30 Cooking Shortcuts for Busy People

That dreaded question hits around 4 p.m.: What’s for dinner?

After a long day of work, appointments, and endless to-do lists, the last thing you want is a complicated, hour-long cooking session. I get it. I’ve been there. The temptation to just order a pizza or grab something from a drive-thru is strong. It’s easy. It’s fast. But it often leaves you feeling sluggish and regretful.

For me, this used to be a major trigger. Back when I was struggling with binge eating and tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, the kitchen felt like a battlefield. I thought healthy eating meant hours of complex cooking and that I just didn't have the time or energy. I was wrong.

Learning to cook smarter, not longer, was a huge part of how I lost over 110 pounds and reclaimed my health. It wasn’t about becoming a gourmet chef. It was about finding simple shortcuts that worked for my real, busy life. These small changes made a massive difference, helping me build consistency and take control of what I was putting into my body.

So, if you feel like you’re too busy to cook healthy meals, I want to share the practical, no-fuss shortcuts that helped me. You don’t need more hours in the day. You just need a better game plan.

Plan Ahead to Save Your Sanity

The best cooking happens before you even turn on the stove. A little bit of prep saves a mountain of stress later.

1. Embrace a Simple Meal Plan. This doesn't need to be a color-coded spreadsheet. Just jot down three to four dinner ideas for the week. That’s it. Knowing what you’re making eliminates decision fatigue.

2. Batch Cook Grains. Once a week, make a big pot of rice, quinoa, or pasta. Store it in the fridge to quickly add to meals all week long.

3. Prep Your Veggies. When you get home from the store, wash and chop vegetables like onions, peppers, and carrots. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge. This is a lifesaver on a tired Tuesday night.

4. Use Your Freezer. Double your recipe for chili, soup, or casseroles. Eat one portion now and freeze the other for a future meal. Your future self will thank you.

5. Create "Dump Bags." For slow-cooker meals, put all the raw ingredients (chopped meat, veggies, spices) into a freezer bag. When you’re ready, just dump it in the slow cooker and turn it on.

6. Thaw in Advance. Move frozen meat from the freezer to the fridge the day before you need it. No more frantic microwave defrosting.

7. Keep a Running Grocery List. Use a notepad on the fridge or an app on your phone. When you run out of something, add it immediately. This prevents last-minute store runs.

Smart Ingredients Are Your Best Friends

You don’t have to make everything from scratch. Stocking your kitchen with the right ingredients is half the battle.

8. Buy Pre-Chopped Veggies. Yes, they cost a little more. But if the alternative is ordering takeout, it’s a worthy investment in your time and health.

9. Embrace Frozen Produce. Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at their peak freshness and are just as nutritious as fresh. They are perfect for smoothies, stir-fries, and soups.

10. Canned Beans are a Hero. Canned chickpeas, black beans, and lentils are cheap, healthy, and ready to go. Just rinse them and add them to salads, tacos, or pasta.

11. Get a Rotisserie Chicken. I do this almost every week. It’s a game-changer for quick salads, wraps, soups, or just serving alongside some steamed veggies.

12. Use Jarred Minced Garlic and Ginger. Peeling and mincing garlic is a small task, but on a busy night, every second counts. A jar of minced garlic is a fantastic shortcut.

13. Find a Go-To Sauce. Whether it’s a quality marinara, a good stir-fry sauce, or a simple pesto, having a reliable sauce can turn plain ingredients into a delicious meal in minutes.

14. Don't Forget Eggs. Eggs are the ultimate fast food. Scrambled, fried, or boiled, they are a quick source of protein for any meal of the day.

Master the Art of Quick Cooking

These simple techniques will get food on the table faster without sacrificing flavor.

15. One-Pan Meals. Roasting meat and vegetables together on a single sheet pan is brilliant. It’s easy, flavorful, and leaves you with only one pan to wash.

16. Use a Sharp Knife. A sharp knife is safer and faster than a dull one. It makes chopping feel less like a chore.

17. Clean As You Go. Have a 5-minute window while something is simmering? Wipe down the counter or wash a few dishes. This prevents a huge cleanup pile at the end.

18. Get Water Boiling First. Before you even start chopping, get a pot of water on the stove if you’re making pasta or boiling veggies.

19. Use Kitchen Shears. They’re not just for opening packages. Use them to snip herbs, cut up pizza, or even trim chicken directly in the pan.

20. Grate Your Butter. If you need to mix cold butter into a dough for biscuits or scones, grate it with a cheese grater. It incorporates much faster.

21. Embrace High Heat. For stir-fries and searing meat, don't be afraid to get your pan nice and hot. It cooks things faster and gives you a better flavor.

22. Slice Meat Thinly. Thin strips of chicken or beef cook in a fraction of the time it takes for a whole breast or steak.

Easy Cleanup for a Peaceful Evening

The meal isn’t truly over until the kitchen is clean. Make it painless.

23. Line Your Baking Sheets. Use parchment paper or aluminum foil. When you’re done, you just slide it off into the trash. No scrubbing required.

24. Use a "Garbage Bowl." Keep a bowl on the counter for all your food scraps and peels. This saves you multiple trips to the trash can.

25. Soak Pans Immediately. As soon as you serve the food, fill the warm pan with hot, soapy water. It will be much easier to clean later.

26. Let Appliances Work for You. Your slow cooker, rice cooker, and air fryer are your friends. They cook food with minimal supervision and mess.

27. A Good Non-Stick Pan is Worth It. You don't need a dozen pans. One great non-stick skillet can handle most jobs and cleans up in seconds.

28. Rinse and Load. Don't let dishes pile up in the sink. Rinse them and put them directly into the dishwasher right after your meal.

29. Use a Bench Scraper. This simple tool makes it easy to scoop up chopped veggies from your cutting board and transfer them to the pan without making a mess.

30. Cook in the Right Order. Cook non-messy items first. You can often reuse the same pan without washing it in between, like sautéing veggies before cooking eggs.

Cooking at home doesn't have to be another source of stress in your busy life. For me, learning these shortcuts was an act of taking back control. It was about respecting my body and being a good steward of the health God gave me. It transformed my relationship with food from one of chaos to one of gratitude.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start.

So here’s my challenge to you: Don’t try to do all 30 things at once. Pick just one. Which shortcut will you try this week to make your life a little easier and your meals a little healthier?