Easy Food To Make When You Are Feeling Lazy (50 Ideas!)

Meal planning is an excellent way to save money and eat healthier. And creating a dinner meal plan for the week is relatively easy. However, sticking to a meal plan when you are tired and don’t want to cook can be challenging.  

But it doesn’t have to be. Because when you have a list of easy food to make for those times when you don’t feel like cooking, you are ready for those occasional (or frequent) times when cooking dinner is the last thing you feel like doing. So read on for meals you can whip up in no time.

Tips for Finding Easy Food to Make For Dinner

Your idea of simple dinners doesn’t have to mean microwaveable TV dinners. You can still eat delicious, homemade food when you need something quick and easy. Choose meals with the following characteristics when looking for easy food to make for your family.

Meals That Don’t Require a Recipe

When deciding on easy food to make for dinner, meals you can cook without a recipe are ideal. That’s because following a recipe and measuring ingredients takes time and effort. So if you are in a hurry or don’t have the energy to cook, pick a meal you know how to prepare.

Meals With Few Ingredients

Meals with few ingredients are quick and easy to prepare, perfect for when you feel lazy. Not only are they easy, but meals with few ingredients tend to be less expensive to cook, which saves you money.

Meals With Little Prep Work

Seasoning, chopping, slicing, mixing and tenderizing all take effort. When choosing an easy-to-make meal, pick one that can go right from your fridge or freezer to the stove or oven when you don’t want to cook.

Meals That Don’t Require Constant Attention

When you aren’t feeling energetic, prepare a meal for your family in your oven, Instant Pot, or slow cooker (see below for ideas!). Even though there are easy meals you can make on your stove, cooking on the stovetop requires your constant undivided attention. For an effortless meal, use other cooking methods besides your stove.

Easy Food To Make: Hot Sandwiches

Sandwiches are the epitome of an easy meal. And there are so many different types of sandwiches from which to choose. While cold sandwiches are the perfect lunch idea for work, hot sandwiches make excellent easy dinners. You can serve your sandwiches solo for a lighter meal or serve them with a side of French fries or tater tots made in the oven, a side salad, soup, or your favorite raw veggies with hummus or ranch dressing. Here are some of the best hot sandwich ideas, no recipe needed.

Steak Sandwiches

Cook up Steak-Ums and add your favorite sauce and mix-ins (try thinly sliced pepperoni, cheese, onions, sweet peppers, or banana peppers) to create the perfect filler for your steak rolls.

Beef BBQ Sandwiches

Few meals are more straightforward than browning up ground beef and adding your favorite bbq sauce and seasonings. Then, lightly toast your hamburger rolls in the toaster and top your bbq with cheddar or American cheese for a delicious dinner.

Open Faced Tuna Melts

Split and lightly toast your English muffins. Then top them with your favorite version of tuna salad. Place a thin slice of tomato and a piece of Swiss cheese on each half. Bake these in the oven until the cheese melts.  

Chicken Patty Sandwiches

Chicken patties may not be the healthiest form of protein available, but making them once in a while when you need to make an easy meal for your family shouldn’t wreak havoc on your health. In addition, chicken patty sandwiches are very versatile. You can make them into chicken parm sandwiches or chicken cordon bleu sandwiches or add your favorite condiments.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Grilled cheese sandwiches are an easy food to make when you need a backup meal. Backup meals are easy, go-to meals when you can’t make what you had initially planned for your meal. For example, maybe you worked late and didn’t have the time or energy to cook. Or perhaps you forgot to buy an essential ingredient for your planned meal at the store. Backup meals are invaluable to avoiding takeout when you can’t cook what you intended.

Hamburgers

Hamburgers are an American classic and easy to make when you don’t like cooking—no need to make your patties nowadays. Premade hamburger patties, fresh or frozen, are just as delicious as homemade versions. Make your hamburgers more interesting with various condiments and toppings.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Throw a pork butt in your slow cooker before work in the morning, and you will come home to a delicious ready-to-eat meal. Add your favorite bbq sauce to your pulled pork sandwich and serve with cole slaw and French fries.   

