19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (2024)

    You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen to enjoy a great homemade meal.

    by Marie TellingBuzzFeed Staff

    1. An easy, 25-minute orange chicken recipe.

    And it's budget friendly, too.

    Get the recipe here.

    2. A black bean soup ready in 35 minutes, tops.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (4)

    Monique / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

    Vegetarian and full of protein.

    Get the recipe here.

    3. A skillet peach crisp ready in under an hour.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (5)

    Dana Shultz

    Cobblers and crisps are such easy, great dessert options. This one also happens to be gluten-free, but you can sub all-purpose flour if you can eat gluten.

    Get the recipe here.

    4. A quick and easy way to upgrade your instant ramen.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (7)

    Tieghan Gerard / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    This one, ready in 15 minutes, will take your ramen game to a whole new level.

    Get the recipe here.

    5. A beef and broccoli recipe that won't take you longer than 15 minutes to prepare.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (8)

    Chung-Ah Ree

    Serve with some rice or quinoa.

    Get the recipe here.

    6. A foolproof chicken breast recipe.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (10)

    Ali Ebright / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    These baked chicken breasts have now been tried and adopted by most of our team. The secret is in the brining: Just put the breasts in a saltwater bowl for 15 minutes while your oven is warming up. Rinse them, coat them with olive oil and spices, bake them, and you'll get some super tender and juicy chicken breasts. I usually only bake two at a time and add some veggies on the roasting tray for a full meal.

    Get the recipe here.

    7. A reliable and tasty 10-minute pasta recipe.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (11)

    Tieghan Gerard

    You don't need much (in this case only fresh herbs, eggs, parmesan, and butter) to make delicious, creamy pasta.

    Get the recipe here.

    8. A lemon pie recipe that's so good and easy you'll want to make it every week.

    I'm legit obsessed with this pie. The crust is made out of just saltine crackers and butter and gives the pie an unexpected but delicious salty kick. The lemon curd is basically lemon juice mixed with sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks — no need to preheat it in a pan before it hits the oven. Top it all with whipped cream and you've got yourself the perfect pie.

    Get the recipe here.

    9. Indulgent skillet chicken chilaquiles for an easy weeknight dinner.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (15)

    Ree Drummond / Via thepioneerwoman.com

    One skillet, five ingredients, and whatever toppings you'd like.

    Get the recipe here.

    10. A five-ingredient Nutella cookie recipe recipe that'll satisfy your weekend cravings.

    Ready in only 20 minutes.

    Get the recipe here.

    11. A great recipe for homemade French fries.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (18)

    Deb Perelman / Via smittenkitchen.com

    Lazy-ish since they take 45 minutes to make but they are SO worth it.

    Get the recipe here.

    12. The perfect grilled cheese recipe.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (19)

    Annie Chesson

    If you're using only one type of cheese, you're doing it wrong.

    Get the recipe here.

    13. A butter chicken you can make in a slow cooker.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (21)

    Tieghan Gerard / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    Slow cookers are a lazy cook's best friend.

    Get the recipe here.

    14. A classic no muss, no fuss cheeseburger.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (22)

    Holly Lofthouse / Via life-in-the-lofthouse.com

    This one is inspired by In-N-Out's classic cheeseburger, so you know it's good.

    Get the recipe here.

    15. A tinfoil garlic Parmesan salmon recipe.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (23)

    Chelsea / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    A whole meal in a foil pocket, ready in 35 minutes.

    Get the recipe here.

    16. A straightforward but delicious chocolate cake recipe.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (24)

    Deb Perelman

    I've already made this cake a few times. It only takes about 45 minutes to make and bake and the result is really good. (And if you're actually not feeling lazy, you can also use this recipe for a layer cake.)

    Get the recipe here.

    17. A slow cooker short ribs recipe for your taco night.

    Dump it all in a slow cooker in the morning, live your life, and enjoy perfectly tender barbacoa short ribs in the evening.

    Get the recipe here.

    18. A brilliant way to make a simple cake look fancier than it is.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (28)

    David Frenkiel & Luise Vindahl / Via greenkitchenstories.com

    This simple blueberry cake was shattered then filled with yogurt for serving. Super smart, yummy, and pretty!

    Get the recipe here.

    19. And a one-pan sausage and veggies recipe that only requires 10 minutes of prep.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (29)

    Chelsea / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    Ten minutes of prep, 30 minutes of cooking: The perfect option for a busy weeknight.

    Get the recipe here.

    19 Lazy But Brilliant Recipes That Won't Let You Down (2024)

    FAQs

    What to have for dinner no effort? ›

    Low Effort Dinners
    1. Fish Stick Tacos. Top with store-bought coleslaw, pico de gallo and hot sauce. ...
    2. Frittatas and Eggs. Make them dairy-free or dotted with goat cheese or feta. ...
    3. Eggs Poached in Marinara. ...
    4. Pasta, Pasta. ...
    5. Naan Pizzas. ...
    6. Fast Fish. ...
    7. Ramen, yes ramen! ...
    8. Big Salads.
    May 11, 2022

    What can I make for dinner if I have no motivation? ›

    WHAT TO EAT FOR DINNER WHEN YOU LACK INSPIRATION OR DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING
    • Homemade queso + chips.
    • Popcorn. ...
    • Eggs on or with toast.
    • Omelet – very accommodating to whatever you might have in the fridge!
    • Grilled cheese and soup. ...
    • Cereal. ...
    • One skillet meals like rice, chicken and veggies.
    • Pesto pasta.
    May 27, 2020

    What to make for dinner with bare minimum? ›

    • 27 / 44. Parmesan Fish Sticks. I wanted a healthier approach to fish sticks and developed a baked tilapia with a slightly peppery bite. ...
    • 28 / 44. Ham & Swiss Stromboli. This is an excellent dish to take to someone for dinner. ...
    • 29 / 44. Shakshuka. Shakshuka is a dish of poached eggs with tomatoes, onion and cumin.
    May 5, 2024

    What is a depression meal? ›

    Try to eat something with protein several times a day, especially when you need to clear your mind and boost your energy. Good sources of healthy proteins include beans and peas, lean beef, low-fat cheese, fish, milk, poultry, soy products, and yogurt. The right food choices may help lift your mood.

