Last week, I asked my Sunday Glow Newsletter community: “what recipes do you want to see more of?” This response spoke to me: “I would love to know what you throw together or do for yourself when you don’t feel like cooking.” This post is a collection of my favorite dietitian-approved lazy meal ideas.
My Top Lazy Meal Ideas
Breakfast for Dinner.
Remember when your grade school cafeteria served breakfast for lunch? It was one of the few days I actually enjoyed eating cafeteria food. Make breakfast for lunch (or dinner) a part of your weekly meals with these ideas:
- Scrambled Egg Tacos. Scrambled eggs + cheese + spinach + soft tortillas + salsa
- Cheese and Veggie Frittata. Simple recipe can be found here.
- Sweet Potato Hash. Roasted sweet potatoes + sauteed kale and peppers + italian seasoning + eggs cooked to preference
The options are endless when you allow breakfast foods any time of the day. What’s your favorite breakfast food?
Adult Lunchables.
Adult lunchables are basically a glorified snack plate. This is my simple formula for tasty and satisfying adult lunchables:
- Protein: deli turkey, hard-boiled egg, cheese, salami, baked chicken, beans
- Fat: guacamole, nut butter, nuts
- Carb: whole grain crackers, tortilla chips, pretzels, pita triangles
- Produce: any fruit or veg!
All you have to do is select at least 1 food from each category to make your own “snack plate” meal. Here are a few examples:
- Tex Mex: tortilla chips + pepper jack cheese + guacamole + bell pepper
- Italian: salami + mozzarella + tomatoes + pesto + sliced baguette
- Veg: hard boiled egg + apple slices + peanut butter + pretzels
- Turkey: deli turkey + sliced cucumber + pita chips + hummus
Sheet Pan Meals.
I file sheet pan meals under “lazy” due to the reduced dishes and hands-off cooking time. It’s one of the easiest ways to get a hot meal on the table.
One-pan = fewer dishes. Oven prep = hands-off cooking time.
Simply toss ingredients on a foil-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and desired seasonings. Then roast in the oven at 385 for 30 minutes (this is a temperature estimate and cooking times may vary depending on your ingredients).
Recipe inspiration from trustworthy dietitians:
- Sheet Pan Chicken Potatoes and Green Beans by Kara Lydon, RD
- Sheet Pan Chicken and Mango by Rachael Hartley, RD
- Southwest Sheet Pan Dinner (Vegetarian) by Dietitian Debbie
Gourmet Avocado Toast.
Don’t let the word gourmet scare you! This meal is actually quite simple. Here’s how to make it:
Rinse and drain 1 can of white beans. Transfer to a bowl and smash with the back of a fork. Add ½ cup of cooked quinoa, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and a sprinkle of salt. Serve mixture over whole-grain toast slathered with avocado. Top it off with a handful of arugula and a fresh squeeze of lemon juice!
I posted a reel of this recipe on my Instagram @everglownutrition here.
Pasta with Veggies.
There’s something simple and nourishing about pasta. The combination of warm noodles and creamy sauce screams “comfort” in a bowl. To boost the nutritional value of pasta dishes, I typically always add some veggies and use a bean-based pasta like Banza chickpea pasta for plant protein.
Boil 2 cups of water for 1 cup of uncooked pasta. As pasta cooks, heat olive oil to saute veggies of choice (fresh or frozen): broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, peas, etc. Drain pasta, toss in cooked vegetables and stir in a spoonful of pesto sauce. Top with parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
*Option to add slices of pre-cooked chicken sausage for more protein.
I want to hear from you! What lazy-delicious meal are you going to make next?
Comment on this post with your favorite take-away!