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 to make for dinner when your tired of everything? ›

    What to Cook When You're Tired of Everything: 40 Easy Recipes to Get You Out of a Dinner Rut
    • 15-Minute Herb-Crumbed Fish. ...
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    Jun 20, 2022

    What can I make for dinner tonight 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 most easiest thing to cook? ›

    17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
    1. 15-Minute Lo Mein. Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com. ...
    2. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. ...
    3. Honey Balsamic Chicken. ...
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    8. One-Pot Pasta With Spinach and Peas.
    Jan 2, 2019

    What to eat when nothing sounds good about depression? ›

    Research has shown that certain foods can actually help to boost your mood. These include: Foods that contain the amino acid, tryptophan, including eggs, spinach and salmon. Foods that are rich in folic acid, including avocado and spinach.

    What to make for dinner when uninspired? ›

    dinner ideas for the uninspired
    • Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus. ...
    • Beef Pan-Fried Noodles. ...
    • Creamy Ranch Chicken. ...
    • Sausage Potato and Kale Soup — The Daley Plate. ...
    • Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup. ...
    • Gemüsequiche. ...
    • Prosciutto Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles. ...
    • 30 Minute Saucy Ginger Sesame Noodles with Caramelized Mushrooms.

    What foods do I need to eat if I feel tired all day? ›

    A diet with lots of leafy green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats such as fish, nuts, and seeds may help lessen the effects of feeling tired!

    Which food removes laziness? ›

    • Unprocessed foods. While a cheeseburger and fries might be comforting while you're eating it, its nutritional value is low. ...
    • Seasonal fruits and vegetables. ...
    • Non-caffeinated beverages. ...
    • Lean proteins. ...
    • Whole grains and complex carbs. ...
    • Nuts and seeds. ...
    • Water. ...
    • Vitamins and supplements.

    What is the easiest thing to cook for dinner? ›

    From noodles, stir-fries, soups and salads, you'll find something for everyone.
    • 1Kung pao chicken noodle tray bake. ...
    • 25-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
    • 310-minute cheat's fried rice. ...
    • 4Easy beef stir-fry. ...
    • 5Easy tuna, sweetcorn and rice slice. ...
    • 6Quick fish finger burgers. ...
    • 7Japanese-style pork and soba noodle stir-fry.

    What's a good lazy dinner for two? ›

    From creamy chicken numbers to faster pasta winners, here are 100 recipes that require only one pan, pot or dish.
    • 1One-pot Normandy chicken. ...
    • 2One-pan Spanish-style tortilla. ...
    • 3One-pan yellow pork curry with coconut rice. ...
    • 4Bolognaise and sweet potato chip pie. ...
    • 5One-pan chicken with spinach and white beans.

    What to cook when you have almost nothing? ›

    15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
    • Buttery, gooey grilled cheese. ...
    • PB&J because duh. ...
    • Tuna melt tostadas. ...
    • Pancakes! ...
    • Scrambled eggs. ...
    • Waffles. ...
    • A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal. ...
    • Spaghetti carbonara.
    Apr 28, 2020

    What to eat when nothing tastes good? ›

    Foods to try if nothing tastes good:

    Fruit sorbet or sherbet is also an idea. Experiment with spices and herbs. Instead of adding more salt to food to perk up the taste, try adding dried basil, oregano, or a lemon-pepper seasoning. Try eating meat at room temperature instead of hot.

    What to make for dinner when tired? ›

    • 1Creamy chicken and risoni tray bake. ...
    • 2Easy slow-cooker lasagne recipe. ...
    • 3One-pan creamy chicken pesto pasta bake. ...
    • 4Chicken chow mein tray bake. ...
    • 5One-pot creamy chicken ravioli. ...
    • 6One-pan miso chicken drumsticks. ...
    • 7Chicken, chorizo and olive tray bake. ...
    • 8Slow-cooker beef brisket bourguignon.

    What is your go to lazy dinner? ›

    A staple in my house. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. And if even making that is too much, I do charcuterie with grapes, cheese, nuts, crackers, and maybe a few slices of lunch meat. I use taco seasoning in my refried beans to get that spicy flavor without actual meat (it also makes a great dip).

    How do you cook if you're lazy? ›

    7 Easy Cooking Tips for Lazy People
    1. Stock your pantry with the basics. ...
    2. Stock up on frozen ingredients. ...
    3. Cook an extra batch of food. ...
    4. Have freezer-friendly containers and bags handy. ...
    5. Master a few one-pot meals. ...
    6. Roast your meals. ...
    7. Invest in the right kitchen helper. ...
    8. 6 Beginner's Recipes you can make with a Kitchen Machine.

    What to make for dinner when you don t have a lot of food? ›

    These simple dinner ideas use only a handful of ingredients so you can still whip up a meal using whatever you have in the cupboard.
    • 15-ingredient sausage rolls. ...
    • 2Creamy mushroom gnocchi. ...
    • 3Fast falafel bowl. ...
    • 45-ingredient satay beef skewers. ...
    • 55-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
    • 6Speedy wild rice and salmon salad.

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