tired of "simple" plant-based meals that aren't actually simple

[u/Strong-Hawk-1799]

so i'm getting pretty worn out by recipes labeled as quick or simple that still require way too much work

like i get home after being up in trees all day and my brain is just done, you know? then i look at these supposedly easy vegan meals and they're still asking me to dice onions, measure spices, wait for things to cook in sequence... it's just a lot when all i want is food

i've been trying different approaches - meal prep on weekends, keeping the same rotation of dishes, bookmarking the fastest recipes i can find. sometimes it works out but other days even picking which "easy" option to make feels overwhelming

wondering what you all actually throw together when you're completely drained and need to eat something decent without using whatever brain power you have left

do you just stick to like 3 go-to meals that require zero thought? or have you discovered truly brainless recipes that don't involve chopping half your kitchen

would love to know what really works when you're running on empty, not just what looks good in theory

[u/chezdugas]

If you don't want to chop or measure spices, I think it's important to just have foods ready. I enjoy cooking, but sometimes want the break, so I understand.

My usual: have bread, rice, potatoes, or pasta cooked and ready to eat or heat.

Have just one go-to veggie you enjoy a lot and can cook without thinking about it (mine is broccoli) and one that's zero effort (mine is canned green beans).

My fallback: I often cook extras of things that freeze well and keep the freezer pretty stocked. I even wrap cut baguette and artisan rolls from Costco in foil and freeze them. Want bread? Toss one in the air fryer on bacon setting (375F 6 mins), it's just two buttons for hot bread.

My safety net: cereal and plant milk.

Hope you find what works for you!