Dinners for people that hate cooking and don't have time to do it

[Anonymous]

Crockpot a bunch of meat on the weekends and you have sandwiches one night, tacos another night, and grain bowls another night. Forget about cooking veggies- we eat almost everything raw and it’s easier and healthier (I think?).

[Anonymous]

I did homemade chicken fingers in the air fryer the other night. So easy. Pretty much followed the Skinnytaste recipe. Flour, egg, breadcrumbs. Kids and DH all loved them.

[Anonymous]

Quiche is really easy and can be varied to mix up the meat, veggies etc.

[Anonymous]

I frequently make things like chili, meat sauce, Mac & cheese, refried beans, lasagna, etc. in huge batches and freeze individual portions.

Monday: Hello Fresh 30 minutes or less
Taco Tuesday: we switch it up and do quesadilllas, beef tacos, chicken tostadas, etc.
Wednesday: Hello Fresh
Thursday: Pasta or Pizza
Friday: takeout or dinner out in the olden days
Saturday: DH cooks
Sunday. big early dinner that makes leftovers (crock pot roasts, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you on not liking or having the time to cook! Some of my go-to’s:

- tacos using ground beef or turkey. I use hard shells or tortillas for the kids, put over romaine lettuce to make taco salads for adults - tacos take a long time. Browning the meat takes at least 20 minutes, drain some grease, add taco seasoning and simmer, in the meantime drag out all the toppings and wash/drain, cut up and but in serving dishes, then heat up the taco shells - whole process easily takes 45 minutes. Please don't start with the - your wrong! your doing it wrong! I am superior! most people never, ever bother to time how long it really takes them so they way underestimate
- same droll as above but instead throw some chicken in instant pot with a little water & taco seasoning for shredded chicken tacos - I don't own an instant pot and if I did, I would have to run to the store after work to pick up chicken and there would be some other stuff of course, come home, unload groceries, wipe out the insta pot, unpackage chicken and if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, wait for chicken to cook and in the meantime prep all the other stuff, chicken done, have to get it out, put in serving bowl and attempt to shred
- dump a bottle or jarred marinara over chicken breasts, bake in oven, sprinkle mozzarella over chicken a few min before taking out of oven. Serve with pasta. - repeat process above about going to the store and unpacking groceries, if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, while they are baking make some rice or vegetables or a salad. But rice takes at least 20 minutes
- bake bone in chicken breasts with olive oil, salt & pepper. Rub BBQ sauce on at the end and serve extra sauce for dipping (my kids love this one). Serve with a veggie and Mac and cheese or frozen sweet potato fries.
- cook chicken breasts with a jar of enchilada sauce (I use Whole Foods), in instant pot. Layer corn tortillas, chicken, sauce, cheese for enchilada casserole (another kid favorite).
- you can use this chicken (or taco beef, turkey or chicken) for burritos
- marinade chicken breasts in store bought Italian dressing. Grill chicken.
- make a pot roast- chuck roast in instant pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and either a jar or marinara or canned of diced tomatoes.

For YEARS I bought into the belief that I could really make dinner during the week nights in 30 minutes. That has only happened if I did quesadilla, grilled cheese or salad and sandwiches, See above for why

It never takes me 30 mins to cook dinner. It takes almost 10 mins to boil the pot of water. 45 mins is a quick dinner for me.

However, I have found ways to make myself more efficient. I will spend time on the weekend washing and cutting up the veggies.

I’ll cook the meat ahead of time and then just dump the pre-cooked chicken into the stir fry.

I bought a rice cooker which basically cooks rice perfectly in 30 mins. If I know I want rice for dinner one night, I will cook it ahead of time and just put it in the fridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried those meal delivery kist that come with ingredients and recipes that you prepare?

Make something big on Sunday like a stew or casserole, left overs on Monday, meal kit for Tues, Wed, Thursday. Make something easy Friday night. Have another family member cook on Saturdays or get take out.

I tried blue apron once and it was a hundred times more work than any cooking I’ve ever done for an Applebee’s quality meal. Terrible.

We use Hello Fresh and absolutely love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheet pan suppers.

Crockpot.

