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? ›

    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 lunch with nothing in the house? ›

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

    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 to make when you have no time to cook? ›

    So we rounded up our favorite easy weeknight dinner recipes you can make in just 15 minutes — from comforting pastas to hearty rice bowls.
    1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
    2. Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
    3. Cacio e Pepe. ...
    4. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
    5. Italian Chopped Salad. ...
    6. Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza.
    Nov 8, 2023

    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.

    What is the most simple thing to cook? ›

    Our Go-To Easy Dinner Idea? Soup!
    • 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup. As simple and easy as it sounds. ...
    • Taco Soup. Like tacos, but soup! ...
    • Tikka Masala Soup. Your favorite Indian chicken recipe, soup-ified. ...
    • Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale. Can we just call this “The Soup”?

    What to do if you're hungry but have no food? ›

    Pouring yourself a big glass of water and drinking it may help to quell any cravings or hunger. To stay hydrated, women should consume 2.7 liters and men should consume 3.7 liters of fluids daily. If you don't want to drink plain water, you could add a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.

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

    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 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 to eat when you are sad and not hungry? ›

    5 mood-boosting foods
    • Eggs – with yolk. The protein provided by eggs helps stabilize blood sugar and the yolks contain B vitamins, which are proven to lessen the severity of depression's symptoms.
    • Cold water fish. ...
    • Nuts and seeds. ...
    • Grains. ...
    • Low-fat dairy.

    What can you cook in 8 minutes? ›

    8-minute recipes (91)
    • 8 minute Spanish rice. ...
    • 8 minute spicy Ramen. ...
    • 8 Minute Fudge. ...
    • 3 Minute Bread Pudding (for breakfast and snacktime) ...
    • Easy Egg Sandwiches in 5 Minutes! ...
    • California Farm Panfried Halibut with Asparagus. ...
    • SHRIMP FETTUCCINE ALFREDO 😋❤️😘💋💋💋 ...
    • Glossy!

    What food do you usually eat when you are tired and don t want to cook? ›

    Boiled rice with boiled veggies(with potatoes) and eggs. Combine all of it with butter and salt and eat away. This situation arises a lot when you are too tired to make big efforts for cooking.

    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
    • "Black licorice. ...
    • "Peeps, the Easter sugared candy. ...
    • "Wine. ...
    • "Olives. ...
    • "I know this is a drink, but sparkling water. ...
    • "Matcha! ...
    • "Kombucha smells like stinky feet and tastes like vinegar to me." ...
    • "Beer of any kind.
    Sep 6, 2023

    What food can you eat without power? ›

    FEMA recommends stocking up on the following items in case of an emergency: Ready-to-eat canned fruits, vegetables and meats, along with a can opener. Protein or fruit bars. Dry cereal or granola.

    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.

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