Are you not in the mood to cook today?
Here are 30 ideas to make when you don’t feel like cooking but you also don’t want to go out to eat.
All of these are super easy and can be customized to what you have in the fridge or what your family prefers!
None of these require extensive recipes which makes them super easy to put together. They are all healthy options you could easily pack for lunches and meal prep for other days you don’t feel like cooking!
To help prepare these meals more quickly and save more money, make your own pre-cooked chicken or ground meats. Do this by buying in bulk and spending a day cooking the meats. I like to get a large amount of ground meat and brown all of it in on day. Then I store it in my glass containers in the freezer in one-pound packages. This makes meal prep go extremely fast when we don’t feel like cooking. I also do this with chicken breasts. You can slice it up and then saute, grill, or smoke it and freeze the cooked meat when it is cooled in one-pound packages.
- Rotisserie Chicken Salad: Grab a rotisserie chicken, mix with your favorite greens, veggies, and a light dressing.
- Sheet Pan Nachos: Spread tortilla chips on a sheet pan, top with beans, cheese, and any leftover veggies.
- Veggie Stir-Fry: Use frozen stir-fry veggies and a bottled stir-fry sauce, serve over microwaveable rice.
- Pita Pizzas: Use whole wheat pitas, spread with marinara, cheese, and any toppings on hand.
- Loaded Baked Potatoes: Microwave potatoes, then top with cheese, broccoli, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
- Chicken Salad Wraps: Mix canned chicken with Greek yogurt, add some celery and apple, and wrap it in a whole-grain tortilla.
- Breakfast for Dinner: Scramble some eggs, toast some whole-grain bread, and add a side of fruit.
- Quesadillas: Fill whole wheat tortillas with cheese and any leftover meats or veggies, then toast them up.
- Caprese Salad: Mix fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
- Chicken Caesar Wraps: Use pre-cooked chicken strips, Caesar dressing, romaine, and whole wheat wraps.
- Greek Yogurt Parfait: Layer Greek yogurt with granola and fresh berries.
- Avocado Toast: Smash avocado on whole wheat toast, top with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- Hummus and Veggie Platter: Serve hummus with an array of fresh veggies and whole grain crackers.
- Spicy Spaghetti: Cook spaghetti, toss with olive oil, garlic, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Chicken and Veggie Skewers: Use pre-cooked chicken, thread onto skewers with raw veggies, and serve with a dipping sauce.
- Mason Jar Salads: Layer your favorite salad ingredients in a mason jar for easy grab-and-go.
- Taco Bowls: Use pre-cooked taco meat, layer with rice, beans, cheese, and salsa.
- Lentil Soup: Heat up canned lentil soup and serve with a slice of whole grain bread.
- Cobb Salad: Use pre-cooked chicken, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and bacon bits on a bed of greens.
- Stuffed Peppers: Use microwaveable quinoa, mix with black beans and salsa, stuff into bell peppers.
- Mini Quiches: Use a muffin tin to bake mini quiches with pre-cooked ingredients.
- Pasta Salad: Mix cooked pasta with veggies, cheese, and a light vinaigrette.
- Smoothie Bowls: Blend your favorite fruits, top with granola, nuts, and seeds.
- Sloppy Joes: Use ground meat, mix with a healthy sloppy joe sauce, serve on whole wheat buns.
- Chili Dogs: Use hot dogs or veggie dogs, top with canned chili and a sprinkle of cheese.
- Chicken Tenders and Veggies: Bake frozen chicken tenders, serve with a side of steamed veggies.
- Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups: Roll turkey slices around cheese sticks, serve with whole grain crackers.
- Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches: Use whole grain bread, spread with peanut butter, and add banana slices.
- Asian Chicken Salad: Use pre-cooked chicken, mix with slaw mix, and a sesame dressing.
- Fruit and Cheese Platter: Arrange a variety of cheeses, fresh fruits, and whole grain crackers for a simple meal.
Hopefully, this list helps you this week to keep from feeling overwhelmed in the kitchen!