    What's the easiest food to eat? ›

    Which Foods Are the Easiest to Digest?
    • Low-fiber grains: Carbohydrate-containing foods are among the easiest to digest. ...
    • Lean protein: Protein is another type of food that is easily digested. ...
    • Fruit and fruit juice: ...
    • Well-cooked green leafy vegetables: ...
    • Fermented foods:

    What to eat when unmotivated? ›

    If you want to increase your motivation level you should include following foods in your diet:
    • Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt.
    • Omega 3 rich fish such as sardines and macarels.
    • Unprocessed meat such as mutton, chicken and turkey.
    • Eggs.
    • Fruits and vegetables, in particular bananas.
    Sep 29, 2021

    What to make when you have no idea what to cook? ›

    33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make
    1. Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breast. tasty.co. ...
    2. Honey Soy-Glazed Salmon. tasty.co. ...
    3. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast. tasty.co. ...
    4. Chicken & Biscuit Bake. ...
    5. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
    6. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas. ...
    7. Upgraded Ramen. ...
    8. Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli.
    May 16, 2024

    What is the cheapest thing to make for dinner? ›

    68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
    • Black Bean Burgers. ...
    • Creamy Tomato Shells. ...
    • Zucchini Corn Quesadillas. ...
    • Super-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad. ...
    • Chicken and Mandarin Salad With Simple Sesame Dressing. ...
    • Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro With Shrimp. ...
    • Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers.
    May 3, 2024

    How to cook for a lot of people cheap? ›

    25 Cheap Meals for Large Families
    1. 01 of 26. Hungarian Goulash. View Recipe. ...
    2. 02 of 26. Simple Chicken and Noodles. ...
    3. 03 of 26. Easy Taco Casserole. ...
    4. 04 of 26. Winter Lentil Vegetable Soup. ...
    5. 05 of 26. Salisbury Steak. ...
    6. 06 of 26. Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs. ...
    7. 07 of 26. Black Beans and Rice. ...
    8. 08 of 26. Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup.
    Feb 22, 2024

    What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

    27 Weeknight Dinner Ideas For People With Literally No Time
    1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
    2. Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
    3. Cacio e Pepe. ...
    4. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
    5. Italian Chopped Salad. ...
    6. Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza. ...
    7. Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls. ...
    8. Chicken Cucumber Avocado Salad.
    Nov 8, 2023

    How to eat when you're broke? ›

    You will want to purchase cheap foods that are filling! Oatmeal, rice, beans, bread, and other starches are filling and will keep you full until your next meal. Beans and rice are also super versatile foods, and you can take them and transform them into easy meals you will actually enjoy!

    What can I cook in 30 min? ›

    30-minute meal recipes
    • Mustard-stuffed chicken. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
    • Air-fryer fish tacos. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users. ...
    • Coconut fish curry. ...
    • Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) ...
    • Air-fryer sweetcorn fritters. ...
    • 30 minute chicken & tarragon pasta. ...
    • Thai prawn noodles. ...
    • Pork noodle stir-fry.

    How do you cook on a low budget? ›

    Top tips for cooking on a budget
    1. Plan a weekly menu with some budget dinner ideas. ...
    2. Put leftovers to good use. ...
    3. Start batch cooking on a budget. ...
    4. Use your kitchen space smartly. ...
    5. Cook seasonally. ...
    6. Don't be afraid to swap out ingredients. ...
    7. Pick imperfect vegetables. ...
    8. Pad recipes out with pulses and grains.

    What to make for dinner when you have no energy? ›

    21 Short Recipes For Tired And Hungry Weeknight People
    1. Simple Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas. ...
    2. Chicken, Broccoli Shells, and Cheese. ...
    3. Arepas With Guacamole, Plantain, and Bean Filling. ...
    4. Chicken and Spinach in Creamy Mushroom Sauce. ...
    5. Crispy Southwest Wrap. ...
    6. Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad. ...
    7. Creamy Pasta With Bell Pepper and Sausage.
    Jan 22, 2019

    What to make for dinner when unsure? ›

    33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make
    • Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breast. tasty.co. ...
    • Honey Soy-Glazed Salmon. tasty.co. ...
    • The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast. tasty.co. ...
    • Chicken & Biscuit Bake. ...
    • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
    • Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas. ...
    • Upgraded Ramen. ...
    • Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli.
    May 16, 2024

    What are some good struggle meals? ›

    Struggle Meals
    • Crunchy Apple Salad. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Buffalo Chicken Sliders. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Tater Tot Nachos. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Gooey Banana Chocolate Cake. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Thin Crust Tavern Pizza. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Wood Fired Style Pizza. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Detroit Style Deep Dish Pizza. Diane Templeton. ...
    • Whole Cauliflower Roast.

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