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    Home » Budget Strategies

    What to Make for Dinner When There’s “Nothing” to Eat

    Published: Jan 7, 2022 · Modified: Jan 7, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    Don’t know what to make for dinner? Sometimes it can seem like there’s “nothing” to eat. Nothing easy jumps out at you. This list of easy meals will change how you eat on those nights.

    With a dozen easy dinner ideas and multiple variations of each, you’ll never be stumped for what to make for dinner and you can stop eating out. Print off the included cheat sheet so that dinner inspiration is always at hand.

    Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

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    It’s happened to all of us. You return home famished after a hard day full of grumbling coworkers, whiny children, and sluggish traffic. You scurry into the kitchen to grab a bite to eat and upon glancing in the fridge, you realize there’s nothing to eat.

    Well, maybe not nothing.

    We exaggerate, of course, when we say there’s nothing to eat. You have food in the fridge, but nothing jumps out at you and says, “I am what to make for dinner!”

    When we say there’s “nothing to eat”, what we mean is… There’s nothing easy to make.

    Along with the thought comes a flood of others:

    • I don’t have time to make dinner.
    • I’m too tired to cook.
    • I don’t want to eat out.

    You find yourself in a quandary. You need to get dinner on the table, but the overwhelm? Well, it’s up to your chin. 

    Plus, you’re getting hangry.

    Dinnertime doesn’t have to be this way.

    You can have a meal plan and stick to it like glue. But let’s be real. Life happens. You can count on life to have plans of its own.

    But what to make for dinner?!

    I’ve found myself in this situation on more than one occasion. It was mentally exhausting — and weary on the budget. To conquer it, I developed a list of 12 back-up meal plans of what to make for dinner, so I wouldn’t be tempted to run to In-n-Out Burger one more time.

    This list contains 12 easy meals which come together quickly from ingredients you most likely keep on hand regularly. In this way, when you don’t want to or can’t follow your meal plan, you have a Plan B to fall back on.

    As much as I do love a Double-Double, protein style….

    I decided not to freak myself out wondering what to make for dinner; instead I’d choose something from the list, knowing it would work for my family.

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    Meal Ideas

    These family-favorite meals can fit any budget. They are super flexible and allow you to make good use of regularly affordable pantry staples.

    Since they come together in 30 minutes or less, they are clearly what to make for dinner on those chaotic nights.

    bowl of rice and beans with chips and toppings.
    quarters of quesadilla stacked on wooden cutting board.
    pulling the halves of a grilled cheese sandwich apart, showing cheese pull.
    bowl of pasta and vegetable bolognese

    Rice Bowls

    Rice Bowls are so easy and versatile. You can top them with whatever little bits of meat, cheese, beans, and veggies you have on hand.

    Depending on which rice you buy, dinner can be ready in 20 to 45 minutes. Cook some rice, assemble your toppings, and get to good eating!

    Ingredients needed:

    • rice
    • protein (cooked meats, beans, shredded cheese)
    • vegetables (fresh or sauteed)
    • toppings (cheese, salsa, sour cream, Asian dipping sauces)

    See how many different ways you can top a rice bowl!

    Pasta and Red Sauce

    Pasta, a super cheap pantry staple, cooks up in about ten minutes. And believe it or not, you can make your own sauce in minutes. Try my Marinara Sauce.

    Homemade sauces are freezer-friendly so it’s easy to always have a pint or two in the freezer. The sauce thaws quickly in a pan on the stove top, and pasta can be cooked in a jiffy.

    But, even without a frozen cache of sauces, you can prepare any number of pasta dishes in a matter of minutes with what you’ve got on hand.

    Ingredients needed:

    • pasta
    • red sauce
    • a veg or two to serve on the side
    • Parmesan or Asiago cheese for sprinkling.

    Quesadillas

    Quesadillas are a regular stand-by around here. If hubs and I go on a date night, quesadillas serve as an easy meal the older kids can fix themselves with little prep work and easy clean up.

    We adults prefer a little something more than cheese and tortilla, so I often add grilled meat or chicken or some sauteed vegetables. Salsa, guacamole, and sour cream are favorite for dipping.

    Again, you can raid the fridge for little bits of leftovers to tuck into a tortilla. You’ll find all kinds of delicious combinations!

    This black bean and sweet potato quesadilla will amaze you.