Took the words right out of my mouth! OP, also meal plan and cook extra to freeze or pop in the fridge for leftovers in a couple of days

[Anonymous]

Cooking is living. Everyone has time to cook if they want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you on not liking or having the time to cook! Some of my go-to’s:

- tacos using ground beef or turkey. I use hard shells or tortillas for the kids, put over romaine lettuce to make taco salads for adults - tacos take a long time. Browning the meat takes at least 20 minutes, drain some grease, add taco seasoning and simmer, in the meantime drag out all the toppings and wash/drain, cut up and but in serving dishes, then heat up the taco shells - whole process easily takes 45 minutes. Please don't start with the - your wrong! your doing it wrong! I am superior! most people never, ever bother to time how long it really takes them so they way underestimate
- same droll as above but instead throw some chicken in instant pot with a little water & taco seasoning for shredded chicken tacos - I don't own an instant pot and if I did, I would have to run to the store after work to pick up chicken and there would be some other stuff of course, come home, unload groceries, wipe out the insta pot, unpackage chicken and if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, wait for chicken to cook and in the meantime prep all the other stuff, chicken done, have to get it out, put in serving bowl and attempt to shred
- dump a bottle or jarred marinara over chicken breasts, bake in oven, sprinkle mozzarella over chicken a few min before taking out of oven. Serve with pasta. - repeat process above about going to the store and unpacking groceries, if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, while they are baking make some rice or vegetables or a salad. But rice takes at least 20 minutes
- bake bone in chicken breasts with olive oil, salt & pepper. Rub BBQ sauce on at the end and serve extra sauce for dipping (my kids love this one). Serve with a veggie and Mac and cheese or frozen sweet potato fries.
- cook chicken breasts with a jar of enchilada sauce (I use Whole Foods), in instant pot. Layer corn tortillas, chicken, sauce, cheese for enchilada casserole (another kid favorite).
- you can use this chicken (or taco beef, turkey or chicken) for burritos
- marinade chicken breasts in store bought Italian dressing. Grill chicken.
- make a pot roast- chuck roast in instant pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and either a jar or marinara or canned of diced tomatoes.

For YEARS I bought into the belief that I could really make dinner during the week nights in 30 minutes. That has only happened if I did quesadilla, grilled cheese or salad and sandwiches, See above for why

I mean, many of your points above are valid (browning meat) but presumably you do have some groceries in your house and could have the chicken delivered or obtained at the same time as your toilet paper, snacks, vegetables, etc. I’ve never had the problem with chicken thickness that you describe above. It sounds to me like you are choosing to view this in the most complicated way because you hate every part of it - which I get - but it isn’t quite as complicated as you describe.

That being said, I find that cooking is easier if I find time to do prep work at another moment (easy now with quarantine, harder before). I’ll chop an onion with my morning coffee, etc. It changes the actual cooking experience to be more like a show where you just throw pre-measured stuff into a pot.

Here’s an actual sub-30 minute dish:

https://leitesculinaria.com/1390/recipes-cacio-e-pepe.html

Jamie Oliver also has a nice 5 ingredient cookbook. Not all recipes are sub-30 minutes but fewer ingredients usually means faster to table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you on not liking or having the time to cook! Some of my go-to’s:

- tacos using ground beef or turkey. I use hard shells or tortillas for the kids, put over romaine lettuce to make taco salads for adults - tacos take a long time. Browning the meat takes at least 20 minutes, drain some grease, add taco seasoning and simmer, in the meantime drag out all the toppings and wash/drain, cut up and but in serving dishes, then heat up the taco shells - whole process easily takes 45 minutes. Please don't start with the - your wrong! your doing it wrong! I am superior! most people never, ever bother to time how long it really takes them so they way underestimate
- same droll as above but instead throw some chicken in instant pot with a little water & taco seasoning for shredded chicken tacos - I don't own an instant pot and if I did, I would have to run to the store after work to pick up chicken and there would be some other stuff of course, come home, unload groceries, wipe out the insta pot, unpackage chicken and if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, wait for chicken to cook and in the meantime prep all the other stuff, chicken done, have to get it out, put in serving bowl and attempt to shred
- dump a bottle or jarred marinara over chicken breasts, bake in oven, sprinkle mozzarella over chicken a few min before taking out of oven. Serve with pasta. - repeat process above about going to the store and unpacking groceries, if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, while they are baking make some rice or vegetables or a salad. But rice takes at least 20 minutes
- bake bone in chicken breasts with olive oil, salt & pepper. Rub BBQ sauce on at the end and serve extra sauce for dipping (my kids love this one). Serve with a veggie and Mac and cheese or frozen sweet potato fries.
- cook chicken breasts with a jar of enchilada sauce (I use Whole Foods), in instant pot. Layer corn tortillas, chicken, sauce, cheese for enchilada casserole (another kid favorite).
- you can use this chicken (or taco beef, turkey or chicken) for burritos
- marinade chicken breasts in store bought Italian dressing. Grill chicken.
- make a pot roast- chuck roast in instant pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and either a jar or marinara or canned of diced tomatoes.

