26 Dinners for When I’m Too Tired To Cook

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come home after a long day, hungry and exhausted, thinking about ordering in but remembering I can have a home-cooked meal in as little as 15 minutes. That’s thanks to my back-pocket recipes. 

I have a handful of easy, minimal prep recipes to turn to when I’m too tired to cook. They typically involve a package of pasta or a can of beans, but quick-cooking ground meat and fillets of salmon slip in too. Every time I skip the takeout and whip up something quickly feels like a win.

And that’s where these 26 recipes come in. With a focus on minimal prep and ease, they were made for those evenings when the temptation to order in is high and your motivation is low. Save the ones that speak to you for later—you’ll be thankful that you did.