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Does this sound familiar: You have a long day of work, errands, family, maybe you squeeze in a workout—then you finally make it home, and you realize you haven’t planned anything for dinner.
We’re right there with you. So we’ve put together some lightning-fast, barely-any-or-no-cooking healthy meals, along with some of our favorite products to keep on hand to make your crazy weeknights easier.
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Jarred tomato sauce
Look for ones without added sugar; we love Rao’s!
Jarred pesto
A favorite is Gotham Greens but there are really many wonderful options out there! We also like Trader Joe's Vegan Kale Pesto.
Canned beans
Chickpeas, black beans, others you like. We love Eden!
Quinoa and Legume Pasta
Great to have around when you want pasta and want to pack in the protein and fiber as well. We're fans of Banza and Andean Dreams!
Boxed broth
Chicken and/or vegetable; buy low-sodium. We like Pacific!
Spices
Keep your favorites and also some blends, like Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, curry and za’atar. We love Frontier, Simply Organic, and these spices from La Boite!
Jarred marinated vegetables
Such as olive-oil-packed artichoke hearts, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and hearts of palm.
Olive oil for dressings, avocado oil for cooking, and 1 or 2 vinegars
We always have cider and red wine vinegars on hand. We like California Olive Farms Olive Oil and Chosen Food's Avocado Oil Spray.
Canned wild salmon
We like Safe Catch and Vital Choice salmon!
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Eggs
Look for pasture-raised or organic!
Precooked chicken sausage
We like Aidell’s and Applegate.
Leafy greens
Pick what you like and will eat; our resident chef Beth always has romaine on hand, Stephanie loves baby kale.
1 or 2 other vegetables
Choose what you like that’s in season. If you just don’t enjoy broccoli, don’t buy it because you think you “should.” And don’t overbuy, which leads to frustration and waste. Some that we love: Carrots, cucumber, cauliflower, green beans, snap peas, bell peppers.
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Precooked grains
We love Trader Joe’s quinoa and farro and Seeds of Change!
Veggie burgers
Be sure to check the label for one with ingredients you recognize; we like Hilary’s.
Frozen shrimp
You can get it precooked or raw, whichever you prefer--it’s quick and easy to defrost and cooks quickly.
Frozen vegetables
Any that you like! Look for organic!
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Salmon Patties
Try these salmon cakes Beth created for Clean Eating magazine. They use canned salmon, and you bake them instead of frying, so they’re easy and fuss free. Don’t have fresh parsley or dill? Use dried, just cut the amounts to 1 to 2 teaspoons each, or leave them out.
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Fried Rice
Make your own even quicker than takeout would arrive.
- Sauté 1 cup vegetables per serving (frozen or fresh) in 1 tablespoon avocado oil, adding 1 chopped clove of garlic and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger for the last minute.
- Meanwhile, microwave ½ cup instant brown rice per serving (we like Seeds of Change or any grains mentioned above).
- Add it to the skillet with the vegetables and stir for a minute.
- Push everything to one side of the skillet, add a little more oil and 2 to 4 large beaten eggs; cook until firm. Break up eggs and stir into rice mixture.
- If you have some on hand, drizzle with toasted sesame oil before serving (no worries if you don’t).
Want even more veggies? Use cauliflower rice for some or all of the rice (we buy the frozen organic kind at Trader Joe’s).
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Veggie Burger Lettuce Wraps
- Heat a veggie burger patty as the package directs.
- Wrap it in lettuce leaves instead of a bun, and top it with finely chopped artichoke hearts, slathered with 1 tablespoon jarred pesto.
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Grain Bowl
- Heat up precooked grain (½ cup per serving).
- Top with ¼ cup beans, 1 cup chopped lettuce, and other vegetables you have on hand (we like chopped carrots and cucumber here; leftover cooked vegetables work well, too), about ¼ cup each.
- Whisk together 1 tablespoon each olive oil and vinegar to drizzle on top.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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Shrimp Stir Fry
- Cook thawed frozen shrimp (4 oz per serving) and frozen vegetables (1 cup per serving) in a skillet; flavor with your favorite seasoning blend (try a chopped garlic clove and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger—or use any seasoning you have on hand, or just salt and pepper).
- Serve over warmed precooked grain (1/2 cup per serving) or chopped lettuce (1 cup per serving).
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Frittata
- Cook 2 cups chopped vegetables in 1 tablespoon avocado oil with any seasoning you like in an ovenproof skillet.
- Pour in 8 beaten large eggs; cook on the stove over medium heat until beginning to set about 5 minutes, then transfer to the oven and bake at 400ºF until cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Bonus: Leftovers make a great lunch the next day. (Serves 4)
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Sausage and Peppers
- Sauté a sliced onion and 2 sliced bell peppers (any color) in 1 tablespoon avocado oil in a skillet until tender, seasoning with salt and pepper, plus dried oregano or Italian seasoning blend, if you have it.
- Add 3 sliced precooked chicken sausages at the end (we like Aidell’s Artichoke & Garlic); cook for about 3 minutes to warm through (serves 2)
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Bagel without the Bagel
Top cucumber slices with chunks of avocado and sliced smoked wild salmon. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon each olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle with Everything Bagel seasoning, if you have it (just a little salt if not). You can use cream cheese instead of the avocado, if you like (the non-dairy ones from Kite Hill are delicious).
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Join us at 92Y's Food Summit to discuss the future of meat!
Climate change, dwindling natural resources and shifting dietary patterns all point to a change in our consumption of animal protein in the decades to come. Experts from the fields of anthropology, nutrition and the emerging industry of cellular agriculture explore the science, the implications, alternate sources of animal protein, and life after meat.
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Love Amazon? So do we!
Be sure to check out our Amazon Store for our recommended pantry staples, snack ideas, and kitchen essentials! Each product in our store and in our emails is independently chosen by us and if you do choose to buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Do you have any go-to fast meals you love? Tell us about it.
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