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People Are Sharing Their Best “I Don’t Feel Like Cooking” Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out
Although most of us are aware that cooking from scratch is the healthiest and one of the cheapest ways to get your nutrition game up and going, sometimes it’s the last thing you want to do.
That’s when the temptations come in: cheesy tacos, meaty burgers, or frozen pizza. But it turns out you don’t need that much effort to prepare a pretty good meal and “I Don’t Feel Like Cooking Today” meals can be an art form in itself.
So when someone asked people “What is your go-to ‘I don't feel like cooking’ meal?” on Ask Reddit people rolled up their sleeves, sharpened their kitchen knives, and got to work. From very basic ingredients to as little effort as possible, this is what we call a perfectly optimized meal.
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#1
Pasta with butter or olive oil and powdered parmesan
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#2
Not magic but fried egg sandwiches are quick, cheap and easy on a weeknight and the whole family likes them. Egg fried the way you like, cheese on toasted bread. Bonus if you've got some leftover ham or bacon in the fridge.
Satan Laughs 2 years ago
The day I learned how to scramble an egg in the microwave in one minute changed my egg sandwich game. Fried bologna, anyone?
#3
Bread and cheese. French bread and French cheese to be precise.
“My favorite go-to no-cook meal is DIY (do it yourself) tacos,” the pediatric dietitian and feeding expert Rachel Rothman, MS, RD, CLEC, who is also the owner of Nutrition in Bloom told Bored Panda.
“I grab a can of black beans, and shredded cheese, chop lettuce and tomatoes, heat up a microwavable bag of rice, and serve with tortillas. It's a perfect super easy family-friendly meal - everyone gets to make the taco of their choice.”
If you want to check more of Rothman’s DIY dinner ideas and why she loves them so much, check out this post.
#4
Cereal
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I like mine dry. I hate soggy cereal. So I'll eat it with a cup of coffee.
#5
I always keep at least 5 "lazy day meals" in my freezer for this exact purpose. If I see a good discount on ingredients I'll buy more than I need, cook a larger portion than what I intend to eat that day, and keep one in the freezer. It helps a lot when you get sick and need to eat like a normal human being.
Just remember FIFO (first in; first out).
Duane Ringlein 2 years ago
When I make meals like chili, or pinto beans and ham, freeze the leftovers and have a quick meal to heat up rather than cook a whole meal.
#6
Grilled cheese
Those days when we don't feel like cooking, frozen food and take-outs can be our saviors. Rothman believes that we shouldn’t demonize them but on the contrary, she argues that take out, frozen food, and fast-food can be part of the food that we are eating - and should be part!
“Life can get busy and these convenience foods serve a purpose–they are convenient. Plus, many of these foods have similar nutrients to a home-cooked meal,” she said.
“As a pediatric dietitian working with busy parents I often encourage my clients to use these foods. Sometimes we have to make choices (like spending extra time with our children or having a fun outing) and if that means skipping out on cooking from scratch I am all for it!”
#7
A freezer pizza
#8
Frozen dumplings from the supermarket
MRK thisDWN 2 years ago
So good if you have some sesame oil &/or soy sauce. And you can microwave or steam or pan fry or air fry or even boil these suckers, choose veggie only or with pork or chicken. K I'm hungry...
#9
Toast. An entire loaf of toast.
#10
PBJ
#11
quesadilla
#12
Egg on rice, lil soy sauce, lil sesame oil. *mwah* 👌
#13
Nachos
indiecognition 2 years ago
I've microwaved chips covered with cheap cheese and maybe a little hot sauce on more occasions than I'd care to admit
#14
Ramen and an egg
#15
Baked potato
Well-Dressed Wolf 2 years ago
Any method of prep for potato is god tier. Potatoes are amazing.
#16
There's a lot of cooking going on in this thread.
For me a sandwich. Specifically cream cheese and ham.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I have two sandwiches: deli ham and provolone with lettuce and onion, and hard salami, sliced hard boiled egg, and American cheese on white toast. It's very important that the egg slices are the middle layer.
