ADVERTISEMENT

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.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Pasta with butter or olive oil and powdered parmesan

Theweedhacker_420 , Andrew Quinney Report

Final score:
203points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#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.

ndphoto Report

Final score:
149points
Add photo comments
POST
underachvrnproud avatar
Satan Laughs
Satan Laughs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The day I learned how to scramble an egg in the microwave in one minute changed my egg sandwich game. Fried bologna, anyone?

Vote comment up
36
36points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Bread and cheese. French bread and French cheese to be precise.

Dirichlet-to-Neumann Report

Final score:
133points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

“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.”

ADVERTISEMENT

If you want to check more of Rothman’s DIY dinner ideas and why she loves them so much, check out this post.
#4

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Cereal

WrittenOnYaKitten , Allison Belen Report

Final score:
131points
Add photo comments
POST
shylabouche_1 avatar
Shyla Bouche
Shyla Bouche
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like mine dry. I hate soggy cereal. So I'll eat it with a cup of coffee.

Vote comment up
28
28points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out 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).

MrFunnyMoustache , Taz Report

Final score:
130points
Add photo comments
POST
duliza avatar
Duane Ringlein
Duane Ringlein
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

Vote comment up
28
28points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Grilled cheese

KrayzieAlcohilicFlow Report

Final score:
120points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu

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!

ADVERTISEMENT

“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

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out A freezer pizza

trick_tickler , Jason Tester Report

Final score:
114points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Frozen dumplings from the supermarket

pillowsweetheart , Robin Report

Final score:
110points
Add photo comments
POST
monscul avatar
Green Tree
Green Tree
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tom yum paste soup base & frozen dumplings makes a great quick soup

Vote comment up
20
20points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Toast. An entire loaf of toast.

ramenadventures , secretlondon123 Report

Final score:
106points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out PBJ

seawee8 , Giorgio Trovato Report

Final score:
106points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out quesadilla

NOT000 , David Kessler Report

Final score:
103points
Add photo comments
POST
jojothecatlady01 avatar
JoJo Anisko
JoJo Anisko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Corn or flour, dry pan or with oil, cheddar or pepper jack, yes!

Vote comment up
14
14points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Egg on rice, lil soy sauce, lil sesame oil. *mwah* 👌

AxeJohnson Report

Final score:
103points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Nachos

licmabollsack , jeffreyw Report

Final score:
98points
Add photo comments
POST
indiecognition avatar
indiecognition
indiecognition
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've microwaved chips covered with cheap cheese and maybe a little hot sauce on more occasions than I'd care to admit

Vote comment up
30
30points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Ramen and an egg

Stinky_pudding , Kanesue Report

Final score:
94points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Baked potato

_boov Report

Final score:
88points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out There's a lot of cooking going on in this thread.

For me a sandwich. Specifically cream cheese and ham.

HorizontalDan , Erin Wang Report

Final score:
84points
Add photo comments
POST
shylabouche_1 avatar
Shyla Bouche
Shyla Bouche
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

Vote comment up
18
18points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out A flour tortilla with shredded sharp cheddar and some La Victoria salsa. Fold it over and nuke it for 30 seconds, and eat away!

Maxsdad53 , extended epiphany Report

Final score:
82points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#18

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Instant mashed potatoes with butter and peas

Optimal-Spot6348 , Ernesto Andrade Report

Final score:
81points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Tuna melt on English muffins here. Always got tuna, mayo, an onion and something I can toast under some cheese .

clovisx , Craig Simpson Report

Final score:
80points
Add photo comments
POST
aerose101 avatar
Amanda Rose
Amanda Rose
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

Vote comment up
17
17points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Lunch meat, pepperoni, pickles, olives and cheese.

sturm_fireforge , stu_spivack Report

Final score:
78points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Peanut butter on a spoon

elle_quay , Tyler Nix Report

Final score:
74points
Add photo comments
POST
fartingpinwheel avatar
Well-Dressed Wolf
Well-Dressed Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks, BP, for the lovely stock photo of caramel drizzling onto ice cream on an entry about peanut butter XD Stay classy, BP.

Vote comment up
70
70points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out 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.

Shirlenator , hmboo Electrician and Adv Report

Final score:
73points
Add photo comments
POST
crowngemuk avatar
Mama Penguin
Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

Vote comment up
18
18points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out toast with sunny side up eggs, feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers

daisy470 , L.A. Foodie Report

Final score:
71points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out 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.

AtomicPedals , Erik BurtonFollow Report

Final score:
71points
Add photo comments
POST
ruslana_kusova avatar
Remi
Remi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...

Vote comment up
20
20points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Shawarma place less than a 5 min drive from me.

TheClayroo , Jorge Soto Farias Report

Final score:
68points
Add photo comments
POST
indiecognition avatar
indiecognition
indiecognition
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shawarma or a good gyro pretty much always hits the spot for me. I also wish doner kebab was more common near me.

Vote comment up
19
19points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Eggs and toast,

shehulksmashes Report

Final score:
68points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Rotisserie chicken and a box of stuffing.

Leading-Taste12 Report

Final score:
61points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out Canned stuffed dolmas from Trader Joe’s. Also a great work lunch.

henderson7779 , ENESFİLM Report

Final score:
60points
Add photo comments
POST
elisabethskladalova avatar
Kensi
Kensi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I am jealous cause in my country there's no Trader Joe's

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out I nuke a bag of veggies and legit just eat out of the bag with a fork

touching_payants , Mitch Kasanami Report

Final score:
59points
Add photo comments
POST
fartingpinwheel avatar
Well-Dressed Wolf
Well-Dressed Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

Vote comment up
9
9points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

People Are Sharing Their Best "I Don't Feel Like Cooking" Meals, And Here Are 30 Easy Ones To Try Out 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.

MelodicHunter , Stephen Strowbridge Report

Final score:
49points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!