20 Lazy Dinners For When You Simply Cannot Be Bothered
Low effort doesn't have to mean low quality.
I’m going to let y’all in on a secret: Even though I make my living through food and cooking, some days, the last thing I feel like doing is stepping into the kitchen for a multi-hour dinner project. It’s okay to feel that way, and take it easy sometimes, but that doesn’t mean that your eating should suffer. On days when I really can’t be bothered, I turn to these 20 ridiculously easy, lazy-day recipes. Now, a “lazy” recipe can mean many different things, but what I really want to focus on here is recipes that deliver on quality while staying fairly hands-off, quick, low-ingredient, and one-pan recipes—cause if I’m already struggling to get the desire to cook, there’s no chance I’m jumping into a sink full of dishes as soon as I finish eating.
Kitchen appliances like air fryers and slow cookers are going to be your best friends here. With both, you really get to almost set it and forget it. Dishes like our slow-cooker creamy lemon herb chicken and slow-cooker Cajun Alfredo let the appliances do the work for you, allowing you to take a little R&R before dinner. I included some other dishes—like our creamy Tuscan chicken and creamy pesto orzotto—where you will have to be a bit more hands-on, but even then, the cooking process is simple, one-pan, and an hour or less from start to finish.
Looking for more lazy day recipes? Check out all our favorite 30-minute recipes and dinners featuring store-bought hacks for even more inspo.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
When it comes to chicken breast recipes, it's hard to beat this one. The sauce is simple but so flavorful thanks to garlic, tomatoes, and most importantly, cream. It's bright and easy and just as good in the summer as it is in the winter, whether you're craving comfort food or a dinner fancy enough for guests.
Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.
Creamy Pesto Orzotto
Risotto is the ultimate comfort food, but this creamy pesto orzotto is giving it a run for its money. Pesto and cheese are folded into orzo and topped with a shower of fresh basil for a one-pan weeknight dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Get the Creamy Pesto Orzotto recipe.
Slow-Cooker Cajun Alfredo
What’s more comforting than a carb-y bowl of pasta goodness? A carb-y bowl of pasta goodness that’s virtually hands-off! We love a slow cooker recipe, and this Cajun spin on a classic chicken Alfredo is taking that love to new heights.
Get the Slow-Cooker Cajun Alfredo recipe.
Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies
This recipe combines well-seasoned shrimp with red bell peppers, broccoli, and onions for a quick and easy dinner ready in a little more than 30 minutes. Not only is it so simple to throw together, it's extremely versatile.
Creamy Coconut-Lime Chickpea Skillet
When we’re in need of a quick and easy vegetarian dinner, this creamy coconut-lime chickpea skillet is always my first choice. It’s ready in well under an hour, uses affordable ingredients, and packs in plenty of flavor for a dinner fit for any day of the week.
BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza
We have our own copycat CPK BBQ chicken pizza, but we don’t always want to go through the effort of shaping raw pizza dough. Enter: the BBQ chicken French bread pizza. This recipe combines the uniquely sweet and savory flavor of the BBQ chicken pizza with the ease of a Stouffer’s-style French bread pizza.
Black Bean Tostadas
During busy weeknights, we can't get enough of quick, easy, and cheap dinners. With only 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes, these black bean tostadas will have you serving up an easy and delicious vegetarian dinner on the table with hardly any work at all.
Get the Black Bean Tostadas recipe.
Chicken & Broccoli
This fast and easy one-pot chicken and broccoli is coated in a sweet and savory sauce, featuring plenty of ginger and garlic for a delicious weeknight dinner. The best part? This dish comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal prep work.
Get the Chicken & Broccoli recipe.
Cacio E Pepe
Cacio e pepe is the Roman pasta dish that’s more intricate than its few ingredients imply. This classic Italian dinner has a quick cook time and makes for a simple yet impressive meal.
Get the Cacio E Pepe recipe.
Slow-Cooker Korean Beef
Toss a pot roast in the slow cooker with a host of flavorful ingredients and soy sauce, and you will have a killer Korean beef ready for weeknight dinner. This versatile slow-cooked meal can be enjoyed over rice, in tacos, in a sandwich like a sloppy Joe, or anywhere you’d use shredded beef.
Get the Slow-Cooker Korean Beef recipe.
The Original Marry Me Chicken
This is the chicken dinner that we know will make jaws drop every time. In it, chicken breasts are seared until golden brown before being baked in a simple (but extremely satisfying) cream sauce that results in a chicken that's packed with flavor in every bite.
Get the The Original Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Honey-Garlic Glazed Salmon
This savory-sweet salmon is quick and easy enough for weeknights (ready in under 30 minutes), but is also fancy enough for special occasions.
Get the Honey-Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.
Pasta Alla Gricia
Along with carbonara, cacio e pepe, and amatriciana, pasta alla gricia completes the four classic pasta dishes of Rome. It's a classic for good reason: With only four ingredients, it's simple to make and easy to indulge.
Get the Pasta Alla Gricia recipe.
Baked Cod
If you’ve never cooked cod before, newsflash: It’s practically foolproof. Not only does cod cook quickly, but it can also take on a variety of flavors and seasonings—in this case, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and lemon.
Get the Baked Cod recipe.
Slow-Cooker Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken
This slow-cooker creamy lemon herb chicken spends all day bubbling along, and results in a comforting, easy dinner that will have your entire home smelling like a dream. By cooking low and slow, the humble chicken breast is transformed into something that melts in your mouth.
Marry Me Gnocchi
This is a true 30-minute meal. Like our other Marry Me dishes, this saucy one-pan dinner features a base of fresh garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, heavy cream, and Parmesan tossed with pillowy-soft and quick-cooking gnocchi, then topped with a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra spicy kick.
Get the Marry Me Gnocchi recipe.
Pesto Ramen
Since we'll be flavoring the instant ramen noodles with your choice of pesto, it truly doesn't matter what flavor of ramen you purchase. You can also use any pesto on hand, so long as you like it: Classic basil, roasted red pepper, or sun-dried tomato will all work nicely here.
Get the Pesto Ramen recipe.
Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken
Don't get us wrong, we love a good pulled pork sandwich, but there's something extra-special about this brown sugar BBQ chicken. Ready with minimal effort and ingredients, this recipe combines a brown sugar BBQ sauce with chicken breasts for a flavor-packed, versatile dinner.
Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe.
One-Pot Lazy Lasagna
Let’s be honest—nothing sounds better after a long day than the classic, cheesy, saucy comfort food, but it’s also the last thing we want to take the time to prepare. Enter: this lazy lasagna. With some store-bought hacks, you can achieve a weeknight-friendly lasagna that’s every bit as comforting.
Get the One-Pot Lazy Lasagna recipe.
Cube Steak
Cube steak is often overlooked when planning out a delicious steak dinner—we're here to change that. Dredged in a seasoned flour mix and smothered in an onion soup mix gravy, this recipe turns this cut into a flavor-packed steak that was made to be served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and fresh veggies.
Get the Cube Steak recipe.
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