Food and Recipes Kitchen Assistant The Easiest Recipes Ever for Lazy Cooks By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 2, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez Sometimes there simply aren't enough hours in the day, Keurig K-Cups in the kitchen, or inspirational quotes to transform a regular old guy or gal into one of 'those' superhumans. You know the ones—those genetically blessed folks who ace Sunday afternoon meal planning, find time to squeeze in their OrangeTheory workout and bible study before arriving half an hour early to work (just in case), and somehow have a Pinterest-perfect meal awaiting their loving families at 6:30 on the dot. If you're one of those people, more power to you—but frankly, we think you could stand to learn a thing or two about instant mac and cheese.Not to promote an Us vs. Them confrontation, but we snooze-hitters are pretty sure we've got it made—and we proudly carry our skills all the way to the kitchen. While others tend to their massaged kale like a newborn child, we'll be kicking up our feet to catch up on Sex and the City while our Crock Pots do all the handy work for us."Lazy" is not usually a complimentary term, but in this case, we're owning it. As the smart, savvy, low-maintenance chefs we are, these super simple recipes are a Godsend. From simple sheet pan dinners to 30-minute slow cooker meals, these fuss-free favorites will be ready faster than you can say "takeout." Season, toss, bake? Sounds like a plan to us. 01 of 28 Soulful Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup It's good when you're sick; it's good when the temperatures drop; it's good for the soul, we swear it. 02 of 28 Spinach Ravioli Lasagna Van Chaplin Recipe: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna This top-rated lasagna uses convenient ingredients for your quickest, easiest one-pot dinner yet. Pesto, Alfredo sauce, Italian cheeses, and spinach join cheese-filled ravioli for a creamy, melty bake. 03 of 28 One-Pot Beef Stew Greg DuPree Recipe: One-Pot Beef Stew Red wine, whole-grain mustard, and garlic add richness to this stew, and the tender cubed beef chuck roast makes it satisfying enough for a great weeknight dinner. 04 of 28 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole This slow-cooker version of our classic spaghetti casserole makes this dinner more satisfying and easier than ever before. 05 of 28 Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs This version of mac and cheese features three kinds of cheese for the dreamiest dinner your kids will beg you to make. 06 of 28 Quick Beef Chili Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Quick Beef Chili Tender steak makes the base for this quick recipe that's packed with flavorful seasonings and chopped green chiles. A couple spoonfuls of cornmeal will help thicken it up perfectly! 07 of 28 One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce This one-pot recipe is a wonder, but we aren't going to question it! You only need to throw it all together in a pot, then find a perfectly cooked pasta dish coated in a creamy tomato-basil sauce just 20 minutes later. 08 of 28 One-Pot Shrimp and Grits Greg Dupree Recipe: One-Pot Shrimp and Grits We love any recipe that takes a classic dish and gives it a user-friendly twist. This shrimp and grits recipe does just that with its one-pot mindset. Spicy andouille, sautéed shrimp, and old-fashioned grits pack this dish with plenty of flavor. 09 of 28 Garlicky Beef-and-Bean Stir-Fry Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Garlicky Beef-and-Bean Stir-Fry We let the bold ingredients do the talking in this beefy stir fry. Soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, crushed red pepper, and garlic make a amazing marinade for the steak, while fresh green beans add a great crunch. 10 of 28 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole We always love an old-school classic with a twist, and this casserole has all of the sweet-savory blend and hearty ground beef of your childhood Sloppy Joe, but in a slightly more refined presentation. 11 of 28 Skillet Spinach Lasagna Greg DuPree Recipe: Skillet Spinach Lasagna We bet you didn't see this one coming—all the homemade comfort of a casserole-style lasagna made quickly and simply in a skillet. Weeknight genius. 12 of 28 Whole Wheat Pesto Pizza Greg Dupree Recipe: Whole Wheat Pesto Pizza With whole-wheat crust and fresh toppings, this skillet pizza is a healthy dinner that only feels indulgent. 13 of 28 Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto Photo: Greg Dupree Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto You can substitute storebought pesto if you're in a crunch, but we can't get enough of this homemade Arugula Pesto. This chicken gets perfectly crisp, dark-golden skin and juicy, tender meat (which paired with the one-pot ease, is too good to pass up). 14 of 28 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken Bog This old-fashioned recipe has been filling up Southerners as long as time. Chicken and rice are equal power players in the dish, while vegetables and garlic add even more flavor. 15 of 28 Sheet Pan Nachos Greg DuPree Ready in 30 minutesRecipe: Sheet Pan Nachos We used ground chuck and piled on the toppings to create a sheet pan supper that your family will be asking for time and again. 16 of 28 Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Greg DuPree Ready in 25 minutesRecipe: Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Fake a slow-simmering Bolognese by using store-bought tomato sauce such as Barilla or Classico. 17 of 28 Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread Alison Miksch Ready in 20 minutesRecipe: Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread If you're light and fresh summer dinner recipe, you've found it. The creamy cucumber spread is a cool and creamy addition to these sandwiches. 18 of 28 Chicken Stir-Fry Greg Dupree Ready in 10 minutesRecipe: Chicken Stir-Fry This Chicken Stir-Fry recipe comes together quicker than you can order takeout. 19 of 28 Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss Greg DuPree Ready in 20 minutesRecipe: Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss Serve this light dinner recipe with crusty bread to soak up the juice from the tomatoes. We also recommend a glass of rose—if you're so inclined. 20 of 28 Southwest Chicken Tortillas Greg DuPree Ready in 30 minutesRecipe: Southwest Chicken Tortillas Use microwaveable basmati rice, pre-shredded Mexican cheese, and rotisserie chicken to make these chicken tortillas in a flash. 21 of 28 Easy Chicken and Dumplings Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings Watch the Video: Our Easiest Chicken and Dumplings Arguably the ultimate comfort food, this meal is a perennial cold-weather favorite. 22 of 28 Easy Brunswick Stew William Dickey Recipe: Easy Brunswick Stew Okra, pork, lima beans, corn, and a bevy of other veggies make for a hearty stew that can be thrown in a slow-cooker and left alone for hours (making for an easy afternoon for you!). 23 of 28 One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Tomato-Basil Sauce This one-pot recipe is a wonder, but we aren't going to question it! You only need to throw it all together in a pot, then find a perfectly cooked pasta dish coated in a creamy tomato-basil sauce just 20 minutes later. 24 of 28 Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges Alison Miksch Recipe: Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges 25 of 28 Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole with Polenta Crust Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole with Polenta Crust The cornmeal-based crust sets this cheesy dish aside from other Italian casserole recipes. 26 of 28 Black Bean Chili Southern Living Recipe: Black Bean Chili with Steak Ready in under an hour, this quick, black bean chili proves that a bean chili doesn't have to be meatless. The recipe makes 12 servings, so it's great to make when you have company, or if you make it for a weeknight supper you'll have plenty of leftovers to eat for lunch. Top with a dollop of sour cream, corn chips, and chopped fresh cilantro just before serving. 27 of 28 Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Two Italian favorites—pizza and spaghetti—come together in this casserole that's ready in 40 minutes. 28 of 28 All-In-One Spaghetti William Dickey Recipe: All-In-One Spaghetti This recipe allows you to cook the meat, sauce, and noodles all in one pot. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit