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 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 do I overcome laziness in cooking? ›

    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 should I eat if I am uninspired? ›

    Porridge with berries, peanut butter, seeds & banana. Smoothie with frozen fruit, avocado & spinach. Yoghurt, fruit & (low sugar) granola. Eggs & spinach.

    What is the most easiest thing to cook? ›

    Easy staples of mine:
    • Eggs - scrambled and over easy.
    • spaghetti with meat sauce (brown meat and add a jar of sauce)
    • hamburgers on the grill.
    • tacos (hamburger meat and seasoning packet)
    • Bake a chicken breast with seasoning and microwave a bag of frozen veggies for side.
    Jan 17, 2018

    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.

    Is it normal to not want to cook? ›

    Here are some reasons why some people may not enjoy cooking: Time Constraints: Busy schedules and limited time can make cooking feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. Lack of Interest: Some individuals simply don't have a strong interest in cooking or experimenting with recipes.

    Is cooking hard for ADHD people? ›

    ADHD can significantly impact cooking, often making it hard to focus on following recipes, grocery shopping, and multitasking.

    Why is cooking hard ADHD? ›

    Cooking with an ADHD brain can be extremely challenging due to the intense executive functioning demands involved, causing frustration, stress, and, ultimately, burnout. Understanding what about cooking makes it so hard allows us to develop brain-based strategies to ease the struggle.

    What is the best food for mental exhaustion? ›

    Here's how these foods can reduce brain fog:
    1. Green leafy vegetables. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins (particularly B vitamins, vitamin K, and folate), and minerals like iron. ...
    2. Blueberries. ...
    3. Walnuts. ...
    4. Pumpkin seeds. ...
    5. Tulsi. ...
    6. Turmeric.
    Aug 7, 2023

    How do you eat when you have no motivation? ›

    If you don't have much appetite, smoothies and soups can be an easy way to get food down. Blend fruit, milk, nuts, oats and yoghurt for a satisfying liquid breakfast. Make a nourishing soup by cooking assorted chopped vegetables and lentils in water or reduced-salt stock till they're tender.

    What should I eat to not be lazy? ›

    Nuts and seeds

    Getting a variety of nuts and seeds in your diet can provide healthy nutrients and energy. Try almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Eating raw, unsalted versions is recommended. And they're the perfect midafternoon snack.

    What to cook when homeless? ›

    Easy meals for homeless
    • Frozen breakfast sandwiches to last 3 weeks! Frozen breakfast sandwiches to last 3 weeks! ...
    • Tiffany Sotelo. ...
    • One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta - Mother Thyme. ...
    • White Sauce Penne Pasta. ...
    • Easy Chili Mac. ...
    • Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe. ...
    • Baked Cheddar Ranch Potatoes, Cheesy Red Potatoes.

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