26 Dinners for When I'm Too Tired To Cook

When making dinner feels like too much, these easy, minimal prep recipes have your back.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Updated June 27, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving Spoon, All on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counter, and in the Surroundings, a Glass of Water, a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese on a Cheese Board, a Small Bowl of Cracked Pepper, and Two Forks on the Counter

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

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I can't tell you how many times I've come home after a long day, hungry and exhausted, thinking about ordering in but remembering I can have a home-cooked meal in as little as 15 minutes. That’s thanks to my back-pocket recipes. 

I have a handful of easy, minimal prep recipes to turn to when I'm too tired to cook. They typically involve a package of pasta or a can of beans, but quick-cooking ground meat and fillets of salmon slip in too. Every time I skip the takeout and whip up something quickly feels like a win.

And that’s where these 26 recipes come in. With a focus on minimal prep and ease, they were made for those evenings when the temptation to order in is high and your motivation is low. Save the ones that speak to you for later—you'll be thankful that you did.

  • Creamy Cavatappi

    Bowl of Creamy Cavatappi Topped With Shredded Parmesan With a Fork and Sitting on an Olive Kitchen Towel. In the Surroundings, Another Bowl With a Serving, a Small Bowl With Blocks of Parmesan, and a Two Glasses.

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "To keeps things most efficient, make the sauce while the pasta cooks. Don’t forget to save some pasta water before draining the cavatappi!" —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

  • Chorizo Sloppy Joes

    Chorizo sloppy joe (with avocado slices and crushed Fritos) on a plate with a fork at a table setting with another serving on another plate, two glasses of beer, a bowl of crushed Fritos, and a colorful stripped kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    "Chorizo is slightly spicy, but the spice level can vary from brand to brand. If your chorizo happens to be spicier than you’d like, add a touch of ketchup to your sloppy Joe mixture–its sweetness will help tame the heat." —Sara Bir, Contributor

  • Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon

    Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon Topped with Cilantro and Lime Wedges in a Microwavable Glass Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

    "If your salmon fillets are on the thinner side (ours were about an inch thick), you can cook them for less time, about a minute less." —Myo Quinn, Contributor

  • 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans

    Pizza beans in a red casserole

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    "Since pizza is the name of the game here, your favorite pizza toppings are all invited—crumbled cooked sausage, red onions, banana peppers, and even anchovies, if that’s your thing." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 26 below

  • Creamy Chicken Florentine

    Chicken Florentine on white plate with fork.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Chances are you’ll find chicken cutlets at your local grocery, often in packs of four. If you don’t see any in the meat aisle, buy boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can cut them into cutlets." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

  • 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

    plate of 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas with rice and greek yogurt

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight. You can also use a more convenient, even quicker rice—like frozen, bagged, or microwave—if you really want to minimize time and effort." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • 15-Minute Wonton Soup

    wanton soup in a bowl (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    "Toss in some ramen, soba, udon, or rice noodles for a heartier, more filling meal." —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

  • Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus

    Overhead view of garlic butter sheet pan shrimp and asparagus on a baking sheet.
    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "Buy shelled and cleaned shrimp. This makes for easier preparation. If you get shell-on shrimp, it’ll just add five minutes onto the prep time to clean and devein the shrimp (and we’re going for a quick and easy dinner, remember)." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 26 below

  • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

    Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with garlic

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "If olives are not your thing (please, please try the mild Castelvetranos at least once!), swap them with chopped canned artichokes or a tablespoon or two of rinsed capers for the same brininess." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Barbecue Meatloaf

    Overhead shot of a sliced up meatloaf on a white serving plate, with three slices turned on their side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Mom usually tucks her meatloaf into her well-worn meatloaf pan, but I find that baking the meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet is quicker and tastier. Using a sheet pan also allows for more air circulation during baking, which equals more browned bits around the edges." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

    Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving Spoon, All on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counter, and Next to It, a Bowl of Cracked Pepper, a Glass of Water, and a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "I call for cheese tortellini here, but any filling works, be it meat, mushrooms, or beyond." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Cheesy Baked Tacos

