What’s your go‑to “I don’t want to cook but I have to” meal?

https://discuss.online/post/35084079

What’s your go‑to “I don’t want to cook but I have to” meal? - Discuss Online

Lemmy

I love this thread, so I extracted out everything that was listed so far. Please offer corrections for any errors and I will fix.

  • Frozen chicken nuggets and fries; buttermilk ranch dip 
    Ingredients
    • Frozen chicken nuggets
    • Frozen fries
    • Ranch dip
      • 1 cup sour cream
      • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
      • 1/3 cup fresh buttermilk; up to 1/2 cup for a thinner, dressing like dip
      • 2 to 3 tablespoons Hidden Valley ranch powder
      • 2 to 4 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
      • Optional herbs: chives; parsley; a little tarragon
      • Black pepper; optional squeeze of lemon juice

    Steps

    • Bake or air fry nuggets and fries per package directions.
    • Stir sour cream and mayo until smooth.
    • Stir in ranch powder; let it sit 2 minutes so it hydrates.
    • Add buttermilk a splash at a time until the texture is right.
    • Fold in dill and any other herbs; add pepper; chill 15 to 30 minutes if you can.
  • Chicken and salad 
    Ingredients
    • Chicken thighs or breasts
    • Salt; pepper; oil
    • Salad greens or a bagged salad kit; dressing

    Steps

    • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
    • Cook in a skillet over medium heat until done; about 5 to 7 minutes per side depending on thickness; or bake at 425°F until 165°F internal.
    • Toss salad; add dressing; serve together.
  • Risotto 
    Ingredients
    • 1 cup arborio rice
    • 4 to 5 cups broth, kept warm
    • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
    • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
    • Optional add ins: mushrooms; peas

    Steps

    • Warm broth in a saucepan.
    • In a second pot, melt butter; toast rice 1 minute.
    • Add warm broth 1/2 cup at a time; stir often; keep adding as it absorbs.
    • Stop when creamy and the rice is tender; usually 18 to 22 minutes.
    • Stir in parmesan; fold in add ins; season to taste.
  • Baked beans on toast 
    Ingredients
    • Bread
    • Canned baked beans
    • Butter

    Steps

    • Toast bread; butter it.
    • Warm beans in a small pan or microwave.
    • Spoon beans over toast.
  • Pasta aglio e olio peperoncini 
    Ingredients
    • Pasta
    • Olive oil
    • Garlic, pressed or thinly sliced
    • Chili pepper or chili flakes
    • Parmesan
    • Salt
    • Optional: sliced mushrooms; pancetta; chickpeas  

    Steps

    • Cook pasta in well salted water.  
    • Warm olive oil on low; add garlic and chili; keep heat low so it flavors the oil without browning.  
    • Drain pasta; toss with the oil; top with plenty of parmesan.  
    • Optional: crisp pancetta; sauté mushrooms; warm chickpeas; stir in at the end.
  • Fast mug pesto pasta 
    Ingredients
    • Pasta
    • Garlic
    • Basil
    • Olive oil
    • Salt; black pepper
    • Parmesan
    • Optional: pine nuts; olives; marinated peppers; artichokes  

    Steps

    • Cook pasta.
    • In a mug, crush garlic with salt; add basil; pepper; optional pine nuts; mash well.  
    • Cover with olive oil; stir; mix in parmesan.  
    • Drain pasta; toss with pesto; finish with more parmesan.
  • A sandwich 
    Ingredients
    • Bread
    • Any quick protein: deli meat; tuna; leftovers
    • Cheese; greens; pickles
    • Condiment: mayo; mustard

    Steps

    • Build; toast if desired; eat.
  • Quesadillas; high effort to almost no effort 
    Ingredients
    • Tortillas
    • Shredded cheese
    • Optional fillings: cooked protein; onions; peppers; garlic; seasonings  
    • Salsa; chips

    Steps

    • High effort: cook protein and vegetables; then assemble; pan fry in the fat left in the pan; add butter if needed.  
    • Medium effort: use canned chicken or pre cooked frozen Mexican style meat; assemble; pan fry.  
    • Low effort: assemble; toaster oven until melted.  
    • Serve with salsa and chips.
  • Instant noodles upgraded 
    Ingredients
    • Indomie or Buldak instant noodles
    • 1 egg
    • Furikake
    • Optional mozzarella

    Steps

    • Cook noodles per package.
    • Add seasoning.
    • Add egg: crack into the hot noodles and cover 2 minutes; or top with a soft boiled egg.
    • Top with furikake; optional mozzarella.
  • Microwaved potato with butter and salt 
    Ingredients
    • 1 russet potato
    • Butter
    • Salt

