Before meal delivery kits like Blue Apron and HelloFresh entered the scene, lazy dinners were a very different experience. The convenience of fresh ingredients and pre-portioned meals delivered to your door didn’t exist, so people had to get a bit more creative to feed themselves after a long day. Here’s a look at a couple ways people used to take shortcuts in the kitchen before the rise of modern meal services.
Frozen TV Dinners
The classic lazy dinner of the mid-20th century, frozen TV dinners were the ultimate convenience meal. Pre-packaged and ready to heat in the oven (or microwave later), they offered a variety of meat, vegetables, and mashed potatoes all in one tin tray. It was a no-fuss option for anyone who couldn’t be bothered to cook, and many households had a few of these stashed in the freezer.
Cereal for Dinner
A staple of many a lazy evening, a bowl of cereal was often the go-to for those too tired or uninspired to cook. Whether it was sugary kids’ cereals or the more sophisticated adult version, cereal was a quick, easy, and filling option for dinner often paired with a side of milk and minimal clean-up.
Instant Ramen Noodles
Before meal kits made cooking “simple,” ramen noodles were the ultimate comfort food for a lazy dinner. Super cheap, fast to prepare, and endlessly customizable, a pot of ramen could be transformed with a few extra ingredients like eggs, veggies, or leftover meats. For many, it was a quick fix after a long day of work or school.
Microwaveable Mac and Cheese
Boxed mac and cheese was another lazy dinner favorite. But in the era before meal kits, the microwaveable version in plastic cups or bowls was often the more convenient choice. You could have a warm, cheesy meal in mere minutes with very little effort involved perfect for a low-energy evening.
Frozen Pizza
Frozen pizzas have long been the go-to lazy meal for families and college students alike. With endless varieties to choose from and no preparation required, you could pop it in the oven and have dinner ready in 15-20 minutes. Plus, there was no need for fancy ingredients, making it an affordable and satisfying choice for any occasion.
Canned Soup
Canned soups were a reliable staple in many households, especially for those who didn’t have the time or energy to prepare a full meal. Whether it was Campbell’s tomato soup or something heartier like chicken noodle, just heat it up, maybe throw in some crackers, and you were good to go. A simple, no-frills dinner solution.
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Bagged Salads
For the health-conscious who still didn’t want to put much effort into preparing dinner, bagged salads were a quick and easy solution. Pre-washed and pre-cut greens, along with pre-packaged dressings, meant a full salad was as easy as tossing everything together. Sometimes, you’d add a protein like rotisserie chicken or canned tuna to make it more filling.
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Baked Potatoes
The humble baked potato was another lazy dinner option, often topped with whatever you had in the fridge. Sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, or even leftover chili could transform a plain potato into a filling meal. And since baking potatoes was pretty hands-off, it was perfect for when you didn’t feel like cooking but wanted something a little more substantial than just snacks.
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Fried Rice
Fried rice was the ultimate “use what you have” meal. Leftover rice, some veggies, an egg, and soy sauce were all you needed for a quick, easy dinner. Plus, it could be adapted to whatever ingredients were available in the fridge. For many, fried rice was a weekly staple that stretched leftovers into a satisfying meal.
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Pasta with Jarred Sauce
Cooking pasta with a jar of marinara or Alfredo sauce was the go-to lazy dinner for many. It took only a few minutes to boil the pasta, and the sauce was already prepared for you. Just heat it up, pour it over the noodles, and you had yourself a simple meal that required minimal effort but still satisfied your cravings for Italian food.
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Pita Bread with Hummus and Veggies
For a healthier lazy meal, pita bread with hummus and some fresh veggies was a popular choice. It required little to no cooking and could be thrown together in a flash. The creamy hummus paired perfectly with crisp veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers, making it a light yet filling meal option.
Before the era of meal delivery kits and gourmet meal subscriptions, lazy dinners were all about quick, easy, and accessible meals that required little to no cooking. From frozen TV dinners to ramen noodles, these go-to options reflect the desire for convenience and simplicity, showing how even in the pre-delivery kit days, people were looking for ways to eat without spending too much time in the kitchen. Fast-forward to today, and while meal kits offer more variety and freshness, the spirit of lazy dinners remains the same quick, easy, and satisfying.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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