Some days you look in your fridge at 6pm and see half a lemon and an unopened box of mac and cheese. These meals work when you are tired, busy, or don’t want to cook.
All of the meals below take less than 10 minutes of your time to cook, especially if you use shortcuts such as pre-packaged salads, canned beans, microwavable rice, and rotisserie chicken.
| Group | Dishes |
|---|---|
| No stove needed | Chicken Caesar Wrap, Chickpea Salad Pita, Loaded Baked Potato, Savory Yogurt Bowl, Hummus Plate, Taco Salad, Cottage Cheese Bowl, Greek Chicken Bowls, Antipasto Dinner, Salmon Rice Bowl |
| Boiled pasta and noodles | Cacio E Pepe, Upgraded Instant Ramen, Turkey Pesto Pasta, Peanut Noodles, Tortellini Skillet, Tomato Ricotta Pasta |
| Made in a skillet | Egg Fried Rice, Black Bean Quesadillas, Avocado Egg Toast, Caprese Melt, Shrimp Scampi, Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, Breakfast Scramble, Garlic Butter Gnocchi, Sausage And Salad, Chicken Stir-Fry, Salsa Eggs, Pesto Chickpeas, Spinach And Feta Omelet |
| Warmed in a saucepan | Tomato Soup And Grilled Cheese, Tortilla Soup, Creamy White Beans, Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal |
| Under the broiler or in the toaster | Tuna Melt, Pita Pizzas, Bean And Cheese Nachos, Meatball Sub, BLT Sandwich, Toast Trio |
No stove needed
Assembled cold or heated in the microwave.
Chicken Caesar Wrap
Take a tortilla and add chopped Romaine, rotisserie chicken, some Caesar dressing, and a little Parmesan. You can roll it up and if you want to add some crunch to it, put it in a dry heated pan for a minute to toast it. It is fast and dependable.
Chickpea Salad Pita
Smash the drained chickpeas with some mayo, lemon, and seasoning (salt and pepper). Add cucumbers or pickles for extra crunch. Stuff the mixture into a pita along with some greens. It has protein and fiber, so it keeps you full.
Loaded Baked Potato
Here’s how to make a microwave potato. First, microwave the potato until soft, then split the potato and use a fork to fluff the insides. After that, top your potato with cheese, beans, leftover chili, salsa, Greek yogurt, or broccoli. It’s a cheap option.
Savory Yogurt Bowl
Mix salt, pepper, and lemon into a thick Greek yogurt, and then top with chopped cucumber and tomato. Drizzle with olive oil, and use it as a dip for pita or crackers. It’s quick and filling.
Hummus Plate
Spread some hummus on a plate and drizzle some olive oil. Add in chopped vegetables, pita, and any other snacks like nuts or feta. This works when the fridge looks empty. It scales for one or four people.
Taco Salad
Chopped romaine adds bulk to the salad. Then take the chicken, canned beans, and corn. Add some salsa, and for a little crunch some crushed tortilla chips. For added taste, drizzle some lime and sprinkle a little bit of cumin. This salad takes little effort and still fills a plate.
Cottage Cheese Bowl
I like cottage cheese with tomatoes, pepper, and olive oil. It doesn’t require any cooking. If you would rather get something sweet, you can make it with fruit and add a drizzle of honey. Just like before, it is quick, with almost no clean up.
Greek Chicken Bowls
For this recipe, you will need leftover chicken (rotisserie chicken is fine), prepackaged microwaveable rice, some diced cucumber, and diced tomato. Spoon on tzatziki and a squeeze of lemon. It looks put together but takes very little effort.
Antipasto Dinner
Chop some deli meats, cheese, and any pickled items you have in your fridge. Add crackers or bread for a no-cook plate. It suits hot summer nights or nights when you don’t want to cook.
Salmon Rice Bowl
For a quick recipe, use the microwave to cook rice, then add some flaked canned salmon and drizzle a mixture of mayonnaise and hot sauce over it. If you have cucumber or avocado, you can add that too. It’s fast and gets its protein from the salmon.
Boiled pasta and noodles
Cooked in one pot of boiling water, often with some pasta water saved for the sauce.
Cacio E Pepe
Boil the pasta and remember to save some starchy water. After removing from the heat, add finely grated Pecorino Romano (or Parmesan) and a lot of black pepper, and loosen the cheese and pepper with a bit of the starchy pasta water until it becomes silky. It’s a simple technique.
Upgraded Instant Ramen
Make your ramen and add whatever seasoning you like (it’s more than one serving, so you can add less). Stir in some spinach at the end and add a jammy egg or scrambled egg ribbons. It’s quick and warm.
Turkey Pesto Pasta
While your pasta water is boiling, you can quickly brown the ground turkey. Combine it with the pesto and a little bit of the pasta water to make it glossy. This is a weeknight recipe you can repeat often.
Peanut Noodles
Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, some hot water, and lime juice (or vinegar) for a quick sauce. Pour over hot noodles and add shredded carrots or cucumber for crunch. This dish is sweet and salty.
Tortellini Skillet
Boil your tortellini and combine it with your choice of warmed sauce. For example, use a jarred Alfredo, or you could even just use butter and parmesan cheese with a splash of pasta water. To add some veggies you can throw in some peas or spinach.
Tomato Ricotta Pasta
While the pasta is still hot, mix it together with the ricotta cheese and some salt and pepper along with a little bit of the pasta water so that it becomes creamy. Then, add some cherry tomatoes that you have halved and some basil or pesto. This dish is soft and filling.
