20 Recipes to Make When You’re Feeling Lazy

06/29/2022

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Armando Rafael

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Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Matt

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By:Matt Armendariz

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Photo By: MATT BALL

Take It Easy

We’ve all been there: those days when even the thought of picking up the phone to order takeout feels like too much work. So what do you do when you need to get a meal on the table? Or whip up dessert for a potluck or bake sale? Reach for recipes that don’t require many ingredients; ones that come together as easily as one, two, three. (Or, better yet — one, two!). Whether you’re looking for a couldn’t-be-simpler dump dinner, hacks for feeding a crowd all in one go from a single sheet pan or a few easy desserts, you’ll find that these no-fuss recipes are just what you need, starting with this moist banana bread. It’s made with just three common ingredients (bananas, eggs and store-bought cake mix) so you can save time and effort when it comes to measuring and prepping. The bananas keep the quick bread from drying out and the spice cake mix adds a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. You’ll be rewarded with everything you love about the traditional loaf — for almost no work at all.

Get the Recipe:3-Ingredient Banana Bread

5-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

We love multi-purpose kitchen gadgets that make life easier, so that’s why the Instant Pot (a slow cooker, pressure cooker and stove-top stand-in, all in one) is a go-to for quick meals. Especially this creamy kid-friendly mac and cheese, which cooks up in no time. And after it’s been gobbled up, you’ll only have one pot to clean!

Get the Recipe:5-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Sheet Pan Eggs

Never play short-order cook to a group of friends with this easy hack that guarantees everyone’s breakfast is done at the same time.

Get the Recipe:Sheet Pan Eggs

One-Pot Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

This one-pot meal is perfect for the beginner cook: Everything but the cheese goes into one skillet, and it all magically comes together. The tomato paste is here for a little flavor insurance, just in case your tomatoes aren’t at their best; feel free to add an extra tablespoon when tomatoes are out of season.

Get the Recipe:One-Pot Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Rosemary-Garlic Pork Chops with Chickpeas

Sheet pan dinners, like these rosemary-garlic pork chops, are perfect for a no-hassle dinner that can be ready in no time. Simply season pork chops, toss them with chickpeas, garlic and roasted red peppers, and put the whole thing in the oven. You’ll have a full meal in less than 20 minutes!

Get the Recipe:Rosemary-Garlic Pork Chops with Chickpeas

2-Ingredient Brownies

The secret to these fudgy two-ingredient brownies is separating the eggs and whipping the whites to stiff peaks before folding in the chocolate. This helps give the brownies structure and also stay moist and airy after cooking.

Get the Recipe:2-Ingredient Brownies

Brown Sugar Spiced Salmon

Brown sugar and chile powder give these salmon fillets the perfect amount of sweet-and-smoky flavor. Serve with a simple green salad for an easy (but satisfying) meal.

Get the Recipe:Brown Sugar Spiced Salmon

Marinated White Beans

To add flavor to otherwise basic canned white beans, we start by softening garlic in olive oil. Then we add more aromatics like rosemary and lemon zest to further infuse the oil. The beans can be served on (or with) just about anything, including toasted baguette slices, crackers or a green salad whenever you need a fast meal.

Get the Recipe:Marinated White Beans

Skillet Chicken Tortellini Alfredo

Store-bought tortellini are the star of this quick and creamy weeknight meal. They simmer in their own sauce, making this a one-skillet meal with easy cleanup.

Get the Recipe:Skillet Chicken Tortellini Alfredo

Easy Banana Pancakes

You probably have all these ingredients on hand! And, no, store-bought mix isn’t one of them.

Get the Recipe:Two-Ingredient Easy Banana Pancakes

Alfredo Shrimp Scampi Dump Dinner

Just dump a box of pasta, bag of shrimp and a few other pantry staples into a dish and bake. Right before serving, stir in the heavy cream and top with grated cheese and fresh parsley for a rich and creamy weeknight dinner in a flash.

Get the Recipe:Alfredo Shrimp Scampi Dump Dinner

2-Ingredient Grilled Pizza Dough

This pizza dough comes together in just ten minutes, with no rising or resting time but it still has a complex flavor and chewy texture that mimics the real thing. The yogurt in the dough helps make it tender and pliable so it’s easy to roll and shape and won’t fall apart on the grill. As a bonus, you can use any plain Greek yogurt you have on hand — from full-fat to non-fat (though full-fat yogurt will yield a slightly more tender crust).

Get the Recipe:2-Ingredient Grilled Pizza Dough

One-Pot Spicy Clams

Steam fresh clams in a tomato-and-wine broth with spicy serrano chile for a simple meal with incredible flavor. Be sure to serve with crust bread — it’s perfect for soaking up all the leftover juices.

Get the Recipe:One-Pot Spicy Clams

Sausage and Rigatoni Dump Dinner

Skip boiling a big pot of water. This hearty pasta dinner calls for uncooked rigatoni and ricotta and Italian sausage to be layered right in the casserole, so you’ll have nothing to wash while it bakes.

Get the Recipe:Sausage and Rigatoni Dump Dinner

Hoisin and Honey Slow-Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Assemble this in the morning, and when you return for dinner you’ll be rewarded with sweet, sticky drumsticks with an irresistible hoisin and honey sauce that thickens and concentrates as the drumsticks cook.

Get the Recipe:Hoisin and Honey Slow-Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

One-Pot Caprese Pasta

This dish tastes just like your favorite summer salad, only heartier. If you haven’t tried a one-pot pasta yet, do: It’s a great timesaving trick. Place all the ingredients in the pot together, add enough water and simmer. The noodles and sauce cook together, which means this dinner is ready in just 15 minutes. Stirring in the fresh mozzarella after the pasta is cooked creates an almost instant cream sauce, coating each noodle with a hint of cheese.

Get the Recipe:One-Pot Caprese Pasta

Grilled Shrimp Scampi in a Foil Packet

A super-fast, simple and summery version of shrimp scampi — with no chasing your shrimp around the grill or dropping it through the grates. Plus, clean-up is a breeze!

Get the Recipe:Grilled Shrimp Scampi in a Foil Packet

Slow-Cooker Shredded Steak

Ropa vieja is a traditional pulled beef and vegetable stew, popular in Cuba and Puerto Rico. This inspired version is perfect way to try something similar on a weeknight. All you need to do is combine the ingredients (tomatoes, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, cumin and jalapeño) with the steak, bell peppers and onions and in 8 hours, you’ll have a delicious and savory dinner that required almost no hassle whatsoever.

Get the Recipe:Slow-Cooker Shredded Steak

Pantry Pizza Pronto

Why mix up a batch of pizza dough when you’ve got store-bought focaccia on hand? It’s the perfect time-saving trick on pizza night. Top these personal pizzas with whatever you’ve got on hand in your pantry and you’ll have dinner on the table in 16 minutes flat.

Get the Recipe:Pantry Pizza Pronto

Grilled Sheet Pan S’mores

Make a whole bunch of s’mores without going through the hassle of starting a campfire (or waiting for individual marshmallows to toast). The Pioneer Woman’s recipe even includes two extra sweet surprises: caramel chips and toffee bits.

Get the Recipe:Grilled Sheet Pan S’mores

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