"If You Have These Two Ingredients You've Got Dinner": People Are Sharing Their Best In-A-Pinch Meals They Make When They Don't Feel Like Cooking
"My family has been making it since I was little, and this lazy meal just stuck with me."
We all have those nights: you didn't get around to grocery shopping, you don't feel like cooking, or you simply aren't feeling inspired. So Redditor u/Davenapeta asked, "What is your go-to 'I don't feel like cooking' meal? People had some great responses (and I personally added a few of my own favorites), to hopefully inspire your next lazy meal.
1. "Basic carbonara. Boil spaghetti or angel-hair pasta, drain, crack an egg in it, then add bacon bits, Parmesan, salt and pepper. It's really easy, and ready in five minutes."
2. "Turkey sloppy Joe’s made with ground turkey, marinara sauce, and onion powder. I throw the turkey mixture onto a deli roll and call it a night. This is my go-to when I get off work late and want something tasty and quick."
3. "I throw cauliflower florets into the air fryer for a few minutes and cook them until they begin to crisp up. Then I drizzle buffalo sauce on top and dip them in ranch."
4. "My mom used to make this for me all the time when I was a kid, and I still crave it when I don't feel like cooking. I take a few slices of bread like whole wheat toast, top them with thinly sliced tomatoes, and cover with a slice of American cheese. Then I pop them into the toaster oven until the cheese is melted. It takes about five minutes and always tastes like childhood to me."
5. "Store-bought naan spread with pesto; topped with fresh spinach, cooked chicken, and mozzarella cheese; and sprinkled with olive oil, then broiled, or even just microwaved, is delish."
6. "I learned how to make 'lazy enchiladas' from TikTok. You get some frozen taquitos and bake them for 10 minutes at 400°F to crisp them up. Then add in canned enchilada sauce and top with cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes. Serve it with toppings of your choice, like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. It's super easy."
7. "My absolute go-to is garlicky noodles. I start with some type of egg noodles (even instant ramen will do), boil them, then toss them in a skillet with melted butter, a couple cloves of garlic, and a splash of soy sauce."
8. "I buy these Indonesian instant noodles called Mi Goreng and add some sauteed vegetables (whatever I have on hand) cooked in gochujang. Finally, I top it with a fried egg. When I don't feel like coming up with something to make, this always tastes so good."
9. "Quesadillas. A flour tortilla with shredded sharp cheddar and some salsa. Fold it over, microwave it for 30 seconds, and eat away!"
10. "Ramen. I find bunches of scallions on sale all the time for under a dollar, so I will buy like 10 at once, dice them finely, and freeze them. Then whenever I make ramen with an egg, I can grab a handful of scallions and toss them in."
11. "Toast topped with sunny side up eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers."
12. "I put a big scoop of kimchi into a frying pan and warm it up for a few minutes. Then make a little nest in the middle and crack an egg. Cover the pan until the egg is cooked to your desired doneness. It’s good served over toast with mayo or on top of leftover rice."
13. "It may sound weird to some, but I like to have toast with peanut butter, drizzled with sriracha — it's like spicy peanut sauce on toast. You get protein, carbs, fat, salt, and a little spice."
14. "I love to make Emily Mariko's famous salmon and rice bowls. If I don't have fresh or leftover salmon I'll use whatever I have on hand (usually canned tuna or salmon). I just heat up some rice and mix it with flaked salmon and drizzle the bowl with anything from soy sauce and Sriracha to furikake seasoning. Finally, I'dd add some extras like sliced cucumber, scallions, or kimchi depending on what's in my kitchen. It's hearty and cozy and best of all, so simple."
15. "Microwave nachos with shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, and some chopped pickled jalapeños. That's all I need to make me a happy guy. I'll bake or toast them if I feel so inclined, but the microwave works just fine."
16. "A makeshift charcuterie plate. I use whatever lunch meat is in my fridge, pepperoni, pickles, olives, and cheese."
17. "Jazzed up tomato soup. I always have a can of Campbell's or a carton of Trader Joe's creamy tomato soup in my pantry. I add a few ingredients to make it taste more filling and gourmet, anything from cauliflower gnocchi and spinach to croutons and pesto. Especially during winter, it's always so comforting."
18. "Pasta with melted butter or olive oil and that powdered Parmesan cheese. My family has made this all the time since I was little. We affectionately call it shaker cheese spaghetti."
19. "A tuna melt on English muffins. I pretty much always have canned tuna, mayonnaise, and some sort of bread that I can toast under a layer of cheese."
20. "Instant mashed potatoes mixed with butter and peas. It always hits the spot."
21. "If I'm by myself and want something easy, I make baked beans on toast. I add a little butter to the beans when they are heating and season with ground white pepper afterwards. It's freaking delicious."
22. "Tacos using literally whatever is in my fridge/freezer. I pretty much always have corn tortillas for this very purpose. When I didn't get to go grocery shopping, I usually go for scrambled eggs and sautéed onion with salsa. Other times I'll heat up fish sticks with whatever greens I have on hand. If you've got tortillas and any kind of protein, you've got a pretty satisfying meal, IMO."
23. "For me, it's a pasta bake. The best part about it is that it yields so many leftovers for later. I grab a jar of pasta sauce, a box of pasta, and a package of mozzarella cheese. I dump a whole box of pasta in casserole dish, cover it with tomato sauce and some water and bake it at 425°F for around 20 minutes until the water looks mostly absorbed. Then I remove it from the oven, top it with all cheese, and bake it for another 10 minutes until the cheese is browned."
24. "Fried egg sandwiches are quick, cheap and easy on a weeknight, and the whole family likes them. Fry an egg the way you like it and serve it on toasted bread topped with melted cheese. Bonus points if you've got some leftover ham or bacon in the fridge."
25. "Black bean chili. All you need is a can of black beans, a can of diced tomatoes, some onion, garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper, and a little time for simmering. It's easy, cheap, and tasty, and it's become a weeknight staple for me now."
26. "Chinese-inspired noodles. I boil some noodles, drain them, and then toss them into a skillet with some oil so they lightly crisp. I mix a few spoonfuls of Lao Gan Ma chili oil, soy sauce, and sesame oil. A scoop of tahini or peanut butter also works wonders."
27. "A box of mac 'n' cheese mixed with browned ground beef, sautéed, onions and some peas."
28. "Baked potatoes. I always nuke mine for five minutes in the microwave and then toss them into the toaster for another 15. I usually top mine with cottage cheese, bacon, green onions and all the black pepper."
