15, 20 and 30 minute dinners for the family, timed start to table

Most quick-dinner lists only count the cooking. The times here are the whole thing, from opening the fridge to food on the table. Where a dinner leans on a shortcut, such as leftover rice or a shop-cooked roast chicken, the time assumes you have it, and the list says so. They are estimates for an ordinary kitchen, so give yourself a few minutes either way.

Each dinner has its allergens flagged and a tip for keeping one plate plain. Or let the quiz pick three for your table tonight.

Start the quiz with your time already picked:

15 minutes About 30 minutes 30 minutes, someone picky

Download on the App Store

Seven days to see if it fits your week. If it doesn't, cancel before the trial ends and you pay nothing. A$9.99 a month in Australia, US$9.99 in the US, C$9.99 in Canada or NZ$9.99 in New Zealand, or 89.99 a year in the same currency.

Last checked: 12 October 2026

Quick dinners, grouped by total time

Each one comes from the dinners in our quiz. Tap Method for the steps. Three lean on a shortcut: the egg fried rice uses leftover cooked rice, the quesadillas use a shop-cooked roast (rotisserie) chicken, and the prawn rice bowls fit in about 20 minutes because the rice cooks while the prawns do (microwave rice makes it quicker).

15 minutes

Chicken and cheese quesadillas About 15 minutes. Allergens: gluten, milk.
Make one with just cheese. It cooks in the same pan and nobody has to pick anything out.
Method
1. Shred a shop-bought roast (rotisserie) chicken, or use leftovers.
2. Scatter grated cheese and chicken over half a tortilla and fold it over.
3. Cook in a dry frying pan, 2 minutes a side, pressing down until the cheese melts.
4. Cut into triangles. Salsa, sour cream and avocado go in bowls.
Scrambled egg and cheese wraps About 15 minutes. Allergens: egg, gluten, milk.
Egg and cheese rolled tight and cut in half is easy for small hands. Everything else stays in bowls.
Method
1. Whisk 6 eggs with a splash of milk. Cook slowly in butter, stirring, and take them off while still a little soft.
2. Warm the wraps.
3. Put out grated cheese, baby spinach, sliced tomato and avocado.
4. Fill, roll tight and cut in half.

About 20 minutes

Egg fried rice with whatever's in the freezer About 20 minutes. Allergens: egg, soy, gluten.
The plain bowl has rice, egg, corn and carrot, and nothing green. Soy sauce goes on the table for anyone who wants it.
Method
1. Use cold cooked rice. Last night's is best, or cook it in the morning and spread it on a tray in the fridge.
2. Scramble 3 or 4 eggs in a hot oiled pan, tip them out and wipe the pan.
3. Fry a handful of frozen corn and diced carrot for 2 minutes, add the rice and press it flat so it crisps.
4. Stir the egg back through. Take out any plain bowls now, then add frozen peas and soy sauce to the rest.
Taco night, everyone builds their own About 20 minutes. Allergens: gluten, milk.
Keep a little mince aside before the spice goes in. A plain mince and cheese taco is still taco night.
Method
1. Brown 500 g (1 lb) mince (ground beef) with a chopped onion. Add taco spice and a splash of water and simmer 5 minutes.
2. Warm the tortillas or taco shells, wrapped in a tea towel in the microwave or foil in the oven.
3. Put out bowls: grated cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, tinned (canned) corn, sour cream and salsa.
4. Everyone fills their own.
Garlic prawn (shrimp) rice bowls About 20 minutes. Allergens: shellfish, soy, gluten.
Fry a few prawns in plain oil before the garlic goes in. Rice, plain prawns and cucumber make a full bowl.
Method
1. Cook rice. While it cooks, fry a bag of peeled raw prawns (shrimp) in oil with plenty of garlic, 2 to 3 minutes until pink.
2. Add a splash of soy sauce and a squeeze of lime at the end.
3. Slice cucumber and avocado, and microwave some broccoli or green beans.
4. Everyone fills a bowl: rice, prawns, then whatever else they want.
Flatbread pizzas About 20 minutes. Allergens: gluten, milk.
Write initials on the baking paper so each pizza goes back to its owner.
Method
1. Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F).
2. Spread flatbreads or pita with tomato paste or passata.
3. Put out grated mozzarella, ham, pineapple, olives, baby spinach and anything left in the fridge. Everyone tops their own.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese bubbles.

