10 Recipes for When You Don't Want to Cook But Still Want to Eat Well

The list you'll come back to every time the motivation just isn't there.

Thank you for being a subscriber to the Beyond the Kale newsletter. If you’re a new subscriber, I send newsletters each month complete with meal plans and guides meant to make cooking easier. For full access to all of my posts, consider upgrading to paid.

Friends, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It’s literally my job—I recipe test, I film, I develop, I cook the same thing multiple times to get it perfect. And yet, there are still plenty of evenings where I look at the stove and I just... don’t want to. I’ve talked about this before—I filmed two recipes in one day and still found myself ordering Chipotle for dinner that night. Make it make sense.

The problem is I also don’t love spending the money on delivery, and I definitely don’t love eating out of a container that’s been sitting in someone’s car. So I’ve gotten pretty good at having a back-pocket list of recipes that require minimal effort, minimal cleanup, and still taste like something I actually want to eat.

Save this one for the next time you open DoorDash, stare at it for three minutes, close it, and open the fridge instead.

• A good skillet or cast iron pan. Most of these recipes live in one pan on the stovetop. A heavy-bottomed skillet that holds heat well makes a real difference — especially for the salmon, the dumpling skillet, and the chicken dishes. If you don’t have a cast iron yet, it’s worth the investment.

• A large pot with a lid. For the chicken broccoli alfredo and anything where pasta and protein cook together.

• A mini blender. The caesar dressing, the sesame ginger dressing, the satay sauce — all of these come together in about 30 seconds in a blender. It’s one of my most-used tools in the kitchen and it makes homemade sauces effortless.

• A good pair of tongs. For flipping, tossing, and assembling without making a mess. I use mine constantly.

You can shop all of my kitchen favorites over on my Amazon Storefront — I keep it updated with exactly what I’m actually using.

Ground chicken cooked in a rich, creamy peanut coconut sauce — in 15 minutes flat. Served over rice with a quick cucumber salad on top. This is the newest recipe in the rotation and it has already become one of my most made. The sauce is the kind of thing you’ll want to put on everything, and the whole bowl comes together faster than you can order delivery. Everyone loves it and it reheats great the next day. An all-around win!

Salmon is one of the most versatile and delicious types of fish. It’s packed with flavor, and it’s also incredibly good for you. In fact, salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and other essential nutrients. Whether you’re cooking for a dinner party or just looking for a healthy and delicious meal, you’re going to love this Perfect 8-Minute Broiled Salmon. This recipe yields the most buttery, delicious, perfect salmon every time, without fail!

If you’re looking for the perfect way to use the bag of frozen dumplings that’s been sitting at the back of your freezer, then look no further than my Viral Crispy Dumpling Salad. This salad is filled with crisp veggies, a salty dressing, and is loaded up with your frozen dumplings of choice. Plus, it comes together in just 15 minutes, making it the perfect salad to whip up in a pinch!

When it comes to a healthy lunch that is hearty and satisfying enough to help power you through the afternoon slumps, there’s nothing better than a Caesar salad wrap. It’s everything that you know and love about a traditional Caesar salad, but wrapped in a tortilla to fuel you with extra carbs to keep you full for longer. And my Healthy Chicken Caesar Wraps take this to the next level. These wraps are filled with tender chicken, crunchy lettuce, and a creamy homemade caesar dressing that is so delicious, you’ll want to eat it with a spoon!

If you’re looking for a quick and cozy dinner that feels like comfort food but comes together in 20 minutes, then you’re going to love my 20 Minute Dumpling Skillet. It’s a spin on my Viral Dumpling Lasagna — made with savory ground pork, tender napa cabbage, gingery garlic, and soft wonton wrappers that stand in for noodles. Tossed in a rich, umami-packed sauce and topped with chili crunch, it’s perfect for busy nights, picky eaters, and anyone who needs a new dinner in the rotation.

Are you in need of a quick and healthy lunch option that doesn’t skimp on flavor? Well, then look no further than The Ultimate Healthy Chicken Salad! This delicious chicken salad recipe is packed with protein and nutrition, making it perfect for those on-the-go. It’s packed with protein to keep you feeling fuller, longer, and is perfect for those weekly meal-preps.

Craving a delicious weeknight dinner that comes together in 30 minutes? Well, then let me introduce you to my One-Pot 30 Minute Chicken Broccoli Alfredo. This is a lightened-up version of your traditional Alfredo, and is packed with tender broccoli, perfectly-cooked chicken, your favorite pasta, and yes, a generous serving of parmesan cheese. The best part is, it only requires ONE pot to make.

If you aren’t sure what to make for dinner, it’s time to ditch the takeout and reach for these Greek Chicken Orzo Bowls instead. These warm and nourishing bowls are proof that homemade really can be just as good, if not better than, takeout (Cava, I’m looking at you!) These bowls start with a base of tender orzo, topped with juicy, marinated chicken breast, a bright and refreshing tomato and cucumber salad, and are finished off with a dollop of creamy tzatziki, tangy pickled onions, and briny feta cheese. The end result? A flavorful bowl that packs a punch, looks beautiful, and is a dish that the entire family will enjoy!

For those days when you’re craving takeout, there’s nothing else that will quite satisfy the craving… except for a better-for-you take on the same recipe that tastes even better than takeout. That’s exactly what my Quick and Easy Saucy Beef & Broccoli is. This recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, making it a simple recipe that comes together faster than you can order Doordash!

If you’re looking for a weeknight dinner that’s hearty, nostalgic, and on the table in under 25 minutes, this one is for you. My Sloppy Joe Sweet Potato Bowls have all the saucy, savory vibes of the classic childhood favorite — just a little more elevated, a little more nourishing, and served over tender roasted sweet potatoes with a quick cabbage salad and tangy pickled onions to tie it all together. Oh, and did I mention 45 grams of protein per serving? Yeah, this one’s a keeper.

You can find everything I use for my recipes on my Amazon Storefront and shop all of my fashion, beauty, and home favorites on my ShopMy!

If you’re enjoying these weekly guides, consider upgrading to a paid subscription to unlock exclusive content.

Subscribe to the Beyond the Kale newsletter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

A subscription gets you:

• Receive all subscriber-only posts and access the full archive (50+ posts with recipes, meal plans, and guides).

• Get access to grocery lists, subscriber-only recipes, detailed prep guides, resources, and more — all ad-free!

• Access subscriber-only chat and comments and reply to me directly to get support, cooking tips, and community discussions.