200 Incredibly Easy and Quick Meal Ideas for When You’re Overwhelmed With Life
Let's talk real talk – life can be a whirlwind sometimes. Between work, family, and just the everyday hustle and bustle, there are moments when cooking dinner feels like a Herculean task. But fear not, because we’ve got your back with 200 incredibly easy meal ideas for when life gets overwhelming. Plus, a simple shopping list so you can stock your fridge and pantry - and a list of all of the items so you can mix and match to create your own simple meal ideas too!
Now, picture this: each meal in this collection is like a culinary superhero, packing in a protein, grain, fruit, and veggie in every bite. And the best part? They require minimal cooking and can be easily swapped out based on what's lurking in your pantry. Yup, we're talking about meals that practically make themselves!
So why is it so darn important to have this list of meals on hand? Well, imagine this scenario: it's been an overwhelming day, you're exhausted, and the last thing you want to do is spend hours slaving over the stove. Having a stash of easy meal ideas means you can breeze through those hectic moments without breaking a sweat. Plus, by stocking your kitchen with the essentials featured in these recipes, you'll always be prepared to whip up a delicious meal, even when life throws you a curveball.
And speaking of curveballs, let's chat about the types of life events that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Whether it's starting a new job, moving to a new city, or dealing with a family illness, there are times when our plates feel fuller than ever. And that's where the concept of "fed is best" comes into play. It's not about fancy gourmet meals – it's about nourishing your loved ones with simple, satisfying dishes that keep everyone fueled and happy.
See below for everything you need to curate incredibly easy meals for when life gets overwhelming and you just don’t want to adult anymore! Also, check out 10 meals for when you cannot handle cooking anymore!
As a side note: if you are a parent or caregiver, the below meals are more than enough to keep your kids fed. Fed is best isn’t just for babies, it’s for us all. Sometimes in life, we just need to show up, get something on the table, and lie back down, and that’s more than okay.
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Essential food items to keep in the house for creating incredibly easy meals:
🍞 Grains: instant mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, frozen fries, pancakes, waffles, hash browns, tater tots, ramen noodles, oatmeal, orzo, stuffing, cornbread, quinoa, bread, crackers, frozen garlic bread
🍗 Protein: chicken tenders/nuggets, frozen meatballs, chicken sausage, breakfast sausage, eggs, hard boiled eggs, deli meat, tuna, canned chicken, frozen dumplings, frozen pizza
🍎 Fruit: apples, fruit cups, canned oranges, frozen berries, canned pineapple, canned peaches
🥦 Veggies: frozen/canned corn, frozen/canned peas, frozen broccoli, frozen/canned mixed veggies, baby carrots, snap peas, frozen/canned string beans, celery, frozen cauliflower
200 Incredibly Easy and Simply Meal Ideas for When Life is Overwhelming:
1. Instant mashed potatoes + canned corn + chicken tenders + apples
2. Rice + canned peas + frozen meatballs + canned pineapple
3. Pasta + frozen broccoli + chicken sausage + canned peaches
4. Frozen fries + frozen mixed veggies + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
5. Pancakes + frozen string beans + deli meat + frozen berries
6. Waffles + frozen corn + tuna + fruit cups
7. Hash browns + canned peaches + eggs + frozen cauliflower
8. Tater tots + canned pineapple + hard boiled eggs + canned peaches
9. Ramen noodles + baby carrots + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
10. Oatmeal + frozen peas + chicken tenders + apples
11. Orzo + canned corn + deli meat + frozen mixed veggies
12. Stuffing + canned peas + breakfast sausage + canned pineapple
