Healthy & Lazy Meals? Yes, Please! Easy Meal Ideas for When You’re Totally Wiped

Have you ever experienced one of those nights when cooking a healthy dinner sounds worse than folding laundry or cleaning the bathroom? Yep, me too! 🙋🏻‍♀️ Seriously – everyone goes through this at some point on their journey to health… Especially for moms, busy women, and those who have professional careers, the idea of cooking a healthy dinner at the end of a long day feels daunting and exhausting. 

I’m here to share great news with you today: Cooking healthy meals does not need to be complicated or time-consuming. Heck, it’s completely possible to make a meal that supports your goals without taking much time or effort. Remember that “healthy” and “lazy” aren’t mutually exclusive – they can occur together, and I’m on a mission to share how that’s possible!

By the end of this article, you’ll walk away with healthy yet lazy dinner ideas for one, for your entire family, and even options that can be prepped ahead of time. Without further ado, let’s get started!

What Makes a Meal Both Lazy and Healthy?

When it comes to deciding what makes a meal both lazy and healthy, keep in mind that all of us will have different definitions for both of these terms. In other words, what I consider to be a lazy meal might feel challenging for others to make, and vice versa. However, there are some parameters that I feel we can all agree upon when it comes to meals that are both lazy and healthy. Let’s dive deeper: 

Lazy meals include: 

• Minimal prep needed ahead of time

• Minimal clean-up needed after cooking 

• Ingredients you already have at home or can keep on hand

• Meals or recipes that include minimal ingredients

Healthy meals include:

• Meals that contain balanced macronutrients (protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats)

• Meals that contain fiber

• Meals that are minimally processed and tend to contain whole, real foods

At the end of the day, it’s not about creating perfect meals… Lazy, healthy meals are meant to nourish your body without adding extra stress to your life! Whether you’re postpartum, entering menopause, or a man with a stressful career, these healthy lazy meals can help you prioritize yourself!

Healthy Lazy Meals: 4 Quick, Balanced Meals You Can Make with Minimal Time and Effort

✅ Meal #1: Egg Scramble with Veggies and Cheese

Looking to make a lazy dinner for one, or a meal that the pickiest of eaters will eat? I’ve got you covered! This 10-minute egg scramble is delicious and nourishing! 

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs + splash of milk or egg whites

• A handful of spinach or your favorite frozen veggies

• Shredded cheese

• Optional: diced onion, avocado, hot sauce

• More protein? Mix in ¼ cup cottage cheese or Greek yogurt

Instructions:

1. Sauté veggies until soft.

2. Whisk eggs (and add optional cottage cheese or Greek yogurt), pour into the pan

3. Stir until just set, top with cheese.

4. Eat straight from the pan if it’s been that kind of day 😅.

Approximate Nutrition Information:

• 250–300 calories

• Protein: 20–30g (depending on cottage cheese/Greek yogurt choice)

• Fat: 10–18g

• Carbs: 3–7g

⏰ Time-saving tip: Use frozen veggie blends (like peas, carrots, and corn) and pair with a bagged salad to make a complete meal! 

✅ Meal #2: Rotisserie Chicken + Steamable Veggies + Microwave Brown Rice

This meal is the perfect option to be a lazy dinner idea for families because it makes multiple servings without adding extra time. Seriously, it’s enough to feed 3-4 people in 10 minutes!

Ingredients:

• Store-bought rotisserie chicken

• Microwave rice pouch

• Steam-in-bag frozen veggies

• Optional: teriyaki sauce, hummus, salad dressing

Instructions:

1. Heat rice + veggies per package instructions.

2. Shred chicken.

3. Toss all together or build bowls with toppings.

Approximate Nutrition Information:

• 385–430 Calories per serving

• Protein: ~28g

• Fat: ~10–13g

• Carbs: ~35–40g

🧹 Clean-up tip: Use paper plates to keep clean-up easy!

✅ Meal #3: Prepped in Minutes Pasta Salad

This lazy, healthy meal is perfect for meal prep. In other words, you can make it ahead of time and enjoy it for multiple meals throughout the week! 

Ingredients:

• Cooked whole wheat or chickpea protein pasta

• Chopped raw/frozen-thawed veggies

• 1 can tuna or rotisserie chicken

• Olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper, OR a store-bought bottle of Italian salad dressing

Instructions:

1. Mix all in one big bowl.

2. Portion into 4-6 containers for grab-and-go.

3. Serve cold or microwave for a warm bowl.

Approximate Nutrition Information:

• 250-400 calories per serving

• Protein: ~15-23 g

• Fat: ~6-9g

• Carbs: ~18 - 30 g

⏰ Time-saving tip: Keep the dressing simple for fewer dishes to clean up!

