.png)
When the workday (finally) ends, you’re more than ready to settle down with a tasty meal—but the act of actually cooking it can seem almost insurmountable if you’re already on empty. Sure, you can order takeout, but sometimes you don’t even want an app (and a non-inconsequential wait time) to stand in the way of getting fed.
That’s when having a couple standby meals at the ready can come in clutch. More throw-together and less follow-a-recipe, these quick and comforting dinners can be just what you need to fuel up and wind down without expending a whole lot of effort. Need some fresh ideas? SELF editors shared the weeknight dinners they turn to time and time again. These meals fill them up, never fail to let them down, and are super easy to prepare. Keep scrolling to find out what our editors are whipping up for easy, hassle-free dinners—no recipe required.
1. “Take-Out” Shrimp Stir-Fry
“I keep all the ingredients for this stir-fry stocked in my fridge and freezer for emergencies—or, you know, when I can barely peel myself off the couch to cook: a bag of frozen veggies, frozen detailed and deveined shrimp (or really, any leftover protein you have in your fridge) frozen shelled edamame, and an Asian-style spice blend like this one. I heat a frying pan with oil while my shrimp defrosts, then I pop the veggies into the pan to soften for a few minutes. I add my shrimp, seasoning, edamame, and cook until the shrimp is opaque, and drizzle on some bottled teriyaki sauce to finish things up. And this meal hits all the major nutritional categories: It’s got protein, fat, fiber, and veggies. Plus it’s easy to make, filling, and comforting because it reminds me of take-out.” —Dana Leigh Smith, vice president, content lead for Conde Nast Health
2. Melty and Pressed Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
“I’m a big fan of sandwiches for dinner: They’re about as easy, hearty, and quick as it gets. This panini feels a little fancier and more like a ‘meal’ than a plain old turkey and cheese on white, and I almost always have the embellishments on hand. I spread a little butter on the outside of two pieces of sourdough and then throw them in a pan. While the bread is toasting, I melt Swiss cheese on the open side, then add deli turkey, thinly sliced green apple, crushed walnuts, arugula (or whatever greens I have in the fridge), and a drizzle of honey. After putting the other slice of bread on top, I press down on the whole sandwich with a spatula, and flip it a couple of times until it’s melty and crispy. The flavors and crunch are so great together. Even though it’s easy (and doesn’t take more than 10 minutes to assemble), it feels like a treat.” —Grace McCarty, editorial assistant
3. Tofu’d Ramen
“Who doesn’t love ramen? The problem is, the packaged stuff usually isn’t quite filling enough on its own, nor does it have a ton of nutrients. Adding my own chicken or beef for some much-needed protein is way too much effort when I’m feeling lazy. (After all, ramen is supposed to be pretty instant). That’s why I love adding silken tofu instead. It’s so easy to prep: I just cook the ramen in a little pot and add the tofu right in. Then, I’ll eat it directly from the pot or, if I have the energy, put it into a little bowl. This is a great way to make ramen super filling, and it only takes about five minutes. A bonus is that the tofu absorbs the sauce and condiments from the soup, so it’s super good—even if you’re not a fan of tofu on its own.” —Jenna Ryu, lifestyle writer
4. Throw-Together Taco Salad
“This ‘taco’ salad has been a weeknight game changer—it’s flavor-packed and low effort. All you have to do is sauté up some ground beef, add taco seasoning, and spoon it onto some leafy greens before adding the good stuff: I like baby bell peppers, black beans, halved grape tomatoes, and chopped red onion. Then I finish it off with some salsa and sour cream, plus some tortilla strips for crunch. It’s so satisfying that I find myself getting super full as the bowl is nearing empty.” —Julia Sullivan, associate health conditions director
5. Saucy Microwavable Rice Bowl
“I’m a big fan of meals that consist of rice plus any type of protein—they’re so simple yet so filling. For this recipe, I pick any Trader Joe’s Indian Fare pouch (I’ve recently been partial to the coconut chickpea curry and the Madras lentils, but there’s a bunch of others), tear to vent, microwave for a minute, and serve over rice. Either fresh rice (it could be microwavable!) or leftover rice will work, so it can take just a few minutes to make. Try adding some spicy chili crisp to give it some crunch and extra punch. I tend to make this meal on nights when I’m really tired or don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen because it’s just so quick. Plus it has so many possible variations: Trader Joe’s has a ton of Indian Fare meal pouches, so if I get sick of one type, I can just substitute in another. If you don’t have a store nearby, you can use regular canned beans and add a bit of extra flavor and color by dusting the top with spices like cumin and turmeric.” —Caroline Tien, nutrition and fitness writer
6. Pesto Pasta
“My low-effort meal is pesto pasta with veggies and chicken sausage. Call me crazy, but I love store-bought pesto (specifically, the Trader Joe’s Vegan Kale, Cashew, & Basil Pesto). I typically add in any extra veggies I have lying around. I love to do a spinach, mushroom, tomato, and onion combo when I can. To add some protein, I usually toss in precooked sweet Italian chicken sausage. I sauté all the veggies and the sausage, then cover it in pesto, and add the cooked pasta. Toss it all together, throw some grated cheese and red pepper flakes on top, and enjoy!”—Lauren Alberti, manager of social creative development
7. Breakfast for Dinner
“My go-to dinner is breakfast for dinner. I sauté frozen shredded potatoes in a large skillet until they are mostly cooked. Then I add crumbled tofu or Hodo’s Vegan All-Day Egg Scramble to the skillet, along with frozen spinach or whatever leftover veggies I have, and cook until everything is warm. If I have fresh salsa on hand, I add that as a finishing touch. This vegan scramble works for my can’t-cope days because it doesn’t require any chopping and it takes only one skillet.” —Westry Green, director of editorial operations
8. Broccoli Mac and Cheese
“When I Just Can’t for dinner, I swear by boxed macaroni and cheese—usually the Kraft stuff, or Velveeta if I’m feeling fancy. Just before I’m ready to pull the pasta from the burner, I’ll throw in a handful or two of frozen broccoli florets in the boiling water. This gives me a little extra filling fiber, and the quick blanch(ish) keeps them firm rather than mushy. If I have any leftover protein, I’ll top my bowl with that. Leftover chicken is great, but so is BBQ pulled pork. There’s virtually no active cooking time here: You’re literally just waiting for water to boil and then mixing it all together.” —Christa Sgobba, director of fitness and food
Related:
