40 Easy Meal Ideas
Since we’re all doing quite a bit {er, all} of our cooking at home these days, I wanted to compile a list of easy meal ideas for y’all to reference, everything from recipes I have on my site to things we regularly throw together for our own easy meals.
Home cooked meals don’t need to be fancy or COMPLICATED to be delicious and nutritious, nor do they require an actual recipe. In fact, you’ll notice most of the items below just include a few INGREDIENTs or ingredient suggestions and some notes, not actual recipes, because, well, they don’t really require one. Think of these more as guidelines + use what you have, your preferences, your tastes, to make them your own.
In general, my formula for creating a well-balanced meal at home is quite simple- a grain + VEGETABLEs + a protein. And I’m a firm believer that with a combination of salt, pepper, some fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil and/or lemon juice, you can make just about anything taste good. No fancy ingredients, no fancy gadgets, no skills required. No quail eggs, no mandolins, no poaching. I promise, the hardest thing about any of these recipes is the clean up you’ll have to do after making them. pro tip to get you out of the cleaning- get your roommate or partner to do it. Because Whoever does the cooking never does the cleaning. Chef’s rules ;)
Pasta, Parm + Nuts // Noodles of your choice, fresh parm, walnuts, red pepper flakes, salt, chopped fresh basil or parsley {optional}
Balsamic Chicken // Literally just boneless chicken breasts or thighs, pan fried in a little olive oil and a healthy drizzle {ok more like 1/4 cup} of balsamic olive oil. Just cook it for a few minutes, until the balsamic has cooked down…it will create a delicious and flavorful glaze on the meat! If you have some fresh garlic, you can mince that and throw it in, too. Then serve with veggies and a grain or pasta {I love couscous or orzo}.
Rice Cake Pizza // rice cake, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese broiled for a few minutes until the cheese is golden brown; you can also use a pita, a bagel or naan bread instead of the rice cake
Zoodles // I love sautéing zoodles with pesto, veggies and some shrimp or sausage
Panzanella // A great way to use up bread; just cube it, toast it with a little olive oil then toss with what you have on hand- arugula, basil, burrata, mozzarella, goat cheese, prosciutto, bacon crumbles, strawberries, avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, red peppers, roast peppers, olives, artichoke hearts, corn, fresh herbs, etc. Then mix it up with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and a splash of vinegar or lemon juice. A few recipes to use as guides are this one and this one.
Thai Pumpkin Soup // a can of pumpkin, a few cups of chicken broth, a can of coconut milk, a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter, some fresh ginger, a splash of soy sauce and sriracha
Tofu Scramble // Sauté potatoes in a little olive oil until crispy. Scramble in some tofu, then an egg and a little shredded cheese {can be omitted}. Mix in a little salsa and serve with some fresh cilantro and/or avocado.
Potato Corn Chowder // diced potatoes {regular, sweet or a mix}, corn, bacon or ham {optional}, onions, garlic, chicken broth and either some cream, milk or just use flour to thicken it and make it creamy; easily turn this into clam chowder by mixing in a can of clams
Tuna Melt // A simple tuna salad + rice cake/pita/slice of bread + a slice of cheese + a few minutes under the broiler
Grain Bowls // Grain of your choice {quinoa, farrow, rice} + protein {shrimp, hard boiled egg, tuna, chicken, salmon, tofu cubes} + veggies {I’ll either pan fry or boil some frozen veggies or use fresh, raw veggies} + seasonings {fresh herbs, dukkah, a drizzle of tahini, a dollop of yogurt, lemon juice, dijon, a splash of olive oil, a simple vinaigrette drizzled on top…mix and match your choices}. Bonus- if I have some cheese, like feta or goat, I’ll add a few crumbles, and, for a little crunch I sometimes add toasted, chopped nuts.
Nachos // Use tortilla chips, tater tots or french fries as the base, add on veggies and meat, some salsa, top with cheese, then broil until the cheese is melted. Garnish with cilantro, avocado and/or greek yogurt or sour cream. Or, if you have bread an burrata, you can make Italian nachos.
Quick Curries // A can of coconut milk mixed with either chickpeas, shrimp or tofu, some ginger, garlic and curry, heated through, served over rice
Quick Thai Curry or Soup // Coconut milk, shrimp, tofu or chicken, chicken broth {I only use a little for a curry, but more for a soup}, Sriracha, soy sauce {or soy sauce alternative}, garlic + ginger; if I have veggies on hand, I like to add carrots, peas, snap peas, diced pepper, zucchini/zoodles and/or broccoli {you can also use a frozen stir fry mix}; sometimes I add rice noodles and, if I have it on hand, I’ll garnish with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro
Stir Fry // Sauté vegetables of your choice in a little olive, coconut or sesame oil, add in an egg, tofu, chicken or shrimp {or a mix}, then mix in rice and a generous splash or soy sauce; you can also add some sriracha if you like it spicy
Tomato Soup // Sauté some garlic in olive oil, add a can of tomatoes, some salt and pepper, broth, and, if you’d like, a splash of milk or cream. Serve as is, or garnish with a little grated parm and/or some fresh basil. I like to have mine with either a side salad, a rice cake melt {rice cake + cheese} or grilled cheese.
One Pan Cauliflower Gnocchi // If you can snag a bag of Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi, then you’re in luck because this is just about the simplest thing you can make with them.
Grilled Greek Salads // The grilling part isn’t necessary, but it is a fun and easy way to elevate a basic salad.
Sesame Eggplant // The easiest eggplant side dish that ever existed
Tuna Pasta // If you’re sick of only use tuna to make salads and sandwiches, try this flavorful and simple pasta dish instead.
Breadcrumb Baked Chicken // One of my go-to chicken recipes; it only requires a few ingredients and a few simple steps to make; you can sub the parsley for basil, thyme or rosemary, or dried herbs in place of fresh, garlic powder can be used in place of fresh garlic {but only use 1/4 teaspoon}, and if you don’t have breadcrumbs, but you have bread, you can easily make your own breadcrumbs to use for this recipe. Just use stale bread {or toast your bread until it’s nice and crispy}, then break it into crumbs either in a food processor, or with a rolling pin {put the bread on a baking sheet or in a ziplock bag to keep the crumbs corralled}.
One Pan Baked Ziti // One pan + ziti…do I need to say more?!
2 Ingredient Appetizers // …that can all easily be enjoyed as a meal, by themselves, or alongside some veggies or a salad.
Provencal Sheet Pan Dinner // It doesn’t get much easier than cooking a full meal on ONE pan! This one is full of easy swaps to truly make it work no matter what you have on hand- use chicken in place of turkey, use broccoli, brocollini or snap peas instead of green beans, cube a few regular potatoes if you don’t have fingerling potatoes, omit the olives and just add some extra lemon to make up for the brine you would have gotten from the olives, try red pepper instead of tomatoes….so many options!
Sheet Pan Dinners // Speaking of sheet pan dinners, they’re one of my go-to meals. It’s a great way to cook a lot of food without a lot of effort, they’re healthy, they’re filling, they’re well-balanced and it’s also a great way to use up things that might be about to go bad {like wilting vegetables}. My formula to make them goes roughly something like this- protein {chicken, kielbasa or sausage cut into pieces, shrimp}, 1-2 vegetables {depending on what I have on hand}, potatoes {or cauliflower or cauliflower gnocchi}, 1-2 seasonings {rosemary, thyme, dill, lemon slices/juice, olives, garlic}, drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper.
5-Ingredient Butternut Squash Soup // One of my favorite easy soups; you can use canned pumpkin, or cook frozen squash cubes, in place of fresh squash and use more broth and less milk instead of using the bouillon cube.
