diff --git a/app/api/endpoints/settings.py b/app/api/endpoints/settings.py
index 7c0a548..2a99bb8 100644
--- a/app/api/endpoints/settings.py
+++ b/app/api/endpoints/settings.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from app.db.store import Store
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
-_ALLOWED_KEYS = frozenset({"cooking_equipment", "unit_system", "shopping_locale", "sensory_preferences"})
+_ALLOWED_KEYS = frozenset({"cooking_equipment", "unit_system", "shopping_locale", "sensory_preferences", "time_first_layout"})
 
 
 class SettingBody(BaseModel):
diff --git a/app/models/schemas/recipe.py b/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
index 0d2b61d..8eb267d 100644
--- a/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
+++ b/app/models/schemas/recipe.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class RecipeRequest(BaseModel):
     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
+    max_total_min: int | None = None  # filter by parsed total time from recipe directions
     unit_system: str = "metric"  # "metric" | "imperial"
 
 
diff --git a/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py b/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
index 62661de..91d16e8 100644
--- a/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
+++ b/app/services/recipe/recipe_engine.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from app.services.recipe.element_classifier import ElementClassifier
 from app.services.recipe.grocery_links import GroceryLinkBuilder
 from app.services.recipe.substitution_engine import SubstitutionEngine
 from app.services.recipe.sensory import SensoryExclude, build_sensory_exclude, passes_sensory_filter
+from app.services.recipe.time_effort import parse_time_effort
 
 _LEFTOVER_DAILY_MAX_FREE = 5
 
@@ -613,6 +614,21 @@ def _estimate_time_min(directions: list[str], complexity: str) -> int:
     return max(10, 20 + steps * 4)  # moderate
 
 
+def _within_time(directions: list[str], max_total_min: int) -> bool:
+    """Return True if parsed total time (active + passive) is within max_total_min.
+
+    Graceful degradation:
+    - Empty directions -> True (no data, don't hide)
+    - total_min == 0 (no time signals found) -> True (unparseable, don't hide)
+    """
+    if not directions:
+        return True
+    profile = parse_time_effort(directions)
+    if profile.total_min == 0:
+        return True
+    return profile.total_min <= max_total_min
+
+
 def _classify_method_complexity(
     directions: list[str],
     available_equipment: list[str] | None = None,
@@ -807,6 +823,10 @@ class RecipeEngine:
             if req.max_time_min is not None and row_time_min > req.max_time_min:
                 continue
 
+            # Total time filter (kiwi#52) — uses parsed time from directions
+            if req.max_total_min is not None and not _within_time(directions, req.max_total_min):
+                continue
+
             # Level 2: also add dietary constraint swaps from substitution_pairs
             if req.level == 2 and req.constraints:
                 for ing in ingredient_names:
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue b/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue
index f4a87c9..95d0ea5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/RecipesView.vue
@@ -102,6 +102,28 @@
         Tap "Find recipes" again to apply.
       </p>
 
+      <!-- Time Budget selector (kiwi#52) -->
+      <!-- Shows when time_first_layout != 'normal' (auto or time_first) -->
+      <div v-if="settingsStore.timeFirstLayout !== 'normal'" class="form-group time-bucket-group">
+        <label class="form-label">How much time do you have?</label>
+        <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-sm">
+          <button
+            v-for="bucket in timeBuckets"
+            :key="bucket.label"
+            :class="['btn', 'btn-sm', 'time-bucket-btn',
+              recipesStore.maxTotalMin === bucket.value ? 'time-bucket-active' : 'btn-secondary']"
+            @click="recipesStore.maxTotalMin = recipesStore.maxTotalMin === bucket.value ? null : bucket.value"
+            :aria-pressed="recipesStore.maxTotalMin === bucket.value"
+          >
+            {{ bucket.label }}
+          </button>
+        </div>
+        <p class="form-hint">
+          Filters by time found in recipe steps.
+          <span v-if="!recipesStore.maxTotalMin">No time limit set.</span>
+        </p>
+      </div>
+
       <!-- Dietary Preferences (collapsible) -->
       <details class="collapsible form-group" @toggle="(e: Event) => dietaryOpen = (e.target as HTMLDetailsElement).open">
         <summary class="collapsible-summary filter-summary" :aria-expanded="dietaryOpen">
@@ -696,6 +718,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, computed, onMounted, onUnmounted, nextTick, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useRecipesStore } from '../stores/recipes'
+import { useSettingsStore } from '../stores/settings'
 import { useInventoryStore } from '../stores/inventory'
 import { useSavedRecipesStore } from '../stores/savedRecipes'
 import RecipeDetailPanel from './RecipeDetailPanel.vue'
@@ -710,6 +733,7 @@ import { recipesAPI } from '../services/api'
 
