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

    How do you cook if you're 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 should I eat for a girl's dinner? ›

    Girl dinners can be extremely balanced and nutritious, with a selection of cheese, charcuterie, fresh fruit and veggies. You can add some sweet treats like dark chocolate, or maybe even some turkey roll ups with pickles to spice things up.

    What is the easiest thing to bake? ›

    Turn up the heat in the kitchen and get baking with our best-ever sweet and savoury baking recipes, as voted by you.
    • 1Australian banana bread recipe (with video) ...
    • 2Chocolate chip cookies recipe. ...
    • 3Our best basic scones recipe. ...
    • 4Classic chewy brownie recipe. ...
    • 5Our best-ever gingerbread men recipe. ...
    • 6Impossible quiche recipe.

    How do you cook when you have no motivation? ›

    Planning your menus can make cooking easier. If you wait until you're hungry to decide what to make, you'll probably just end up making something quick and boring or make an unhealthy choice. Mapping things out gives you time to think of some interesting meals and stock up on the ingredients you need.

    What is the easiest cuisine to learn? ›

    Italian cuisine is famous for its simplicity and emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients. From pasta to pizza, Italian dishes are universally loved. Emphasis on Simple Ingredients and Cooking Methods: Italian recipes often call for just a few ingredients, allowing the flavors to shine through.

    What to make when you are tired of cooking? ›

    21 Easy Dinner Ideas
    1. 1 / 21. The Easiest Five Ingredient Capellini. ...
    2. 2 / 21. Sheet Pan Halloumi with Burst Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Preserved Lemon, and Mint. ...
    3. 3 / 21. Instant Pot BBQ Chicken. ...
    4. 4 / 21. Egg Roll Skillet. ...
    5. 5 / 21. Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies. ...
    6. 6 / 21. One-Pot Cacio e Pepe. ...
    7. 7 / 21. Garlic Butter Shrimp. ...
    8. 8 / 21.

    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

    What to eat when you have no food and can't cook? ›

    Ways to Eat Healthy Without Having to Cook
    • Precooked Whole Grains. 1/13. ...
    • Frozen Veggies. 2/13. ...
    • Precooked Chicken Strips. 3/13. ...
    • That's a Wrap. 4/13. ...
    • Deli Chicken. 5/13. ...
    • Lower-Sodium Soups. 6/13. ...
    • Canned Salmon. 7/13. ...
    • Ready-to-Eat Boiled Eggs. 8/13.
    Aug 28, 2023

    What is the perfect girl dinner? ›

    Girl Dinner is when you get to put whatever you're in the mood for on a plate and call it dinner. It's the ultimate “me” meal. Minimal effort, maximum satisfaction. It's a mixy-matchy food plate.

    What is the girl dinner menu? ›

    To fully drive home just how low effort and not really a thing the Girl Dinner trend is, you can take a look at Popeyes' version below. Popeyes' Girl Dinner menu consists of mashed potatoes with Cajun gravy, Homestyle Mac & Cheese, coleslaw, Cajun fries, red beans and rice, and a la carte biscuits.

    What was the original girl dinner? ›

    The term “Girl Dinner” was coined by TikTok user Olivia Maher (@liviemaher), who shared a video of her dinner back in May 2023. In the video, she pans over an assortment of bread, cheese, grapes, and cornichons, claiming it's “something a medieval peasant might eat.”

    What to cook on a lazy night for family? ›

    These easy-as weeknight dinners are packed full of flavour but require minimal effort.
    1. 1Easy spicy haloumi & vegie skewers. ...
    2. 2Mexican rissole nachos. ...
    3. 3Tuscan chicken tray bake. ...
    4. 4Giant skillet haloumi & zucchini fritter. ...
    5. 5Vego pesto pasta frittata. ...
    6. 6Loaded Cajun beef. ...
    7. 7Kung pao chicken fried rice.

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

    • Creamy pasta carbonara. A lovely, creamy version of a well-known favourite.
    • Best Spaghetti and Meatballs. ...
    • Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry. ...
    • Devilled sausages. ...
    • Potato and leek soup. ...
    • Lemon chicken. ...
    • Salt and pepper chicken. ...
    • Chicken and bacon carbonara.

    What to make for dinner when unsure? ›

    20 dinners for when you don't know what to cook
    • Spaghetti puttanesca. It's amazing how much flavour a tin of anchovies can add to dinner. ...
    • Carrot biryani. ...
    • Chorizo chilli pepper pasta. ...
    • Paneer korma. ...
    • Lemony tuna pasta. ...
    • Pork noodle stir-fry. ...
    • Fish fingers & mushy peas. ...
    • Chinese chicken curry.

    What to cook for the homeless? ›

    Choose a meal that is healthful but easy to prepare, such as spaghetti or tacos. Perhaps the shelter staff can suggest what the guests would like most. Shop for ingredients with your children. Arrive early on the appointed day to make sure everything is in order.

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