10 Minute Meals for When You’re Injured, Over-Scheduled, or Just Plain Tired

Super easy 10 minute meals are all I have time for lately. Have you ever had a phase like that?

This week I had to stay off my feet. I had plantar fasciitis in a mild, I-can-handle-this version for 4 months. A little over a week ago, it turned into big, fat roaring don’t-you-dare-take-a-step-on-these-feet plantar fasciitis. It hurt! I did go and see a doctor about it. He gave me some anti-inflammatory medicine, and he told me to stay off of my feet for a week to let them recover. So that’s what I’m doing.

Meanwhile, if I didn’t do something about dinner I was afraid my husband would feed everyone pizza every night, so I tried to be creative. Most of these meals are all probably things you already know how to do. All six of these meals are so easy you might even be able to get your older children to make them for you.

Here are the 10 minute meals that I made this week.

Night 1: Ramen Noodles and Canned Bread Sticks

We ate the chicken flavored Ramen noodles. I boiled 4 bags of these to feed 6 people, and there were no leftovers. These were a HUGE hit. The boys said, “Mom is the best cook ever!”

I also popped open a can of Pillsbury bread sticks, added Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic salt, and basil to them, and those things cook in only 10 minutes too.

Night 2: Crockpot BBQ Chicken, canned green beans, and instant mashed potatoes

Don’t let anyone mom-shame you about these convenient foods. Make them. My bet is it’s still way healthier than fast food.

For the chicken, I slow-cooked chicken breasts with a stick of butter all day long. About 15 minutes before dinner time, I squeeze in a bottle of BBQ sauce and stir it around and let it warm back up for 15 minutes. Serve with convenient vegetables.

I do add a touch more butter than the instant potatoes recipe calls for on the box. I am from Alabama, after all. For the green beans, I only use salt and pepper, and everyone likes them except for 1 kid. 5 out of 6 is a win.

Night 3: Hot dogs, frozen french fries, and canned fruit

For the canned fruit, our family is a big fan of mandarin oranges. I might as well be serving chocolate cake, they love it so much.

Night 4: Grilled Cheese and/or Chicken Nuggets with Applesauce or Peas

Two of my children dislike grilled cheese sandwiches, so for those two I heated up frozen chicken nuggets in the microwave, on a plate with a large helping of applesauce or peas. I have one that’s allergic to peas, so they can’t all eat them. The others happily eat the canned green sweet peas. Cinnamon applesauce is also a huge hit at our house.

Night 5: Spicy Chicken in the crock pot

Literally just put all of this in the slow cooker or instant pot together:

-3 chicken breasts

-1 jar of salsa

-2 cans of DRAINED black beans

-sprinkle in some cumin or taco seasoning for added flavor

-At the end, sprinkle on 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. (Or you can use 2 cans of Campbell’s Nacho cheese soup if gluten is not an issue for you.)

I used to have a video for this spicy chicken on Facebook. You can imagine my dismay to realize I accidentally deleted it. Alan was off work on Friday, so he made spicy chicken for us.

It is very simple. It’s just chicken, salsa, black beans, and 2 cans of Campbell’s Nacho Cheese soup, all cooked together in the crock pot.

IServe this chicken with lots of tortilla chips or make it into a taco salad like I did in the photo above.

Now that I am gluten free, I cannot use this soup. Instead, I substitute in two cups of shredded cheddar at the end.

Night 6: Frozen Pizza

No explanation needed there, eh? I didn’t say this was earth-shattering, only that these things can all be made quickly and easily, without having to end up at McDonald’s!

(When you order from Amazon ads on my site, I do collect advertising fees.)

Here are a few more 10 Minute or less meals that we enjoy:

-Instant Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal

They even make gluten free boxes now that you can find at select stores.

-Quick Grits

I’m telling you they are delicious. Follow the directions on the container. Then add half a stick of butter (to a pan for four people) and plenty of salt and pepper. Cheese is also a yummy add on for grits.

-Egg Sandwiches

I’m talking just scrambled eggs with pepper on them between two slices of bread. I love it.

-Panera Soups from the grocery store deli section.

When you are in too much pain to stand at the stove, these are a life saver. Just heat them up. Use any kind of pre-made soup you like. It will still be way cheaper than eating out.

-This delicious slow cooker roast only has like 4 ingredients.

I used to love this one so much. Now I cannot make it because it isn’t gluten free unless you happen to have gluten free cream of mushroom soup.

-You can use frozen grilled chicken with a bagged salad to create a quick salad.

These are all easy ways to avoid the drive through or an expensive restaurant bill. Before long, this phase where you are injured or so short on time will pass and you can make more culinary masterpieces.

But hard times call for easy meals you can make in 10 minutes. It just does. Food does not have to be complicated to be good.