When it comes to feeding yourself, you might feel like there are only two options available: cook every breakfast, lunch, and dinner from scratch, or pay for takeout a dozen times a week. But if you have the right staples on hand, you can throw together tasty, nutritious dishes that take less effort than narrowing down your Grubhub search results.
Enter “no recipe” recipes: quick combos of ingredients you can copy or riff on for simple meals that are tasty, approachable, and seriously low effort. As a registered dietitian, I’m a huge fan of these, so I combed through SELF’s 2024 Pantry Awards to create breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that incorporate some of the winners. Stocking up on things like flavor-packed chili crisp, next-level instant noodles, and nutrient-dense pancake mix can take some of the stress out of figuring out what to eat when you’re hungry, but just don’t have the energy to make something elaborate. So take a look at the cheat sheet below, and get cooking (sort of).
1. Spicy Tuna and Quinoa Bowl
Although this ready-to-eat tuna and quinoa salad will give you a quick protein-rich lunch or dinner without any fuss, adding a few unique condiments can totally change the flavor profile—which keeps things interesting if it’s something you eat on the regular. I love the combination of salsa-style chili crisp (so crunchy!) and a few sheets of roasted seaweed snacks crumbled on top. No instructions necessary—just unwrap the ready-to-eat salad and add your toppings.
2. Dan Dan Noodles With Tuna Belly
Old-school noodle cups will always have a spot in the convenience food hall of fame, but there’s also plenty of room in the pantry for different types. This variety cooks in five minutes on the stove and comes with super potent hot-and-sour sauce. You can eat it with just that dressing, but to crank it up a notch and make it more filling, add extra texture with some tinned fish—the tuna belly provides protein and a dose of omega-3s, a type of unsaturated fat that’s linked to good heart health. Cook your noodles according to the package directions, then drain them, put them back in the pot, add the sauce, and heat on low until everything is warm. Open your tuna belly, drain any excess liquid, and add the fish to the pot. Stir everything over the heat for about 30 seconds, just until the tuna is warm. For crunch, add a couple spoonfuls of chili crisp.
3. Spicy Beans With Crackers
Making sauces and dressings from scratch can be fun, but with all the fresh-tasting, store-bought options available, it’s not always necessary. For a snacky meal that’s basically a riff off pita chips and hummus (but so much more interesting!), try combining ⅔ cup of white beans (a super versatile option to meal prep in a big batch if you’re using dried, like above, though you can certainly go the canned route too) with a couple spoonfuls of zhug. The zhug—a bright green, herby, spiced chili sauce—adds so many different flavors in a single tablespoon, including plenty of heat. The spicy bean mixture pairs well with a handful of crispy crackers, but also works as a salad topper or alongside some rice. Plus, each serving of beans gives you nine grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of fiber, which can help keep you full and your digestive system moving.
4. Coconut Granola Bowl With Pineapple
You probably don’t need me to tell you that granola, fruit, nuts, and milk make for a great easy breakfast: The combination is filled with all kinds of textures, plus a variety of nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and unsaturated fats. But if you’ll indulge the obvious for a second, let me tell you that this particular mix is off-the-charts good. Coconutty granola with crunchy, sweet-tart pineapple bites make it feel a little tropical, almonds add extra flavor and staying power, and the oat milk base is creamy and sweet. Throw the ingredients together in whatever quantities you feel like that day and you’ll be good until lunch.
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5. Sweet Potato Pancakes With Dark Chocolate Tahini
Pancake and waffle mix has been a versatile staple in my pantry for years. This one from Ghetto Gastro is just as convenient as anything you’ve tried before—plus the comforting flavor of sweet potato adds a little something extra, and the waffles give you the energizing carbs you need to power your day. All you need to add to the mix is oil and water. Using a high-quality, super flavorful olive oil like this Rubirosa one can add richness and flavor (plus monounsaturated fat, which can help lower cholesterol levels) but regular old vegetable oil works fine too. Adding chocolate tahini and little strawberry yogurt bites on top of your pancakes keeps things interesting.
6. Brown Sugar Oatmeal With Fruit and Nuts
There’s nothing wrong with microwaving a package of instant oatmeal with water and calling it a day, but there are so, so many ways to make this quick breakfast a zillion times better—without spending a ton of time to do it. Using pistachio milk instead of water provides depth of flavor, walnuts add crunch and healthy fat for some staying power, and strawberry yogurt bites give each spoonful a little bit of chew. What’s more, this breakfast is high in fiber, which makes it an especially great choice if your gut’s been feeling sluggish and you, uh, need to poop.
7. Pasta Arrabiata With Sardines
Boxed pasta and jarred tomato sauce is a classic quick meal, and this version has one extra ingredient that adds a whole lot of flavor: sardines. While the omega-3-rich tinned fish is one of those love-’em-or-hate-’em foods, they provide an umami flavor that works really well with the chewy, starchiness of your pasta—so I really encourage you to give them a try! Simply cook your noodles, drain, and return to the pot with as much arrabbiata sauce as you’d like. As the sauce heats, add a couple of finely chopped sardines (and the tomato sauce they’re canned in) and let everything simmer together for 30 seconds or so. This is such a fun way to give your pasta a little twist (and more protein and healthy fat while you’re at it too).
8. Spiced-Up Chili
Canned chili is nothing new, and Bush’s bean-only starter is classic for a reason: It’s so freaking good. It’s made with pinto beans, which are high in fiber and contain some plant-based protein, so you don’t need to add meat to make it filling (unless you want to, of course). For a weeknight dinner that’s kid- and adult-friendly, heat up a can of chili on the stove and some ready-to-heat rice in the microwave, then serve the chili over the rice in a bowl. Add a few drops of chili oil if you’re in the mood for a little bit of spice, and crumble a small handful of chickpea puffs on top—the more, the better!
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