diff --git a/app/models/schemas/recipe.py b/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
index 139f383..50fc293 100644
--- a/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
+++ b/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ class RecipeSuggestion(BaseModel):
     is_wildcard: bool = False
     nutrition: NutritionPanel | None = None
     source_url: str | None = None
+    complexity: str | None = None  # 'easy' | 'moderate' | 'involved'
+    estimated_time_min: int | None = None  # derived from step count + method signals
 
 
 class GroceryLink(BaseModel):
@@ -84,6 +86,8 @@ class RecipeRequest(BaseModel):
     excluded_ids: list[int] = Field(default_factory=list)
     shopping_mode: bool = False
     pantry_match_only: bool = False  # when True, only return recipes with zero missing ingredients
+    complexity_filter: str | None = None  # 'easy' | 'moderate' | 'involved' — None = any
+    max_time_min: int | None = None  # filter by estimated cooking time ceiling
     unit_system: str = "metric"  # "metric" | "imperial"
 
 
diff --git a/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py b/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
index 46a42d3..0c9fcda 100644
--- a/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
+++ b/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
@@ -562,6 +562,19 @@ def _hard_day_sort_tier(
     return 2
 
 
+def _estimate_time_min(directions: list[str], complexity: str) -> int:
+    """Rough cooking time estimate from step count and method complexity.
+
+    Not precise — intended for filtering and display hints only.
+    """
+    steps = len(directions)
+    if complexity == "easy":
+        return max(5, 10 + steps * 3)
+    if complexity == "involved":
+        return max(20, 30 + steps * 6)
+    return max(10, 20 + steps * 4)  # moderate
+
+
 def _classify_method_complexity(
     directions: list[str],
     available_equipment: list[str] | None = None,
@@ -712,16 +725,21 @@ class RecipeEngine:
                 if match_ratio < _L1_MIN_MATCH_RATIO:
                     continue
 
+            # Parse directions — needed for complexity, hard_day_mode, and time estimate.
+            directions: list[str] = row.get("directions") or []
+            if isinstance(directions, str):
+                try:
+                    directions = json.loads(directions)
+                except Exception:
+                    directions = [directions]
+
+            # Compute complexity for every suggestion (used for badge + filter).
+            row_complexity = _classify_method_complexity(directions, available_equipment)
+            row_time_min = _estimate_time_min(directions, row_complexity)
+
             # Filter and tier-rank by hard_day_mode
             if req.hard_day_mode:
-                directions: list[str] = row.get("directions") or []
-                if isinstance(directions, str):
-                    try:
-                        directions = json.loads(directions)
-                    except Exception:
-                        directions = [directions]
-                complexity = _classify_method_complexity(directions, available_equipment)
-                if complexity == "involved":
+                if row_complexity == "involved":
                     continue
                 hard_day_tier_map[row["id"]] = _hard_day_sort_tier(
                     title=row.get("title", ""),
@@ -729,6 +747,14 @@ class RecipeEngine:
                     directions=directions,
                 )
 
+            # Complexity filter (#58)
+            if req.complexity_filter and row_complexity != req.complexity_filter:
+                continue
+
+            # Max time filter (#58)
+            if req.max_time_min is not None and row_time_min > req.max_time_min:
+                continue
+
             # Level 2: also add dietary constraint swaps from substitution_pairs
             if req.level == 2 and req.constraints:
                 for ing in ingredient_names:
@@ -778,6 +804,8 @@ class RecipeEngine:
                 level=req.level,
                 nutrition=nutrition if has_nutrition else None,
                 source_url=_build_source_url(row),
+                complexity=row_complexity,
+                estimated_time_min=row_time_min,
             ))
 
