26 Dinners for When I'm Too Tired To Cook

When making dinner feels like too much, these easy, minimal prep recipes have your back.

I can't tell you how many times I've come home after a long day, hungry and exhausted, thinking about ordering in but remembering I can have a home-cooked meal in as little as 15 minutes. That’s thanks to my back-pocket recipes.

I have a handful of easy, minimal prep recipes to turn to when I'm too tired to cook. They typically involve a package of pasta or a can of beans, but quick-cooking ground meat and fillets of salmon slip in too. Every time I skip the takeout and whip up something quickly feels like a win.

And that’s where these 26 recipes come in. With a focus on minimal prep and ease, they were made for those evenings when the temptation to order in is high and your motivation is low. Save the ones that speak to you for later—you'll be thankful that you did.

Creamy Cavatappi

*Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek*

Get Recipe: Creamy Cavatappi

"To keeps things most efficient, make the sauce while the pasta cooks. Don’t forget to save some pasta water before draining the cavatappi!" —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

Chorizo Sloppy Joes

*Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster*

Get Recipe: This 15-Minute Sloppy Joes Has a Smart Shortcut

"Chorizo is slightly spicy, but the spice level can vary from brand to brand. If your chorizo happens to be spicier than you’d like, add a touch of ketchup to your sloppy Joe mixture–its sweetness will help tame the heat." —Sara Bir, Contributor

Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon

Get Recipe: Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon

"If your salmon fillets are on the thinner side (ours were about an inch thick), you can cook them for less time, about a minute less." —Myo Quinn, Contributor

3-Ingredient Pizza Beans

Get Recipe: The 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans That Converted My Kids Into Bean Lovers

"Since pizza is the name of the game here, your favorite pizza toppings are all invited—crumbled cooked sausage, red onions, banana peppers, and even anchovies, if that’s your thing." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

Creamy Chicken Florentine

Get Recipe: Creamy Chicken Florentine

"Chances are you’ll find chicken cutlets at your local grocery, often in packs of four. If you don’t see any in the meat aisle, buy boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can cut them into cutlets." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

Get Recipe: The 20-Minute Ground Beef Dinner I Make All the Time

"My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight. You can also use a more convenient, even quicker rice—like frozen, bagged, or microwave—if you really want to minimize time and effort." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

15-Minute Wonton Soup

Get Recipe: The 15-Minute Dinner I Make Once a Week

"Toss in some ramen, soba, udon, or rice noodles for a heartier, more filling meal." —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus

Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus

"Buy shelled and cleaned shrimp. This makes for easier preparation. If you get shell-on shrimp, it’ll just add five minutes onto the prep time to clean and devein the shrimp (and we’re going for a quick and easy dinner, remember)." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

Get Recipe: The 15-Minute Meal I Always Make When I Don't Feel Like Cooking

"If olives are not your thing (please, please try the mild Castelvetranos at least once!), swap them with chopped canned artichokes or a tablespoon or two of rinsed capers for the same brininess." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

5-Ingredient Barbecue Meatloaf

Get Recipe: My Mom’s 5-Ingredient Meatloaf Is My Favorite

"Mom usually tucks her meatloaf into her well-worn meatloaf pan, but I find that baking the meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet is quicker and tastier. Using a sheet pan also allows for more air circulation during baking, which equals more browned bits around the edges." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

Get Recipe: This 20-Minute Dinner Saves Me on Busy Weeknights

"I call for cheese tortellini here, but any filling works, be it meat, mushrooms, or beyond." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

Cheesy Baked Tacos

Get Recipe: Cheesy Baked Tacos

"The basic recipe below includes the classic combo of refried beans and Mexican-style cheese. You can switch up the cheese (just make sure whatever you choose is super melty!) or even use vegan cheese shreds, and add other fillings like cooked ground meat, shredded rotisserie chicken, or mashed potatoes." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

Honey Mustard Baked Salmon

Get Recipe: Honey Mustard Baked Salmon

"If you don't have already prepared honey mustard, just combine equal amounts of honey and Dijon mustard." —Elise Bauer, Founder

