10 Easy No-Cook Meal Ideas

For those nights you reaaaally don’t want to cook, but need to save some money and not order take-out, I got you! Try these quick no cook meal ideas. These easy to assemble meals are balanced, tasty, and super speedy to make using simple ingredients.

1. Burrito Bowl

Take some microwavable rice, canned black beans, canned salsa and add to a bowl. Top with avocado, lettuce, sour cream or plain greek yogurt, cilantro, or anything else fresh you have on hand to give it some flair!

2. Cheese, spinach, and black bean Quesadilla

Nothing better than a warm, comforting quesadilla. If you have some cheese in the fridge, any leftover chicken, spinach, and canned beans, you can make a balanced meal in a minute! Simply take those tortillas, add one to a pan, warm it up and add filling, then top with another tortilla and flip appropriately. Slice and devour!

3. Omelet with veggies, avocado with toast/butter and fruit

We can all agree that eggs are the most basic, helpful staple right? When you have NO clue what to get, get inspired by your egg breakfasts! Make an omelet and fill it with colorful veggies, pair it with some toast, some fruit, and you’ve got yourself a fulfilling, nourishing meal in no time.

4. Mediterranean Platter (pre-cooked chicken, hummus, olives, pita bread, cucumber, feta)

My favorite cuisine, without even cooking! Think of a fun, colorful Mediterranean platter that doubles as a balanced meal. Trader Joe’s sells delicious pre-cooked chicken strips, pair with sliced avocado and olives for those healthy fats, chop some cucumber and tomato slices, and pair with pita bread, hummus, feta, you name it! So simple and tasty.

5. One pan dinner: chicken, pre-chopped root veggies (i.e. brussels sprouts, sweet potato), and microwavable brown rice

Okay so yes, technically this does involve cooking, but it’s SO easy, it only requires one pan and just let the oven do the work!

6. Quick tuna salad

This one can be made in a pinch: mix together can of tuna (or salmon), some mayo, chopped celery, olive oil, salt, pepper — add to a bed of greens, make a sandwich, or scoop straight out of the bowl!

7. Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Cook up some pasta, add feta cheese, sliced cherry tomatoes, a can of chickpeas, spinach, olives, and mix with Italian dressing. Violá!

8. Avocado sandwich with arugula, tomato and eggs, side of fruit

Have a ripe avocado on hand? Make a delicious breakfast sandwich with avocado, tomato, arugula, salt, pepper and scrambled eggs. Pair with fruit or yogurt for a balanced meal!

9. Balanced Nachos in a flash

Who doesn’t love nachos?! Set your oven to broil, and add tortilla chips topped with cheese, salsa or tomatoes, black beans to a baking sheet. Let broil until cheese is melted, then remove and top with avocado, shredded lettuce, cilantro, etc. Super yummy!

10. Caprese Zoodles

Spiralize a zucchini into “noodles”, then top with sliced cherry tomatoes, basil, mozzarella cheese, salt, pepper, olive oil, and balsamic. Add some pre-cooked chicken slices (like from Trader Joe’s) for some protein and dig in!