 const recipesStore = useRecipesStore()
 const inventoryStore = useInventoryStore()
+const settingsStore = useSettingsStore()
 
 // Tab state
 type TabId = 'find' | 'browse' | 'saved' | 'community' | 'build'
@@ -962,6 +986,15 @@ const activeNutritionFilterCount = computed(() =>
 
 const activeLevel = computed(() => levels.find(l => l.value === recipesStore.level))
 
+// Time budget buckets for the time-first entry selector (kiwi#52)
+const timeBuckets = [
+  { label: '15 min', value: 15 },
+  { label: '30 min', value: 30 },
+  { label: '45 min', value: 45 },
+  { label: '1 hour', value: 60 },
+  { label: '90 min', value: 90 },
+]
+
 const cuisineStyles = [
   { id: 'italian',           label: 'Italian' },
   { id: 'mediterranean',     label: 'Mediterranean' },
@@ -1477,6 +1510,23 @@ details[open] .collapsible-summary::before {
   margin-left: auto;
 }
 
+/* Time bucket selector (kiwi#52) */
+.time-bucket-group {
+  margin-top: var(--spacing-sm, 0.5rem);
+}
+
+.time-bucket-btn {
+  min-width: 4.5rem;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-full, 9999px);
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+.time-bucket-active {
+  background: var(--color-primary, #1a6b4a);
+  color: white;
+  border-color: var(--color-primary, #1a6b4a);
+}
+
 /* Preset grid — auto-fill 2+ columns */
 .preset-grid {
   display: grid;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SettingsView.vue b/frontend/src/components/SettingsView.vue
index e98f163..727359d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SettingsView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SettingsView.vue
@@ -233,6 +233,44 @@
         </div>
       </section>
 
+      <!-- Time-First Layout -->
+      <section class="mt-md">
+        <h3 class="text-lg font-semibold mb-xs">Recipe Search Layout</h3>
+        <p class="text-sm text-secondary mb-sm">
+          Choose how the Find tab looks when you search for recipes.
+        </p>
+        <div class="flex flex-col gap-xs" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Recipe search layout">
+          <label
+            v-for="opt in timeFirstLayoutOptions"
+            :key="opt.value"
+            class="flex-start gap-sm time-layout-option"
+          >
+            <input
+              type="radio"
+              name="time_first_layout"
+              :value="opt.value"
+              :checked="settingsStore.timeFirstLayout === opt.value"
+              @change="settingsStore.timeFirstLayout = opt.value"
+            />
+            <span>
+              <strong>{{ opt.label }}</strong>
+              <span class="text-xs text-muted ml-xs">{{ opt.description }}</span>
+            </span>
+          </label>
+        </div>
+        <div class="flex-start gap-sm mt-sm">
+          <button
+            class="btn btn-primary btn-sm"
+            :disabled="settingsStore.loading"
+            @click="settingsStore.save()"
+          >
+            <span v-if="settingsStore.loading">Saving…</span>
+            <span v-else-if="settingsStore.saved">✓ Saved!</span>
+            <span v-else>Save</span>
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </section>
+
       <!-- Display Preferences -->
       <section class="mt-md">
         <h3 class="text-lg font-semibold mb-xs">Display</h3>
@@ -345,12 +383,19 @@ import { useSettingsStore } from '../stores/settings'
 import { useRecipesStore } from '../stores/recipes'
 import { householdAPI, type HouseholdStatus } from '../services/api'
 import type { TextureTag, SmellLevel, NoiseLevel } from '../services/api'
+import type { TimeFirstLayout } from '../stores/settings'
 import { useOrchUsage } from '../composables/useOrchUsage'
 
 const settingsStore = useSettingsStore()
 const recipesStore = useRecipesStore()
 const { enabled: orchPillEnabled, setEnabled: setOrchPillEnabled } = useOrchUsage()
 