For YEARS I bought into the belief that I could really make dinner during the week nights in 30 minutes. That has only happened if I did quesadilla, grilled cheese or salad and sandwiches, See above for why

It never takes me 30 mins to cook dinner. It takes almost 10 mins to boil the pot of water. 45 mins is a quick dinner for me.

However, I have found ways to make myself more efficient. I will spend time on the weekend washing and cutting up the veggies.

I’ll cook the meat ahead of time and then just dump the pre-cooked chicken into the stir fry.

I bought a rice cooker which basically cooks rice perfectly in 30 mins. If I know I want rice for dinner one night, I will cook it ahead of time and just put it in the fridge.

DP. I'm with you, PP. I am an accomplished cook and I can never make dinner in less than 30 minutes unless it is just for 1 or 2 people, and the meal is an all-in-one microwave dinner. Just making the salad, getting out the place settings, pouring beverages, etc takes 10-15 minutes. If I had to add in the cooking of a protein as well as veggies, it won't happen. That said the other poster makes some good points about ways to shorten the cooking process. But when I read news articles, cookbooks or cooking magazines that claim 30 minutes or less, I scoff. It takes that half that long to get the pots out, boil the water, heat up the oven and everything else. And then you need to add in the prep and cooking time. No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you on not liking or having the time to cook! Some of my go-to’s:

- tacos using ground beef or turkey. I use hard shells or tortillas for the kids, put over romaine lettuce to make taco salads for adults - tacos take a long time. Browning the meat takes at least 20 minutes, drain some grease, add taco seasoning and simmer, in the meantime drag out all the toppings and wash/drain, cut up and but in serving dishes, then heat up the taco shells - whole process easily takes 45 minutes. Please don't start with the - your wrong! your doing it wrong! I am superior! most people never, ever bother to time how long it really takes them so they way underestimate
- same droll as above but instead throw some chicken in instant pot with a little water & taco seasoning for shredded chicken tacos - I don't own an instant pot and if I did, I would have to run to the store after work to pick up chicken and there would be some other stuff of course, come home, unload groceries, wipe out the insta pot, unpackage chicken and if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, wait for chicken to cook and in the meantime prep all the other stuff, chicken done, have to get it out, put in serving bowl and attempt to shred
- dump a bottle or jarred marinara over chicken breasts, bake in oven, sprinkle mozzarella over chicken a few min before taking out of oven. Serve with pasta. - repeat process above about going to the store and unpacking groceries, if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, while they are baking make some rice or vegetables or a salad. But rice takes at least 20 minutes
- bake bone in chicken breasts with olive oil, salt & pepper. Rub BBQ sauce on at the end and serve extra sauce for dipping (my kids love this one). Serve with a veggie and Mac and cheese or frozen sweet potato fries.
- cook chicken breasts with a jar of enchilada sauce (I use Whole Foods), in instant pot. Layer corn tortillas, chicken, sauce, cheese for enchilada casserole (another kid favorite).
- you can use this chicken (or taco beef, turkey or chicken) for burritos
- marinade chicken breasts in store bought Italian dressing. Grill chicken.
- make a pot roast- chuck roast in instant pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and either a jar or marinara or canned of diced tomatoes.

For YEARS I bought into the belief that I could really make dinner during the week nights in 30 minutes. That has only happened if I did quesadilla, grilled cheese or salad and sandwiches, See above for why

I mean, many of your points above are valid (browning meat) but presumably you do have some groceries in your house and could have the chicken delivered or obtained at the same time as your toilet paper, snacks, vegetables, etc. I’ve never had the problem with chicken thickness that you describe above. It sounds to me like you are choosing to view this in the most complicated way because you hate every part of it - which I get - but it isn’t quite as complicated as you describe.

That being said, I find that cooking is easier if I find time to do prep work at another moment (easy now with quarantine, harder before). I’ll chop an onion with my morning coffee, etc. It changes the actual cooking experience to be more like a show where you just throw pre-measured stuff into a pot.

