Food and Recipes Kitchen Assistant The Easiest Recipes Ever For Lazy Cooks By Southern Living Editors Updated on November 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Sometimes there simply aren't enough hours in the day, unless you're one of those genetically blessed folks who ace Sunday afternoon meal planning, find time to squeeze in a workout before arriving half an hour early to work, and somehow have a Pinterest-perfect meal awaiting your loving family 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're usually looking up 30-minute meals at 5 p.m. While others tend to their massaged kale like a newborn child, we're catching up on our favorite podcast while our Crockpots 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 44 Soulful Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell It's good when you're sick; it's good when the temperatures drop; it's good for the soul, we swear it. Place chicken, vegetables, and herbs in your slow cooker, walk away, and come back in six hours. Throw in the noodles and dinner is served. 02 of 44 Spinach Ravioli Lasagna Van Chaplin 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. This one takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook, and presto, you've got a main course. 03 of 44 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick This slow-cooker version of our classic spaghetti casserole makes the dish easier than ever before. With the addition of ground round, onion, and spices, you'll find the result more flavorful than just dumping in a jar of sauce. But we still keep this satisfying recipe simple with just eight ingredients. 04 of 44 Quick Beef Chili Becky Luigart Stayner Tender steak makes the base for this quick recipe that's packed with flavorful seasonings and chopped green chiles. After you brown the beef and soften the vegetables, all the pot needs is an occasional stir. A couple of spoonfuls of cornmeal thicken the dish in short order. 05 of 44 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living We always love an old-school classic with a twist. 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. After you boil the pasta, the dish takes about 10 minutes to prepare. 06 of 44 Skillet Spinach Lasagna Greg DuPree 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. This recipe from Rachael Ray takes just 20 minutes to cook on the stove. Weeknight genius. 07 of 44 Chicken Parmesan Pizza This meal is reminiscent of a cheesy chicken Parmesan but in pizza form. Save time with a loaf of store-bought bread, chicken from the deli, and your favorite jar of marinara. Serve with a simple Caesar salad. 08 of 44 Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto Photo: Greg Dupree You can substitute store-bought 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). 09 of 44 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree This old-fashioned recipe has been filling up Southerners for a long time. Our version takes 30 minutes to prepare. Chicken and rice are equal power players in the dish, while vegetables and garlic add even more flavor. 10 of 44 Sheet Pan Nachos Greg DuPree We used ground chuck and piled on the toppings to create a fast sheet pan supper that your family will be asking for time and again. Plus, this dish is completely customizable to your personal tastes. And to whatever you have in the fridge, because who has the time to run to the store? 11 of 44 Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Greg DuPree Fake a slow-simmering Bolognese by using store-bought tomato sauce such as Barilla or Classico. You've still got the Italian sausage, peppers, sweet onions, and garlic that make this dish so satisfying. This recipe for Bolognese freezes beautifully, so think about making an extra batch for a last-minute dinner at a later date. 12 of 44 Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread Alison Miksch If you're looking for a fast and fresh summer dinner recipe, you've found it. The creamy cucumber spread is a cool and creamy addition to these sandwiches. 13 of 44 Chicken Stir-Fry Greg Dupree Using frozen peppers and rotisserie chicken, this Chicken Stir-Fry recipe comes together quicker than you can order takeout. The flavor is enhanced with soy sauce, ginger, and brown sugar, resulting in a tasty dish that you'll want to serve over and over—especially when you need dinner in 10 minutes. 14 of 44 Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss Greg DuPree Chop, toss, and eat. Serve this light dinner recipe with crusty bread to soak up the juice from the tomatoes. We also recommend a glass of rosé —if you're so inclined. 15 of 44 Southwest Chicken Tortillas Greg DuPree Use microwaveable basmati rice, pre-shredded Mexican cheese, and rotisserie chicken to make these chicken tortillas in a flash. Save a bit of the mayonnaise, lime, and chili sauce to drizzle over top. If you're feeling ambitious, you have the option of toasting the corn tortillas, but it's not required. 16 of 44 Easy Chicken and Dumplings Beth Dreiling Hontzas Arguably the ultimate comfort food, this meal is a perennial cold-weather favorite. This easy recipe shaves off cooking time with cream of chicken soup and canned buttermilk biscuits. Grab a roasted chicken from the deli to save even more time. 17 of 44 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. We recommend putting this together early in the day. Cooking on LOW heat for a long time makes the meat extremely tender. 18 of 44 Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges Alison Miksch A honey-soy sauce glaze makes salmon so incredibly delicious. Most of the work in this recipe involves assembling your ingredients on a sheet pan. After 10 minutes of broiling, you have a healthy and appetizing dinner. 19 of 44 Black Bean Chili Southern Living Ready in under an hour, this quick bean chili is made heartier with top sirloin steak. You'll also brown the meat and simmer the chili in one pot, your trusty Dutch oven, making cleanup a breeze. Top with a dollop of sour cream, corn chips, and chopped fresh cilantro just before serving. 20 of 44 Chicken With 40 Leaves Of Basil Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Look no further if you're hoping to add something special to your basic roast chicken. This recipe is inspired by the famous 40 cloves of garlic version that produces such aromatic results. Rub a chicken with the basil mixture, place over sliced peppers and onions, and stick in the oven. 21 of 44 Easy Greek Stuffed Peppers Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall It takes just 15 minutes to prepare a savory ground beef mixture for these bell peppers. Then stick them in the oven, stopping halfway through baking time to sprinkle with cheese. Use ground turkey for a healthier version. 22 of 44 Ground Beef Vegetable Soup With Gnocchi Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero You'll be amazed that such a complex-looking dish is on the table in 30 minutes. We use ground beef and refrigerated gnocchi alongside fresh spinach and whole plum tomatoes for a meal that is both hearty and healthful. Sprinkle with Parmesan before serving. 23 of 44 Muffin Tin Meatloaf Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Prissy Lee Looking for meatloaf on your plate in record time? Inspired by Julia Child's classic meatloaf recipe, this rendition includes all the makings of a winner, such as Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, thyme, allspice, and—of course—ketchup. After baking the loaves in your trusty muffin tin for 25 minutes, you'll have caramelized bites of meatloaf that can be served on their own with mashed potatoes and vegetables or in a meatball sub. 24 of 44 Lemon Dill Tilapia Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Brighten this basic white fish with lemon and dill. Each filet is wrapped with lemon slices and carrots in parchment paper (use aluminum foil if you don't have any parchment in your kitchen) and baked for 25 minutes. Unwrap and enjoy tender and flaky fish alongside rice or bread. 25 of 44 Ham-And-Bean Soup HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX Made with a ham bone, dried white beans, chopped vegetables, garlic, chicken stock, and fresh thyme, this ham soup recipe takes minutes to assemble in a slow cooker. Then it simmers all day, producing a rich and flavorful soup with hardly any effort. 26 of 44 Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Pick up a pork shoulder from the grocery store and you've got dinner made. The only chopping required is the sweet onions in this five-ingredient dish. After the meat is tender enough to shred, you'll have enough pulled pork to enjoy all week long. 27 of 44 One-Pot Fresh Corn Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Mix up your mac and cheese with the sweet addition of fresh summer corn and chopped Vidalia onion. The one-pot method yields tender pasta and a super-creamy sauce with minimal time and effort. The real genius comes into play when it's time to boil the pasta—simply add water right into the skillet along with the dried pasta; after it's absorbed, there is just enough starchy liquid to bind the cheesy sauce. 28 of 44 Oven-Fried Chicken Thighs Photographer: Will Dickey This recipe has all the ease of a chicken cutlet with the flavor of a chicken thigh. We pound boneless chicken thighs to 1/4-inch thickness for quick baking. The thighs are dredged in a Panko breadcrumb mixture for a crackly and crisp coating. 29 of 44 Easy Cauliflower Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Loaded with cheese and covered with breadcrumbs, your kids just might confuse this Easy Cauliflower Casserole with their favorite baked macaroni and cheese recipe. Not only is this version loaded with veggies instead of pasta; it also makes the most of your pantry staples. Don't have a can of cream of chicken soup? Any "cream of" soup will do the trick. 