These easy meals to cook will save you on busy nights! These quick meals 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. Perfect for those nights you are just too tired to cook!
In dinner rut? Be sure to check out my full collection of recipes for 30 Minute Meals and my Easy Instant Pot Recipes, for more fast, wholesome meals!
Quick and Easy Meals
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 easy meals that I resort to on those nights I do not have time or energy to make dinner.
And guess what?--These are not only easy but relatively healthy as well.
Breakfast for Dinner
Brinner, or breakfast for dinner, is one of my kids' favorites.
Scramble up some eggs, toast up whole grain bread, and serve with a side of yogurt and fresh fruit. This easy meal is perfectly balanced and requires almost zero effort.
If eggs aren't your thing, Waffles or Homemade Pancakes are two more easy-brinner ideas.
Tacos
Who does not love tacos?!
Whether you make 15 Minute Black Bean Tacos, Classic Beef Tacos, or Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, tacos are one of the easiest things to make. And they NEVER let anyone down!
What I really love about tacos is that I can use the leftover taco filling to make Taco Pizza or Taco Salad the next night--turning one easy meal into 2 meals!
Sandwiches
Sometimes a good old peanut butter and jelly hits the spot for a quick meal, but don't always resort to that classic when you need an easy meal.
Why not make a Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich?
This easy meal is complete with a 2 ingredient soup that will surprise you when you see the ingredients!
For summer nights, my family loves something lighter like Veggie Wrap, Turkey Club Wrap, or Avocado Tuna Salad.
Add in some fresh fruit and veggies with ranch, and you have an easy, healthy meal!
Pasta
What could be easier than boiling some water and adding dry pasta?
You can top the pasta with your favorite marinara, or just add butter and Parmesan cheese to the cooked pasta.
Or why not make 15 Minute Fettuccine Alfredo--it is a one-pot pasta in which the noodles do not even require draining!!! That is my kind of easy meal!
Stir Fry
I have a number of easy stir fry recipes on hand for dinners that can be made in 15 minutes or less.
Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry or Chicken and Bok Choy Stir Fry are packed with protein and come together quickly--not to mention pack in some veggies.
Another favorite quick recipe is Fried Rice.
You better believe that if I have leftover rice, I am surely going to be making some fried rice for a quick meal.
Baked Potato Bar
I could eat a baked potato and a salad and be happy just about any night of the week.
But why stop with a plain baked potato?
Top potatoes with steamed broccoli, cheese, leftover chili, or pulled pork.
And thanks to the Instant Pot, you can have easy Baked Potatoes or Baked Sweet Potatoes any day of the week.
Sheet Pan Meals
You have to love when you can toss a bunch of ingredients on a sheet pan and place them into the oven and FORGET about it!
Check out my recipes for Chicken Thigh Sheet Pan Meal and Sausage Sheet Pan Meal for inspiration.
These easy recipes may require a bit longer to cook, but they are two of the most hands-off recipes!
Bean Burritos
Homemade Bean Burritos are the EASIEST meal. I have a great recipe for bean burritos that use homemade refried beans or canned beans and sneaks in some veggies too.
But when you are really short on time, just open a jar of refried beans, spread it on a tortilla, sprinkle it with cheese, and microwave until warm.
Or try out my Easy Veggie Tostada--like a mini Mexican Pizza but super quick!!!
Pizza
While I love my homemade pizza, it is not the meal to resort to when I am exhausted or short on time.
Instead, try out easy Pita Pizzas or English Muffin Pizzas. These recipes take minutes to prepare and are great for kids to help out with!
Tortellini Soup
Most soups take hours to simmer to develop flavors. Follow the short-cut instructions for Tortellini Soup, and a rich, hearty soup can be yours in minutes!
These are just a few of my quick meal ideas. I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!
Rose
Thank you SO MUCH for this ideas list, Kristen!! It has helped me so much!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that Rose! Thank you for sharing!
Jenette Clay
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
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
Hava
I found these very helpful and easy and I had a delicious meal!
Kristen Chidsey
Nothing makes me happier! Thank you for sharing.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Brinner has saved many a night at our house, too. Great ideas here!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Dorothy!
Karen
Love all of these. I do the breakfast for dinner and the baked potato all of the time!
Kristen Chidsey
Aren't they great go tos?!!
Taylor Kiser
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
Yes--we have ALL been there Taylor!!
Heather Kinnaird
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
I agree Heather, I would much rather spend my day at the pool as well!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
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
Oh Cynthia, I used to work as a teacher as well--the start of the year is so hard! Hugs my friend!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
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
Brinner is always a good go-to here too!
Holly Waterfall
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
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!