+const timeFirstLayoutOptions: Array<{ value: TimeFirstLayout; label: string; description: string }> = [
+  { value: 'auto',       label: 'Auto',        description: 'Shows a time selector when recipes are available.' },
+  { value: 'time_first', label: 'Time First',  description: 'Always show the time bucket selector at the top.' },
+  { value: 'normal',     label: 'Normal',      description: 'Standard layout — no time selector shown.' },
+]
+
 const sortedCookLog = computed(() =>
   [...recipesStore.cookLog].sort((a, b) => b.cookedAt - a.cookedAt)
 )
@@ -730,6 +775,20 @@ function getNoiseClass(value: NoiseLevel, idx: number): string {
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
+/* ── Time-first layout option ────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+.time-layout-option {
+  cursor: pointer;
+  padding: var(--spacing-xs, 0.25rem) 0;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+}
+
+.time-layout-option input[type="radio"] {
+  accent-color: var(--color-primary);
+  margin-top: 0.15rem;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
 /* ── Sensory pills ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 
 .sensory-pill {
diff --git a/frontend/src/services/api.ts b/frontend/src/services/api.ts
index 71588dc..3b5b9fe 100644
--- a/frontend/src/services/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/services/api.ts
@@ -553,6 +553,7 @@ export interface RecipeRequest {
   pantry_match_only: boolean
   complexity_filter: string | null
   max_time_min: number | null
+  max_total_min: number | null
 }
 
 export interface Staple {
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts b/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts
index 0fcf535..5046b34 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/recipes.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ export const useRecipesStore = defineStore('recipes', () => {
   const pantryMatchOnly = ref(false)
   const complexityFilter = ref<string | null>(null)
   const maxTimeMin = ref<number | null>(null)
+  const maxTotalMin = ref<number | null>(null)
   const nutritionFilters = ref<NutritionFilters>({
     max_calories: null,
     max_sugar_g: null,
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ export const useRecipesStore = defineStore('recipes', () => {
       pantry_match_only: pantryMatchOnly.value,
       complexity_filter: complexityFilter.value,
       max_time_min: maxTimeMin.value,
+      max_total_min: maxTotalMin.value,
     }
   }
 
@@ -384,6 +386,7 @@ export const useRecipesStore = defineStore('recipes', () => {
     pantryMatchOnly,
     complexityFilter,
     maxTimeMin,
+    maxTotalMin,
     nutritionFilters,
     dismissedIds,
     dismissedCount,
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/settings.ts b/frontend/src/stores/settings.ts
index 1bff12e..c98e49d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/settings.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/settings.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,15 @@ import type { UnitSystem } from '../utils/units'
 import type { SensoryPreferences } from '../services/api'
 import { DEFAULT_SENSORY_PREFERENCES } from '../services/api'
 
+export type TimeFirstLayout = 'auto' | 'time_first' | 'normal'
+
 export const useSettingsStore = defineStore('settings', () => {
   // State
   const cookingEquipment = ref<string[]>([])
   const unitSystem = ref<UnitSystem>('metric')
   const shoppingLocale = ref<string>('us')
   const sensoryPreferences = ref<SensoryPreferences>({ ...DEFAULT_SENSORY_PREFERENCES })
+  const timeFirstLayout = ref<TimeFirstLayout>('auto')
   const loading = ref(false)
   const saved = ref(false)
 
