Favorite Easy Meals

[Dee]

I'm not gonna sugar coat it: I hate cooking. But I have to, so I like gathering ideas for very easy meals that can be made with little to no preparation. Basically your, "one pot, one sheet pan, slow cooker, air fryer," meals.

This can be for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

What're your favorite easy meals to make?

 

[ElegantAura]

When I’m feeling really lazy, I usually go for pasta. I keep it as simple as possible to avoid too much washing up. I’ll cook the pasta, put it straight onto a plate, and then use the same pot to make the sauce.

Most of the time, it’s just a basic tomato sauce. Sometimes, I’ll add eggplant, either fried or roasted in the oven if I want a healthier option. I’ll toss in fresh tomatoes, some herbs, and when the sauce is ready, I mix the pasta back in for a minute or so to combine everything. Then it goes back onto the same plate I used earlier.

I also switch it up with other veggies sometimes, but it’s always quick and simple, with just a few ingredients. Best of all, it only uses one pot and the plate you eat from.

 

[Dead2009]

Probably a hot pocket. Takes 2 minutes to make in the microwave.

 

[freakofnature]

Kraft Dinner, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken burgers, beef flavoured Mr. Noodles, garlic cheese toast

 

[passenger]

This is so subject to personal tastes; but if we're going to just throw some of my choices 'out there' & regardless of healthy/calories, etc:

Chicken Pot pies
Certainly not everyone likes chicken pot pies, but I do once in a while. They can be nuked, cooked in toaster oven, & I've started even cooking them in the air-fryer; you have to play around a little, but I've settled on 12 minutes at 380º.

Chimichangas:

Fish:
'Everything Seasoning' breaded cod at Costco

Air Fryer Instructions for Kirkland's Everything Seasoning Breaded Cod from Costco

I bought a box of Kirkland Signature Everything Seasoning Breaded Cod from the freezer section at Costco.

shoppingwithdave.com

If you're not a Costco shopper, this may be a close 'facsimile'

Hook Line and Savor - Our Seafood

hooklineandsavor.com

Hors d'oeuvre:
Wheat (Breton type) crackers spread with cream cheese, lunch meat, smoked salmon, sardine, tuna, pickle, pickled jalapeño, pepperoncini, green or ripe olive, tomato; whatever tickles your fancy. Or just crackers + your favorite cheese.

PBJ sandwich / or/ P-nut butter & crackers

 

[ElegantAura]

I didn’t explain it perfectly earlier, as I was more focused on what I eat when I’m lazy and want a quick meal, rather than on the specific ingredients and how to make it. It was just a rough idea of some of the ingredients I use, but a bit all over the place.
But if you like dishes like that, definitely check out recipes for Pasta Alla Norma. It’s pretty similar to what I make—well, when I use just eggplant, it’s the same as Pasta Alla Norma. Otherwise, it’s not exactly the same when other veggies are added, just a different dish but still simple.

 

[KO896]

Sloppy Joes can be really quick! I like to make some crock pot meals because you throw things in and forget about it. The air fryer is a favorite of mine too and I love making chicken drumsticks in it because it crisps up the skin nicely like fried chicken, without really being fried in oil. Open a bag of salad with it and there's dinner.

 

[passenger]

Another item that's not quick by any means, or a complete meal in itself; but very easy & yummy (& healthy).

Slo-baked sweet potato or yam
The red kind is the best. Scrub a sweet potato, chop off the pointy little nubbin on each end, rub skin with butter or oil, wrap tightly in sheet of foil & bake (in toaster oven) at 300º for about 45 minutes (depending on size of potato) until potato is very soft & squishy & maybe oozing some sugary syrup.
Be sure to have an aluminum tray or another piece of foil underneath to catch any juice.
(Skin is also edible)
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A favourite in Japan since the 1600s, yaki-imo's moist, chewy texture and burnt caramel scent still inspire nostalgia

The endurance of Japan's simple street snack​

 

[Dee]

Another item that's not quick by any means, or a complete meal in itself; but very easy & yummy (& healthy).

Slo-baked sweet potato or yam
The red kind is the best. Scrub a sweet potato, chop off the pointy little nubbin on each end, rub skin with butter or oil, wrap tightly in sheet of foil & bake (in toaster oven) at 300º for about 45 minutes (depending on size of potato) until potato is very soft & squishy & maybe oozing some sugary syrup.
Be sure to have an aluminum tray or another piece of foil underneath to catch any juice.
(Skin is also edible)
----------------

A favourite in Japan since the 1600s, yaki-imo's moist, chewy texture and burnt caramel scent still inspire nostalgia

The endurance of Japan's simple street snack​

I love shit like this. It's literally one ingredient you actually cook and then you can add other stuff to it depending on how lazy you're feeling. Perfect!