After a long day, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen cooking dinner. I recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share dinner ideas that are cheap, easy, and fast to make. Here are their favorite ones:
1."Instant ramen. I usually add some veggies like cabbage, spinach, and tomato slices. Add egg, shredded chicken, sausage, or meatballs for protein. I also add chopped chili or hot sauce. It's simple and fulfills my stomach."
2."Spicy potato tacos from Taco Bell. I know how it sounds but you can make them at home, especially since you can buy Taco Bell chipotle sauce at Walmart. Just peel the potatoes, and cut them into small bite-sized pieces. Rinse off the excess starch, and let them dry for a while. You can chill and do whatever for at least a half hour. Then take half a cup to one cup of flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Coat the potatoes and deep fry them for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Take a taco-sized flour tortilla, and put a line of the chipotle sauce in the middle. Put the potatoes in the middle. Top with shredded cheese and shredded lettuce and there you go! The worst part is just chopping the potatoes and lettuce if you buy it by the head like I do. But it is easy and doesn't take a whole of effort."
-- quirkymoon522
3."A little more effort, but I love my chicken pot pie, especially as it gets colder. I use pre-made pie crusts, then fill it with precooked chicken, cream of chicken, frozen veggies, and diced potatoes. Cook it for about 35 minutes at 400 degrees. My stepdad will devour the entire thing if we don't get ours first."
4."My family calls it sushi rice and it's a light, nutritious meal ready with a little prep and the press of one button. Put two cups of rice with a normal water level in a rice cooker. Add half a sliced onion and two smallish, medium salmon fillets on top. They can be fresh or frozen, it doesn't matter. Mix two-and-a-half tablespoons of miso with two tablespoons of Mirin or Chinese cooking wine and a half tablespoon of sugar. Pour it over the top and set it to a regular rice-cooking setting. Once it's ready, I shred the salmon pieces and mix until everything is incorporated. We eat the rice mix in Seawood slices with a generous dollop of Kewpie mayo on top."
-- mrtylor3
5."Fried rice. It takes five to 10 minutes. Use leftover white rice or microwave bags. Start by scrambling eggs in an oiled or buttered pan. Add soy sauce or coconut aminos, and about a cup of a mixed frozen veggie blend. If you have chicken or other meat from leftovers, you can add that, too. Once everything has cooked, add the rice to the pan, a little sesame oil, and more soy sauce or aminos. Let the rice brown crisp up, smash it down with a spatula, and let it be. Garnish with chili onion crisp, green onions, and/or sesame seeds, and viola, an easy weeknight dinner!"
6."Galette. Buy a pre-made rolled pie crust in the refrigerated dairy section. Usually, two come in a box. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the unrolled round crust on the sheet. Shred some cheddar and place some leftover veggies and chicken. If you have an extra five minutes, sauté an onion. Crimp the edges and bake at 400 degrees for half an hour. It comes together in about five minutes and is super fancy and satisfying."
8."Kinda like chili mac. It's a pound of browned ground beef, a can of Campbell's vegetable soup, a can of tomato soup, and four ounces of tomato paste. Bring to a simmer and add a box of dry elbow noodles. If too dry, add water. Simmer until noodles are soft."
-- Ken Larson from Illinois
9."A classic standby is a sort of carbonara. Cook the pasta and some bacon pieces. Toss it was some raw eggs and Parmesan. So simple, so delicious."
10."I sauté sliced potatoes and onion in oil with generous salt and pepper. Add ground beef -- I usually sauté separately to remove the grease -- and half a can of corn. Sauté it together for a bit until the corn is cooked. Easy comfort food."
-- fancyeggplant34
11."Breakfast sausage gravy + toasted bread = easiest breakfast for dinner ever. Cures tough day stress and tummy grumbles."
12."Canned corned beef and corn over a pot of white rice. It's filling and super yummy."
-- arianalopez
13."Can't go wrong with a quick cheesy scrambled egg dinner or Ramen with a few drops of Sriracha."
14."I save the chili flakes from takeout to make a chili oil pasta. It doesn't take much time at all."
-- skimcrab626
15."I got this recipe from my HelloFresh boxes, but I liked it so much I make it even when I don't have it in my delivery. It's a chicken sausage, kale, couscous, and cannellini bean soup. Brown some chicken sausage with onions and garlic. Toss in the kale and beans with some water and chicken stock concentrate. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer until the kale is soft. Cook the couscous in a small pot on the side. It takes about 10ish minutes, then add it to the soup. It's super good and filling with the couscous and beans."
16."Beef, liver, and onions is incredibly quick, easy, and delicious. Try it out."
-- originalarcher80
17."If you have the stuff for it, I like to make a hearty salad and cook a breaded chicken patty to chop on top. Dress it with a creamy dressing and you're good to go. Simple, filling, and yummy."
18."I always keep instant bags of mashed potatoes or rice, canned green beans, and whatever protein is available (pork chops or chicken). Fry 'em up, and voila! A 10-minute meal. You can make a mashed potato or rice bowl with whatever leftovers or toppings are on hand!"
-- snickerz
19."Combine pre-cooked protein with frozen veggies or pasta, and add olive oil, butter, and garlic salt."
21."Canned tuna over mac and cheese is also a hit for the cheap."
22."Ragu pizza sauce on white bread sprinkled with Kraft Parmesan cheese. Pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Quick, cheap, delicious pizza bread!"
-- cleverkitten304
23."Chicken tortilla soup. It's hot, filling, and a bit of spice."
24."Sliced kielbasa, a can of kidney beans, and a jar of salsa. Heat through and serve over rice. You can top it with anything you would put on tacos. A quick family go-to for years!"
-- Heather K. from Georgia
25."Rotini with butter, shredded Parmesan, and black olives."
26."Brown sugar oatmeal with fruit, nuts, and peanut butter."
-- Charli from Ontario, Canada
27."Mine has to be the classic spaghetti with jarred marinara sauce topped with Parmesan cheese from a can. It's not the most glamorous meal, but it's comforting. I had to make this for Thanksgiving last year. I was so sick and this was the only thing I had the energy to cook."
28."If I just want something quick and comforting, it's a PB&J all the way. It's easy, quick, filling, and classic. Plus, you can make it pretty much any way you like it."
-- wanderingstorm
What's your favorite cheap, easy, and fast dinner? Share your go-to meal in the comments!