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 when you're hungry and have no food? ›

    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! Pancakes!
    • Scrambled eggs.
    • Waffles.
    • A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal.
    • Spaghetti carbonara.
    Apr 28, 2020

    What to make for dinner with barely any food? ›

    11 dinner recipes for when your fridge is empty
    • Spaghetti in cherry tomato sauce. ...
    • Harissa chickpeas with silverbeet. ...
    • Bacon, mozzarella and baked bean jaffles. ...
    • Pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines) ...
    • Peas and broad beans with prosciutto. ...
    • Orecchiette with hot-smoked salmon, peas and beurre blanc sauce.

    What to cook 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 to cook for dinner when lazy? ›

    30 lazy dinners to make on weeknights
    • Ramen carbonara. 4.75. 4.8. 30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni. 4.3617. 4.4. ...
    • Thai Green Curry Chicken Noodle Soup. 4.5. 4.5. Family Friendly Fried Rice. 4.285715. 4.3. ...
    • Sri Lankan Coconut & Cashew Chicken with Saffron Rice. 4.188975. 4.2. Potato Gems Shepherd's Pie. 4.2. 4.2.

    What foods keep you motivated? ›

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

    How do you make yourself not hungry quickly? ›

    5 Best Ways to Control Your Hunger and Suppress Appetite
    1. Use protein as a hunger-buster. ...
    2. Fill yourself up with watery, high-fiber foods. ...
    3. Exercise can help control hunger. ...
    4. Drink fluids to help you feel less hungry. ...
    5. Eating small, frequent meals can help curb your appetite.

    How to eat when you're broke? ›

    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 to make for dinner when everything sounds gross? ›

    Savory foods
    • Crackers and cheese.
    • Crackers and tuna or egg salad.
    • Adult lunchable with cheese, crackers, veggies and charcuterie meats.
    • Quesadilla.
    • Pasta with pesto or tomato sauce.
    • Stuffed peppers.
    • Zucchini boats.
    • Microwave sweet potato with toppings.
    Sep 6, 2022

    What to eat and drink when tired? ›

    • 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.

    Why can't I decide what to eat? ›

    Too many choices make it hard to decide what you want. A recent study concluded that staring at a menu and yet being unable to decide what food to order results from 'choice overload'. The brain is overwhelmed by the number of similar choices, which makes it difficult to make a decision.

    What is a lazy meal? ›

    The quintessential lazy dinner, one-pan meals are our favourite type of cooking in winter. From creamy chicken numbers to faster pasta winners, here are 100 recipes that require only one pan, pot or dish.

    What common foods make you tired? ›

    Avoid foods that are high in fats, especially saturated fats such as fried foods, baked goods, pizza, potato chips, and processed meats. High-carbohydrate foods: A high-carbohydrate meal is more likely to cause you to feel sleepy than a low-carbohydrate meal.

    Which 5 food items that you don t like? ›

    "It's Like Eating Crispy Water": People Are Revealing Food And Drink Items They're Completely Disgusted By
    • Even if you tried it a billion times, sometimes you just can't stomach a certain kind of food. ...
    • "Black licorice. ...
    • "Peeps, the Easter sugared candy. ...
    • "Wine. ...
    • "Olives. ...
    • "I know this is a drink, but sparkling water.
    Sep 6, 2023

    What food can you eat without power? ›

    Good options include low-sodium canned beans, vegetables, fruit (packed in fruit juice), breakfast cereal, peanut butter, pouches of fully cooked whole grains, nuts, whole-wheat crackers, snack bars, and shelf-stable milk or plant milk (the kind sold in aseptic boxes in the grocery aisle).

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