✅ Meal #4: Meal Prep Mexican-Inspired Bowls

This meal tends to be a hit with families because it can be customized to each individual’s liking. For example, the kids can make tacos or quesadillas, while the adults enjoy a healthier burrito bowl.

Ingredients:

• 1–2 cups cooked quinoa or brown rice

• 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained) or cooked shredded chicken (canned or rotisserie chicken works well)

• 1–2 cups frozen corn and bell pepper blend (thawed)

• Fresh salsa (½–1 cup)

• Optional ingredients: shredded cheese, avocado, plain Greek yogurt, lime juice, cilantro

Instructions:

1. Combine quinoa or rice, beans or chicken, veggies, and salsa in a large bowl.

2. Add any optional toppings if desired.

3. Mix well and portion into 4–6 containers.

4. Serve cold like a burrito bowl or microwave for a warm version.

Approximate Nutrition Information:

• 250 - 400 calories per serving

• Protein: ~15-25 g

• Fat: ~5-10g

• Carbs: ~25-35 g

Top Time-Saving Staples to Keep in Your Kitchen

When it comes to cooking healthy, lazy meals, having the correct ingredients at home is the key to your success. Let’s be real - there is nothing worse than having no energy to cook and realizing that every ingredient you have in your kitchen (at that moment) requires some level of washing, cutting, cooking, etc. As long as you plan ahead and purchase these staple foods at the grocery store, you’ll be set for the days (and nights) when your motivation to cook is non-existent. 

Here is a list of my favorite go-to pantry and freezer staples to make lazy cooking easier… Even on the nights when your energy feels low!

• Frozen veggie blends (stir-fry, fajita mix, etc.)

• Microwave grains (brown rice, quinoa, lentils)

• Canned protein sources, including beans, tuna, or chicken

• Canned veggies that can be added to meals

• Pre-chopped fresh veggies or salad kits

• Eggs and shredded cheese

• Rotisserie chicken

• Lean ground beef or ground turkey that can be frozen and cooked as needed

• Salsa, hummus, teriyaki sauce, Italian salad dressing, or tzatziki for easy (and low-calorie) flavor

Tips to Make Cleanup Easier Than Ever

At this point, I hope you’ve learned how to make some lazy, healthy meals that don’t require much time or energy. However, let’s be real – there’s nothing worse than entering your kitchen after enjoying a meal to see a massive pile of dishes and food that needs to be cleaned up. 

While we’ve already covered recipes and ingredients for healthy lazy meals, let’s talk about some of my favorite tips for making cleaning up your kitchen easy, too!

🍳 Use aluminum foil or parchment paper 

Scrubbing food that is caked on your pots and pans can be a pain… Literally and figuratively! Place parchment paper or aluminum foil on your pots and pans (that can easily be thrown away) so there’s no need to even wash the pot or pan. 

🥘 Cook everything in one pot or pan

Preventing cross-contamination (especially with raw meat) is important, but when possible, use (and reuse) one pot or pan to cook your meals. This not only reduces the number of dishes to clean but also helps retain flavors by layering ingredients in the same vessel.

🍴 Eat from the same dish you cooked in (no judgment!)

Why dirty more dishes than are needed? Especially if you’re cooking lazy meals for one, consider eating right out of the dish you used to prepare your meal. The only caveat – if your recipe makes more than one portion, you’ll need to portion it out and pack up the leftovers before eating out of the cooking dish. 

🗑️ Keep a small garbage bin near you to toss packaging as you go

Instead of letting garbage pile up as you cook, consider keeping a small garbage bin close by and immediately disposing of packing and food scraps as you cook. It’ll take 20 more seconds while cooking, but it will save time (and a headache) during clean up. 

⏰ Bonus: Try a “10-minute kitchen reset” right after dinner

Immediately after finishing your dinner (before sitting down to watch TV or scrolling Instagram on your phone), encourage your entire family to chip in and participate in a “10-minute kitchen reset.” Personally, my 3-year-old daughter loves to help out by bringing plates and bowls to the sink for me to put in the dishwasher. 

Final Words: You Deserve Easy, Healthy Meals

Taking care of yourself and prioritizing your health or weight loss goals does not mean that you need to cook gourmet, elaborate meals. When it comes to eating healthy, small and consistent choices add up over time. The key to your success lies in cooking healthy, lazy meals that help you create a calorie deficit. 

Looking for more meal ideas that take 20 minutes or less to cook?