For breakfast, you grab a Starbucks scone or a muffin on your way to work. At lunch, you hit up a drive-through or grab a slice from the pizza shop down the block. When dinner rolls around, you order in an array of apps and entrees from a local Italian café or sushi bar.

Sound familiar?

When you have a hectic, on-the-go lifestyle, it’s easy to rely on fast food, pizza, and takeout to get you through the week.

But it is possible to make healthy, inexpensive, delicious meals at home in a short amount of time. And you don’t have to have culinary arts training to do so.

Here are nine easy recipes that don’t require a lot of effort, most of which you can prep in 10 minutes or less!

BREAKFAST: Blueberry Almond Oatmeal

If you’re a fan of blueberries, oats, and nuts, you’ll love this blueberry almond oatmeal recipe. It only takes mere minutes to prepare, and, technically, there’s no cooking involved.

At night, before you go to bed, put milk, oats, brown sugar, blueberries, vanilla extract, and almond extract into a container with a sealed lid. Shake it all together and keep it in the refrigerator for at least six hours.

In the morning, when you wake, add a few almond shavings on top, and you’ve got an instant breakfast packed with nutrients and antioxidants.

BREAKFAST: Breakfast Cookies

These breakfast cookies require 20 minutes of prep time but don’t let that dissuade you from baking them. One batch can last for days!

This breakfast delight includes all sorts of yummy, natural ingredients, like carrots, rolled oats, bran cereal flakes, raisins, and walnuts.

Additionally, flour, butter, sugar, and brown sugar give it just the right amount of sweetness. And spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, pack a unique punch.

Not only are they delicious, but they’re portable, so you can eat them while you’re walking, driving, or taking public transit to work.

LUNCH: Veggie Pizza Quesadilla

The veggie pizza quesadilla is a hybrid of sorts. It’s similar to a pizza, but instead of rolling and kneading dough, you use tortilla rounds instead.

To make this tasty lunch:

  1. Grab a large flour tortilla and top it with shredded or pulled mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes.
  2. Top it with mixed greens, garlic, olives, and any other ingredients you like.
  3. Fold it in half, toast it in the oven for five minutes, and you’ve got an instant mini pizza.

LUNCH: The Perfect Grilled Cheese

In less than 10 minutes, you will indulge in some ooey, gooey deliciousness with the perfect grilled cheese.

Two slices of your favorite bread, two ounces of your favorite type of cheese, and one tablespoon of fat are all it takes to make this classic sandwich. You can make it in a skillet, toast it in the oven, or make it in a panini press for a crispier finish.

Want to make it healthier? Use whole grain bread, opt for olive oil instead of butter, and use vegan or reduced-fat shredded cheese.

DINNER: Garlic Butter Steak Bites

In the mood for steak and potatoes? Garlic butter steak bites take just five minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook.

Simply follow these simple steps:

  • Chop the cut of your choice into bite-sized chunks.
  • Heat up a skillet with butter, olive oils, garlic, potatoes chunks, and other spices.
  • Add your steak bites, sear them to your desired cook level, and you have dinner.

Sprinkle with freshly chopped herbs to give your dish some color and enjoy!

DINNER: Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast

With a fresh, boneless chicken breast, you can make several delicious dinners. But this easy one takes a total of just 17 minutes.

To make this pan-roasted chicken breast, season your chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet and sear your chicken with the skin side down.

You can sprinkle it with herbs, add any number of spices, and pair it with any side you like.

A simple cup of steamed broccoli or a fresh side salad is the perfect accompaniment to this easy, healthy meal.

DINNER: Baked Lemon Shrimp

Making fish can seem like a massive undertaking for people who aren’t confident in their cooking skills. But this baked lemon shrimp proves that anyone can whip up a delicious shellfish dish.

This recipe calls for only five ingredients, and you can prep it in five minutes or less.

To make this dish, you’ll need shrimp, unsalted butter, lemon, lots of garlic, and orzo.

The shrimp, butter, lemon, and garlic go on a sheet pan and right into the oven. It’s super easy!

Not an orzo fan? Swap it out for brown rice, faro, a different type of pasta, or a side of green beans or Brussels sprouts. You can steam or boil all of these sides on the stove in a matter of minutes.

DINNER: Super Simple Salmon

Salmon is rich in protein, omega-3s, B vitamins, and potassium, and it’s also one of the most manageable pieces of fish to cook.

This super simple salmon dish calls for just six ingredients:

  1. Salmon
  2. Salt
  3. Butter
  4. Lemon
  5. Garlic powder
  6. Dried basil

To make it, mix the salt, garlic, and basil. Then, rub it into the salmon, and cook it in melted butter in a skillet.

In about ten minutes, you’ll have a perfectly cooked piece of salmon with a flaky brown crust.

DESSERT: Ice Cream Cookie Cake

Is your sweet tooth always craving sugar and cream? This ice cream cookie cake is straightforward to make. But you’ll have to pack your patience because it has to set for at least two hours in the freezer.

With crushed Oreo cookies, soft vanilla ice cream, and butter, you can make this frozen treat in about 15 minutes. Okay, it may not be the healthiest dessert, but it is one of the easiest and tastiest when you’re in the mood for something sweet.

Conclusion

As busy as your life may be, cooking isn’t hard and doesn’t have to be a chore. Instead of relying on takeout and delivery, order some fresh proteins, stock your fridge with a few key ingredients, and make some easy meals at home.

Cooking for yourself will help you eat healthier. Plus, it’s a smart way to take a break from work and other chores and do something satisfying for yourself, even if it’s for just ten minutes at a time.

Author Bio

Adam MarshallAdam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with The Kiley to help them with their online marketing.

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