Even people who enjoy spending time in the kitchen value a clever shortcut--especially on busy days when they're craving the comfort of a home-cooked meal or needing an impressive menu for last-minute entertaining. Southern Living Test Kitchens professionals are no exception. These top-rated recipes combine the ease of our favorite convenience products with fresh ingredients to deliver a great-tasting meal in a matter of minutes.

The Hot List of Time-Saving Tips

• Rotisserie chicken: It's terrific when you need chopped cooked chicken for a recipe. Remove the meat from the bones when still warm, and freeze in a zip-top freezer bag. One chicken will yield about 3 cups of chopped meat.
• 911 Pot Roast: Purchase sliced beef brisket by the pound from your favorite barbecue restaurant. Arrange in a baking dish, and cover with equal parts barbecue sauce and beef broth. Bake, covered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
• Frozen mashed potatoes: You might be skeptical at first, but these are absolutely delicious. Prepare 1 (22-ounce) bag according to package directions, and then stir in 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, ½ teaspoon seasoned pepper, and ¼ teaspoon salt. It's as simple as that. The trick is in the cream cheese, and 1/3-less-fat works as well as regular--you don't even need to add butter.
• Refrigerated pasta: It comes in a wide variety of shapes and flavors and cooks in boiling water in only 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spice blends: Instead of purchasing separate jars of dried herbs and spices, invest in a few versatile seasoning blends. A word of caution: Flavor profiles and salt content can vary dramatically according to brand, so read the label. Ingredients are always listed in descending order according to weight.