diff --git a/frontend/src/components/QuickAddPicker.tsx b/frontend/src/components/QuickAddPicker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5b018a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/QuickAddPicker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next'
+import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import {
+  DropdownMenu,
+  DropdownMenuContent,
+  DropdownMenuItem,
+  DropdownMenuTrigger,
+} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
+import { Zap } from 'lucide-react'
+import { quickAdd as quickAddApi, categories as categoriesApi, budgetItems, type QuickAddItem } from '@/lib/api'
+
+interface Props {
+  budgetId: string
+  onItemAdded: () => void
+}
+
+export function QuickAddPicker({ budgetId, onItemAdded }: Props) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation()
+  const [items, setItems] = useState<QuickAddItem[]>([])
+  const [loadingItems, setLoadingItems] = useState(true)
+  const [creatingId, setCreatingId] = useState<string | null>(null)
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    quickAddApi
+      .list()
+      .then((data) => setItems(data ?? []))
+      .catch(() => setItems([]))
+      .finally(() => setLoadingItems(false))
+  }, [])
+
+  const handleSelect = async (item: QuickAddItem) => {
+    if (creatingId) return
+    setCreatingId(item.id)
+    try {
+      // Find or create a matching category for the quick-add item
+      const allCategories = await categoriesApi.list()
+      let categoryId: string
+
+      const existing = allCategories.find(
+        (c) => c.name.toLowerCase() === item.name.toLowerCase()
+      )
+
+      if (existing) {
+        categoryId = existing.id
+      } else {
+        const created = await categoriesApi.create({
+          name: item.name,
+          type: 'variable_expense',
+          icon: item.icon,
+        })
+        categoryId = created.id
+      }
+
+      await budgetItems.create(budgetId, {
+        category_id: categoryId,
+        item_tier: 'one_off',
+      })
+
+      setOpen(false)
+      onItemAdded()
+    } finally {
+      setCreatingId(null)
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <DropdownMenu open={open} onOpenChange={setOpen}>
+      <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+        <Button variant="outline" size="sm">
+          <Zap className="size-4 mr-1" />
+          {t('quickAdd.addOneOff')}
+        </Button>
+      </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+      <DropdownMenuContent align="start" className="w-56">
+        {loadingItems ? (
+          <div className="px-2 py-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">{t('common.loading')}</div>
+        ) : items.length === 0 ? (
+          <div className="px-2 py-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            <p className="mb-1">{t('quickAdd.emptyPicker')}</p>
+            <Link
+              to="/quick-add"
+              className="text-xs underline text-primary"
+              onClick={() => setOpen(false)}
+            >
+              {t('quickAdd.goToLibrary')}
+            </Link>
+          </div>
+        ) : (
+          items.map((item) => (
+            <DropdownMenuItem
+              key={item.id}
+              disabled={creatingId === item.id}
+              onSelect={(e) => {
+                e.preventDefault()
+                handleSelect(item)
+              }}
+              className="flex items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer"
+            >
+              {creatingId === item.id ? (
+                <span className="size-4 animate-spin border-2 border-current border-t-transparent rounded-full inline-block" />
+              ) : (
+                <span>{item.icon}</span>
+              )}
+              <span>{item.name}</span>
+            </DropdownMenuItem>
+          ))
+        )}
+      </DropdownMenuContent>
+    </DropdownMenu>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
index 9fcc562..2cd923b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { EmptyState } from '@/components/EmptyState'
 import { useBudgets } from '@/hooks/useBudgets'
 import { useAuth } from '@/hooks/useAuth'
 import { budgetItems as budgetItemsApi } from '@/lib/api'
+import { QuickAddPicker } from '@/components/QuickAddPicker'
 import { FolderOpen } from 'lucide-react'
 import { palette } from '@/lib/palette'
 
@@ -98,6 +99,12 @@ export function DashboardPage() {
           </SelectContent>
         </Select>
         <Button onClick={() => setShowCreate(true)}>{t('budget.create')}</Button>
+        {current && (
+          <QuickAddPicker
+            budgetId={current.id}
+            onItemAdded={() => selectBudget(current.id)}
+          />
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {showCreate && (