There are some days when you don't feel like cooking anything at all and it seems like a hassle. Take today, for instance. It's raining where I am... everything is kind of drab and boring. I have no energy. I have stuff I could make, but I'd rather not make something that would require too much time or effort. What to do?
After Redditor beldev6 asked the online community, "Home cooks of Reddit, what is your favorite 'I don't feel like cooking' meal to make?" people shared their ideas. If you're looking for some quick inspiration in the kitchen today, then you're in luck.
"I find myself reaching..."
I find myself reaching all the time for two things: eggs and dumplings. The eggs I cook in butter and eat plain cause I'm an animal and I just love eggs and think they're perfect on their own. Dumplings, I just buy frozen ones and sometimes I boil them with veggies into a soup, sometimes I pan fry them.
"I keep the Pacific brand soup on hand..."
Grilled cheese and tomato soup. I keep the Pacific brand soup on hand and pretty much always have cheese and a loaf of bread. Panera charges $15 for what costs me $3 and ten minutes to make at home!
"So yummy and fast!"
Naan bread pizza. One naan round with a spoon of sauce and a small handful of cheese. Chuck in the toaster oven for 5 minutes! So yummy and fast!
"I always have a box of these..."
At Costco, you can get big boxes of frozen stuffed chicken breast. I like the cordon swiss, but there's also apple brie, cheese and broccoli, etc.
I always have a box of these chicken breasts in the freezer. When I don't feel like cooking, I just throw one in the oven with any vegetables I have in the fridge and that's it. Very simple but also delicious and filling.
"Just grab a big potato..."
Loaded potatoes. Just grab a big potato, bake it (or nuke it for 10 minutes ), cut it open, butter it, stuff it full of cheese, diced onions, shredded sandwich meat, whatever other goodies you have on hand, sprinkle some herbs on it, nuke a little more to get it all melty, top with sour cream, and enjoy.
"Towards the end of the week..."
Rice bowls. Towards the end of the week I'm usually tired of being in the kitchen and the leftovers in the fridge need to be eaten asap. I make a huge pot of rice and heat up what leftovers we have in the fridge and let the kids take their pick. There's almost always some meat I can shred or cut up so everyone can have some and there are always, at the very least, some raw or cooked veggies so it works out.
Occasionally, I have to soft boil a few eggs to top it off but it has always been a good way to prevent wasting food and everyone has a full belly at the end of the day. Our grocery budget has tripled since the kids have been home all day so every little bit helps and it has also pushed them to try and make new food combinations that they wouldn't normally eat. We have witnessed a new love of Brussel sprouts and spinach in the pickiest of eaters and also went through an enormous amount of soy sauce and Sriracha.
"I always have tortilla chips..."
Nachos. I always have tortilla chips in the pantry, brown meats with seasoning and throw random things at it. Avocado, sourcream, chesses, tomato or lettuce if any.
"It's easy, fast..."
Chicken and pasta. Cubed chicken pieces cooked in butter, garlic, and italian seasoning. Pasta of choice. Jarred alfredo sauce mixed with some extra butter, a splash of chicken broth, and some extra cheese. Top with parmesan, and black pepper.
It's easy, fast, and hard to f*ck up, and always tastes good.
"I add in whatever veggies I have on hand..."
Ramen! It's quick, cheap and easy to always have on hand. I add in whatever veggies I have on hand, a protein like an egg or leftover chicken and whatever spices I'm feeling that day, usually garlic and crushed red pepper. Sometimes I add miso or soy sauce, and a little bit of butter always makes the broth taste much better.
"Throw on a sheet pan..."
Slice kielbasa, bell peppers, onion, toss with olive oil and garlic salt. Throw on a sheet pan and into the oven at 425F until the onions soften, then broil for 7 minutes to char a few bits.
"Just enough..."
Zucchini with tomato sauce (juice actually) and an egg on top of that, just enough to leave the yolk all liquid and scrumptious, with a bit of cheese on top, made in one frying pan and in 15 minutes, no supervision of the ingredients needed. My other "I don't feel like cooking" meal is spinach with chopped up onions, cream and either an egg and cheese, just like for the zucchini, or smoked salmon. Quick and easy.
"If I don't feel like cooking..."
Take out. Preferably my husband going to collect said take out. If I don't feel like cooking it means he's not eating unless he organizes food some other way.
"Once you get the technique..."
Focaccia bread. Once you get the technique and recipe down, you have to put 10 minutes of active work into it, spread over a 5 or so hour period.
"Cut holes..."
Eggs in a basket. Cut holes in 2 pieces of bread and slap some butter in a pan then toss the bread and the cut out holes in the pan grab 2 eggs and crack those bad boys open into the holes in the bread and salt and pepper the eggs and allow the bread and eggs to brown on low/medium for a few minutes. Flip once browned and do the same on the other side and boom eggs in a basket.
"Slab the thighs..."
Chicken thighs and rice. Slab the thighs with melted butter, soy sauce, salt and pepper, put them in the oven and load up the rice cooker. Takes ten minutes to prepare, and 30min video games later I have delicious food.
"Warm up a can..."
Refried bean burritos. Warm up a can of refried beans, small can of diced green chilies, cheese, a spoonful of salsa, and some spices. BAM! If you're feeling a little less lazy, chop up some lettuce, onion, and jalapeños.
"Always add..."
Instant noodles. Add dumplings and veg if I'm feeling energetic enough. Always add hot sauce and soy sauce.
Their stock..."
Ramen... but adult style. American friends, introduce yourself to local Korean and Japanese markets and shops. Their 'stock' ramen selection is incredible and if you... let's say... drop an egg and a little extra soy sauce into a delicious spicy garlic ramen, you're gonna have a great meal that took about 4 mins to make (get an electric kettle as well!)
Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.