There are days when you come back from work, after a hectic day, and don’t know what to eat. You look at your fridge, just raw ingredients, no food. It is weekdays like these that call for your creativity.
Cooking doesn’t always have to be as taxing as many people paint it to be. You can prepare something to eat in a few minutes without fancy ingredients or rigorous processes.
If you find yourself in that situation and don’t know what to eat, I’ve got some simple ideas to share with you.
1. The “Anything” Stir-Fry
This is a simple trick that works for me all the time. You can make a quick dinner by grabbing whatever you have in your house and tossing it in a pan.
There are no specific rules for making a stir-fry. All you need is heat, oil, and some ingredients.
Here’s what I usually do:
- Start with a base like rice or noodles.
- Throw in a protein — chicken, shrimp, tofu, or even leftover beef.
- Add veggies. Frozen works fine.
- Finish with soy sauce, sesame oil, and a little garlic.
In the next few minutes, your dinner will be ready. You can also take it up a notch by sprinkling some green onions or crushed peanuts on it.
I once made a stir-fry with leftover rotisserie chicken and half a bag of mixed veggies. Not the fanciest stir-fry I’ve had, but it was delicious.
But if you don’t have anything, you can order the Popeyes $6 box; it’s rich enough to feed you for the evening.
2. Sheet Pan Dinners (a.k.a. The Lazy Cook’s Secret Weapon)
If you haven’t tried a sheet pan dinner yet, you’re missing out. You just toss everything onto one baking sheet, stick it in the oven, and walk away. That’s it.
A sheet pan dinner – one of my favorites. You’re missing out if you’ve not tried one before. You just put all the basic ingredients you need into one baking sheet, put it in the oven, and wait half an hour.
The core ingredients you would need are chopped potatoes, chicken thighs, carrots, salt, olive oil, pepper, and garlic powder. Roast at 425°F for 25–30 minutes. Done. Minimal cleanup, maximum flavor.
Whenever I eat this meal, it makes me feel like I put in a lot of effort, even though I didn’t. And you don’t have to use the exact ingredients I mentioned earlier. You can mix match ingredients based on what you have.
3. Breakfast for Dinner
There’s something about eating breakfast food at night that feels both rebellious and comforting. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s the fact that eggs cook in three minutes. Either way, breakfast for dinner is a lifesaver when you’re out of ideas.
Scramble some eggs, toast some bread, fry a few slices of bacon, and boom — dinner’s done.
You can also dress it up with:
- A breakfast burrito (eggs, cheese, salsa, maybe a little sausage)
- Pancakes with fruit and a side of yogurt
- An omelet stuffed with veggies and cheese
There’s a reason diners serve this stuff all day. It never fails.
4. Pasta That’s Not Boring
Everyone turns to pasta on busy nights, but that doesn’t mean it has to be plain. Instead of reaching for the same jar of marinara, try something quick and different.
Here are a few five-ingredient pasta ideas:
- Lemon Garlic Pasta – spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan.
- Creamy Pesto Pasta – pesto, cream (or milk), spinach, cherry tomatoes, and penne.
- Spicy Shrimp Linguine – shrimp, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and garlic.
I once threw together pasta using nothing but olive oil, garlic, and leftover grilled chicken. It was one of those “this will do” moments — but it ended up being so good, I’ve made it three more times since.
5. Taco Night (Even If It’s Not Tuesday)
Tacos are one of those meals that somehow make everyone happy. And they come together fast. Brown some meat or sauté some veggies, grab tortillas, and let everyone build their own.
You can use:
- Ground beef, turkey, or chicken
- Black beans for a vegetarian twist
- Cheese, salsa, lettuce, sour cream, avocado — all optional, but encouraged
If you’re feeling extra tired, skip the stove and make “lazy tacos” — a tortilla wrap stuffed with pre-cooked chicken, lettuce, and dressing. Done in two minutes, flat.
Can’t make it? Check So Foody for the places to buy good tacos.
6. Soups That Feel Like a Hug
Sometimes, you just want something warm, simple, and comforting. Soup is that friend.
It’s also one of the best “clean out the fridge” meals. Toss veggies, beans, leftover meat, and broth into a pot, and let it simmer while you relax.
A few easy favorites:
- Chicken noodle
- Tomato basil
- Lentil soup with carrots and spinach
- Vegetable soup with whatever you’ve got on hand
Serve with bread or crackers, and you’ve got yourself a cozy night in.
7. Flatbreads or Quick Pizzas
If you’ve got flatbreads, pita, or even tortillas, you can make a quick pizza in no time.
Here’s the formula:
- Sauce (tomato, pesto, or even BBQ)
- Cheese
- Toppings (leftovers work great — chicken, peppers, spinach, etc.)
Bake it for 8–10 minutes at 400°F, and you’ve got something crispy, gooey, and totally satisfying. It’s great for movie nights or when you just can’t decide between “snack” and “meal.”
Final Thought
Dinner on a weeknight doesn’t have to mean stress, takeout, or giving up. The key is keeping things simple — and a little creative. You don’t need the perfect recipe; you just need a few ideas and a willingness to mix things up.
And honestly? Sometimes the best meals come from the nights you didn’t plan anything at all.
