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

    What is the cheapest meal you can make? ›

    65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
    • Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. tasty.co. ...
    • Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. tasty.co. ...
    • Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. ...
    • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
    • Chicken Alfredo Penne. ...
    • Avocado Quinoa Power Salad. ...
    • Tofu Scramble. ...
    • Egg Pizza With Scallions.
    Dec 21, 2023

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

    • 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 can I make for dinner if I have no motivation? ›

    You can fill in with salads or fruit or cooked frozen vegetables to make a somewhat balanced meal.
    • Pasta with Butter and Parmesan Cheese. ...
    • Rotisserie Chicken. ...
    • Embellished Baked Potatoes. ...
    • French Bread Pizza. ...
    • Bertolli Frozen Penne Pasta with Chicken. ...
    • Quesadillas. ...
    • Fried Rice. ...
    • Amy's Frozen Cheese Enchiladas.
    Jan 29, 2023

    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 is the poor man's meal? ›

    Potatoes were also inexpensive and used extensively. Some meals even used both. One of these meals was called the Poor Man's Meal. It combined potatoes, onions, and hot dogs into one hearty, inexpensive dish, which was perfect for the hard times people had fallen on.

    What kind of food can you afford on $1 a day? ›

    Some cheap food, in US dollars:
    • Oatmeal in the generic, large cylinders, not the overpriced unhealthy packets. You'll also need sugar, preferably brown. ...
    • Bananas. Good sliced up in the oatmeal. ...
    • Beans. ...
    • Spaghetti sauce with veggies. ...
    • Mac & cheese (with powdered cheese). ...
    • Eggs. ...
    • Bread. ...
    • Jelly.
    Mar 5, 2017

    How can I eat cheap when I am broke? ›

    Some cheap food, in US dollars:
    • Oatmeal in the generic, large cylinders, not the overpriced unhealthy packets. You'll also need sugar, preferably brown. ...
    • Bananas. Good sliced up in the oatmeal. ...
    • Beans. ...
    • Spaghetti sauce with veggies. ...
    • Mac & cheese (with powdered cheese). ...
    • Eggs. ...
    • Bread. ...
    • Jelly.
    Jan 4, 2023

    What is the best food for motivation? ›

    7 Power foods and drinks to get you going
    1. Green tea. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, there are many health benefits associated with green tea. ...
    2. Water. It's a bit of a well-known fact that the recommended daily intake of water is 8 glasses per day. ...
    3. Coffee. ...
    4. Blueberries. ...
    5. Leafy greens. ...
    6. Dark chocolate. ...
    7. Oily fish.

    What is a silent dinner? ›

    A silent dinner, as the name suggests, is a dinner at which the guests and host do not speak, write, or use technology devices (e.g. phones). The dinners typically last for at least two hours, and guests are expected to stay and participate for the entire time.

    What to eat when you can t decide? ›

    For example, if you are craving something sweet, a bowl of fruit with yogurt or a smoothie might hit the spot. A bag of chips or a bowl of popcorn might do the trick if you are craving something salty. And if you are craving something savory, a bowl of pasta or a grilled cheese sandwich might be just what you need.

    What food sounds good for supper? ›

    40 Easy Dinner Ideas to Make Tonight
    • Chicken Pot Pie Pasta. ...
    • 30 Minute General Tso's Chicken. ...
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti. ...
    • Honey Sesame Chicken. ...
    • Chicken Chow Mein. ...
    • Chicken Katsu. ...
    • Air Fryer Chimichangas. ...
    • Baked Firecracker Chicken.
    Sep 19, 2022

    How do you feed a family of 4 on $10 a day? ›

    Ten Healthy Family Meals Under $10
    1. Healthy Fried Rice.
    2. Pasta Salad.
    3. Fettuccini Alfredo… or Bowtie, or Shells, or Rotini.
    4. Rosemary White Bean Soup or Turkey White Bean Chili.
    5. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos.
    6. Black-eyed Peas and Pork…with Kale.
    7. Enchilada Casserole.
    8. Down-home Macaroni and Cheese.

    What can I cook for under $30? ›

    30 dinners under under $30 the whole family will love
    • Pumpkin soup. ...
    • Risotto carbonara. ...
    • Tuna and caper pasta with crispy breadcrumbs. ...
    • Matt Preston's French onion soup. ...
    • Spaghetti in cherry tomato sauce. ...
    • Roasted sweet potatoes with chilli and seeds. ...
    • Quick and delicious mushroom and thyme soup. ...
    • Cauliflower soup.

    What can I make to eat with $20? ›

    More Cheap Dinner Recipes You Will Love
    • Crockpot Chili Mac and Cheese.
    • Zesty Ground Turkey Tacos.
    • Turkey Poblano Soup (Made with Leftovers)
    • Spinach Scrambled Egg Muffins.
    • Red Pepper Pizza.
    • Chicken Sausage Apple Squash Sheet Pan Dinner.
    • Pappa Al Pomodoro Tomato Soup.
    • Croatian Skillet Chicken and Vegetables.
    Aug 11, 2023

    What food is cheaper to make than buy? ›

    Never purchase these food staples again – you can easily make most if not all of them at home from scratch.
    • powdered sugar. This will literally take a few seconds to make. ...
    • brown sugar. ...
    • tomato sauce. ...
    • peanut butter. ...
    • bread. ...
    • ketchup. ...
    • mustard. ...
    • apple cider vinegar.
    Sep 14, 2022

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Duncan Muller

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5383

    Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

    Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Duncan Muller

    Birthday: 1997-01-13

    Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

    Phone: +8555305800947

    Job: Construction Agent

    Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

    Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.