    Bowl of cheesy baked tacos on a plate topped with sour cream and cilantro at a table setting with a bowl of lime wedges and shredded lettuce, bowl of sour cream, bowl of salsa, bowl of salsa, and a bunch of cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "The basic recipe below includes the classic combo of refried beans and Mexican-style cheese. You can switch up the cheese (just make sure whatever you choose is super melty!) or even use vegan cheese shreds, and add other fillings like cooked ground meat, shredded rotisserie chicken, or mashed potatoes." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

    Continue to 13 of 26 below

  • Honey Mustard Baked Salmon

    Baked Honey Mustard Salmon on a white platter

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "If you don't have already prepared honey mustard, just combine equal amounts of honey and Dijon mustard." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • 20-Minute Red Lentil Coconut Soup

    Coconut Lentil Soup in a bowl with naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Unlike dried beans, red lentils don't need to soak before you cook them, but you should always give them a little rinse in cold water right before use to remove any debris or dirt." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

    Ground Beef Hummus Bowl and pita chips

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    "Whenever I’m feeding multiple people (so, every night), I find that including a choose-your-own-adventure element in the meal is my best bet for success. Everyone wants to have their own thing, and with hummus and ground beef as a jumping-off point, this dish lets them do just that." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pan Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

    Overhead view of a baking sheet of roast chicken thighs and potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "To keep the meal low-maintenance, I often roast broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or other hearty vegetables on a baking sheet on the top rack of the oven while the chicken cooks. A big salad is a great side for this dish, as is crusty bread!" —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 26 below

  • Gingery, Garlicky Ground Beef Dinner

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    "Whenever making rice from scratch feels like a hassle, I reach for Hetbahn, a microwaveable instant rice and ubiquitous pantry staple for rice-loving Koreans worldwide. Costco sells Bibigo Hetbahn, a popular brand of cooked white sticky rice. The rice comes portioned in single-serving bowls, and when microwaved for just 90 seconds, it's delicious, just like freshly cooked rice." —Myo Quinn, Contributor

  • Easy Chicken Cobbler

    Overhead view of a green baking dish of chicken cobbler and serving spoon on a speckled countertop

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "This super easy cobbler is made all in one baking dish—right down to melting the butter! Just assemble all the layers (no stovetop cooking required) and pop the dish in the oven to cook all together, freeing you up for other tasks." —Afton Cyrus, Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans

    Angled view of a stoneware bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans next to a spoon and all on a white background

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "I love the simplicity of this dish, but it’s easy to amp up the flavors a bit without adding time spent. I’ll often add a teaspoon or two of white miso to give the beans more umami flavor." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

  • 3-Ingredient Baked BBQ Chicken

    Overhead view of a baking sheet of four bbq baked chicken breasts topped with cheese and green onions on parchment paper

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "It’s important to use only the most delicious barbecue sauce and cheese. They’ll be adding the flavor to your dish, so go for the good stuff." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 21 of 26 below

  • Sheet Pan Salmon With Asparagus

    Sheet pan salmon and asparagus served on blue plates with lemon wedges

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "This sheet pan recipe is a complete dinner. You could cook some couscous, rice, or orzo to round the meal out. If I’m feeling lazy, I just bring some crusty bread and good olive oil to the table." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Creamed Tacos

    creamed tacos in bowl with chips, lettuce and tomatoes

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "As the meat browns, you can use the time to prep the lettuce and fresh tomato." —Sara Bir, Contributor

  • 10-Minute Creamy White Beans and Greens

    Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "Make sure to drain the beans in a sieve set over a bowl as you’ll need the aquafaba." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pot Chicken and Rice

    Side vew of a cast iron pot with a chicken and rice dish

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "Feel free to make this dish with any boneless, skinless chicken you have on hand, but the convenience of frozen, bagged tenders means they can go straight from the freezer to the boiling pot." —Stephanie Burt, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 25 of 26 below

  • No-Peek Chicken

    no-peek chicken in a casserole dish at a table setting with a serving on a plate, a glass of water, glasses, and a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "Make sure you’re using quick-cooking rice, such as Minute Rice. This ensures the rice will cook through without drying out the chicken breasts." —Laurel Randolph, Senior Editor

  • 4-Ingredient Ravioli Lasagna

    4-ingredient ravlioli lasagna in a casserole dish

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    "Fresh ravioli are easy to find, and bake up a little bit faster, but this same recipe works just as well with frozen ravioli. Don’t boil the frozen ravioli—they can thaw slightly on the counter while you cook the sausage. Then, build the lasagna as directed." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

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