Five Simple Dinners Requiring Only Your Hands to Prep

Whether you prefer to keep your kitchen uncluttered and without a ton of gadgets, you don’t like chopping and cutting just to make a meal, or you’re physically unable to do a lot of work with utensils, there are plenty of meals you can make using just your hands for the preparation. The key to cooking without doing much in the way of chopping or measuring is buying pre-chopped veggies and herbs from the produce section of your grocery store. The frozen vegetable aisle also typically has pre-cut produce that will work in a snap. When buying meats for meals and aiming to only prep with your hands, the same applies: have the butcher do the work so you won’t have to.

Here are five simple dinners that need only your hands to prep.

1. Shrimp linguine with lemon and capers

Buying shrimp that’s already been peeled and de-veined is what makes this recipe so easy to pull off. You could use precooked shrimp, but you’ll need to thaw it and toss it in only in the last three minutes of cooking the dish. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice will really perk things up, but you can get away with using bottled lemon juice if that’s all you have on hand.

Gather all of your ingredients near the stove before starting, because once you cook the sauce the recipe goes quickly. Fill a large pot water, bring to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, and cook your pasta according to the package’s directions. If you don’t have linguine, regular spaghetti, thin spaghetti, or even fettuccine will work. Once the pasta is done cooking, reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and drain off the rest.

Meanwhile, heat a large pan over medium heat and put in a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil with four tablespoons of butter. Once the butter has melted add up to a pound of shrimp and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Add in a tablespoon or two of capers, cook for three minutes, and then put in about a tablespoon of lemon juice. If you’re using bottled lemon juice, use less as it tends to have a stronger taste. Add the drained pasta into the pan and toss with the shrimp and sauce, using a small bit of the reserved cooking water if needed to loosen things up. A sprinkle of parsley looks great when serving this dish.

2. Pot roast

This is one of many simple dinners that requires no babysitting. You don’t even have to trim the meat if you don’t want to — the fat will provide flavor while cooking, and you don’t have to eat it once the dish is done. Use an assortment of pre-cut vegetables or simply toss in baby carrots, small onions, and small potatoes into this dish.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grab a baking dish or large Dutch oven. Get a three to four pound chuck roast and season it well with salt and pepper to taste — two teaspoons of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper are good to start. Pour a tablespoon of oil into your dish, toss in the vegetables, and sprinkle them with a bit more salt and pepper.

Place in any dried or fresh herbs that you like, such as rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Next, nestle the roast into the veggies, pour in 1 cup of vegetable broth, beef broth, or water, cover the dish with a lid or foil, and then bake for 1.5 hours. Uncover the dish at that point and cook for one more hour. Once the roast is done, let it sit for 20 minutes before serving and enjoying.

3. Shakshuka (eggs baked with tomatoes and spices)

Once you try this dish, you’ll definitely add it to your rotation of simple dinners. It’s simple, fairly healthy, and those who like well spiced dishes will love it. Best of all, you’ll get tons of flavor without spending a ton of money on ingredients, and no utensils are required to put it together.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Get a pre-sliced onion and bell pepper and cook in an oven-safe pan over medium heat until the vegetables are very soft. Add in about a teaspoon each of cumin and paprika — eyeball it, and remember you can always add more later. Sprinkle in a small amount of salt, pepper, and cayenne as well. Go easy on the cayenne or eliminate it if you don’t like spicy food.

Pour a 28 ounce can of chopped tomatoes into the skillet, and then gently crack six eggs and place them around the skillet onto top of the tomatoes and veggies. Lightly season the tops of the eggs with salt and pepper, then bake the dish in the oven for seven to ten minutes until set.

4. One pan roasted chicken, broccoli, and baby carrots

One pan simple dinners mean really easy clean up, and this dish is no exception. Use chicken legs, drumsticks, wings, or breasts — whichever cut of meat you prefer is fine, you’ll just need to adjust your cooking time. Toss in a few handfuls of frozen broccoli florets and baby carrots, drizzle some olive oil and seasonings, and dinner will be served before you know it.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper for easier cleanup. Lay six to eight drumsticks, two to three pounds of wings, or three to four chicken breasts on the pan and surround them with two cups of broccoli florets and a cup of baby carrots. Drizzle over two tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried thyme on the meat and veggies to taste, and bake for 30 to 45 minutes until the meat is done.

5. Baked ravioli

Cooking simple dinners without utensils really doesn’t get much easier than this. However, since the flavor of the dish depends on the quality of the ingredients you choose, buy the best ravioli and sauce that you can find. If you want to make it healthier, add in some thawed or pre-cut zucchini. For more flavor, sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese on top.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour about half a tablespoon of olive oil into the bottom of a large baking dish and ensure it coats the bottom — this will keep the food from sticking. Place a bag of good frozen ravioli in the dish, and add on top any veggies that you want to include. Pour one to two jars of your favorite pasta sauce on top, cover the dish, and bake for 30 minutes. Take the top off at that point, sprinkle on the cheese if you’re using it, and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes before serving.