Here’s an actual sub-30 minute dish:

https://leitesculinaria.com/1390/recipes-cacio-e-pepe.html

Jamie Oliver also has a nice 5 ingredient cookbook. Not all recipes are sub-30 minutes but fewer ingredients usually means faster to table.

Really? Your solution to the quick meal problem is essentially buttered pasta?

[Anonymous]

I hate cooking and planning for cooking, and I just don’t have the time. We started doing Dream Dinners a few years ago and it has been great. My DH goes once a month and we have a freezer full of dinners for a month. Most meals have 3 or fewer steps and most take less than 30 minutes or can be cooked from frozen. It has been great during the pandemic because they make the meals for us and we pick them up curbside. It isn’t super close to us but the drive on a weekend once a month is worth it. It’s a huge timesaver! And no I don’t work for them

[Anonymous]

Ok. For real quick and easy dinners:

- hummus, pita bread, baby carrots, pre-cut veggies, cheese cubes. We have this at least once a week. More often in the summer. You can add some nuts, pickles or olives if you want to get fancy.

- tuna melts on English muffins. Sides of cherry tomatoes and steam in bag veggies.

- Amy’s organic chili served over brown rice (you can buy frozen rice at Trader Joe’s).

- cheese toast and canned/boxed soup. Bag of salad with some of those cherry tomatoes.

- baked potatoes (you can buy them at Wendy’s if you don’t want to bake them yourself), steam in a bag broccoli, shredded cheddar

- tortillas with canned refried beans and cheese (I love cheese) broiled for five minutes. Serve with jar of salsa and sour cream.

[Anonymous]

I know I can’t convince people who don’t like to cook that it is fun. I love it and get that it can be a drag. That said, I recommend looking into Dinner: A Love Story. http://www.dinneralovestory.com.

She loves to cook and family dinner is super important to her, so she set out to find ways to make good, relatively easy and fast weeknight meals. The best part is that she finds ways to make dishes kid friendly largely by separating out the parts so everyone can build their own version of the same dinner.

I actually like her cookbook (Dinner: A Love Story — she has several) more than the website because it is simpler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you on not liking or having the time to cook! Some of my go-to’s:

- tacos using ground beef or turkey. I use hard shells or tortillas for the kids, put over romaine lettuce to make taco salads for adults - tacos take a long time. Browning the meat takes at least 20 minutes, drain some grease, add taco seasoning and simmer, in the meantime drag out all the toppings and wash/drain, cut up and but in serving dishes, then heat up the taco shells - whole process easily takes 45 minutes. Please don't start with the - your wrong! your doing it wrong! I am superior! most people never, ever bother to time how long it really takes them so they way underestimate
- same droll as above but instead throw some chicken in instant pot with a little water & taco seasoning for shredded chicken tacos - I don't own an instant pot and if I did, I would have to run to the store after work to pick up chicken and there would be some other stuff of course, come home, unload groceries, wipe out the insta pot, unpackage chicken and if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, wait for chicken to cook and in the meantime prep all the other stuff, chicken done, have to get it out, put in serving bowl and attempt to shred
- dump a bottle or jarred marinara over chicken breasts, bake in oven, sprinkle mozzarella over chicken a few min before taking out of oven. Serve with pasta. - repeat process above about going to the store and unpacking groceries, if pieces are different thicknesses, decided if I am gone to smash them or not so they cook more evenly, while they are baking make some rice or vegetables or a salad. But rice takes at least 20 minutes
- bake bone in chicken breasts with olive oil, salt & pepper. Rub BBQ sauce on at the end and serve extra sauce for dipping (my kids love this one). Serve with a veggie and Mac and cheese or frozen sweet potato fries.
- cook chicken breasts with a jar of enchilada sauce (I use Whole Foods), in instant pot. Layer corn tortillas, chicken, sauce, cheese for enchilada casserole (another kid favorite).
- you can use this chicken (or taco beef, turkey or chicken) for burritos
- marinade chicken breasts in store bought Italian dressing. Grill chicken.
- make a pot roast- chuck roast in instant pot. Add onions, carrots and celery and either a jar or marinara or canned of diced tomatoes.

For YEARS I bought into the belief that I could really make dinner during the week nights in 30 minutes. That has only happened if I did quesadilla, grilled cheese or salad and sandwiches, See above for why

Haha! This is so true. It always bewildered me when people described tacos as a quick meal for children. I have forever thought I was doing something wrong .