Made in a skillet
Eggs, quesadillas, shrimp, gnocchi, and stir fries cooked in one hot pan.
Egg Fried Rice
Start by microwaving a rice pouch while you heat a little oil in a pan and scramble two eggs. After the eggs are cooked, toss them into the rice, add a splash of soy sauce, and add some frozen peas if you have them.
Black Bean Quesadillas
Place canned black beans into a bowl and mash them up while adding in some cumin and a pinch of salt. Next, take some tortillas and put some cheese in the middle. Cook both sides on the skillet and slice the tortillas into wedges. Children and adults with big appetites both eat this one.
Avocado Egg Toast
Toast the bread, mash the avocado and add salt and lemon, then add a quickly fried egg on top. You can add chili flakes, hot sauce, or ‘everything’ seasoning. It is a breakfast food that works as dinner.
Caprese Melt
Inside the bread add layers of mozzarella, sliced tomato, and basil (or pesto) and grill it just like a grilled cheese sandwich. A small pinch of salt on the tomatoes brings out their flavor. If you have balsamic glaze, just one tiny drizzle will be plenty.
Shrimp Scampi
Use peeled shrimp (thawed if frozen), sauté in butter or olive oil with garlic, then finish with lemon. This can be mixed with pasta or just taken directly with some crusty bread. Shrimp cook in a few minutes, so don’t walk away from the pan.
Shrimp and other shellfish reach the FSIS safe minimum at 145°F.
Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
Make sure to use a salmon fillet, lightly season it, then cook it quickly in a pan or air fryer until it is just cooked through. At the end brush it with teriyaki sauce and serve with microwave rice and a quick-steamed veggie. It is a full dinner.
Breakfast Scramble
Throw together some scrambled eggs with any mix-ins you have available like cheese, spinach, peppers, or leftover potatoes. You can serve this with toast and fruit. It’s quick and takes little thought.
Garlic Butter Gnocchi
Many shelf-stable types of gnocchi don’t require boiling. Store-bought gnocchi can be cooked in a skillet extremely quickly. They can be cooked with garlic butter and parmesan. You can also add some spinach at the end.
Sausage And Salad
A quick way to add flavor is to slice and brown the pre-cooked chicken sausage in a pan. Then serve it with a bagged salad kit.
Chicken Stir-Fry
Use pre-cooked chicken if you have it; if not, thin-cut chicken cooks fast. Put some frozen stir-fry vegetables into a hot pan, pour in the soy sauce, add some garlic, and you’re pretty much done. For a complete meal, serve over rice or noodles that you’ve microwaved.
Salsa Eggs
It’s a spicy, simple alternative to plain scrambled eggs. Warm some salsa in a pan, crack in some eggs and cover the pan. Once the eggs have set, scoop them onto tortillas or toast.
Pesto Chickpeas
Make sure to toss warm chickpeas in a pan along with some pesto and squeeze some lemon on top. You can eat it over toasted bread or salad greens. Sprinkle some Parmesan on top to finish.
Spinach And Feta Omelet
To prepare this, wilt some spinach in a pan, add the eggs when they’ve been beaten, and sprinkle some feta cheese on top before folding the omelet. If making omelets seems too stressful, just scramble the eggs instead. You’ll get the same flavors with less work.
Warmed in a saucepan
Soup, beans, and oatmeal heated in one pot.
Tomato Soup And Grilled Cheese
Pour the box or can of soup into a pot and heat it up. For the grilled (cheese) sandwich, grab some cheese that will melt. This can be cheddar, mozzarella, or provolone.
Tortilla Soup
Start with broth and salsa for instant flavor, then add shredded chicken and canned beans. Add crushed tortilla chips and lime. It needs only a few groceries.
Creamy White Beans
Take your canned cannellini beans and warm them up with some olive oil and garlic, and mash a few so that it becomes creamy. Add in some spinach or kale and stir until wilted. Spoon that mixture over some toast.
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal
Oatmeal is more than a breakfast food; it makes an excellent dinner too. Cook the oats, mix in some peanut butter, slice up a banana, and add a little salt.
Under the broiler or in the toaster
Toasted or broiled until the cheese melts or the bread crisps.
Tuna Melt
Mix canned tuna with a bit of mayo (or Greek yogurt) and salt. Then chop and add anything crunchy you have like pickles, celery, or onion. Spread the mixture on some toast, place cheese on top, and broil or air-fry until the cheese is bubbly.
Pita Pizzas
Spread some marinara sauce on a pita, top it with cheese and any other toppings that you want. Broil the pizza until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the cheese are browned. Each person can pick their own toppings, which helps with picky eaters and roommates.
Bean And Cheese Nachos
Start with a layer of chips, then add canned beans, and shredded cheese. Heat until everything is melty. You can top it off with salsa, avocado, or a spoonful of yogurt or sour cream.
Meatball Sub
Add meatballs, sauce, and cheese to a hoagie roll and broil them for a minute (if you have that long). Don’t skip the cheese.
BLT Sandwich
If you have cooked bacon ready, this takes about 10 minutes. If not, a swap for deli ham or turkey, still makes a good sandwich with a bit of lettuce and tomato. Add some mayo and black pepper to the sandwich.
Toast Trio
Try to create two or three unique toasts and think of them as mini flights of dinner choices. Mixing sweet and savory gives indecisive eaters a choice. This one uses whatever you have.