13. Cornbread + frozen broccoli + canned chicken + fruit cups
14. Quinoa + frozen string beans + frozen pizza + frozen berries
15. Bread + frozen corn + chicken nuggets + canned peaches
16. Crackers + canned pineapple + eggs + canned oranges
17. Frozen garlic bread + snap peas + frozen dumplings + apples
18. Instant mashed potatoes + frozen mixed veggies + chicken sausage + canned peaches
19. Rice + frozen peas + frozen pizza + canned oranges
20. Pasta + canned corn + deli meat + canned pineapple
21. Frozen fries + frozen broccoli + hard boiled eggs + frozen berries
22. Pancakes + canned peas + breakfast sausage + apples
23. Waffles + frozen string beans + tuna + canned peaches
24. Hash browns + baby carrots + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
25. Tater tots + frozen corn + chicken nuggets + fruit cups
26. Ramen noodles + frozen mixed veggies + canned chicken + canned pineapple
27. Oatmeal + canned pineapple + chicken tenders + frozen berries
28. Orzo + snap peas + eggs + canned peaches
29. Stuffing + frozen broccoli + deli meat + apples
30. Cornbread + frozen peas + frozen pizza + canned oranges
31. Quinoa + canned corn + frozen dumplings + fruit cups
32. Bread + canned pineapple + chicken sausage + canned peaches
33. Crackers + frozen string beans + frozen meatballs + apples
34. Frozen garlic bread + canned peas + breakfast sausage + frozen berries
35. Instant mashed potatoes + frozen broccoli + frozen pizza + canned oranges
36. Rice + baby carrots + tuna + fruit cups
37. Pasta + canned corn + hard boiled eggs + canned pineapple
38. Frozen fries + snap peas + deli meat + apples
39. Pancakes + frozen mixed veggies + chicken tenders + canned peaches
40. Waffles + frozen peas + canned chicken + canned oranges
41. Hash browns + frozen corn + eggs + frozen berries
42. Tater tots + canned pineapple + frozen meatballs + fruit cups
43. Ramen noodles + frozen string beans + breakfast sausage + apples
44. Oatmeal + frozen broccoli + chicken nuggets + canned peaches
45. Orzo + canned peas + deli meat + canned oranges
46. Stuffing + baby carrots + frozen dumplings + canned pineapple
47. Cornbread + snap peas + frozen pizza + canned peaches
48. Quinoa + canned corn + tuna + frozen berries
49. Bread + frozen mixed veggies + chicken sausage + apples
50. Crackers + frozen peas + canned chicken + fruit cups
51. Frozen garlic bread + canned pineapple + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
52. Instant mashed potatoes + snap peas + hard boiled eggs + frozen meatballs
53. Rice + frozen string beans + chicken nuggets + apples
54. Pasta + frozen broccoli + canned chicken + canned peaches
55. Frozen fries + canned corn + deli meat + frozen berries
56. Pancakes + frozen peas + frozen pizza + canned oranges
57. Waffles + baby carrots + tuna + apples
58. Hash browns + canned pineapple + breakfast sausage + canned peaches
59. Tater tots + snap peas + chicken tenders + frozen berries
60. Ramen noodles + canned peas + frozen dumplings + fruit cups
61. Oatmeal + frozen corn + deli meat + apples
62. Orzo + frozen mixed veggies + eggs + canned oranges
63. Stuffing + frozen string beans + chicken nuggets + canned pineapple
64. Cornbread + canned peas + frozen meatballs + canned peaches
65. Quinoa + snap peas + frozen pizza + apples
66. Bread + baby carrots + canned chicken + frozen berries
67. Crackers + canned corn + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
68. Frozen garlic bread + frozen broccoli + tuna + fruit cups
69. Instant mashed potatoes + canned pineapple + canned chicken + canned oranges
70. Rice + snap peas + frozen meatballs + apples
71. Pasta + canned corn + frozen pizza + canned peaches
72. Frozen fries + baby carrots + deli meat + frozen berries
73. Pancakes + canned peas + chicken tenders + canned pineapple
74. Waffles + frozen string beans + breakfast sausage + apples
75. Hash browns + frozen mixed veggies + eggs + canned oranges
