The meals I cook when I don’t feel like cooking

Around this time of year a lot of people lose motivation to cook — or honestly just the energy to decide what to make.

When that happens to me, instead of trying to get motivated, I switch from recipes to formulas.

It’s one of my favorite ways to cook because at the end of the day I don’t really want a complicated meal — I want a simple bowl or plate with all the pieces in place: something warm, something filling, something flavorful.

So these are the dinners I make when I don’t feel like making dinner — the ones that happen almost automatically because they use ingredients I always have and remove the hardest part: figuring out what to do.

1. Rice + things on top

A bowl of hot rice steadies me more than almost anything else, which is probably why I keep coming back to it day after day. If I don’t have some already cooked, I start it in the Instant Pot.

Once the rice is going, dinner is basically decided. I’ve bought myself 20 minutes to figure out toppings.

Then I look in the fridge and make one or two simple additions:

• scrambled or jammy eggs + soy sauce + sesame oil
• leftover chicken or protein warmed in water with miso stirred in
• quick sautéed or steamed veg
• saucy marinated beans (recipe for this coming soon!)
• some version of sesame-ginger beef

And then I finish the bowl:

something crunchy, herbs, avocado, pickles, olive oil — whatever exists.

Sometimes it’s even simpler: butter melted into hot rice with soy-sauce eggs and greens (like this recipe).

Rice is comforting, grounding, and deeply satisfying — it only needs a few good toppings to feel like a complete meal.

2. Eggs + veg + toast

My true last-resort dinner.

I cook whatever vegetable I have — usually cabbage or greens — salt it properly, then cook eggs (fried or scrambled) and put everything over toast. Often with mashed avocado or ricotta.

You can add beans or any leftover protein too.

Putting food on toast is basically a shortcut to a real meal.

It instantly makes vegetables and protein feel substantial without much effort.

3. Leftovers soup

Soup might be my favorite low-energy meal because it can take five minutes and still feel grounding.

I heat water in a pot and add:

• leftover vegetables (or finely chopped quick-cooking veg)
• a spoonful of miso (or use bouillon)
• any protein — beans, cooked chicken or beef, eggs
• frozen or fresh greens

Then you can top with herbs, a drizzle of good oil, and some parm!

For more guidance, see How To Make a Soup From Anything.

It might not be the most delicious thing you ever made, but it only took 5-10 minutes, it’s healthy, and it tastes good!

4. Butter + noodles + parm

Comfort in a bowl – boiled noodles tossed in plenty of butter, parm and black pepper (with a little pasta water to make it saucy).

You could stop there! Or pick a protein and a veg to go on top if you’re feeling ambitious. Toss in some warm beans with an extra sprinkling of salt for a fiber/protein boost. 

Examples: Parmesan Butter Noodles with Gremolata or Creamy Walnut Parmesan Pasta (little more involved).

Meals don’t always have to be perfect

These meals work because they remove choice. They take pantry and fridge staples and turn them into a simple meal. 

Not all of your meals have to be the perfect balance of protein, fiber, etc…it’s always good to have something to fall back on that’s still just nourishing enough and low stress.

Meals that aren’t really exciting, but incredibly reliable.

If you try to cook ambitious meals all the time, you might end up ordering take-out. When you default to simple formats, you’ll likely cook almost every night without thinking about it.

And that’s really what can save you around this time of year — not inspiration, just ease.