    Ingredients needed:

    • tortillas
    • shredded cheese
    • toppings such as sour cream, salsa, guacamole
    • cooked meat or vegetables for extra filling

    Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    The breadier counterpart to the quesadilla is the grilled cheese sandwich. These come together in a flash with a panini press or an electric griddle.

    Keep an extra loaf of bread in the freezer and a block of cheese in reserve in the fridge. Let your leftovers guide you to beef up your grilled cheese. 

    Serve with fruit or veggie dippers on the side.

    Ingredients needed: 

    • sliced bread
    • cheese
    • side dishes
    vegan sandwich with avocado cut in half and stacked on a white platter.
    plate with slices of sourdough rye bread as well as sandwich fixings.
    breakfast table set with waffles, syrup, whipped cream, and blueberries.
    margherita flatbread pizza cut into wedges on white tray with red cloth.

    Sandwich Bar

    You can please the masses with a sandwich bar. Slice up whatever veggies and pickles you have on hand as well as cheese.

    For extra protein you can add a few cans of tuna, a few hard cooked eggs, or whatever cooked meats you might have on hand.

    Ingredients needed: 

    • bread
    • cheese
    • meat
    • eggs
    • veggies
    • fruit and veggie dippers

    Snacky Lunch or Dinner

    Snacky Lunch or Snacky Dinner is an old standby for our family, especially when there are baguettes to be had, homemade or otherwise. These no-cook suppers count as well.

    We sometimes serve this on purpose for special occasions, like New Year’s. But, if it’s a regular old week, I’ll dig around in the fridge until I’ve found enough mocktail/cocktail foods to fill people up.

    You’d be surprised with what fun additions you can come up!

    Ingredients needed: 

    • cheeses
    • meats
    • hard cooked eggs
    • nuts and seeds
    • fruits and veggies
    • bread and crackers
    • pickles
    • olives
    • other appetizer foods

    Pizzas

    Put your favorite pizza toppings on a tortilla, bagel, french bread, pita, or even an English muffin and run it through the broiler for a quick pizza. So easy, it’s not even funny. 

    For a low carb option, I top large portobello mushrooms or zucchini boats with sauce, meat, and cheese.

    Ingredients needed:

    • flat breads (tortilla, bagel, pita, lavash, naan, or french bread) or vegetable base
    • cheese
    • favorite sauces and toppings for pizza

    Breakfast for Dinner

    Breakfast is an easy fix — any time of the day. Fry a few eggs, toast a few slices of bread, stir up some pancakes. Easy!

    Everyone loves breakfast for supper or pancake night, so you can’t lose!

    Ingredients needed: 

    • pancakes (you can make your own mix!) or waffles
    • eggs
    • hash browns
    • cereal and/or oatmeal
    • sausage or bacon
    close up of a white bowl of quinoa chili topped with chopped cilantro, cubed avocado, and chopped red onion.
    pot of creamy chicken noodle soup with ladle
    alphabet soup and a spoon in a bowl labeled enjoy on a black plate with saltine crackers.
    one pan chicken nachos with toppings

    Quickest Chili in the West

    Chili can be such a quick and easy comfort food; you’ll only need about 20 minutes for The Quickest Chili in the West. You can even tuck in a few leftover veggies and meat to use up what you have and avoid waste.

    Add cheese, sour cream and chips for a filling supper. Wrap the leftovers up in tortillas a night or two later.

    Ingredients needed: 

    • canned beans
    • spices
    • hominy
    • crushed tomatoes
    • chips
    • toppings

    Chicken Noodle Soup

    My kids love chicken noodle stuff. They have rarely had the canned version because homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is so easy and economical.

    If you keep cooked chicken in the freezer (or buy canned) it is an easy weeknight supper. Use up leftovers from a roast chicken or turkey.

    Ingredients needed: 

    • egg noodles
    • chicken broth or stock
    • cooked chicken
    • onion
    • zucchini and/or carrot
    • spices

    Thursday Night Soup

    Making soup from leftovers is one of the easiest meals to pull together. Thursday Night Soup offers the direction you need as well as the freedom to improvise. You can prepare a tasty soup from almost nothing.

    Ingredients needed: 

    • onions
    • oil
    • tomato paste or sauce
    • broth or water
    • leftover meat and vegetables
    • rice
    • potatoes
    • spices

    Easy Nachos

    Nachos can be an appetizer, but they can be what to make for dinner. With so few ingredients, a pan of nachos comes together in a flash. Don’t hesitate to toss on leftover veggies and meats you might have in the fridge.

