ingredient Swaps:

Use kale or arugula in place of the spinach. Use fresh bell pepper, mushroom, or tomato in place of roasted bell peppers. Use any type of deli meat, or skip it altogether for a vegetarian option. Also, feel free to add fresh herbs!

10. BBQ Rotisserie Chicken Flatbread Pizza

What You Need:

• Flatbread of choice (pita, naan, lavash, etc.)
• Gouda cheese, shredded
• Rotisserie chicken, shredded
• Jalapeño pepper
• BBQ sauce

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Meanwhile, spread BBQ sauce over each piece of flatbread. Top with shredded rotisserie chicken, cheese, and thinly sliced jalapeño. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, then slice.

Ingredient Swaps:

Instead of BBQ sauce, use marinara or pesto. Feel free to add leftover cooked veggies. Sub mozzarella for the gouda.

11. Deli Meat Wrap

What You Need:

• Burrito-sized flour tortillas
• Deli turkey
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Red bell pepper
• Avocado
• Coleslaw mix

Directions:

Fill a burrito-sized flour tortilla with slices of turkey, cheese, thinly sliced bell pepper strips, avocado, and a sprinkle of coleslaw mix. Wrap it up and go!

Ingredient Swaps:

Use shredded romaine or other greens in place of the coleslaw mix. Use julienned cucumber in place of the bell pepper strips.

12. Air-Fried Veggies + Side of Snacks

What You Need:

• Frozen Normandy blend vegetables (also called California blend; or use some combination of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots)
• Oil
• Nuts
• Crackers
• Cheese slices
• Berries

Directions:

Toss frozen veggies with some oil, salt, and pepper, and air fry at 350 to 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes (check out this post for more info). Serve snacks on the side like a fun vegetarian charcuterie / picnic board!

Ingredient Swaps:

Feel free to use whatever snacks you prefer, ideally ones that add protein and complex carbohydrates to your meal. We like hard-boiled eggs, popcorn, deli meat, pita chips, bean dip, etc. Any fruit can be used in place of the berries.

13. Tuna Patty Sandwich

What You Need:

• Canned tuna
• Breadcrumbs
• Egg
• Lemon
• Mustard
• Green onion (optional)
• Oil
• Hamburger buns
• Tartar sauce
• Lettuce
• Tomato

Directions:

Drain your tuna and mash it with some lemon juice, mustard, and chopped green onion, if using. Mix in some breadcrumbs and an egg to help it stick together. Form into patties and cook in an oiled skillet over medium-high heat until browned on both sides. Heat your buns for 10 seconds in the microwave, 30 seconds to 2 minutes on a grill pan, or 2 to 5 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Assemble your sandwiches by spreading your bun with tartar sauce, then add the tuna patty and top with lettuce and sliced tomato.

Ingredient Swaps:

Use your favorite seasonings in the tuna patty in place of lemon, mustard, and green onion. Depending on the flavor profile you prefer and how much time you have, other good choices include chives, hot sauce, dill, finely chopped celery, lemon zest, soy sauce, miso, chili powder, or cumin.

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