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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!”
#8
Frozen dumplings from the supermarket
#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!
#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.
#23
toast with sunny side up eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers
#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.
#28
Canned stuffed dolmas from Trader Joe’s. Also a great work lunch.
#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.
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
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