Sausage Sandwiches

Sausage sandwiches are delicious when served on a sturdy roll with sliced bell peppers and onions. Choose mild or hot sausage depending on the taste buds of your family.

Italian Crescent Ring

Italian Crescent Rings are a mix between a stromboli and an Italian sub. This “sandwich” uses crescent rolls, Italian meats, provolone cheese, and your other favorite sub toppings. They are easy to make and are kid-approved.  

Meatball Sandwiches

There isn’t much food more uncomplicated to make than meatball sandwiches. First, heat frozen meatballs in the microwave, add sauce, and load them into your roll. Next, try adding shredded mozzarella cheese and melt it in your oven. Or add some parmesan cheese and enjoy.  

Easy Food To Make on the Stove Top

If you are looking for easy meals to make on your stove, you have come to the right place. Even though cooking on the stove requires your full attention, one-pot meals are your best bet when you need something easy. Here are ten simple meals when you don’t feel like cooking.

Spaghetti

Cooking up your favorite pasta, whether it’s spaghetti or another favorite shape, makes an easy weeknight dinner. Serve it with a quick side salad and a slice of garlic bread for a cheap meal that is tasty and saves you money.  

Ham Steaks

Heat your ham steak in a skillet and serve with your favorite easy side dish. Toss a salad or make steamed veggies in the microwave for an easy dinner idea. 

Chili

Besides being an easy food to make, the best thing about chili is that you can make it the way your family likes it best. Make a large batch to eat leftovers the same week or freeze them for another easy meal the following month.    

Tacos

Tacos are incredibly simple to make. You could have a small taco bar with an assortment of toppings for your family to choose their favorite fixings. Serve with a simple rice side dish or black beans.

Smoked Sausage

Smoked sausage is an easy meal you can make on the stove or cook on your grill. If you don’t have much time, opt for the fully-cooked sausage that only needs reheated. There are plenty of recipes for smoked sausage meals online, but keep it simple if you need a quick and easy meal.

Quinoa

Quinoa is high in protein and gluten-free, making it the perfect base for a meatless meal. Choose a one-pot quinoa recipe to keep it simple. This Mexican quinoa recipe is healthy, delicious, and easy. Eat it as is, in flour tortillas or with crunchy tortilla chips.  

Quesadillas

Another easy food to make when you aren’t in the mood to cook is quesadillas. Quesadillas are easy to customize for each family member, making them kid-friendly. In addition, you can avoid waste and use up your leftover food, like meats and vegetables, in your quesadillas.  

Stir Fry

Stir-fry is so easy and quick to make. You don’t need to chop vegetables anymore to prepare a delicious stir-fry dish. Instead, pick up your favorite variety of frozen stir-fry vegetables to cook and add a simple sauce to the pan. Serve over white rice (easily made in your Instant Pot) for a vegetarian meal.

Chicken, Rice, and Bean Burritos

Rice and bean burritos are incredibly cheap to make. You can easily add shredded leftover chicken to each burrito. Or buy a rotisserie chicken and pick off the meat to use in other recipes for the week, including your burritos.  

Macaroni and Cheese

Whether from scratch or a box, a macaroni and cheese dinner is a kid-approved meal. Boxed mac-and-cheese meals are convenient and dirt cheap. However, they are processed and full of preservatives. So if you have the time, making homemade macaroni and cheese is your best bet for a delicious, filling, easy food to make during the week.

Easy Food To Make in the Oven

If you don’t feel like standing at the stove to cook, using your oven is an excellent way to cook your meal while relaxing on your couch. Do your prep work, place your meal in the oven to cook, and sit down with your feet up until your oven timer dings. Here are ten easy meal ideas to cook in your oven.   

Baked Salmon

Fish is quick and easy to prepare. Salmon is no exception, especially when you bake it in the oven. Marinade your salmon overnight the night before or drizzle a simple sauce over the salmon before baking it for a delicious and healthy meal.  

Tilapia

You can cook tilapia on the stovetop, but if you want simplicity, baking this mild white fish in the oven is the way to go. Just season and bake for a quick and healthy dinner.  

