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Between my busy schedule and the warm temps that have officially arrived here in Austin, I’ve found myself more and more often standing in my kitchen thinking… nope.
I love to cook, but sometimes life is just too much — whether I’m overwhelmed, burnt out, or just plain tired. On those days, I need food that’s fast, easy, and doesn’t require much brainpower (or an oven!).
Over time, I’ve built a personal list of go-to meals and snacks that I keep coming back to when I’m running on fumes. Some are comforting, some are a little creative, and some are downright lazy — but hey, they get the job done. Here are the foods that get me through:
🥟 Premade Dumplings
I try to avoid most pre-made foods because of the sodium, but I recently found the Summ! Vegetable Gyoza and I’m obsessed.
They’re flavorful, meatless, and surprisingly light on sodium (under 20% of your daily intake per serving). I like to pan-fry them and eat them solo or over rice. Bonus: they feel like takeout without the cost or the wait.
🍝 Baked Spaghetti
When the temps drop, baked spaghetti is my go-to. I use this recipe from Feel Good Foodie — it’s one dish, very little prep, and totally delicious. You can use spaghetti, penne, whatever you have on hand. Dump, bake, enjoy.
🍚 Meatballs, Cucumber, Tzatziki, & Rice
I keep a bag of Jack & Annie’s jackfruit meatballs in my freezer at all times. I usually serve them with sliced cucumber, store-bought tzatziki, and either naan (toasted in my toaster oven!) or rice. It’s quick, fresh, and filling — and tastes like a real meal. PS. If you’re looking for other good plant-based options, I have an entire post about my favorite brands here.
🥣 Oatmeal (Forever & Always)
Lately, I’ve been living on oatmeal — especially the Purely Elizabeth brand, which is flavorful without being loaded with sugar. My favorites are Classic Cinnamon and Banana Nut. I top it with fresh banana slices and raw almonds, or sometimes dried bananas for a shelf-stable option.
🥔 Chili + Baked Potato
Have you heard of Lentiful? They make little cups of instant lentils in different flavors, and the Homestyle Chili is my favorite.
One cup has about 19% of your daily sodium, but I usually split it into two servings.
My favorite method: pour it over a baked (or toaster oven-baked) potato of your choice (I like using yellow potatoes or sweet potatoes) with cheese and onions. Comfort in a bowl.
🍳 Kimchi Fried Rice
A forever favorite. I start with leftover rice (or make fresh if there’s no leftovers) and sauté it in a little oil, then add sliced carrots and peas (or whatever veggies I have on-hand), crack in an egg, and stir in kimchi (I always use the Wildbrine brand, Korean Style) at the end. I top it with chopped scallions and a little sriracha. It’s cozy, spicy, and really satisfying.
🍕 Shortcut Pizza
When nothing else sounds good, pizza it is. I use premade dough, jarred sauce, and bagged shredded cheese. It’s not gourmet, but it tastes good, and sometimes that’s all that matters.
🍪 Nut Butter Cookies
These cookies are a lifesaver — just mix 1 cup nut butter, 1 cup coconut sugar, 1 egg, and a splash of vanilla. Scoop onto a sheet and bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes. Then, mash with a fork, sprinkle with sea salt, and let cool. I eat them as a snack or even for breakfast with fruit. No judgment.
🍫 Date “Snickers”
If your sweet tooth needs something fast, stuff Medjool dates with nut butter, drizzle with melted dark chocolate, sprinkle with sea salt, and let cool. These are ridiculously good and surprisingly filling.
🐟 Tuna Salad
I eat mostly plant-based, but sometimes a simple tuna salad is exactly what I need. I mix canned tuna with hummus instead of mayo, and add mustard, pickles, onions, celery, or whatever’s in the fridge. I eat it on crackers or straight from the bowl.
🍫 Protein Bars
Finding a protein bar that’s not packed with sugar is hard — but RxBar’s oat bars are a win. The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Blueberry Cashew Butter are my faves. They have 10g of protein and pair perfectly with a banana for a fast, filling snack.
Final Thoughts
Food doesn’t always need to be fancy — sometimes it just needs to work. I’ve found that keeping a few easy, satisfying options on hand helps reduce decision fatigue and keeps me from getting hangry when I just can’t deal. Whether you try one of these ideas or use this as inspo for your own “too tired to cook” list, I hope it helps make your next overwhelmed evening a little bit easier.
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