@@ -24,11 +27,12 @@ export const useSettingsStore = defineStore('settings', () => {
   async function load() {
     loading.value = true
     try {
-      const [rawEquipment, rawUnits, rawLocale, rawSensory] = await Promise.allSettled([
+      const [rawEquipment, rawUnits, rawLocale, rawSensory, rawTimeFirst] = await Promise.allSettled([
         settingsAPI.getSetting('cooking_equipment'),
         settingsAPI.getSetting('unit_system'),
         settingsAPI.getSetting('shopping_locale'),
         settingsAPI.getSetting('sensory_preferences'),
+        settingsAPI.getSetting('time_first_layout'),
       ])
       if (rawEquipment.status === 'fulfilled' && rawEquipment.value) {
         cookingEquipment.value = JSON.parse(rawEquipment.value)
@@ -46,6 +50,9 @@ export const useSettingsStore = defineStore('settings', () => {
           sensoryPreferences.value = { ...DEFAULT_SENSORY_PREFERENCES }
         }
       }
+      if (rawTimeFirst.status === 'fulfilled' && rawTimeFirst.value) {
+        timeFirstLayout.value = rawTimeFirst.value as TimeFirstLayout
+      }
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       console.error('Failed to load settings:', err)
     } finally {
@@ -61,6 +68,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = defineStore('settings', () => {
         settingsAPI.setSetting('unit_system', unitSystem.value),
         settingsAPI.setSetting('shopping_locale', shoppingLocale.value),
         settingsAPI.setSetting('sensory_preferences', JSON.stringify(sensoryPreferences.value)),
+        settingsAPI.setSetting('time_first_layout', timeFirstLayout.value),
       ])
       saved.value = true
       setTimeout(() => {
@@ -95,6 +103,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = defineStore('settings', () => {
     unitSystem,
     shoppingLocale,
     sensoryPreferences,
+    timeFirstLayout,
     loading,
     saved,
 
diff --git a/tests/api/test_settings.py b/tests/api/test_settings.py
index 784d3a7..ed31617 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_settings.py
@@ -139,3 +139,31 @@ def test_sensory_preferences_unknown_key_still_422(tmp_store: MagicMock) -> None
         json={"value": "{}"},
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 422
+
+
+def test_set_and_get_time_first_layout(tmp_store: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """PUT then GET round-trips the time_first_layout value."""
+    layout_value = "time_first"
+
+    put_resp = client.put(
+        "/api/v1/settings/time_first_layout",
+        json={"value": layout_value},
+    )
+    assert put_resp.status_code == 200
+    assert put_resp.json()["key"] == "time_first_layout"
+    assert put_resp.json()["value"] == layout_value
+    tmp_store.set_setting.assert_called_with("time_first_layout", layout_value)
+
+    tmp_store.get_setting.return_value = layout_value
+    get_resp = client.get("/api/v1/settings/time_first_layout")
+    assert get_resp.status_code == 200
+    assert get_resp.json()["value"] == layout_value
+
+
+def test_time_first_layout_unknown_key_still_422(tmp_store: MagicMock) -> None:
+    """Confirm unknown keys still 422 after adding time_first_layout."""
+    resp = client.put(
+        "/api/v1/settings/time_first_mode",
+        json={"value": "time_first"},
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 422
diff --git a/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py b/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py
index af1051e..41b7f27 100644
--- a/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py
+++ b/tests/services/recipe/test_recipe_engine.py
@@ -134,3 +134,39 @@ def test_suggest_returns_no_assembly_results(store_with_recipes):
     result = engine.suggest(req)
     assembly_ids = [s.id for s in result.suggestions if s.id < 0]
     assert assembly_ids == [], f"Found assembly results in suggest(): {assembly_ids}"
+
+
+# ── _within_time tests (kiwi#52) ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_within_time_no_directions_passes():
+    """Empty directions -> True (don't hide recipes with no data)."""
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import _within_time
+    assert _within_time([], max_total_min=10) is True
+
+
+def test_within_time_no_time_signals_passes():
+    """Directions with no time signals -> total_min == 0 -> True."""
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import _within_time
+    steps = ["mix together", "pour over ice", "serve immediately"]
+    assert _within_time(steps, max_total_min=5) is True
+
+
+def test_within_time_under_limit_passes():
+    """Recipe with 10 min total and limit of 15 -> passes."""
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import _within_time
+    steps = ["cook for 10 minutes", "serve"]
+    assert _within_time(steps, max_total_min=15) is True
+
+
+def test_within_time_at_limit_passes():
+    """Recipe exactly at limit -> passes (inclusive boundary)."""
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import _within_time
+    steps = ["simmer for 10 minutes"]
+    assert _within_time(steps, max_total_min=10) is True
+
+
+def test_within_time_over_limit_fails():
+    """Recipe with 45 min total and limit of 30 -> fails."""
+    from app.services.recipe.recipe_engine import _within_time
+    steps = ["brown onions for 15 minutes", "simmer for 30 minutes"]
+    assert _within_time(steps, max_total_min=30) is False