15 Minutes or Less Main Dish Recipes

Drop the frozen meal! We know it's been a long day, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality or nutrition at the dinner table. Here are our favorite healthy, delicious recipes that only take 15 minutes to make. They're just the thing for those crazy-busy weeknights.

Broken Noodles with Tomato Sauce and Ricotta

Not even enough time to boil water? We've got you covered with pasta simmered in store-bought marinara sauce and finished with ricotta, basil, and pepper.

It's easy to get dinner on the table quickly if you pick one aspect of the meal to make simply. Here, we've assembled a knockout relish of mint, olives, tomatoes, and feta -- and used it to top an easy grilled chicken breast.

It's no problem leaning on frozen pasta when you make the effort to dress it up a little. Here, we've added arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, and a little butter to make store-bought beef tortellini into a striking and nourishing meal.

Microwaves are surprisingly good at giving delicate meats like fish a quick, no-mess simmer. Here, we poach fillets of sole in a mixture of butter, lemon zest, horseradish, and Dijon.

Don't sacrifice bold flavors for speed. This stir-fry of chicken, snow peas, and peanuts is ready in just minutes and is redolent with the flavors of lime and chiles.

Do you need a tasty twist on steak with spinach? Toss in grapes and almonds for a touch of sweetness and crunch. Old recipes can learn new tricks!

Cut down cooking times by buying fresh seasonal ingredients that don't take much prep to shine. Plump tomatoes don't require more than a splash of oil and a little garlic to make a perfect pasta dressing.

Pan sauces can often be made with little extra effort. In no time, a pan used to brown strip steaks can also produce a syrupy mustard and balsamic vinegar glaze.

Remember: How you choose to brown meat sets the stage for any pan sauce to come. Just a little butter added to these pork chops, for example, lends a richness that gives dimension to the white wine and herb sauce that follows.

Shock your guests with a warming and sophisticated main course of salmon broiled with a glaze of yogurt and Indian spices -- ready in just 10 minutes.

As any fan of avocado knows, it often needs nothing more than a little salt to be at its lush, custardy best. And what better way to add salt than with crumbled bacon?

Looking for a special meal that’s actually easy to make? Whip up this light, fresh fish recipe that everyone is sure to love.

There's plenty of flavor in this four-ingredient pasta dish, but if you're looking to broaden the profile even further than punchy black pepper and pungent Pecorino Romano, a splash of good olive oil can't hurt.

You're going to want to put this spicy pepper vinaigrette on everything. It's ready in just 10 minutes and especially delicious drizzled on smoky, tender shell steaks.

Adding frozen peas to a hot pot -- in this case, full of stuffed pasta -- saves time and often brings a striking splash of color to the meal.

A dash of sugar makes our quick sauce of lime juice, soy sauce, and cilantro perfect for meaty fish like salmon; a bit of sweetness rounds out any fishy taste.

Rotisserie chicken is a great go-to ingredient when you're trying to cut down time in the kitchen. Toss with lemon juice, tomatoes, basil, and ditalini, and this colorful dish is ready.

You can make fluffy omelets in less time (and with much less effort) than you may think. Enjoy them for breakfast, lunch, or a casual supper.

Don't forget: a rare cut of meat has, by definition, a short cooking time. Filet mignons need only a few minutes on the skillet to get a nice sear while the inside stays lusciously pink.

Not every delicious soup is the product of an afternoon over the stove. Just assemble the right ingredients -- canned black beans and diced tomatoes, tortilla chips, and lime juice.

All you need to make perfectly tender, flaky sole is salt, Wondra flour, butter, and lemon (and a mere 10 minutes!).

Take classic egg-in-a-hole to the next level by adding fresh, sweet bell peppers to the mix. Serve alongside fresh salad greens.

Made from potato, gnocchi are thicker and more pillowy than wheat pasta. When tossed with sauteed squash and grape tomatoes, they make a starchy contrast to the tender veggies.

Quicker and so much tastier than takeout! Plump shrimp plus crisp-tender scallions and a generous dose of red-pepper flakes equal an uber-flavorful dinner.

Couscous is a wonderful grain for when you're in a rush because it doesn't need direct heat. Stir into boiling water, remove from heat, and in a few minutes, you can add ingredients like scallions, asparagus, and pulled rotisserie chicken.

Most of a jalapeno's spiciness is in the ribs and seeds -- omit them for a milder dressing. Swap cubed firm tofu for the chicken to make the salad vegetarian.

A quick squirt of lemon juice at the end of this saute of shrimp, tomatoes, and arugula will give the seafood a tart shine and help the veggies retain their color.

Freshness is the order of the day with this vibrant salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, chickpeas, and onion, dressed simply and served just minutes after chopping.

Here's a zesty salad infused with the flavors of Mexico: cilantro, pepitas, and a tart blended dressing of buttermilk and avocado.

Homemade croutons, baked with Parmesan while the steak and onions grill, add a rustic, homey touch to this quick and satisfying arugula salad.

The possibilities with these toothsome and buttery shrimp, crusted with garlic and parsley, are wide open: serve with rice, noodles, salad, or any side you like!

Quick-cooking chicken is microwaved to save time and retain moisture, serving as the protein in our sweet and savory spinach salad.

Canned lentils and vegetable broth make this soup a "can"-do kind of dinner. Serve alongside a slice of crusty bread.

Flaky, flavorful salmon cooks quickly (and deliciously). Add to that a quick spinach saute, which takes less than five minutes, and you've got yourself a well-rounded meal in less than 15.