76. Tater tots + snap peas + chicken nuggets + fruit cups
77. Ramen noodles + frozen broccoli + tuna + canned peaches
78. Oatmeal + canned corn + frozen dumplings + frozen berries
79. Orzo + baby carrots + frozen pizza + apples
80. Stuffing + canned pineapple + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
81. Cornbread + frozen peas + canned chicken + fruit cups
82. Quinoa + canned corn + deli meat + canned peaches
83. Bread + snap peas + chicken tenders + frozen berries
84. Crackers + frozen mixed veggies + breakfast sausage + apples
85. Frozen garlic bread + canned peas + chicken nuggets + canned pineapple
86. Instant mashed potatoes + baby carrots + eggs + apples
87. Rice + canned pineapple + frozen dumplings + canned oranges
88. Pasta + snap peas + frozen meatballs + canned peaches
89. Frozen fries + frozen string beans + tuna + fruit cups
90. Pancakes + canned corn + breakfast sausage + frozen berries
91. Waffles + frozen broccoli + deli meat + canned oranges
92. Hash browns + frozen mixed veggies + chicken tenders + apples
93. Tater tots + baby carrots + canned chicken + canned peaches
94. Ramen noodles + snap peas + chicken nuggets + canned pineapple
95. Oatmeal + canned peas + frozen pizza + frozen berries
96. Orzo + frozen string beans + tuna + fruit cups
97. Stuffing + frozen corn + deli meat + apples
98. Cornbread + canned pineapple + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
99. Quinoa + frozen peas + eggs + canned peaches
100. Bread + canned corn + frozen meatballs + apples
101. Crackers + snap peas + chicken nuggets + canned oranges
102. Frozen garlic bread + baby carrots + frozen dumplings + frozen berries
103. Instant mashed potatoes + frozen broccoli + breakfast sausage + canned peaches
104. Rice + canned peas + deli meat + fruit cups
105. Pasta + frozen corn + tuna + canned pineapple
106. Frozen fries + canned pineapple + chicken tenders + canned oranges
107. Pancakes + frozen string beans + frozen meatballs + apples
108. Waffles + snap peas + canned chicken + canned peaches
109. Hash browns + frozen mixed veggies + chicken nuggets + canned oranges
110. Tater tots + canned corn + eggs + frozen berries
111. Ramen noodles + baby carrots + frozen pizza + apples
112. Oatmeal + snap peas + deli meat + canned pineapple
113. Orzo + frozen peas + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
114. Stuffing + frozen string beans + tuna + canned peaches
115. Cornbread + canned peas + frozen dumplings + fruit cups
116. Quinoa + baby carrots + chicken tenders + canned pineapple
117. Bread + frozen mixed veggies + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
118. Crackers + canned corn + canned chicken + apples
119. Frozen garlic bread + snap peas + breakfast sausage + canned peaches
120. Instant mashed potatoes + frozen peas + deli meat + frozen berries
121. Rice + frozen broccoli + chicken nuggets + canned oranges
122. Pasta + baby carrots + frozen pizza + canned peaches
123. Frozen fries + canned pineapple + tuna + apples
124. Pancakes + canned peas + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
125. Waffles + frozen string beans + eggs + fruit cups
126. Hash browns + snap peas + breakfast sausage + canned pineapple
127. Tater tots + canned corn + deli meat + frozen berries
128. Ramen noodles + frozen mixed veggies + chicken tenders + apples
129. Oatmeal + baby carrots + canned chicken + canned peaches
130. Orzo + frozen peas + tuna + canned oranges
131. Stuffing + frozen string beans + chicken nuggets + frozen berries
132. Cornbread + snap peas + frozen dumplings + canned pineapple
133. Quinoa + canned peas + breakfast sausage + apples
134. Bread + frozen mixed veggies + deli meat + canned oranges
135. Crackers + baby carrots + frozen meatballs + canned peaches
136. Frozen garlic bread + canned corn + eggs + fruit cups
137. Instant mashed potatoes + snap peas + frozen pizza + canned oranges
138. Rice + canned pineapple + chicken tenders + apples
