Actually Easy Time Crunch Meals
No onion chopping here. We compiled well-rounded, easy meals that only require either one pot, or just a bowl and a microwave and less than 10 minutes of your time.
One Pot Protein Ramen
Ingredients: bone broth, instant ramen, egg, sauce, vegetables (corn, mushrooms, bok choy, edamame, peas, scallions, and bean sprouts are all good!)
Bring bone broth to a boil and add your choice of vegetables. Once vegetables are nearly cooked, add the ramen. You can use the ramen seasoning packet or discard. Once the ramen is almost done, crack one egg into the pot and let it simmer until whites are cooked through.
Serve with soy sauce, sriracha, chili oil, sesame seeds, kimchi, or seaweed snacks.
Add protein: if you want to add meat, precooked chicken, pork, or frozen shrimp are an easy addition. Just add with the vegetables.
Cheesy Polenta and Meatballs
Ingredients: yellow cornmeal, butter, frozen precooked meatballs, tomato sauce, cheese
Stove option: bring 1 cup of water to a boil, and add ¼ of yellow cornmeal, stirring for 5 minutes. Add water if polenta gets too thick. Season with salt, pepper, and add butter. Microwave frozen meatballs, add tomato sauce, and heat until sauce is hot. Pour polenta into a bowl, serve meatballs and sauce on top, and top with cheese.
Microwave option: polenta can also be made in the microwave. Mix 1 cup water with ¼ cup polenta, and 1 tsp butter. Microwave, stirring occasionally until thick.
Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients: rotisserie chicken (or pre-shredded chicken), soft shredded cheese (monterey jack, cheddar, colby, etc), flour tortillas, adobo or other Mexican seasoning, Rotel diced tomato with green chile, salsa or guacamole
On a microwavable plate, spread cheese on tortilla and top with a layer of shredded chicken. Spread a couple spoonfuls of drained diced tomatoes over the top. Season with adobo, and microwave until cheese is melted and chicken is heated through, then fold in half and cut, serve with salsa or guac.
Quick Tuna Poke Bowl
Ingredients: leftover white rice, canned tuna, mayo, frozen edamame, soy sauce, cucumber
Rice can be reheated or served cold. Drain tuna and mix with mayo, salt, pepper. Thaw edamame. Assemble bowl with tuna, edamame, and chopped cucumber. Season to your liking with soy sauce, sesame seeds, and sriracha. Pairs well with seaweed snacks.
Wontons and Slaw
Ingredients: frozen wontons (Bibigo chicken/pork/veg), bagged slaw mix
Microwave wontons with a tablespoon of water to steam. Prepare bagged salad as directed. Serve wontons with sriracha or other dipping sauce.