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 are some lazy foods? ›

    30 lazy dinners to make on weeknights
    • Ramen carbonara. 4.666665. 4.7. 30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni. 4.3617. 4.4. ...
    • Asian-style Scrambled Eggs. Cheeseburger Jaffle. 4.166665. 4.2. Sri Lankan Coconut & Cashew Chicken with Saffron Rice. 4.188975. ...
    • Salmon and Egg Brown Rice Salad. 4.166665. 4.2. Tuna Melt. 3.67857. 3.7.

    What to cook if I'm lazy? ›

    These lazy dinner recipes are anything but boring.
    1. 1Cheeseburger nachos. ...
    2. 2Crispy Japanese sushi salmon patties. ...
    3. 310-minute vegetarian pad Thai. ...
    4. 4Chicken Lorraine. ...
    5. 5Creamy Italian salmon tray bake. ...
    6. 6Creamy French onion chicken pasta bake. ...
    7. 7The ultimate cheat's gozleme. ...
    8. 8Honey soy chicken with noodles.

    How to overcome laziness to cook? ›

    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 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.

    What is the simplest food to cook? ›

    Our 50 Easiest Recipes Ever For Lazy Cooks
    • 01 of 50. Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta. ...
    • 02 of 50. Soulful Chicken Soup. ...
    • 03 of 50. Spaghetti Casserole. ...
    • 04 of 50. Chicken Cutlets With Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce. ...
    • 05 of 50. Quick Beef Chili. ...
    • 06 of 50. Sloppy Joe Casserole. ...
    • 07 of 50. Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken. ...
    • 08 of 50.
    Sep 20, 2023

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

    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. ...
    • Hot Honey Chicken Thighs. ...
    • Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas. ...
    • 50-50 Buttered Noodles and Greens. ...
    • Teriyaki Salmon Bowls. ...
    • Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich. ...
    • Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili.
    Jun 20, 2022

    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.

    How can I eat healthy cheap and lazy? ›

    Table of Contents
    1. Eating Healthy on a Budget: Plan Your Meals.
    2. Stick to Your List.
    3. Buy in Bulk.
    4. Invest in Leftovers.
    5. Embrace Frozen Fruits and Vegetables.
    6. Buy Cheaper Cuts of Meat—Or Less Meat Overall.
    7. Learn to Love the Store Brand.
    Jan 9, 2024

    Is it OK to not like to cook? ›

    A love-hate relationship with cooking is a normal thing, healthy even. Spend all your time cooking and eating for pleasure and you'll end up like the gout-ridden gourmets of French caricature.

    What is lazy cooking? ›

    It means making smart or clever adjustments that make cooking quicker and easier. Think of it as pandemic cooking 2.0—good, healthy food made convenient. It's all about sheet pan dinners, pressure cookers and any meal you can make in one vessel. It likely involves fewer steps and fewer ingredients.

    What to eat when your appetite is low? ›

    Include a variety of fruit and vegetables in your diet. You can add extra calories and protein by adding butter, cheese or sauces to vegetables, or custard or cream to fruit. Aim to have starchy foods such as cereals, potatoes, bread and rice at every meal.

    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

    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).

    What foods to quit? ›

    Foods to limit when trying to lose weight
    • Sugary beverages. Many beverages, such as sodas, sports drinks, and fruit juices, are very high in added sugars but often low in other nutrients. ...
    • Baked foods. ...
    • Fried foods. ...
    • Processed fast food. ...
    • Crackers and chips. ...
    • Refined breads and pastas. ...
    • White rice. ...
    • Processed energy and granola bars.

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