Cooking Does Not Have to Be Hard

If your current cooking skills max out at instant noodles and frozen pizza, you are not alone. But eating takeout every day drains your wallet faster than you think. The good news? You can make delicious meals with minimal skills, basic equipment, and ingredients you probably already have.

1. One-Pan Chicken and Vegetables

Throw chicken thighs, chopped potatoes, and whatever vegetables you have onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bake at 400°F for 35 minutes. Dinner is served with almost no cleanup.

2. The Ultimate Stir-Fry

Rice + whatever protein is on sale + frozen mixed vegetables + soy sauce + a dash of sesame oil if you are feeling fancy. Cook the rice, stir-fry everything else in a pan, mix together. Takes 15 minutes and costs under $5 per serving.

3. Pasta with Actual Sauce

Boil pasta. While it cooks, sauté garlic in olive oil, add a can of crushed tomatoes, season with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Toss with pasta. Add cheese if you have it. This is literally restaurant-quality for a fraction of the price.

4. Breakfast for Dinner

Eggs, toast, and whatever vegetables you can sauté. Breakfast foods are cheap, fast, and honestly hit different at 8 PM. Add hot sauce for extra flavor.

5. The Everything Bowl

Rice or quinoa + protein (chicken, tofu, beans) + vegetables + sauce (soy, hot sauce, or salad dressing). Mix together. It is not fancy, but it is nutritious, cheap, and actually tastes good.

The secret to cooking is not complex recipes — it is learning a few techniques and applying them creatively. Start simple, build confidence, and soon you will be cooking meals that make you forget about delivery apps.