         # Sort corpus results — assembly templates are now served from a dedicated tab.
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue b/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue
index 0fa715b..6aca286 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue
@@ -370,6 +370,14 @@
             :aria-pressed="filterMissing === 2"
             @click="filterMissing = filterMissing === 2 ? null : 2"
           >≤2 missing</button>
+          <!-- Complexity filter chips (#55 / #58) -->
+          <button
+            v-for="cx in ['easy', 'moderate', 'involved']"
+            :key="cx"
+            :class="['filter-chip', { active: filterComplexity === cx }]"
+            :aria-pressed="filterComplexity === cx"
+            @click="filterComplexity = filterComplexity === cx ? null : cx"
+          >{{ cx }}</button>
           <button
             v-if="hasActiveFilters"
             class="filter-chip filter-chip-clear"
@@ -377,6 +385,33 @@
             @click="clearFilters"
           ><span aria-hidden="true">✕</span> Clear</button>
         </div>
+
+        <!-- Zero-decision picks (#53 Surprise Me / #57 Just Pick One) -->
+        <div v-if="filteredSuggestions.length > 0" class="flex gap-sm flex-wrap" style="margin-top: var(--spacing-sm)">
+          <button class="btn btn-secondary btn-sm" @click="pickSurprise" :disabled="filteredSuggestions.length === 0">
+            🎲 Surprise me
+          </button>
+          <button class="btn btn-secondary btn-sm" @click="pickBest" :disabled="filteredSuggestions.length === 0">
+            ⚡ Just pick one
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <!-- Spotlight (Surprise Me / Just Pick One result) -->
+      <div v-if="spotlightRecipe" class="card spotlight-card slide-up mb-md">
+        <div class="flex-between mb-sm">
+          <h3 class="text-lg font-bold">{{ spotlightRecipe.title }}</h3>
+          <div class="flex gap-xs" style="align-items:center">
+            <span v-if="spotlightRecipe.complexity" :class="['status-badge', `complexity-${spotlightRecipe.complexity}`]">{{ spotlightRecipe.complexity }}</span>
+            <span v-if="spotlightRecipe.estimated_time_min" class="status-badge status-neutral">~{{ spotlightRecipe.estimated_time_min }}m</span>
+            <button class="btn-icon" @click="spotlightRecipe = null" aria-label="Dismiss">✕</button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <p class="text-sm text-secondary mb-xs">{{ spotlightRecipe.match_count }} ingredients matched from your pantry</p>
+        <button class="btn btn-primary btn-sm" @click="selectedRecipe = spotlightRecipe; spotlightRecipe = null">
+          Cook this
+        </button>
+        <button class="btn btn-ghost btn-sm ml-sm" @click="pickSurprise">Try another</button>
       </div>
 
       <!-- No suggestions -->
@@ -403,6 +438,8 @@
             <h3 class="text-lg font-bold recipe-title">{{ recipe.title }}</h3>
             <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-xs" style="align-items:center">
               <span class="status-badge status-success">{{ recipe.match_count }} matched</span>
+              <span v-if="recipe.complexity" :class="['status-badge', `complexity-${recipe.complexity}`]">{{ recipe.complexity }}</span>
+              <span v-if="recipe.estimated_time_min" class="status-badge status-neutral">~{{ recipe.estimated_time_min }}m</span>
               <span class="status-badge status-info">Level {{ recipe.level }}</span>
               <span v-if="recipe.is_wildcard" class="status-badge status-info">Wildcard</span>
               <button
@@ -739,6 +776,8 @@ const selectedRecipe = ref<RecipeSuggestion | null>(null)
 const filterText = ref('')
 const filterLevel = ref<number | null>(null)
 const filterMissing = ref<number | null>(null)
+const filterComplexity = ref<string | null>(null)
+const spotlightRecipe = ref<RecipeSuggestion | null>(null)
 
 const availableLevels = computed(() => {
   if (!recipesStore.result) return []
@@ -762,17 +801,35 @@ const filteredSuggestions = computed(() => {
   if (filterMissing.value !== null) {
     items = items.filter((r) => r.missing_ingredients.length <= filterMissing.value!)
   }
+  if (filterComplexity.value !== null) {
+    items = items.filter((r) => r.complexity === filterComplexity.value)
+  }
   return items
 })
 