    Ingredients needed:

    • beans
    • cheese
    • enchilada sauce
    • chips
    • salsa
    • sour cream
    • avocado
    clipboard with worksheet of easy meals to make

    How to Create Your Own List

    Chances are you’ve got some family favorites built around staple ingredients, your very own list of what to make when you lack inspiration or a plan. Write down those menu plans so you’ll have a catalog to draw from.

    Don’t worry if they don’t seem like a “real meal”. Neither does a Big Mac.

    Having this list of 12 Easy Meals to Make will help you get over the rough patches when dinner doesn’t seem like it will happen any time quick.

    You still won’t want to go out to eat, but only because you’ll some easy meals to enjoy at your own kitchen table!

    To make it easier for you to create a list, I’ve put together a quick and easy worksheet to help you track your easy meal ideas and the ingredients you’ll need to keep on hand so those ideas can become easy meals.

    1. Download the printable worksheet. (When you subscribe to the free Good Cheap Eats newsletter, I’ll send you access to our free resource library.)
    2. Print out the worksheet. Any paper will do. 
    3. Post the worksheet in your kitchen somewhere, maybe in the pantry where you’re sure to see it on those nights when you’re stumped for a meal idea. 
    4. You may also want to keep a picture of the list on your phone for easy reference while grocery shopping.
    5. Stock up on the basic ingredients so you have them on hand next time you’re not sure what to do.

    How to Get More Organized in the Kitchen

    A quick list of easy meals will come in handy when you don’t know what to make for dinner. Trust me. But what if you could be more with-it in the kitchen? All the time?!

    What if you had a plan for feeding your family — and yourself — in a way that didn’t stress you out? 

    What if you walked into your kitchen every day, confident that you’d be able to pull off great meals without freaking out?

    What if you could grocery shop, knowing that you could stay on budget and have everything you needed for the week’s meals?

    logo for the good cheap eats club

    I designed the Good Cheap Eats Club to help you do this — and more. Each month, we work together to iron out the kinks in your kitchen systems so that you never, and I mean, never, find yourself standing in front of the fridge wondering what to make.

    Not only that, you’ll learn to save both money and time so you aren’t chained to the stove.

    Click here to find out more details about the club.

    What do you think?

    What do you do when you don’t know what to make for dinner. Tell us what’s on YOUR list so we can add it to ours.

    This post was originally published on September 17, 2012. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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    Comments

    1. Laurel A.

      June 20, 2013 at 2:35 pm

      My family’s go-to for a relatively quick meal (and a way to use up all those darn leftovers) is “roadkill bread.” You mix together all of your leftovers (within reason…don’t add anything too soupy or flavors that really clash, but even mixing Italian and Chinese leftovers can work) in a heavy-duty wok or other all-metal pan. Cover with cornbread batter (we use Jiffy) and bake until the cornbread is cooked.

      If you don’t want to use leftovers, a mixture of vegetables (onions, peppers, broccoli) and some kind of meat (chicken, sausage) quickly sauteed and seasoned however you like makes a great base.

      Reply
    2. Becky

      May 10, 2013 at 4:17 am

      This is just what I needed. We have just started on a Total Money Makeover, and my husband was just saying, “We eat the same thing everyday.” Which, is not too far from the truth. I needed this to not only be organized and frugal, but to be a bit more creative with our usual fare. Thank you.

      Reply
    3. Christiana

      April 14, 2013 at 11:29 am

      When I just want a snack and not a whole meal I make some cream of cicken and just dip breads and crackers into it. You can even add seasoning. Simple and yummy! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Pamela

      January 12, 2013 at 2:11 pm

      Hi! Thank you so much for your ideas. Love it. We are so busy that if I forget to put something in for dinner then it’s hard to find the energy & time to cook. However if you think of it as dinner can be ready in 20 mins for pennies on the dollar of eating out it makes it simpler. Also, by the time you go get it, wait for it & get home it’s more than 20 mins.

      I have two suggestions to share. The first is in line with your meal plan. A friend of mine gave me this clue. I have a family of 5. Two of us are celiac and lactose intolerant. So it makes eating out harder for us. Even ordering things gluten free such as hamburger wrapped in lettuce can make us sick because of cross contamination. So we do have more incentive to not eat out, kind of forced actually. It’s only been 6 months so we are still adjusting. If you don’t have health reasons think of the unhealthy things your eating when you go out & the amount of calories because of the unhealthy things. Anyway, back to the idea, pick a meal for each day of the week. For instance Monday is meatballs/meatloaf/or stuffed peppers, Tuesday is chicken fingers, Wednesday is crockpot, Thursday is sandwich/soup night, etc. Design it based on your schedule. Easy dinners for busy nights etc. I actually have it repeating in my phone calendar. It may sound boring, but it’s not. I’m not super stringent with it. I switch the days, if I change something or we eat out I change my calendar so I can keep track. I have a white board on Fridge with the schedule.

      I buy a cooked rotisserie at Costco for under $5. We eat it for dinner one night with sides. Then I throw it in my crockpot filled with water & spices the next day. When it’s time for dinner I strain it to remove all but broth, I throw in the noodles in broth, pick meat off bones, add some sautéed onions, celery, leek, etc. or you can cut them up & microwave them & throw them in. It makes for two very inexpensive easy dinners.

      Thanks again for all the ideas. <3

      Reply
    5. Mary S

      October 11, 2012 at 10:35 am

      I can’t believe no one listed mine and my Mom’s favorite, biscuits and gravy.A quick 30 min meal and my guy’s love it.

      Reply
    6. Cheryl

      October 10, 2012 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks for the list! I’ve been running out of ideas.
      pasta & sauce is a back up; either a white, red, or a simple egg yolk like carbonara (typically without the bacon). I use ground turkey or chicken breast for the protein.
      manwich sandwiches & baked potatoes
      something mexican-y with rice, beans & whatever meat & spices. I’ve started buying the 10 minute brown rice instead of the long grain white rice that takes 20 minutes. My fam was complaining about having rice, beans, tomatoes & chicken for the 3rd time in less than 2 wks so I tried making a tortilla soup out of what I already had cooked. Turned out pretty good, but would have been better with the long grain rice.
      Cereal
      eggs & hash browns
      thawed pancakes or waffles

      Reply
    7. Kelly

      September 23, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      Love your stuff! Been sharing various posts at the Meal Planning group at CafeMom.

      Reply
      • Jessica

        September 28, 2012 at 8:34 am

        @Kelly, thanks for sharing the love!

        Reply
    8. Steph

      September 23, 2012 at 7:12 am

      I always keep a can of sliced potatoes and wax beans to make a creamy comfy soup. The rest of it is just a basic white sauce with onions, S&P and a touch of nutmeg.

      Reply
    9. Heather M

      September 22, 2012 at 9:19 pm

      Some of our last minute meals include: fast black beans and rice(canned beans, onion, bell pepper, cumin); fried rice w/leftover protein & whatever veg is available; chicken caesar salad (i keep breaded chicken tenders from costco in the freezer for those crazy days); teriyaki chicken stir-fry with whichever veggies are left in the crisper; pasta w/red sauce(like everyone else); a pantry chicken corn chowder. Lots of meals can be fast and use ingredients from the freezer/pantry. Frankly, fish & shrimp are super fast, though w/fish you have to defrost in fridge the night before and requires a little planning. But shrimp can be defrosted under running water very quickly. I could go on for a while… so I’ll stop now. 🙂

      Reply
    10. Karen

      September 21, 2012 at 11:13 am

      This is a very helpful post. I know you’ve done a post in the past either here or at Life as Mom about meal suggestions for when you are on a budget. Would you be able to share that link?

      Reply
      • Jessica

        September 21, 2012 at 11:15 am

        @Karen, I’ve done so many of those, I can’t really point to one. It’s such a constant conversation on both GCE and LAM.

        Reply
    11. Pamela J

      September 19, 2012 at 10:08 pm

      Love these suggestions. Need to remember the breakfast for dinner next time.

      Reply
    12. Renee

      September 19, 2012 at 1:11 pm

      Like lots of other folks, around here we rely on grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas and breakfast for dinner (eggs, waffles, or pancakes) when there is “nothing” else. Just last weekend we had to fall back on grilled cheese and tomato soup when I found that I was out of yeast to make my homemade pizza dough. Oh, well, dinner was served and no one went to bed hungry; yeast is on next week’s grocery list!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        September 21, 2012 at 10:51 am

        @Renee, it’s so easy to get caught up in making it just right, when “good enough” fills the bill just as well.

        Reply
    13. Brenda

      September 19, 2012 at 6:09 am

      Love this post! Some of our favorites include Caprese grilled cheese sandwiches (Butter outside of bread & sprinkle with garlic powder. Layer on shredded mozzarella, basil ribbons, thin slices of tomato. Yum.), English muffin or pita pizzas, quesadillas (regular or Greek), onion pepper pasta or bruschetta pasta and Dutch Babies (http://www.food.com/recipe/means-dutch-babies-45609). Thanks for the printable list! Great idea.

      Reply
    14. Leslie

      September 18, 2012 at 5:35 pm

      Chilighetti is a fav here. Spaghetti noodles cooked, a can of chili, cheese and sour cream. I add the chili and cheese right after I drain the noodles and then mix in the sour cream after the cheese has started melting. It was one of my favs growing up and it has become a fav of my hubby & kids. 🙂

      Reply
      • Leslie

        September 18, 2012 at 5:37 pm

        @Leslie, I’ve made it with canned chili and homemade… with the homemade I just added what looked like a good amount compared to the noodles… My hubby liked the homemade version better

        Reply
        • alexis

          May 18, 2015 at 12:23 pm

          Omg! To funny…My family thinks im crazy, cuz I make this burrito that I call “the inmate” and it is made of top romin noodles(no seasonings) a can of chilli and tostitos nacho cheese dip…lol i cook the noodles and the add the rest and wrap it in a tortilla shell(soft flour shell) its honestly delicious. …I call it the inmate because my good friend went to prison and worked in the kitchen and made it all of the time. Lol….:^)

        • Jessica Fisher

          May 18, 2015 at 3:27 pm

          My brother is a sheriff working in a county jail and he said the inmates do make interesting concoctions with the things they buy from the jail store. This sounds right in line with what he described. LOL!

    15. Pam

      September 17, 2012 at 11:50 am

      This is a great list! I normally do a monthly menu but ran out of time at the beginning of the month and only got half way done; so now here I sit wondering what to make. This was very timely and I think we’ll be having quesadillas tonight after swim lessons. 🙂 I never thought to make those before. Pre-shredded cheddar cheese and tortillas are staples in my kitchen and I just happen to have some canned chicken in the cupboard. Easy peasy…thanks for the ideas!

      Reply
    16. Kristi

      September 17, 2012 at 11:23 am

      Thanks so much for these great ideas and the worksheet. This is a crazy, busy week for us—long orthodontist appt. (braces off!!), hair appts., dr. appt., 5lbs. of apples to process into applesauce. On top of all that I’m getting ready to leave for two weeks. Boy do I need easy meals! I already have breakfast for dinner and chili on the menu. If I have cooked chicken in the freezer, chicken enchiladas come together in a hurry. Cheese pizza is a good option too, as Julie mentioned. Your simple bean tostadas come together in a hurry, and crustless quiche is great for using up leftover bits of meat, rice, and vegetables.

      Reply
      • Kristi

        September 17, 2012 at 11:25 am

        @Kristi, Oops! I meant a 1/2bushel of apples. =)

        Reply
    17. Julie

      September 17, 2012 at 10:15 am

      Homemade Pizza is one of my go-to quick meals…and pleases all members of the family! I keep homemade dough, marinara, and shredded cheese in my freezer for those crazy days. Grilled sandwiches are on our list too.

      Reply
    18. Kristi c

      September 17, 2012 at 6:33 am

      Thanks for the options! We enjoy breakfast for dinner and quesadillas as fast fixes, but it’s always nice to have other ideas. Our goal is to eat out only once a week as a treat and get more whole foods in, and eat better. It seems ti be working and the kids are eating better!

      Reply
    19. Amy

      September 17, 2012 at 5:34 am

      I know it’s not as healthy, but I always have a frozen pizza in the freezer as a backup. Because often when I’m feeling run down and too tired to cook, I want pizza. You could easily have the ingredients to make your own.
      Thanks so much for the worksheet and making me sit and do this, because it’s inevitable that this will come up.

      Reply
      • Dawn Michelle Duffie

        September 09, 2020 at 11:57 am

        Love frozen pizza in a pinch!

        Reply
    20. Jessica

      September 17, 2012 at 5:29 am

      Favorite fast meals at our house include veggie frittatas, pasta with garlic oil, veg and chicken, and a homemade version of that traditional canned tomato soup that we used to love, but don’t eat anymore because of the ingredients. Oh, and nachos…we could eat nachos any day.

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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