There are times when we feel empowered to create these lavish and exquisite meals for ourselves and our friends and family. However, there’s other times when we’re running late from work, lose track of time, or otherwise feeling uninspired when it comes to cooking that night. Therefore, it’s imperative that you have some simple yet tasty meal ideas ready to go! Contrary to popular belief, meals can be simple and delicious at the same time. We’ve come up with some ideas for you when you’re just not feeling it in the kitchen.
- Veggie Stir-Fry: Sauté a variety of your favorite vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and snap peas in a pan with some garlic and ginger. Season with soy sauce or your preferred stir-fry sauce. Serve over rice or noodles.
- Wrap/Gyros: Grab some tortillas or lettuce leaves and make quick and customizable wraps. Fill them with grilled chicken or tofu, fresh veggies, and your favorite sauces or spreads.
- Loaded Baked Potatoes: Bake potatoes in the oven or microwave until tender. Top them with a variety of toppings like sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, green onions, and salsa. You can also add steamed broccoli, leftover chili, or grilled chicken.
- Quesadillas: Spread some cheese, cooked chicken or shrimp, sautéed onions, and peppers between two tortillas. Cook in a skillet until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
- Pasta Primavera: Cook your favorite pasta according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, sauté a mix of colorful vegetables like zucchini, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach. Toss the cooked pasta with the sautéed vegetables, olive oil, grated Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
- Loaded Salad: Create a hearty salad with a variety of ingredients like mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, boiled eggs, grilled chicken or tofu, and your favorite salad dressing.
- Breakfast-for-Dinner: Whip up a quick breakfast-style meal for dinner. Make scrambled eggs or an omelet and serve them with toast, bacon or sausage, and sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
- Rice Bowl: Cook a batch of rice and top it with a protein of your choice such as grilled shrimp, teriyaki chicken, or tofu. Add steamed or stir-fried vegetables, a drizzle of sauce, and garnish with sesame seeds or chopped green onions.
- Chicken Noodle Soup and Grilled Cheese: There may be no better “simple yet delicious” combo than your favorite cheese and bread paired with chicken noodle soup! The best part of this meal idea is the flexibility it offers.
The key here is using ingredients you have handy, but also being flexible here. It may be a meal that comes together as you progress through cooking. Sometimes we have a multi-step plan when it comes to a meal, but when we don’t have that plan, it’s okay for the meal to have a hodgepodge feel to it.