Baked potatoes. We typically have some frozen leftover chilli to top, or cheese, sour cream, bacon, etc. I can throw them in before I leave to pickup DD and they're about done by the time we get home. DH works from home so the oven isn't just on unattended.

Poutine - Frozen french fries, jarred gravy, cheese curds, whatever frozen or leftover meat (usually rotisserie or roasted chicken).

I’m so jealous your kids will eat this!

Salmon (pan fried with home-made teriyaki sauce). Wasabi-avocado guacamole as garnish. Roasted frozen veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrot mix). White rice.

French dip paninis (panini?). These are SO good. They dirty two pans though.

Make a panini from the following:

Buttered sourdough bread

Sautéed/caramelized onions (This is the hard part)

Slice of Provolone or havarti cheese

Beef (I cook a package of shaved rib eye you use for Philly cheese steaks but I have used deli roast beef before and it’s still good)


Serve with a dip made of beef bone broth heated up with thyme

I like things with ground meat, like this recipe:
https://www.food.com/recipe/linas-awesome-lebanese-spinach-beef-rice-419495

It works great if you already have rice ready, but can be eaten with bread also, or whatever carbs you may have on hand.

Another option I like making is frying onion with ham or bacon or sausage, add small pieces cut potatoes so that it gets ready quickly, then cover and sautee till potato is soft, then add sauerkraut, bay leave and sautéed some more till the flavors mix. May need to wash the sauerkraut before adding If it’s very acidic.

Or just fry onion & potatoes & add to them ground beef / ground lamb with spices.

Can of TJ vegan chili plus bread and salad
Tj pizza dough, sauce, pepperoni and salad

Clam chowder. Bacon, onion, potatoes, water, canned clams, heavy cream or evaporated milk, and a roux to thicken.

I also love a sausage/lentil soup similar to what PPs posted: lamb sausage or kielbasa, onion, garlic, lentils, can of diced tomatoes, shredded cabbage (or kale, chard, or whatever other greens we have on hand).

My fastest meal, though, is seared Ahi tuna. Literally 30 per side in a screaming hot cast iron skillet. Serve with a quick veggie, like steamed edamame or peas (microwave in bag ftw) or carrot sticks. I keep Ahi in the freezer for those real emergency nights.

Literally all my meals are easy with few ingredients.

Baked chicken with microwave rice and a salad or carrot sticks. Or sub out the rice for roasted potatoes with EVOO and Everything But the Bagel seasoning.

Chicken parm using frozen breaded chicken, and pasta.

Garlic butter shrimp (using frozen shrimp) and pasta.

Pre-made salads from Trader Joe's.

Instant oatmeal and fruit on the side.

Scrambled eggs and toast, with fruit.

Tofu with frozen vegetables, along with whatever jarred curry sauce is lying around.

Orzo with tomato sauce and whatever meat.

Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and whatever vegetables we have.

Baked fried rice, love this recipe
https://www.recipetineats.com/baked-fried-rice/

+1 cheese and bean quesadilla

Linguine with clam sauce. So good. So easy.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/11951/linguine-with-clam-sauce/

Sheet pan chicken with broccoli and cauliflower. I spread a glob of pesto on each chicken thigh and roast in over for about 18 min. Often will add baby tomatoes with 5-10 left.
Serve over pasta.

chicken with schmaltzy cabbage is easy.

I also like shakshusha--the way I make it is to put a bag of frozen peppers and onions in a frying pan, add a jar of spicy tomato sauce and a can of chickpeas, then when it's simmering break in the eggs. Cook for a few minutes with a lid on the pan, then serve with pita bread.

Another simple one is to make potatoes or sweet potatoes (stab them, wrap in damp paper towels, then microwave) and while they are cooking warm some protein + veggie combo to go with them: canned black beans and spinach, canned pinto beans and salsa, frozen broccoli and a quick cheese sauce (flour, milk, grated cheddar), etc. Cut the potato, put the topping on, and stick in the toaster oven or under the broiler if you like or just eat it.

Homemade soup and store-bought bread can be pretty simple.

Also with store-bought bread a french toast casserole is easy to assemble: layer frozen berries or sliced apples or bananas with bread; mix up some eggs, milk, and cinnamon to pour on top; let it sit in the fridge for a few hours or overnight; then bake. Serve with maple syrup.

Anonymous wrote:Baked chicken breast or thighs coated in hummus, sprinkle with paprika. Comes out moist and the hummus makes a nice "crust" for the chicken.

I’ve never done this but now I need to try it.

Roasted whole chicken with root vegetables.