14 Easy Meal Upgrades For Impossibly Lazy Cooks

posted in Food & Drink on 10/2/2014

Transform boxed mac ‘n’ cheese – and more – with five ingredients or less. Mom would be so proud.

1. Ramen

a. Three-Ingredient Shepherd’s Pie Topped with Ramen

Just add: Ground beef, onion, frozen peas. Brown some ground beef, toss in chopped onions and peas, top with ramen – then stick everything in the broiler until the noodles are crisp. Get the recipe here.. http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/03/ramen-hacks-30-easy-ways-to-upgrade-your-instant-noodles-japanese-what-to-do-with-ramen-slideshow.html#show-147427

b. Ramen with Fresh Veggies & Egg

Just add: Egg, mushrooms, green onions, spinach. (Optional: Sriracha or chili paste.) Give this dish a fancy finish by carefully cracking an egg into the hot broth and letting it poach. Or, even easier? Crack an egg, break the yolk, and slowly stir – you'll get instant egg ribbons, like in egg drop soup. Get the full recipe here. http://www.budgetbytes.com/2010/03/quick-ramen-bowl/

c. Pad Thai-Inspired Ramen

Just add: Chunky peanut butter, soy sauce, scallions. (Optional: Sriracha.) Don't knock it 'til you try it. Get the recipe. http://www.marthastewart.com/349053/ramen-noodle-upgrade

d. Cacio e Pepe Ramen

Just add: Butter, olive oil, cheese, pepper. On his show "The Mind of a Chef," ramen mastermind David Chang whipped up this ridiculously easy (and delicious!) version. Get the recipe. http://www.traveleatdrinkstuff.com/2013/02/recipe-ramen-cacio-e-pepe.html?m=1

2. Mac 'n' Cheese

a. Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Red Onion and Crispy Breadcrumbs

Just add: Butter, red onion, parsley, breadcrumbs. While your mac 'n' cheese is cooking, saute some red onions in butter – then combine everything in an oven dish. Top with breadcrumbs and parsley and bake. Get the recipe. http://normalcooking.com/2012/08/06/baked-mac-n-cheese-with-breadcrumbs-and-red-onions/

b. Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Chicken, Chiles, and Salsa Verde

Just add: Shredded chicken, green chiles, salsa verde. (Optional toppings: scallions, cilantro.) Canned green chiles and store-bought salsa verde make this dish incredibly easy to assemble. You can also add in some rotisserie chicken – just use what you need, and save the rest for leftovers. Get the recipe. http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/10/10-easy-stir-in-macaroni-and-cheese-variations-slideshow.html#show-279836

c. Chipotle Black Bean Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Just add: Black beans, chopped chipotles. (Optional toppings: scallions, cilantro.) The black beans are full of protein, which totally justifies eating mac 'n' cheese more often than you already do. Get the recipe. http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/10/10-easy-stir-in-macaroni-and-cheese-variations-slideshow.html#show-279842

3. Frozen Taquitos
Here’s the thing about frozen taquitos: It’s all about the sauce.
Instantly dress up these store-bought staples by topping them with fresh salsa or dip – which can be made in the time it takes to defrost and cook taquitos in the oven.

a. Homemade Pico de Gallo

Just add: Tomato, onion, jalapeno, garlic, lime. (Optional: cilantro.) Pico de gallo is Spanish for "I make everything better." Get the recipe. http://www.thetalkingkitchen.com/very-inspiring-blogger-award-and-a-killer-salsa-recipe/

b. Spicy Guacamole with Pineapple

Just add: Avocado, onion, cilantro, pineapple chunks, lime. (Optional, for some heat: chili – or your spice of choice.) Sweet pineapple, creamy avocado, and a kick of heat? Yeah. Triple batch, please. Get the recipe. http://iamafoodblog.com/pineapple-guacamole-recipe/

c. Smoky Black Bean Dip with Lime

Just add: Black beans, lime, canned chipotle chiles, cotija cheese, cilantro. The recipe pairs this dip with tortilla chips – but taquitos are even better. Pour canned black beans and chipotle chiles into a saucepan, heat them through, then blend in a processor until smooth. (Or mix by hand, and enjoy as a side.) Top with lime juice, cheese, and cilantro.

4. Plain Quesadilla

a. Margherita Quesadilla

Just add: Mozzarella, tomato, basil. Pizza dough? Who has time for that? Get the recipe. http://www.thekitchenpaper.com/margherita-pizza-quesadilla/

b. Quesadilla with Sauteed Kale & Cheddar

Just add: Kale, olive oil, garlic. (Optional: fresh herbs.) Sneak some greens into your quesadilla by adding kale cooked in garlic and olive oil. The recipe makes these on a grill, but you can also use a stove top. Don't like kale? Spinach works, too – just don't cook it as long. http://www.edibleperspective.com/home/2013/8/28/grilled-kale-cheese-stuffed-tortillas.html

c. Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla

Just add: Chicken breast (or rotisserie chicken), teriyaki sauce. Coat the chicken with teriyaki sauce (the recipe calls for a homemade version – but store-bought works just as well), then shred it with two forks. Pile onto a tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, then cook until everything is perfectly melty. http://www.ohsweetbasil.com/2014/02/teriyaki-chicken-quesadilla.html

d. Breakfast (for Dinner!) Quesadilla

Just add: Bacon, egg. (Optional: extra veggies.) Once you wedge all the ingredients for a simple omelet between two tortillas, it goes beyond the breakfast game. Get the recipe. http://www.thehungryhedgehog.com/one-pan-breakfast-quesadillas/