30 of 44 Busy Day Soup Micah A. Leal The most hands-on cooking you have to do for this recipe is browning the meat. Then dump in the remaining ingredients and let it boil for a few minutes. To speed up the process after a busy day, this recipe calls for a package of mixed frozen veggies and dry onion soup mix—no chopping or peeling required. 31 of 44 Turkey Scaloppine Beth Dreiling Hontzas This five-ingredient scaloppine dish gets a bit of zip from Cajun seasoning. After the lightly floured turkey cutlets are browned in a skillet, we add white wine and reduce it to a savory sauce. Serve with your favorite grilled vegetables and potatoes on the side. 32 of 44 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Beth Dreiling Hontzas If "bacon-wrapped" didn't already win you over, a list of just three ingredients definitely will. Don't let this fancy-looking dish fool you. Once your pork is wrapped in bacon and sprinkled with steak seasoning, all that's left between you and a delicious slice of meat is 25 minutes of baking time. 33 of 44 Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish This catfish only needs 20 minutes of marinating time before you season the filets and dredge them in crushed cornflakes. And instead of standing over a hot fryer, you can bake your fish to flaky perfection in the oven. Serve with fresh lemon wedges for squeezing. 34 of 44 Creamy Pesto-And-Shrimp Penne With Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox The hardest part of this one-pot meal is boiling the penne. Use pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and store-bought pesto to whip up this quick and flavorful pasta. Instead of buying the jarred, shelf-stable version, choose a pesto found in the refrigerator case that will taste more like homemade. 35 of 44 Easy Boarding House Meatloaf Southern Living Magazine originally published the Boarding House Meatloaf recipe in 2006, and it has been a favorite ever since. Packed with bell peppers, onions, and lean ground beef, this dish is both fresh and filling. Make the Meat Loaf Sauce while your loaf is baking—you'll spoon on the sauce toward the end. 36 of 44 Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Breasts Jennifer Davick This five-ingredient recipe is ready to pop in the oven in 10 minutes. Baste the chicken occasionally for the most tender and moist meat. If you're in a rush, substitute boneless breasts and cut the cooking time in half. 37 of 44 Poppy Seed Chicken Poppy seed chicken casserole is a beloved Southern dish that comes together in the blink of an eye. Using pantry and refrigerator staples like cream of chicken soup, sour cream, crackers, and pre-cooked chicken, this recipe is an easy call for a weeknight dinner. Round out the meal with rice and a salad. 38 of 44 Julie Yoste's Mississippi Roast Alison Miksch With four ingredients and a few spices, you have accomplished the legendary Mississippi roast. A jar of pepperoncini peppers is the surprise ingredient in this slow-cooker dish. This roast recipe is perfect as it is, but there is an epic sandwich just waiting to be built from the leftovers. 39 of 44 Southwest Pork Stew Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Make this stew with pulled or shredded pork from your favorite barbecue joint. With cans of fire-roasted tomatoes and black beans and a jar of salsa verde, you'll have a satisfyingly spicy dinner ready in 15 minutes. A flourish of herbs, salsa, and avocado bring the dish to the next level. 40 of 44 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Caitlin Bensel/Southern Living If you're looking for big flavor with little effort, try this delicious green beans recipe. We cook them on a sheet pan so you only have to stir once. It's super easy to make for a quick weeknight side dish, but also special enough for a dinner or holiday party. 41 of 44 From-Scratch Oven Fries Beth Dreiling Hontzas These oven fries cook evenly on a baking rack without any flipping. And if salt and ketchup aren't enough to satisfy, we've got options for Buffalo, Italian-Parmesan, and spicy-cheese fries. Give them about 45 minutes in the oven to turn golden brown. 42 of 44 Slow-Cooker Grits Don't waste your time standing over a hot stove with our Slow-Cooker Grits. Grab some stone-ground grits and put them in your slow cooker to soak in the morning. Two hours before you're ready to serve, turn the slow cooker on high (we only ask you to stir once). Then stir in cream, butter, salt, and pepper, and serve with your main dish or favorite toppings. 43 of 44 Homemade Baked Beans We love a side that takes 10 minutes to throw together. Instead of soaking your beans the night before, follow our instructions for substituting canned navy beans. Saute bacon and onion for maximum flavor, mix in a few ingredients, and bake until bubbly. 44 of 44 New Orleans Red Beans And Rice If you're craving the Cajun classic, we've got a simple yet flavorful version for you. This recipe requires just two steps and a slow cooker. Add in fluffy white rice and you've got a meal. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit