My Grandpa always says that “one should eat to live, not live to eat”. I think that I lie somewhere in the middle. While I love to eat good food, I can never be bothered to spend more than twenty minutes making a meal. As a self-proclaimed lazy cook, here are some of my favourite quick but tasty recipes to make when I don’t want to take the time to cook!

Microwaved Baked Potato –

Potatoes are a very versatile vegetable. You can boil them, you can fry them, you can pop them in the microwave and out comes a baked potato! When my stomach is grumbling and I don’t have an hour to wait for an oven-cooked baked potato, I follow these simple steps:

Step 1. I rinse my potato, pat it dry and then piece it a few times with a fork. I then place it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 10 minutes, turning it over halfway through cooking!

Step 2. I then split the potato down the middle, add a little bit of butter, and season it with salt and pepper.

Topping wise, I just use whatever we have got in the house! Cheese and coleslaw is my favourite but I’m also partial to ham and pineapple or chilli!

Pizza Wraps –

I love pizza. But I don’t have time or patience to make my own dough so I find tortilla wraps to be a good substitute! For this recipe, all you need is a tortilla wrap and your favourite pizza toppings! (If you don’t have any wraps in the cupboard, you can use a naan bread!)

Step 1. First, I take my tortilla wrap and spread my sauce with a spoon. I like to use tomato purée if I fancy a more traditional style of pizza or sometimes, I go a bit wild and use some BBQ sauce. 

Step 2. I then sprinkle on some cheese! My cheese of choice is mozzarella but adjust to fit your dietary requirements! And add the rest of my toppings from red onions to jalapeños!

Step 3. I pop my pizza in the oven for about 10 minutes and then its time to tuck in! If I’m feeling extra hungry that day, I might even make a second one! 

Toasted Wrap in the Toaster –

On the topic of wraps, another staple in my diet is a toasted wrap! I first saw these toaster wraps on TikTok during lockdown and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since! The flavour combinations are endless but here’s how I make my favourite filling: ham, spinach and cheese!

Step 1: Using a knife, I spread some butter on my tortilla and then add the ham, spinach and a sprinkle of cheese.

Step 2: Next I fold my tortilla in half from the bottom and then from the sides. 

Step 3: I then put my folded wrap in the toaster and toast on a medium heat until it’s golden brown! Watch when you take it out as it will be really really hot! Leave it to cool down a bit before eating!   

Chicken Noodle Soup –

No, it’s not just for when you are sick! Chicken noodle soup is super simple and so quick to make that you can whip it up between classes!

Step 1. First I heat up some oil in a pot and then add some chopped up onions and grated carrot which I season with salt and pepper. I fry these until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.

Step 2. I then add some chopped garlic and fry for another minute before adding my stock and bringing it to the boil.

Step 3. Next I pop in my noodles and cook until they are soft. I then pour a portion of soup into a bowl and add in some ready cooked chicken before seasoning it with some chilli flakes! 

I hope that you find these recipes useful and that they give you some foodspiration! Please let me know in the comments if you try any of them or have any quick meal suggestions of your own!