    Steps

    • Poke potato all over with a fork.
    • Microwave 5 minutes; flip; microwave 3 to 6 minutes until soft.
    • Split; add butter and salt.
  • Oatmeal porridge with an egg 
    Ingredients
    • Oats
    • Water or milk
    • Salt
    • 1 egg

    Steps

    • Cook oats with a pinch of salt.
    • While hot, stir in the egg steadily until it thickens; or top with a fried egg.
  • Natto and cheddar on toast 
    Ingredients
    • Toast
    • Natto
    • Cheddar

    Steps

    • Toast bread.
    • Mix natto per its usual prep; spoon onto toast.
    • Add cheddar; broil briefly if you want it melted.
  • Stuffed frozen chicken breasts; rice; frozen vegetables 
    Ingredients
    • Stuffed frozen chicken breasts
    • Rice
    • Frozen vegetables

    Steps

    • Bake chicken per package directions.  
    • Start rice; stir frozen vegetables into the rice near the end, or microwave vegetables separately.  
    • Serve together.
  • Sweet pasta with poppy seeds or walnuts; powdered sugar 
    Ingredients
    • Cooked pasta
    • Poppy seeds or chopped walnuts
    • Powdered sugar
    • Optional butter

    Steps

    • Toss hot pasta with a little butter.
    • Add poppy seeds or walnuts.
    • Dust with powdered sugar.
  • Toasted cream of wheat with pasta; jam 
    Ingredients
    • Cream of wheat
    • Salt
    • Water
    • Cooked pasta
    • Jam or jelly

    Steps

    • Toast dry cream of wheat in a pan with a pinch of salt until lightly nutty.  
    • Carefully add water; cook into porridge.
    • Stir in cooked pasta.  
    • Top with jam or jelly.
  • Paprika potatoes with noodles 
    Ingredients
    • Potatoes
    • Optional onions; optional peppers
    • Sweet paprika
    • Salt; pepper
    • Cooked noodles

    Steps

    • Boil potatoes until tender.  
    • Optional: sauté finely chopped onions and peppers.
    • Lower heat; stir in sweet paprika; salt; pepper.  
    • Mash potatoes; mix in the paprika mixture.
    • Fold in cooked noodles; serve.  
  • Simple skillet goulash 
    Ingredients
    • 1 pound ground meat
    • 1/2 pound chopped vegetables; bell peppers and onions are common  
    • 1 jar pasta sauce; about 28 ounces  
    • Water; about 80 percent of the empty sauce jar  
    • 1/2 pound dry pasta  
    • Shredded cheese

    Steps

    • In a 12 inch skillet, cook meat and vegetables until meat is almost browned.  
    • Add pasta sauce and water; stir well.  
    • Add pasta; bring to a boil; reduce to low; cover.  
    • Cook until pasta is tender; 11 to 20 minutes depending on pasta.  
    • Stir in shredded cheese; serve.  
  • Canned beans and rice; scale the effort 
    Ingredients
    • Cooked rice
    • Canned beans
    • Hot sauce
    • Optional upgrades: proper seasoning; smoked sausage; chicken thighs; Mexican rice; cornbread; jambalaya style  

    Steps

    • Warm beans; season; add hot sauce.
    • Serve over rice.
    • Optional: brown sliced smoked sausage; stir into beans; or add roasted chicken thighs on the side.
  • Sweet farro bowl 
    Ingredients
    • 10 minute farro
    • Salt
    • Butter
    • Dried fruit
    • Pie spice  

    Steps

    • Boil salted water; add farro; simmer about 10 minutes.  
    • Drain.  
    • Stir in butter; dried fruit; pie spice.
  • Frozen salmon; microwave sides 
    Ingredients
    • Frozen salmon fillet
    • Olive oil; salt; pepper
    • Optional sauce
    • Microwave green beans; olive oil; salt; pepper  
    • Microwave rice  

    Steps

    • Heat oven to 425°F.  
    • Put frozen salmon on a foil lined tray; season with olive oil; salt; pepper; optional sauce.  
    • Bake about 20 minutes until flaky and cooked.  
    • Microwave green beans; season; serve with microwave rice.  
  • Hobo stew 
    Ingredients
    • Frozen or canned vegetables
    • Beef broth
    • Potatoes, diced
    • Ground beef

    Steps

    • Brown ground beef.
    • Add broth; potatoes; vegetables.  
    • Bring to a boil; simmer about 30 minutes until potatoes are tender.  
    • Season to taste; reheats well overnight.