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.

    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 is the cheapest meal to make? ›

    Budget dinner recipes
    • Sardine pasta with crunchy parsley crumbs. ...
    • Miso lentil & cabbage soup. ...
    • Air-fryer meatballs. ...
    • Black bean & tortilla soup. ...
    • App onlyOne-pan hot honey & mustard parsnips & chicken thigh traybake. ...
    • Turbo beans & cheese on toast. ...
    • Chole with cumin rice & raita. ...
    • Spicy jerk potato & pineapple hash.

    What to make for dinner when you're poor? ›

    65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
    • Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. tasty.co. ...
    • Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With Avocado Crema. ...
    • Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. ...
    • Energy-Boosting Buddha Bowl. ...
    • Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. ...
    • Chicken & Biscuit Bake. ...
    • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
    • Pesto Chicken Bake.
    Dec 21, 2023

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

    Eggs, rice, or pasta are a good starting point, and you can make them in a lot of different ways. They're also easy to make super simple or a little fancier depending on how motivated you're feeling. Recipe inspiration: Microwave “baked” potato.

    What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

    What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
    • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
    • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
    • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
    • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
    Jan 11, 2023

    What is the poor man's meal? ›

    Potatoes were also inexpensive and used extensively. Some meals even used both. One of these meals was called the Poor Man's Meal. It combined potatoes, onions, and hot dogs into one hearty, inexpensive dish, which was perfect for the hard times people had fallen on.

    What's the cheapest food you can live on? ›

    Cheapest Foods to Live On:
    • Oatmeal.
    • Eggs.
    • Bread.
    • Rice.
    • Bananas.
    • Beans.
    • Apples.
    • Pasta.

    What do low income people eat? ›

    Lower-income households purchase more cereals, pasta, potatoes, legumes, and fatty meats. Their vegetables and fruits are often limited to iceberg lettuce, potatoes, canned corn, bananas, and frozen orange juice.

    How can I eat cheap when I am broke? ›

    Some cheap food, in US dollars:
    • Oatmeal in the generic, large cylinders, not the overpriced unhealthy packets. You'll also need sugar, preferably brown. ...
    • Bananas. Good sliced up in the oatmeal. ...
    • Beans. ...
    • Spaghetti sauce with veggies. ...
    • Mac & cheese (with powdered cheese). ...
    • Eggs. ...
    • Bread. ...
    • Jelly.
    Jan 4, 2023

    What to eat when you don t have money for food? ›

    Try increasing your use of eggs, beans, seeds, frozen fruits and vegetables, cheaper cuts of meat, and whole grains. These all taste great, are cheap (especially in bulk), and are very nutritious. Incorporating more inexpensive yet nutrient-rich foods into your daily routine will help you save money and eat well.

    What is the best food for motivation? ›

    7 Power foods and drinks to get you going
    1. Green tea. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, there are many health benefits associated with green tea. ...
    2. Water. It's a bit of a well-known fact that the recommended daily intake of water is 8 glasses per day. ...
    3. Coffee. ...
    4. Blueberries. ...
    5. Leafy greens. ...
    6. Dark chocolate. ...
    7. Oily fish.

    What to eat when you don't wanna? ›

    Foods to eat when you have no appetite
    • Toast: Toast is generally well tolerated and easily digested for most people. ...
    • Smoothies: Smoothies are easy to eat and can offer a nutrient-dense source of calories in a small portion size. ...
    • Soups: Soups can help keep you hydrated.
    Apr 3, 2023

    Why am I not motivated to eat food? ›

    Your lack of motivation might be due to past failures, depression, social anxiety or a wide number of other associated problems. But don't worry, you can find that motivation to start eating better and once you do, you'll see improvements in other areas of your life too.

    What is a silent dinner? ›

    A silent dinner, as the name suggests, is a dinner at which the guests and host do not speak, write, or use technology devices (e.g. phones). The dinners typically last for at least two hours, and guests are expected to stay and participate for the entire time.

    What sounds good to cook for dinner tonight? ›

    Stir-Fries: The OG Quick, Easy Dinner
    • Easy Orange Chicken. Our easy orange chicken recipe puts a healthy spin on the sweet-savory favorite. ...
    • Kung Pao Chicken. Step away from the takeout menu. ...
    • Thai Basil Beef. ...
    • Crispy Chicken Stir Fry. ...
    • Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi).

    What kind of food can you afford on $1 a day? ›

    Get Creative

    The key is to prepare meals using inexpensive ingredients such as rice, beans, eggs, chicken, cabbage, pasta, oatmeal, peanut butter, etc. What is this? Go for high-protein legumes, whole grains, and eggs. Altogether, choose fresh ingredients that are healthy and flavorful.

    What is the cheapest food to fill me up? ›

    a few foods that help fill the stomach that are cheap would-be things such as bread, noodles, rice, beans, etc. all these things are considered to be “fillers”.

    How do you feed a family of 5 for $10? ›

    Ten Healthy Family Meals Under $10
    1. Healthy Fried Rice.
    2. Pasta Salad.
    3. Fettuccini Alfredo… or Bowtie, or Shells, or Rotini.
    4. Rosemary White Bean Soup or Turkey White Bean Chili.
    5. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos.
    6. Black-eyed Peas and Pork…with Kale.
    7. Enchilada Casserole.
    8. Down-home Macaroni and Cheese.

    How can I eat a lot on a low budget? ›

    By following these six tips, you may be surprised at how much you can stretch your grocery budget.
    1. #1: Plan Your Recipes. ...
    2. #2: Shop With a List. ...
    3. #3: Buy Frozen or Canned. ...
    4. #4: Cut Cost With Coupons. ...
    5. #5: Buy Store Brands. ...
    6. #6: Try Growing a Garden. ...
    7. Healthy Eating: Not “One Size Fits All”

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