15-minute meal ideas you should try if you’re short on time

Life’s busy. We get it. If you’re looking to cook plant-packed meals from scratch, but you don’t have much time to spare, don’t worry.  Swich has you covered with these quick-and-easy (and nutritious) 15-minute meals. These recipes make it easy to do a little cooking every single day—and they're so good you'll want to make them over and over! 

Whether you're in the mood for a snack, craving a salad, or looking for easy and nutritious dinner ideas, you're sure to find something that suits on this list:

Tuna-Less Tuna Salad 

This recipe is packed with chickpeas, red onion, celery and nori flakes (to name just a few delicious ingredients) and a whole lotta flavor. It’s great as a salad on its own, of course,  or as a traditional sandwich. When you're short on time, this recipe could be the winner you're looking for.

Try the recipe: Tuna-Less Tuna Salad  

Pan Con Tomate | Bread w/ Tomato

If you’re after  something with minimal ingredients but packed with a lot of flavor, look no further. Our Pan Con Tomate recipe only requires bread, tomatoes, salt, and olive oil. While the ingredients for this are simple, we do want to emphasize that they should be high quality—we're talking the 'good kind' of olive oil and using some enticing juicy, bold, and flavorful tomatoes.

Try the recipe: Pan Con Tomate | Bread w/ Tomato

Stovetop Oatmeal 

Now this is some stick-to-your-ribs goodness right here. Nothing beats a good ol' fashioned bowl of stovetop oatmeal, either in the morning to kickstart your day or at night for dinner. Top this with whatever you like: raisins, cinnamon, berries, nuts, or fruits of any kind—toss those in! Simple, fast, and filling. 

Try the recipe: Stovetop Oatmeal 

Kale & Avocado Salad 

Kale is obviously the superstar in this quick and simple dish. Use those knife skills you've been working on to dice some peppers, onions, and cilantro or parsley, and top with some avocado, then mix up the simple-yet-flavorful dressing and—boom! A salad sure to make you sing from the rooftops (well, maybe not quite), but it will get you out the door, content and happy. 

Try the recipe: Kale & Avocado Salad 

Charred Shishito Peppers⁠ 

This Charred Shishito Peppers recipe is not only incredibly easy to prepare but also requires very few ingredients—and we mean a few, literally. The perfect recipe for when you're short on time. Expect these lil gems to not only be quick to prepare, but also sweet in taste and delicate in texture. But be warned! You won't be able to stop at one, so you should just plan on making an entire dish. 

Try the recipe: Charred Shishito Peppers⁠

Cucumber Sunomono Salad 

If you want to unleash those ninja-like knife skills, this is the recipe for you! The Cucumber Sunomono Salad features simple ingredients, with the main feature being paper thin slices of cucumbers. Tossed with rice wine vinegar, mirin, and chili flakes, this dish tantalizes the taste buds with its crunchy texture and flavor. The perfect choice if time is not on your side. 

Try the recipe: Cucumber Sunomono Salad 

Looking for more plant-based meal inspiration? Don't miss:

• 4 protein-packed plant-based breakfast ideas

• Short on time? 30-minute delicious plant-based meals (5 recipes)

• 5 kid-approved meals packed with vegetables
• How to make a delicious veggie-packed bowl + 7 must-try recipes