7 Quick-and-Easy Meals, Snacks and Desserts Made in Your Food Processor

Some days, convenience is king when it comes to preparing healthy, hearty dishes. If you're after ease and simplicity in the kitchen, you needn't look any further than your trusty food processor.

The timesaving tool trims down tedious kitchen tasks — no slicing, dicing or chopping — and is a multifunctional marvel, capable of making everything from soup to gelato.

These seven simple-yet-satisfying food processor recipes prove this amazing appliance can expand your cooking horizons, even when you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen.

Your food processor transforms cauliflower into "fried rice" for this lightened up version of the fan-favorite takeout fare. Replacing rice with this cruciferous veggie not only cuts carbs but also boosts the dish's nutritional profile. But with a palate-pleasing patchwork of herbs and spices like ginger, hot chili peppers and cilantro, this healthier fried rice doesn't sacrifice a speck of savor.

Why waste your money on store-bought pesto when you can easily prep a fresher, more delicious version at home? A food processor is all you need to master the art of pesto. This simple recipe features all the tasty, traditional ingredients — basil, pine nuts and olive oil — plus superfood kale for a greater variety of vitamins and minerals. Pair with your preferred pasta for a mouthwatering meal or serve as a dip with your favorite veggies for a satisfying snack.

If you need an energy-boosting breakfast, this colorful, sweet smoothie bowl will offer you oomph in the a.m. thanks to healthy carbs from a flavorful fusion of fruits like pitaya (dragon fruit), bananas and raspberries. A satiating scoop of plant-based protein powder provides muscle-building power while a pinch of maca powder supplies a solid dose of fiber.

If you're a cream of broccoli fan, this velvety vegetable soup is for you. This homemade dish scraps the added sugar, preservatives and artificial flavoring for simple ingredients like milk, vegetable oil and black pepper. And because it uses unsalted chicken broth, this healthier version contains roughly a quarter of the sodium compared to Campbell's Cream of Broccoli Soup.

Hankering for homemade hummus but don't have any chickpeas? This tasty twist on the delicious dip delivers another way to use your stockpile of black beans. Other pantry staples like olive oil, lemon juice and paprika round out this creamy spread that also serves as a supreme salad topper or burrito stuffer.

While there's no shortage of energy bars at the supermarket, you might be pressed to find one without a litany of processed junk listed in the ingredients. Rest assured that you're only eating wholesome fare with these superfood bars, which contain a heap of heart-healthy hemp protein, rolled oats and pumpkin seeds, all of which comes together quickly in the food processor.

With chocolate notes from cacao powder, these crunchy and chewy bites owe their natural sweetness to Medjool dates, not added sugar. Seeds like chia and poppy pump up the nutrient content and take the texture of these no-bake bars to a new level.

You don't need a fancy ice cream maker to churn up this homemade gelato, which is made in the food processor. So creamy and decadent, you won't believe this delicious dessert doesn't contain milk or added sugar. Simply mix frozen, ripe bananas with unsweetened cocoa powder and pure vanilla extract, and voila — instant soft-serve gelato. A sprinkle of sea salt offers a savory balance to the bananas' sweetness and cocoa's bitterness.