#17
A flour tortilla with shredded sharp cheddar and some La Victoria salsa. Fold it over and nuke it for 30 seconds, and eat away!
#18
Instant mashed potatoes with butter and peas
#19
Tuna melt on English muffins here. Always got tuna, mayo, an onion and something I can toast under some cheese .
Amanda Rose 2 years ago
I've never put my tuna melts on a English muffin before. I use whole wheat bread. I will have to try it with the English muffin.
#20
Lunch meat, pepperoni, pickles, olives and cheese.
#21
Peanut butter on a spoon
Well-Dressed Wolf 2 years ago
Thanks, BP, for the lovely stock photo of caramel drizzling onto ice cream on an entry about peanut butter XD Stay classy, BP.
#22
Same here, though it's more like "we don't feel like coming up with anything to make, or going shopping" since it still involves some cooking.
We get these noodles called Mi Goreng, make them, add some sauteed vegetables (whatever we have) cooked in gochujang, with a fried egg on top. It is so good.
Mama Penguin 2 years ago (edited)
That's Indomie! Yesss 😊 I call this dressed up instant noodle. My favorite combo is egg, shredded leftover rotisserie chicken, scallion, and cabbage if I have some.
#24
Black bean chili. A can of black beans, a can of diced tomatoes, some onion, some garlic, some chili powder, salt, pepper, and a bit of simmering. Easy, cheap, and tasty. It's a weeknight staple now.
Remi 2 years ago
For some reason feel like a crime to admit it, but I never liked beans. With the sauce they are in, they don't appetizing... The texture isn't great, the taste also isn't doing anything for me. They are easy if taken from the can and ptobably good for you eith vitamins and other healthy nutriens, but man they are not nice...
#25
Shawarma place less than a 5 min drive from me.
indiecognition 2 years ago
Shawarma or a good gyro pretty much always hits the spot for me. I also wish doner kebab was more common near me.
#27
Rotisserie chicken and a box of stuffing.
#29
I nuke a bag of veggies and legit just eat out of the bag with a fork
Well-Dressed Wolf 2 years ago
Why heat frozen veggies? XD I prefer them raw straight out of the fridge. Zero prep time, don’t even bother cutting/peeling, just wash em off. I prefer Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli raw to cooked. I’ll die on that hill XD
#30
My family has done this all the time ever since I was little and now I have my wife making it too.
We affectionately call it shaker cheese spaghetti.
#31
Get those little frozen burritos (El Monterey is the brand I get) two of those on a plate
1min in the microwave, flip then another minute
pile with shredded cheese and salsa (or just hot sauce)
then one more minute in the microwave.
I call them Bachelor Enchiladas, or Bachiladas
it's a good meal that's ready in about 4 minutes including the time to dig em out of the freezer. Only dishes it dirties are a plate, a fork, and your cheese grater.
Marie Dahme 2 years ago
Try it with a little enchilada sauce next time on those El Monterey ‘s !
#32
Cheese & crackers and or peanut butter & crackers
#33
Bunches of green onions go on sale all the time here for under a dollar, so I will buy like 10 of them, dice them finely, and put them in the freezer. When I make my ramen with an egg, I can grab a handful and toss them in.
Well-Dressed Wolf 2 years ago (edited)
After using, stick the root bulbs in a bit of dirt outside and you’ll have perpetual green onions in perpetuity. Just snip off a bit of the stalk with scissors as needed! I literally have store-bought green onions growing in my yard that were originally purchased years ago, they’ve just been propagating/growing/flowering/seeding the nearby dirt and growing baby green onions ;)
#34
Bagel Bites, freezer section. Trust me those things f*****g slap
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I've eaten these several times, and they've never been prone to violence.
#35
Box of Mac and cheese with browned hamburger onions and some peas mixed in.
