What to cook when you have 10 minutes and zero energy

4 emergency dinner solutions that aren't takeout

We've all been there. It's 6 PM, everyone's hungry (including you), and your energy tank is running on fumes. The Uber Eats app is practically glowing on your phone screen, beckoning you with the promise of food that requires zero effort. Trust me, I GET IT.

But what if I told you that you could have a home-cooked meal on the table in 10 minutes? One that doesn't require complicated ingredients or the last remaining ounce of your energy? Food that will make everyone at the table happy AND doesn't require a side of mom-guilt because you ordered out. Again.

The "I Literally Cannot Even" Dinner Dilemma

I'll never forget the day I realized I'd ordered out three nights in a row. My wallet was crying, my body was craving something that hadn't been delivered in a cardboard box, and I felt like I was failing at the whole "feeding my family" thing.

This is exactly why I created what I like to call "stupid easy" recipes in The Simplified Cookbook. Side note: "stupid easy" is my most favorite term of endearment when it comes to recipes. Stupid easy is better than regular easy. It means you have to use very little brainpower to successfully get your family from point A (hungry) to point B (fed).

Emergency Dinner Solutions That Actually Work

When your energy tank is empty but dinner still needs to happen, try these lifesavers:

1. Sheet Pan Nachos

My family LOVES these, and they take less than 15 minutes from start to finish.

Simply line a baking sheet with tortilla chips, top with warmed taco meat (I often use leftover taco meat or browned ground beef with taco seasoning), beans, cheese, and any other toppings you love. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted, then top with whatever fresh ingredients you have on hand.

Pro tip from the cookbook: "Spoon the sour cream into a baggie, and snip one of the bottom corners. Drizzle from the cut corner over your nachos. This will prevent giant clumps of sour cream on certain bites and none on others."

2. Baked Feta Pasta

Yes, it's the viral TikTok recipe, but simplified to make it doable on even your most exhausted days:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (8 oz) block feta cheese (or Boursin if your people don’t love feta)

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes

• 3 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 (16 oz) box bowtie pasta

• 1/4 cup chopped basil, for topping

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place feta cheese in center of baking dish, and place the tomatoes around the feta.

3. Drizzle olive oil over entire dish, then add salt and black pepper to taste.

4. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove and stir.

5. While feta and tomatoes are baking, boil bowtie pasta according to instructions on the package until al dente. Drain pasta and add to the baking dish, stirring thoroughly to combine.

6. Top with chopped basil.

3. The Superior Grilled Cheese

Forget the basic grilled cheese of your childhood. This upgraded version takes the same amount of time but tastes like you spent ages on it:

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise (yes, mayonnaise!) on the outside of your bread slices. Add cheese and cook in a skillet until golden brown. The mayo creates the most perfectly crispy, golden crust you've ever tasted. Add another layer of cheese and bread because the double decker is what makes this grilled cheese superior.

4. Egg Roll Bowls

When you want something that feels a bit more vegetable-forward but still takes minimal effort:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb ground pork

• 2 (14 oz) bags coleslaw

• 3 Tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

DIRECTIONS

1. Brown ground pork over medium heat. Add coleslaw and cook mixture until slaw is partially cooked down and soft, about 3 minutes.

2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic. Pour into the skillet.

3. Continue to cook about 3 minutes, until coleslaw is fully cooked down.

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The Secret to Surviving the Low-Energy Dinner Crisis

Here's what I've learned: Having a handful of emergency dinner solutions in your back pocket isn't admitting defeat – it's strategic planning. It's acknowledging that you're human, that some days are harder than others, and that feeding your family doesn't have to be complicated to be done with love.

In my new cookbook, I've gathered all these "stupid easy" recipes in one place, so you never have to wonder what to make when your energy is gone but the family is hungry. Because we all deserve to have solutions for those days when we just... can't.

What's your go-to emergency dinner? Drop it in the comments below – I'm always looking to add more to my arsenal!

xo, Emily

P.S. If you're looking for more simplified recipes that don't require a culinary degree or endless energy, check out The Simplified Cookbook! It's filled with meals that have fewer than six ingredients and take less than fifteen minutes to prep.