Homemade Pizzas

Homemade pizza doesn’t have to mean frozen pizza. Luckily, homemade pizza is simple when you use an easy-to-make or premade crust. Customize a homemade pizza with your favorite toppings, or let each family member create a personal pizza.  

Frozen Lasagna

Let’s face it. Lasagna is delicious. But who has the time or energy to make it after a long workday? So if your family is craving lasagna, try one of the premade frozen lasagnas for a hands-off meal.  

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is a hearty and delicious meal that is easy to make. Traditional shepherd’s pie used ground lamb and originated in the United Kingdom. However, many Americans make a version of shepherd’s pie, sometimes called cottage pie, using ground beef. Whichever name you prefer, make this kind of savory pie with a layer of cooked ground meat and vegetables and top it with a layer of mashed potatoes. You can easily customize shepherd’s pie using your family’s favorite vegetables.

Pork Chops

Whether you prefer boneless or bone-in pork chops, make an easy meal with instant mashed potatoes and a bag of steamed veggies. Marinade the pork chops overnight, or try a homemade shake-n-bake style pork chop.  

Baked Tortellini

Baking cooked tortellini with sauce and mozzarella cheese takes this stuffed pasta to a new level. Of course, you could make it a meatless meal or add ground sausage, beef, or chopped pepperoni for an extra hearty and tasty dinner. 

Sheet Pan Fajitas

Sheet pan chicken or steak fajitas take some meal prep. However, once you chop the veggies and everything is seasoned, throw it in the oven, set the timer, and head to your favorite spot on the couch to relax. Don’t forget to line the pan with foil for easy cleanup.  

Meatloaf

Meatloaf is another easy food to make that will please your whole family. First, be sure to thaw the ground hamburger overnight in the fridge if it’s frozen. Then, mix, shape, and bake for a hearty meal with little work.  

Baked Chicken

Bake your favorite part of the chicken in the oven for an effortless meal. Marinade the chicken overnight to add flavor. Add a simple toss salad or some steamed veggies for a low-carb dinner.

Use a Slow-Cooker and Instant Pot For Easy Meals

Whether you are a slow-cooker fan or your vote is for using your Instant Pot, these cooking appliances are perfect for preparing easy meals. However, you may need to follow a recipe to ensure you add enough liquid to prevent drying out your meal in your slow cooker or triggering a burn error on your Instant Pot. Following a recipe isn’t bad; it just means your meal may not be as effortless as you had hoped.

Both slow cookers and Instant Pots are excellent for people who want to prepare their food easily. Many people prefer prepping their meals in a slow cooker in the morning, so dinner is ready when you walk in the door after work. Others like the convenience of Instant Pots because they can cook food quickly, so your dinner is on the table in no time. Here are easy meal ideas that you can cook in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot with a few modifications.   

• Beef Roast With Potatoes and Carrots
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Pork Tenderloin
• Homemade Soups 
• Homemade Stews
• Rice and Beans
• Goulash
• Beef for French Dip Sandwiches
• Asian Chicken with Rice and Broccoli
• Chili Macaroni and Cheese

The easy meal possibilities are endless when using your slow cooker or Instant Pot. If you are looking for a cookbook that provides recipe variations for slow cookers and Instant Pots, check this one out.

Easy Food To Make on the Grill

Grilling is another easy way to prepare food when you don’t feel like cooking. Grilling is also the perfect way to prepare food in the summer when it’s hot, so you don’t have to heat your oven. Check out these simple-to-prepare food ideas for your grill.

• Kabobs
• Flatbread Pizzas
• Steaks
• Ribs
• Fish Foil Packs
• Marinated Chicken
• Brats 
• Vegetables
• Eggplant
• Scallops

Final Thoughts on Choosing Easy Food to Make

Deciding what to make for dinner when you are tired is not fun. However, a meal plan is a great way to take the thought out of dinner time. Planning easy food to make on busy weeknights can help you avoid ordering food from your favorite restaurant when you don’t have the energy to cook. Use these easy meal ideas to start your meal plan and save money while putting your feet up after work.