#36
Tuna sandwich
indiecognition 2 years ago
Sometimes i just put a little mayo, hot sauce, lemon juice, and pepper right into the can and dig in. It's actually even better with decent sardines.
#37
Rotisserie chicken is a great option. Make s big salad or just cut off however much meat you want and you're set.
Mama Penguin 2 years ago
I buy rotisserie chicken from Costco regularly. Sometimes I feel really lazy and just cut off a chunk of chicken for lunch and eat some fruit afterwards.
#40
I make giant batches of soup and freeze a ton of it in 1 cup cubes. Takes 30 seconds to pop a frozen soup cube or two and put it on the stove to boil until done. I'm also frugal so a lot of my soups are called "protein" anything soups. Whatever protein I have on hand (chicken, sausage, etc) paired with whatever veggies I have that are going bad/ I got on sale.
Carrie de Luka 2 years ago
How big are your ice cubes??? Not sure two ice cube sized portions are going to be quite enough to use instead of cooking a meal! If using them to add to something else, that's already a bit too much effort rather than a frozen pizza or a jacket spud!
#41
Frozen foods from Trader’s Joes. It tastes so good even from a microwave.
#42
Tortilla. Shredded cheese. Tortilla. Microwave 1 min.
#45
I add a knob of butter to the beans when they are heating, and then ground white pepper afterwards. 'Kin delicious!
#46
Chicken strips and fries
2 years ago (edited)
I used to do that a lot. Like bro. I loves me some chicken, (even tho I don't eat it anymore. But still, MMM)
#47
When I used to babysit these three boys and I didn't have much cooking skills, I made up this simple dish that they absolutely loved. We called it 'Samurai Slop.' - egg noodles - ground beef/sliced kielbasa - Korean bbq sauce -(optional) fried egg on top About as easy as mac n' cheese, and actually pretty good. ~~Throughout my 20's,~~ f**k I still make it for myself when I'm lazy.
#48
Chinese Inspired Late-Night Noodles Boil some noodles, drain, and then toss into a skillet with some oil to lightly crisp (optional). Mix a few spoonfuls of Lao Gan Ma chili oil (I prefer the black bean variety), soy sauce, and sesame seed oil then mix it with the noodles. A bit of sesame paste or peanut butter in the mix also works well.
#49
I once had to claw my way into a can of chef boyardi after the lid snapped off and I realized I didn't have a can opener. I also didn't have any silverware or plates, so I ended up drinking cold tomato sauce and noodles, which was actually oddly satisfying.
Philly Bob 2 years ago
Is there anyone out there who believes that Spaghetti O's, or Beefaroni etc. tastes better cold? Or am I just a weirdo? (Don't answer that! :)
#50
Canned soup or a Harris Teeter sub. That Well Yes soup brand is really good imo
Rosesinmyhair 2 years ago
Tinned Heinz pea and ham soup and a ham sandwich w/fresh bread and butter.
What do you think ?
Doyle Alan 2 years ago
Did I miss the grilled cheese sandwich in this post?? That's my go to lazy food.
zak 2 years ago
It's there, but for some reason there's no photo. Grilled cheese and tomato is awesome too
Load More Replies...
JP Doyle 2 years ago
I put a cup of oatmeal in the microwave. Very tasty with brown sugar and cinnamon
ZGutr 2 years ago
oatmeal !!! DEFINETLY !! with raisins and nuts. And no sugar but when cooled till 30 degrees Celsius add fresh honey
Load More Replies... Doyle Alan 2 years ago
Did I miss the grilled cheese sandwich in this post?? That's my go to lazy food.
zak 2 years ago
It's there, but for some reason there's no photo. Grilled cheese and tomato is awesome too
Load More Replies... JP Doyle 2 years ago
I put a cup of oatmeal in the microwave. Very tasty with brown sugar and cinnamon
ZGutr 2 years ago
oatmeal !!! DEFINETLY !! with raisins and nuts. And no sugar but when cooled till 30 degrees Celsius add fresh honey
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