20-Minute Red Lentil Coconut Soup

Get Recipe: The Comforting 20-Minute Dinner I Make on Repeat

"Unlike dried beans, red lentils don't need to soak before you cook them, but you should always give them a little rinse in cold water right before use to remove any debris or dirt." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

Get Recipe: The 10-Minute Dinner I Make All the Time

"Whenever I’m feeding multiple people (so, every night), I find that including a choose-your-own-adventure element in the meal is my best bet for success. Everyone wants to have their own thing, and with hummus and ground beef as a jumping-off point, this dish lets them do just that." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

*Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh*

Get Recipe: The One-Pan Chicken Dinner You Need To Make

"To keep the meal low-maintenance, I often roast broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or other hearty vegetables on a baking sheet on the top rack of the oven while the chicken cooks. A big salad is a great side for this dish, as is crusty bread!" —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

Gingery, Garlicky Ground Beef Dinner

Get Recipe: This 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Dinner Might Be the Best Thing I’ve Ever Made

"Whenever making rice from scratch feels like a hassle, I reach for Hetbahn, a microwaveable instant rice and ubiquitous pantry staple for rice-loving Koreans worldwide. Costco sells Bibigo Hetbahn, a popular brand of cooked white sticky rice. The rice comes portioned in single-serving bowls, and when microwaved for just 90 seconds, it's delicious, just like freshly cooked rice." —Myo Quinn, Contributor

Easy Chicken Cobbler

Get Recipe: This Super Easy Chicken Cobbler Requires Almost No Prep

"This super easy cobbler is made all in one baking dish—right down to melting the butter! Just assemble all the layers (no stovetop cooking required) and pop the dish in the oven to cook all together, freeing you up for other tasks." —Afton Cyrus, Recipe Developer

Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans

Get Recipe: The 15-Minute Dinner I’m Making All Winter Long

"I love the simplicity of this dish, but it’s easy to amp up the flavors a bit without adding time spent. I’ll often add a teaspoon or two of white miso to give the beans more umami flavor." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

3-Ingredient Baked BBQ Chicken

Get Recipe: The 15-Minute Baked Chicken I Make on Repeat

"It’s important to use only the most delicious barbecue sauce and cheese. They’ll be adding the flavor to your dish, so go for the good stuff." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

Sheet Pan Salmon With Asparagus

Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon With Asparagus

"This sheet pan recipe is a complete dinner. You could cook some couscous, rice, or orzo to round the meal out. If I’m feeling lazy, I just bring some crusty bread and good olive oil to the table." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

Creamed Tacos

Get Recipe: This Is the Only Way I'll Eat Velveeta—It's So Delicious

"As the meat browns, you can use the time to prep the lettuce and fresh tomato." —Sara Bir, Contributor

10-Minute Creamy White Beans and Greens

Get Recipe: This 10-Minute Meal Warms Me up on Cold Nights

"Make sure to drain the beans in a sieve set over a bowl as you’ll need the aquafaba." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

One-Pot Chicken and Rice

Get Recipe: My Mom’s One-Pot Chicken and Rice Is Pure Comfort Food

"Feel free to make this dish with any boneless, skinless chicken you have on hand, but the convenience of frozen, bagged tenders means they can go straight from the freezer to the boiling pot." —Stephanie Burt, Recipe Developer

No-Peek Chicken

*Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley*

Get Recipe: No-Peek Chicken

"Make sure you’re using quick-cooking rice, such as Minute Rice. This ensures the rice will cook through without drying out the chicken breasts." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

4-Ingredient Ravioli Lasagna

Get Recipe: The 4-Ingredient Dinner I've Made Hundreds of Times

"Fresh ravioli are easy to find, and bake up a little bit faster, but this same recipe works just as well with frozen ravioli. Don’t boil the frozen ravioli—they can thaw slightly on the counter while you cook the sausage. Then, build the lasagna as directed." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

from Simply Recipes | Recipes and cooking advice for home cooks https://ift.tt/JbrASqC

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