10 Meals to Cook When You are Too Tired to Cook: Simple meals that require almost no effort or thought process and are the perfect way to get a healthy dinner on the table without picking up the phone for take-out. 
I get it. You have kids, you work full time, you have an illness you battle. You think you don’t have time to cook.
Let me be honest with you. Even though I love to cook, there are many days I just don’t feel like it. Sometimes I am worn out from the day or we are in a time crunch. Other times I don’t feel well. And sometimes, I just don’t want to!!!
So today, I am throwing you a lifesaver. I am giving you my go-to meals when I just don’t want to cook or don’t have the time to cook. And guess what–these are not only easy, but relatively healthy as well.
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Meals to Cook When You are Too Tired to Cook
Breakfast for dinner aka Brinner. Scramble up some eggs (throw some frozen veggies in it if you are feeling adventurous), toast up whole grain bread and serve with a side of yogurt and fresh fruit. Perfectly balanced and requires almost zero effort.
BLTs. Can you ever go wrong with bacon? I think not.
Panzanella Salad. I love this grilled, but honestly, just chopping up some lettuce and fresh veggies and toasting up some day old bread and microwaving the chicken sausages works in a pinch too.
Pasta. What could be easier than boiling some water and adding dry pasta? You can top the pasta with your favorite leftover marinara, like my recipe here, or just open a jar. My kids prefer pasta tossed with a bit of butter and Parmesan cheese. Of course you can make this 15 minute Skinny Fettucine–start to finish and on the table in 15!!
Stir Fry. I try to always keep extra rice in my freezer (you can see my 20 Unexpected Things to Freeze for more ideas and instructions on how to freeze rice). I just grab it out of the freezer and throw it into a hot skillet with some leftover veggies from my produce drawer or whatever I may have on hand in the freezer. Add in some soy sauce and maybe even a few eggs to scramble in like the restaurants do, and dinner is done!
Taco Night. I start with my 3-ingredient Taco Meat and serve it up in burritos, quesadillas, on a baked potato or a salad. Always a family winner.
Grilled Sandwiches. A classic grilled cheese with tomato soup always hits the spot, but to switch it up, I sometimes make grilled PB&J or grilled ham and cheese–and my family is all smiles for those as well. Want to know my secret for quick tomato soup? I heat up low sodium V8. Sounds crazy, right? Well it is already seasoned and my kids like their soup thin, so it works! Of course I do love my homemade tomato soup as well.
Baked Potato Night. I love to scrub some sweet potatoes and regular potatoes and wrap in foil. Stick in the slow cooker for 4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. Top with some steamed veggies, leftover meat or just with cheese and bacon and serve with a salad. Easy peasy. I like to do this once a week and then can pull potatoes out from the fridge and quickly reheat for a quick go-to.
Bean Burritos. I open a jar of fat free refried beans, spread it on a toritilla sprinkle it with cheese and microwave until warm. I serve it with salsa or sour cream for a quick, filling meal.
Slow Cooker Meals. I LOVE, LOVE my slow cooker. And IF i plan ahead I use it cook 50% of the time at least. Check out my Slow Cooker Archive for recipes. And also be sure to head on over to Mom to Mom Nutrition, where I shared my Slow Cooker Barbeque Mexican Chicken–3 ingredients is all you need for another versatile go-to meal!
These are just a few of my quick go to meal ideas. I would love to hear yours!
Holly Waterfall says
This is literally the smartest post ever! So often people (*cough*me) are too tired and just end up going to the drive-thru instead of coming up with something uber simple like one of these ideas. Love it!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Holly! We have all been guilty of hitting take-out–this is just to show you sometimes what you have at home is often time easier than getting in your car and a whole lot tastier and healthier!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
So many great ideas Kristen, these are timesavers for sure. Love the panzanella salad idea! Yum. We do breakfast for dinner a lot around here, especially on nights the kids have sports games or practices. Eggs have a ton of protein and thankfully the kids love brinner!
Kristen Chidsey says
Brinner is always a good go-to here too!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Such a great idea to post this just before school starts. I’m a teacher and I have to go back in two weeks. Those first few weeks are sooo busy, I get home from work and just melt with exhaustion! Even if you’re not a teacher, if you have kids starting back, it’s the same thing…organizing sports, back to school meetings, volunteering! Phew! I’m tired just thinking about it! Thanks for posting!
Kristen Chidsey says
Oh Cynthia, I used to work as a teacher as well–the start of the year is so hard! Hugs my friend!
Heather Kinnaird says
LOVE this! especially in the summer when I would rather be in the pool than cooking, this list is so helpful. I’m thinking tonight is breakfast for dinner night 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
I agree Heather, I would much rather spend my day at the pool as well!
Taylor Kiser says
It’s so nice to know I’m not alone when it comes to being too tired to cook! It helps to know what others are doing when in this same predicament! We all have those days, but now with these ideas we don’t have to opt for unhealthy choices.
Kristen Chidsey says
Yes–we have ALL been there Taylor!!
Karen says
Love all of these. I do the breakfast for dinner and the baked potato all of the time!
Kristen Chidsey says
Aren’t they great go tos?!!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Brinner has saved many a night at our house, too. Great ideas here!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Dorothy!
Hava says
I found these very helpful and easy and I had a delicious meal!
Kristen Chidsey says
Nothing makes me happier! Thank you for sharing.
Jenette Clay says
I like that these really are simple and you didn’t fall prey to the temptation of putting fancier twists. These really are simple! As a working from home mom, I have really been in this mode recently. I’m trying to break out of it and make some plans and these give me some ideas for some easy meals I can add.
Kristen Chidsey says
I am glad you found these helpful Jenette! That was my hope…no twists here, just easy meals that are able to be made on the busiest of nights