A few years ago, my go-to, no-cook meal was typically a ginormous
scoop of the latest whole grain organic cereal blend drowned in a lake of 1%
milk. The sad bowl of crunchy sludge wasn’t satisfying, nutritious, or
delicious, but it was fast and easy. Plus, how in the world could this instant
meal of fortified goodness be bad for you?
Fast forward a few years and I’m even busier than before, but I won’t resort to a bowl of cereal as emergency food anymore. Even after a frantic day spent working on refining our new podcast, creating recipes, responding to deadlines, and shuttling the kids around like an over-caffeinated Uber driver, I don’t throw in the towel. Instead, I refer to my collection of no-cook Paleo recipes to get food on the table pronto. Who
said you have to turn on the stove or oven to make a meal? Not this lazy mom!
As long as I keep my fridge and pantry filled with a few
essentials, a flavor-packed dinner can be on the table in about 20 minutes or less. Plus, I won’t have any pots and pans to wash at the end of the meal. Remember: don’t overcomplicate things. Quick and easy does the trick!
Here’s what I stock in my fridge and pantry for no-cook
meals:
- Leftover roast chicken I normally cook two chickens at a time in a large roasting pan so I can have one leftover for no-cook meals. (I won’t tell anyone if you purchase a rotisserie chicken.)
- Canned fish I keep a bunch of salmon and tuna tins in my pantry.
- Refrigerated canned crab
- Paleo Mayonnaise If you don’t make your own mayo, Primal Kitchen’s avocado oil mayo is a great
alternative to homemade. - Nori sheets and butter lettuce Toasted seaweed and lettuce cups are my favorite tortilla alternative.
- Salad greens Toss with oil and vinegar and you’ve got an instant side dish!
- Fresh herbs (e.g. chives, cilantro, green onions, Italian
parsley, mint) Chop some up and sprinkle on everything! - Spice blends Dash some pep and exoticism onto your dishes!
- Acid (e.g. lemon, lime, assorted vinegars) Squeeze on some citrus juice or drizzle your preferred vinegar to instantly brighten any dish.
My Top 10 Fast and Easy No-Cook Paleo Dishes:
Our family loves sushi, so I make sure to throw a roll-your-own temaki night on a regular basis. If you don’t like crab, just substitute cooked chicken, salmon, or shrimp.
It doesn’t get any simpler or more satisfying than this dish. After all, avocado is nature’s mayonnaise.
I know this sauce might sound weird, but it is truly the tastiest on EVERYTHING. Pair it with leftover protein, salad greens, carrot sticks, and you can’t go wrong.
Unexpected last minute guests? Make everyone happy with these crowd-pleasing and elegant appetizers!
Throw this salad together and pair it with roast chicken. Boom! (Yes, this recipe was featured at a bunch of Paleo bars in select Whole Foods Market stores!)
This refreshing soup is perfect for muggy summer days. It partners beautifully with chilled pre-cooked shrimp that I pick up at the market.
Chilled Cream of Avocado Soup with Crab
In the mood for a hearty chilled soup? This recipe should be on your to-do list!
My kiddos request this chicken salad over all others.
Craving peanut sauce? The dressing in this salad will do the trick!
True confession: these ice pops are super fast to throw together, but they will take a few hours to set in the freezer. It’ll still be worth the wait—I promise.
For more #nocookpaleo ideas, check out my pal Charissa’s blog. She’s the one who invented the hashtag! Now go forth and feed yourself right in a jiffy.
Looking for more recipes? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my Webby Award-winning iPad® app, and in my James Beard Award nominated cookbook, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans!
