I grew up in the midwest, we love a good casserole in our house!
Tater tot casserole
Tuna noodle casserole
Hamburger pie
Chicken ala king over biscuits
Biscuits and gravy
Beanies and weenies

I’ve been in this rut. Caroline Chambers cookbook: What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking is helpful. Mostly complete meals, easy, organized by how much time they take. She has a good Substack/email newsletter/instagram as well.

My laziest recipe is: chicken breasts, frozen artichoke hearts, frozen green beans, 1 jar marinated artichokes. Mix the artichoke marinade from the jar with one tablespoon mustard and one mayo and toss everything together. Top with Parmesan cheese and bake til the breasts are cooked. Serve with riced cauliflower or instant mash potatoes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't feel like cooking much this evening. Roasted a tray of broccoli, made a simple romaine salad and had pasta (with Rao's marinara)

So, no protein?

Oh my lord. You realize there is protein in the pasta and the broccoli, right? Enough with the protein obsession.

Trader joes chili lime chicken (precooked just needs to be heated) is pretty tasty. I usually add rice (rice cooker), slice up and onion and a pepper or two and saute them but you could easily just serve over rice. Maybe add some guacamole, salsa or a yummy sauce (I mix mayo, sriracha, honey and lime). My kids also love the TJ soup dumplings...that's a whole meal for them. The TJ chicken meatballs are also easy and tasty. I've done sheet pan meals with them before or just added them to pasta with marinara sauce.

By a little oil I mean like a tablespoon. Or less.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't feel like cooking much this evening. Roasted a tray of broccoli, made a simple romaine salad and had pasta (with Rao's marinara)

So, no protein?

There is protein in pasta and in broccoli. And most of us get more than enough, so not having a bunch of it in one meal is not a problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you cook the Trader Joe’s refrigerated meatballs without any fancy appliances- just an oven or stove?

Is a microwave a fancy appliance? Nuke them.

^^ If you don't have one I would cut in half and fry on the stove for quick, cook in sauce on stove if you want sauce.

Can you break that down? How do you fry on the stove? And for how long? I would love to make meatballs and pasta but only know how to make the pasta.

Start boiling water (for pasta). Spray oil into a frying pan. Or pour a little oil. Either works. Put frozen meatballs directly into hot oil, medium heat. Stir/flip a few times every few minutes until they start to brown. When you’ve flipped them a few times pour sauce on top and turn heat to med low. Cover. Now is a good time to put the pasta in the boiling water. When it’s done, the sauce is done. If you’re unsure about whether or not you’re burning the sauce stir it once in a while.

You can also microwave the meatballs.

When you get more comfortable you can add a little diced onion and garlic to the pan with the meatballs. You can throw in handfuls of spinach or a little basil when the sauce goes in. You can top with flakes of Parmesan cheese when it’s done. These things are not hard or complicated but if you’re starting from zero, take it slow.

Anonymous wrote:Didn't feel like cooking much this evening. Roasted a tray of broccoli, made a simple romaine salad and had pasta (with Rao's marinara)

So, no protein?

Didn't feel like cooking much this evening. Roasted a tray of broccoli, made a simple romaine salad and had pasta (with Rao's marinara)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you cook the Trader Joe’s refrigerated meatballs without any fancy appliances- just an oven or stove?

Is a microwave a fancy appliance? Nuke them.

^^ If you don't have one I would cut in half and fry on the stove for quick, cook in sauce on stove if you want sauce.

Can you break that down? How do you fry on the stove? And for how long? I would love to make meatballs and pasta but only know how to make the pasta.

Anonymous wrote:Throwing a frozen pizza into the oven and making a quick arugula salad on the side with just lemon and olive oil. Super easy peasy

This is is at least once a week.

Frozen fish fillets and a salad. My family likes lemon slices and Whole Foods tartar sauce on the side.

Tofu scramble with a huge salad and toast. My teen can eat a full block of tofu in one go. It’s easy and fast.

Throwing a frozen pizza into the oven and making a quick arugula salad on the side with just lemon and olive oil. Super easy peasy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you cook the Trader Joe’s refrigerated meatballs without any fancy appliances- just an oven or stove?

Is a microwave a fancy appliance? Nuke them.

^^ If you don't have one I would cut in half and fry on the stove for quick, cook in sauce on stove if you want sauce.