About 30 minutes

Chicken fajita tray bake (sheet pan) About 30 minutes. Allergens: gluten, milk.
Leave a few strips of chicken unspiced in one corner of the tray. They roast in the same time.
Method
1. Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F).
2. Slice 500 g (1 lb) chicken thighs, 2 capsicums (bell peppers) and an onion. Toss with oil and fajita spice on a big tray.
3. Roast 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Serve with warm tortillas, grated cheese, sour cream and salsa.
Oven fish and chips About 30 minutes. Allergens: fish.
Flake the fish onto the plate rather than serving a whole fillet, and check for bones as you go.
Method
1. Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Cut potatoes into thin chips, toss with oil and salt, and roast 15 minutes.
2. Add white fish fillets to the tray, brushed with oil and sprinkled with salt and lemon zest. Roast another 12 to 15 minutes.
3. Microwave some frozen peas.
4. Lemon wedges and tomato sauce (ketchup) go on the table.
Mild chicken curry with rice About 30 minutes. Allergens: milk, nuts, peanuts, gluten.
Serve some chicken pieces on rice with the sauce in a little bowl beside them. It all comes out of the same pot.
Method
1. Brown 500 g (1 lb) diced chicken thighs with a chopped onion.
2. Stir in a spoon of mild curry paste for a minute, then a tin (can) of crushed tomatoes and half a tin of coconut milk. Simmer 15 minutes.
3. Cook rice. Warm naan or flatbread if you have it.
4. Yogurt and coriander (cilantro) go on the table.

What makes a dinner quick

Start the slow part first. Put the water, rice or oven on before you take anything else out of the fridge.
Use a cooked shortcut. A shop-bought roast (rotisserie) chicken, microwave rice or a bag of frozen vegetables takes the longest step out.
One pan or one tray. Fewer things on the stove means fewer things to watch and wash.
Take a plain portion out before you season. It saves cooking a second dinner for anyone who wants it plain.

Check your labels

The allergens above are the ones in the usual version of each dish. Brands differ, and so do spice mixes, sauces, sausages, wraps and stock. The nine to look for are milk, egg, gluten, nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, soy and sesame. Read the label on every packet, every time.

How PULS3 helps

PULS3 is a team of coaches in an iPhone app that plans training, food and sleep together. Dinner is one part of it. Two things help on a weeknight:

The week's dinners are planned for everyone at the table. Each dinner is checked against everyone's allergies. That is a second check, not a replacement for reading the label.
Photograph your fridge or pantry. You confirm what PULS3 found, and your dinner plans use it.

PULS3 is coaching, not medical care. It does not diagnose or treat allergies, and it is not a replacement for advice from your doctor. For the rest of the team, see PULS3 for you. For more dinner ideas, see all dinner ideas or try the 30-second quiz.

Download on the App Store

Questions

What can I make for dinner in 20 minutes?

Build-your-own tacos, garlic prawn (shrimp) rice bowls, flatbread pizzas, and egg fried rice made with leftover rice all take about 20 minutes from start to table. Quesadillas with a shop-cooked roast chicken and egg wraps take about 15.

What are some ideas for a quick 15-minute dinner?

Chicken and cheese quesadillas with a shop-bought roast chicken, or scrambled egg and cheese wraps. Both are on this page with the method and allergens.

What is a quick and easy family dinner?

One that everyone can finish their own way: tacos, flatbread pizzas or rice bowls, with the toppings in separate bowls. Take a plain portion out before the sauce or spice goes in.

What's a good lazy dinner for the family?

See our lazy dinner ideas for the nights you want the least effort, or start the quiz with 15 minutes picked.

PULS3 provides coaching guidance, not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Allergen notes on this page are general and are not a guarantee. Always read the label.