139. Pasta + frozen string beans + tuna + canned peaches
140. Frozen fries + baby carrots + breakfast sausage + frozen berries
141. Pancakes + frozen peas + deli meat + canned pineapple
142. Waffles + canned peas + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
143. Hash browns + frozen broccoli + eggs + fruit cups
144. Tater tots + snap peas + chicken nuggets + apples
145. Ramen noodles + canned corn + frozen dumplings + canned peaches
146. Oatmeal + frozen mixed veggies + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
147. Orzo + baby carrots + canned chicken + frozen berries
148. Stuffing + snap peas + chicken tenders + canned pineapple
149. Cornbread + canned peas + deli meat + apples
150. Quinoa + frozen string beans + frozen pizza + canned oranges
151. Bread + frozen broccoli + frozen meatballs + canned peaches
152. Crackers + canned pineapple + tuna + fruit cups
153. Frozen garlic bread + baby carrots + chicken nuggets + canned oranges
154. Instant mashed potatoes + canned corn + deli meat + frozen berries
155. Rice + frozen string beans + frozen pizza + apples
156. Pasta + snap peas + breakfast sausage + canned pineapple
157. Frozen fries + canned peas + chicken tenders + fruit cups
158. Pancakes + canned corn + eggs + canned peaches
159. Waffles + frozen mixed veggies + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
160. Hash browns + snap peas + tuna + apples
161. Tater tots + baby carrots + deli meat + canned pineapple
162. Ramen noodles + frozen broccoli + chicken nuggets + canned peaches
163. Oatmeal + canned peas + breakfast sausage + frozen berries
164. Orzo + frozen peas + canned chicken + fruit cups
165. Stuffing + frozen string beans + frozen pizza + apples
166. Cornbread + snap peas + frozen dumplings + canned oranges
167. Quinoa + canned peas + tuna + canned pineapple
168
. Bread + frozen broccoli + deli meat + canned peaches
169. Crackers + baby carrots + chicken tenders + apples
170. Frozen garlic bread + canned corn + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
171. Instant mashed potatoes + snap peas + eggs + canned pineapple
172. Rice + canned pineapple + breakfast sausage + fruit cups
173. Pasta + baby carrots + chicken nuggets + canned oranges
174. Frozen fries + frozen mixed veggies + deli meat + apples
175. Pancakes + snap peas + tuna + canned peaches
176. Waffles + canned peas + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
177. Hash browns + frozen string beans + frozen pizza + canned pineapple
178. Tater tots + frozen broccoli + canned chicken + frozen berries
179. Ramen noodles + baby carrots + chicken tenders + canned peaches
180. Oatmeal + snap peas + frozen meatballs + apples
181. Orzo + canned peas + deli meat + canned oranges
182. Stuffing + frozen corn + eggs + fruit cups
183. Cornbread + canned pineapple + breakfast sausage + apples
184. Quinoa + snap peas + tuna + canned peaches
185. Bread + canned peas + frozen pizza + canned oranges
186. Crackers + frozen mixed veggies + chicken nuggets + canned pineapple
187. Frozen garlic bread + baby carrots + deli meat + frozen berries
188. Instant mashed potatoes + frozen broccoli + tuna + apples
189. Rice + snap peas + breakfast sausage + canned peaches
190. Pasta + canned peas + frozen meatballs + canned oranges
191. Frozen fries + baby carrots + chicken tenders + canned pineapple
192. Pancakes + frozen string beans + deli meat + fruit cups
193. Waffles + canned corn + eggs + apples
194. Hash browns + snap peas + frozen dumplings + canned peaches
195. Tater tots + frozen mixed veggies + breakfast sausage + canned oranges
196. Ramen noodles + canned pineapple + frozen pizza + frozen berries
197. Oatmeal + baby carrots + deli meat + canned oranges
198. Orzo + frozen peas + chicken nuggets + canned pineapple
199. Stuffing + snap peas + eggs + canned peaches
200. Cornbread + canned peas + tuna + apples
These combinations should offer a variety of tasty meals to enjoy! Let me know if you need further assistance!