We should have a “what should i cook tonight?” community! Deciding what to make is the hardest part!
A change that was truly freeing for our family was to decide on just a few repeating standard meals. We did one night for tacos, one for some kind of fish, and one for some frozen food. Depending on how quickly you get bored, you can make the same or different things within those general outlines, but it helped narrow the decision tree at least for those nights.
After some time, we expanded to an even more thoroughly planned schedule, but that’s not where I would try to start. Just a loose schedule for some go-to meals that aren’t too repetitive but also don’t require too much energy to plan, prep, and make. Then you have more energy for deciding on other nights, or some basis for planning the other nights if that’s what you want.
You can make one:))
Chicken fried rice. It’s a few more than 5 ingredients, but it’s all easy prep.
https://therecipewell.com/instant-pot-chicken-fried-rice/
The texture isn’t quite right since its not actually fried, but the flavor is solid. I make double and freeze in portioned baggies.
Thanks! Think you could pull some of of the freezer and fry it?
Probably. I’m just lazy and microwave it.
Salsa chicken. It’s chicken, a bit of taco seasoning, then salsa. Cooked for 4 hours on high.
I have a variant of this I love. 2-3 lbs Chicken breast coated in taco seasoning and enough chicken broth to cover most of it. Cook on high for 3 hours. Drain the liquid, add half a block of cream cheese and half a cup of salsa, shred the chicken and add it to the now melted goo in the pot. Stir and eat. You might need some time for it to heat back up.
My other favorite is a chuck roast and a big jar of pickled peppers. Cook it for 8 hours on low. Shred it, strain it onto toasted ciabatta rolls with a couple slices of provolone and Dijon mustard.
Lentil soup is my favourite
- Lentils (any colour)
- Diced carrot
- Diced celery
- Diced onion
- Half a diced sweet potato
Chili mac is also really good
- Macaroni
- Can of crushed or diced tomatoes (or marinara sauce if you prefer)
- Ground beef or your vegan alternative of choice
- Taco seasoning
- Chili powder to taste
Not vegetarian but ground turkey works great. Better for the environment and the wallet.
Carnitas
- Pork shoulder
- Oranges
- Limes
- Salt
- Oregano
Dump it all in a pot, come back in 4 hours. Optionally, crisp it up in a pan or under broiler.
Few more ingredients but my carnitas have always been a crowd pleaser
- Pork shoulder
- Coke
- Orange juice
- Chicken stock
- Canned Chipotles in adobo
- Onions
- Garlic
- Spices - I mix it up a bit, but salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne, and oregano will usually get you there. Packet or two of taco seasoning would probably do the trick as well
I tend to eyeball everything, but usually about a 12oz can of coke, oj and stock until it looks right, one onion chopped up, however many cloves of garlic I feel like peeling and chopping
If the pork shoulder fits I do it in a pressure cooker on high about 2 hours, if it doesn’t I do it significantly longer in a slow cooker
When it’s falling apart, pull the bones out, shred (I like to use a mixer)
Then like you, crisp it up under the broiler, and maybe mix in some of the cooking liquid
That’s perfect for the multi device with airfryer. You can get nice crispy tips.
Any kind of meat with a can of Campbell’s cream of whatever flavour of soup, 1 pack dry onion soup mix and potatoes always turns out good.
Chicken and rice. Season chicken legs and sear it in the pressure cooker then throw some water in and veggies of your choosing. Pressure cook for like 10 - 15 min. Take the chicken out then throw some rice in and cook for another 10 min.
Boom tender juicy chicken with flavorful rice.
Pulled pork:
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced, on the bottom layer
- A piece of pork (shoulder is probably best but I’ve also done tenderloin), trimmed
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce poured over the meat
Cook about 3-4h on high or 6-8ish on low. Remove pork, shred with a fork, return to slow cooker & stir everything up together before serving.
As an alternative to the bbq sauce: hot sauce (cayenne based usually), spicy brown mustard, and some (apple cider) vinegar
In my country we are used to eat every part of the animals so I have many recipes, but non you would like lol. Once I said my favorite dish ever was oxtail and people freaked out. Btw, Oxtail and potatoes in the pressure cooker is enough. Omg so goooooooood
That’s bizarre. Oxtail is pretty common in the states these days. At least in California. So good indeed!!
bull testicles
Oxtail soup is amazing. I make it with a whole bottle of wine, and never eat it the first day. Unfortunately oxtail is very expensive here right now.
wow rrally? here is really cheap
So pricey I used short ribs instead the last time I made the soup, because it worked out cheaper! I don’t know what is going on but they are. Enjoy it while you can, all the odds and ends that used to be cheap are not anymore, here.
Everything I like has more than 5 ingredients if you count seasonings. Might as well heat up soup.
- Can of soup
Ground beef and gravy over mashed potatoes. Simple and delicious. Open a cam of beans and you got a meal. Alternatively, ground beef and teriyaki sauce over rice.
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Corned beef and cabbage. Corned beef, one onion, 2 cups of water, can of guiness. Pressure cook on high for 90 minutes. Slow release.
Remove beef, cover with a mix of brown sugar and honey. Broil/grill/torch to carmelize/burn the sugar a bit.
While you’re doing that, you throw the cabbage, potatoes, and carrots into the broth and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes-quick release.
Veggies will be done same time as beef is seared.
Enjoy.
