Sometimes you just don't feel like leaving your house (or your dorm) to eat. Or maybe you just don't have enough time to make something extravagant. There is no need to get stressed around lunch or dinner time. Here are some quick and easy meals that use ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
1. Pasta: Cacio e Pepe
Everyone has a package of pasta lurking in their cabinets. There's so many ways to customize this dish to suit your cravings. The most classic, and probably easiest, way is cacio e pepe style. This is basically adult Mac and cheese, and it has been really making waves recently. It makes sense because it's so simple and a favorite quick and easy meal. All you need is a little bit of butter, any cheese (Parmesan or pecorino are the most common), and black pepper. That's it. Boil water, add the pasta, and cook it as directed. Melt the butter in a skillet, add a bit of the remaining pasta water and the pasta, and finally add the grated cheese. Stir it all around, add the pepper, and you're done!
2. Avocado Toast
The most raved about food these days has to be avocado toast. Bread and avocado—what could be better? Well, there are so many ways to customize this toast to make a quick and easy meal. Adding toppings will make it a more filling dish—and you probably have at least one of these in your fridge. You can add an egg, any style from scrambled to poached, bacon and sliced tomato, or goat cheese and apple. And the list goes on. Pair it with some fruit or veggies on the side and you have a quick and easy meal in less than five minutes.
3. Grain Bowl
One of the most customizable dishes is a grain bowl. You can use any grains, and add any veggies, cheeses, egg, or anything else your heart desires. These are a perfect way to make a nutritious meal in basically no time at all—the perfect quick and easy meal. The most common structure is: grain, lettuce, veggies, and protein. Some examples of grains are quinoa, rice, or farro. Plus, some grains only take ten minutes to cook! Your lettuce can be kale, arugula, or spinach. Additionally, choose from any fruits or vegetables: sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, zucchini, peaches, broccoli, and anything else that's in your fridge. And finally, add some form of protein. This could be chicken, steak, or shrimp. Or if you're a vegetarian, it could be avocado or tofu or tempeh. Really, you can make a grain bowl any way with any ingredients that you want.
4. Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese. Oh, childhood nostalgia. Everyone loves a good grilled cheese, but there are ways to make this more "adult" and nutritious. You can revamp this classic with a lot of the same additions as avocado toast such as avocado, bacon and tomato, or pear and arugula. Again, pair your sandwich with some veggies and enjoy in just a few minutes as a quick and easy meal.
5. Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are my favorite thing to eat. I could eat them all day, every day and never get tired of them. There are so many different ways to cook sweet potatoes depending on your mood. One of the easiest ways—for a filling quick and easy meal—is to bake them in the microwave for eight to ten minutes. Poke the outside with a fork a few times. Once that's done, you can cut it open and fill it with anything you want (or have on hand). One of my favorites is greek yogurt. You can add some spices to the yogurt to add a little extra flavor like curry powder. Another option is to add cooked rice or quinoa and roasted vegetables. The possibilities are endless; you just have to get creative and pair flavors together that you love.
Life gets busy and everyone needs a few recipes for quick and easy meals. Enjoy these stress-free and healthy options with ingredients you hopefully already have in lying around in your kitchen.