Finals are coming up and that means eating junk food and microwaveable meals. Ooooor… you could try to make these easy and delicious recipes that require just a little bit of effort but will be more satisfying. These recipes are also great when you’re just too lazy to cook.
This recipe is great because you don’t have to chop up ingredients and whip out a wok to make a delicious fried rice. You really only need frozen vegetables, a rice cooker, chicken broth, a protein of your choice, and some sauces. For protein, you can add spam, ham, chicken, or tuna. The recipe calls for minced garlic, but let’s be real—who wants to deal with garlicky fingers later? I would instead opt for frozen minced garlic from Target or Trader Joes. This saves time, too.
I grew up eating Chinese steamed eggs and let me tell you, this dish is sent from the HEAVENS ABOVE. It is so simple yet so tasty and comforting. It’s silky smooth with the perfect umami taste. You must eat it with rice to get the most amazing dinner. You only need 5 ingredients: eggs, water, vegetable/chicken stock, salt, and sesame oil or soy sauce. Steaming food may sound intimidating but it’s pretty easy. All you need is a deep pot with a lid and a steaming rack (an empty tuna can will work) or if you have it, a metal steamer works best.
Perfect recipe if you’re craving mac and cheese but don’t want to make it from scratch. All you need is some spices (garlic powder and paprika), a few slices of American cheese, butter, and milk or half & half. You can even add a little bit of sour cream to make the cheese sauce creamier. Add any protein and frozen broccoli for an even more elevated meal!
Make this classic dish without all the work by using frozen meatballs and marinara sauce from the jar. Rao’s Marinara is a good choice for sauce and Trader Joe’s meatballs are tasty and cheap. It’s a one pot recipe, so no need to wash additional dishes! Add in diced tomatoes, parmesan, and spices for more flavor!
For this recipe, you can use any noodles you want or whatever you have in your pantry. Like most recipes here, it only requires a few ingredients and you can sub in fresh ingredients with frozen ones for convenience. If you’re super lazy, you can use Trader Joe’s Chili Crisp and add soy sauce, salt, and vinegar. (I promise I’m not sponsored by Trader Joe’s, I just love them.)
Instead of cooking rice, opt for microwaveable rice. I really like Bibigo Cooked Sticky White Rice which is nice and soft. This way you don’t have to wait for rice to cook. The sushi rice dressing and mayo sauce is easy to make. Add any toppings you desire! Canned tuna is a good protein option.
I find myself often not eating very healthy and not eating the proper nutrients due to stress from school, so I hope this article encourages you to eat enough to fill you up because nutrients are important! College is tough but making a filling meal will help you push through. Good luck studying and happy cooking!