 const hasActiveFilters = computed(
-  () => filterText.value.trim() !== '' || filterLevel.value !== null || filterMissing.value !== null
+  () => filterText.value.trim() !== '' || filterLevel.value !== null || filterMissing.value !== null || filterComplexity.value !== null
 )
 
 function clearFilters() {
   filterText.value = ''
   filterLevel.value = null
   filterMissing.value = null
+  filterComplexity.value = null
+}
+
+function pickSurprise() {
+  const pool = filteredSuggestions.value
+  if (!pool.length) return
+  const exclude = spotlightRecipe.value?.id
+  const candidates = pool.length > 1 ? pool.filter((r) => r.id !== exclude) : pool
+  spotlightRecipe.value = candidates[Math.floor(Math.random() * candidates.length)]
+}
+
+function pickBest() {
+  const pool = filteredSuggestions.value
+  if (!pool.length) return
+  spotlightRecipe.value = pool[0]
 }
 
 const selectedGroceryLinks = computed<GroceryLink[]>(() => {
@@ -1472,6 +1529,11 @@ details[open] .collapsible-summary::before {
   padding: var(--spacing-xs) var(--spacing-md);
 }
 
+.spotlight-card {
+  border: 2px solid var(--color-primary);
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--color-bg-elevated) 0%, rgba(232, 168, 32, 0.06) 100%);
+}
+
 .results-section {
   margin-top: var(--spacing-md);
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/api.ts b/frontend/src/services/api.ts
index 5b0d241..db05fed 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/api.ts
@@ -495,6 +495,8 @@ export interface RecipeSuggestion {
   is_wildcard: boolean
   nutrition: NutritionPanel | null
   source_url: string | null
+  complexity: 'easy' | 'moderate' | 'involved' | null
+  estimated_time_min: number | null
 }
 
 export interface NutritionFilters {
@@ -534,6 +536,8 @@ export interface RecipeRequest {
   excluded_ids: number[]
   shopping_mode: boolean
   pantry_match_only: boolean
+  complexity_filter: string | null
+  max_time_min: number | null
 }
 
 export interface Staple {
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts b/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts
index 1c47577..9d01d65 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ export const useRecipesStore = defineStore('recipes', () => {
   const wildcardConfirmed = ref(false)
   const shoppingMode = ref(false)
   const pantryMatchOnly = ref(false)
+  const complexityFilter = ref<string | null>(null)
+  const maxTimeMin = ref<number | null>(null)
   const nutritionFilters = ref<NutritionFilters>({
     max_calories: null,
     max_sugar_g: null,
@@ -178,6 +180,8 @@ export const useRecipesStore = defineStore('recipes', () => {
       excluded_ids: [...excluded],
       shopping_mode: shoppingMode.value,
       pantry_match_only: pantryMatchOnly.value,
+      complexity_filter: complexityFilter.value,
+      max_time_min: maxTimeMin.value,
     }
   }
 
@@ -309,6 +313,8 @@ export const useRecipesStore = defineStore('recipes', () => {
     wildcardConfirmed,
     shoppingMode,
     pantryMatchOnly,
+    complexityFilter,
+    maxTimeMin,
     nutritionFilters,
     dismissedIds,
     dismissedCount,
diff --git a/frontend/src/theme.css b/frontend/src/theme.css
index 63de6ed..3b84a33 100644
--- a/frontend/src/theme.css
+++ b/frontend/src/theme.css
@@ -649,6 +649,31 @@
   border: 1px solid var(--color-info-border);
 }
 
+.status-neutral {
+  background: rgba(255, 248, 235, 0.06);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+}
+
+/* Recipe complexity badges */
+.complexity-easy {
+  background: var(--color-success-bg);
+  color: var(--color-success-light);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-success-border);
+}
+
+.complexity-moderate {
+  background: var(--color-warning-bg);
+  color: var(--color-warning-light);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-warning-border);
+}
+
+.complexity-involved {
+  background: var(--color-error-bg);
+  color: var(--color-error-light);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-error-border);
+}
+
 /* ============================================
    ANIMATION UTILITIES
    ============================================ */