Easy Chicken Enchiladas // The name says it all….these are, hands down, the easiest enchiladas you will ever make. Yes, even easier than takeout.
Peppy Clams // Finding canned tuna can be a bit of a challenge these days, but canned clams seem to be well stocked, so grab yourself some and make this delicious recipe.
Simple Flatbread // This is a Trader Joe’s recipe hack; swap out the toppings for whatever you have on hand
One Pot Mushroom Tofu Stew // Super filling, super easy to throw together, packed with flavor and makes enough for several meals
Mediterranean Fish or Chicken // Sauté boneless chicken thighs or breast or a mild white fish in olive oil with garlic, olives, tomatoes, and, if you have them, a few capers. Season with salt and pepper and a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Asian Rice Noodle Bowls // Rice noodles + veggies of your choice + protein {optional, but we like to use either chicken, shrimp or tofu} + topped with a quick sauce {peanut or cashew butter, soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar if we have it, a little brown or coconut sugar, splash of sriracha}. Optional- top with sesame seeds, cilantro and/or chopped peanuts or cashews. Also, sometimes I will mod half the amount of rice noodles and mix in zucchini or carrot zoodles.
Moroccan Stew // Sauté garlic in a little olive oil. Then add in a can of crushed tomatoes, diced chicken {can be omitted for a vegetarian version}, a can of chickpeas {can be omitted if you’re using chicken}, a handful of raisins, diced green olives and season with salt, cumin, coriander and paprika to your desired taste preferences. Serve over couscous or quinoa, with pita crisps, and top with a little cilantro or feta cheese crumbles, if desired.
Dijon Chicken // Coat chicken thighs in dijon mustard of your choice, drizzle with a little olive oil, then bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Add it to salads, grain bowls or serve it alongside some veggies.
Baked Tilapia // Coat tilapia {or other mild white fish} in mayonnaise, sprinkle salt and add a squeeze of lemon juice. Place in a baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until the fish is flaky. To take the fish to another level, you can also add some breadcrumbs or small bread cubes {like stuffing mix cube size} and/or a little fresh grated parm on top before baking. You can also add in some asparagus, green beans or asparagus to bake alongside the fish.
Tacos // Our favorite combos include sautéed ground meat with a little salt and chili pepper, black olives, salsa, grated cheese and a dollop of Greek yogurt; sautéed shrimp and pineapple with avocado and radishes; breaded fish {we use a frozen one we get at Whole Foods} and a quick slaw {shredded cabbage mixed with mayonnaise and lime juice}; chicken, peppers, onions, cheese, salsa and Greek yogurt
Buffalo Cauliflower // Cut a cauliflower into pieces, lay it out on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, roast at 400 degrees until crispy, toss with buffalo sauce that has been mixed with a little melted butter. Enjoy mixed into a veggie + grain bowl, on top of a salad, in tacos, or as is, with a side of ranch dressing.
5 Minute Pizza Dough // You can use this to make pizzas, grilled flatbreads or focaccia with whatever toppings you have on hand
Tapenade or Bruschetta Pasta // Grab a jar of olive tapenade or pre-made bruschetta {I also love the roasted red pepper dip from Trader Joe’s} and mix it in with pasta of your choice. Top with fresh parmesan cheese.
Fresh Tomato Sauce // Heat a little olive oil in a skillet. Add some garlic and fresh chopped tomatoes {or cherry tomatoes} and season with sea salt. Sauté for a few minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to burst and cook down. Serve over pasta with a little fresh basil and parmesan cheese, burrata or ricotta cheese. You can also serve the tomatoes with burrata, over a salad, over baked fish or chicken, or with bread crisps.
Mediterranean Pasta // Mix pasta of your choice with any mix of the following- sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, roasted red pepper, marinated artichoke hearts, olives, parsley, basil, drizzle of olive oil, parmesan cheese goat cheese
P.S. You can also check out this post for easy recipes that use up leftover roast chicken.
