15 Delicious 1-Hour Recipes That'll Help You Unplug Every Day (2024)

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Before You Go Related FAQs References

unplugslow cookingdelicious recipes

If these won't inspire you to put down your smartphone, nothing will.

By

Julie R. ThomsonTaste Senior Editor, HuffPost

|

We live in a screen culture. There are TV screens in bars, waiting rooms, gas stations and even taxi cabs. Computers are in virtually every home and office. And then there's the little screen many of us carry around in our pockets or purses, never to leave home without. Bloomberg reports that people with access to smartphones or tablets spend an average of 2 hours and 57 minutes on them every single day. Startling, right?

If this fact-- on top of the possibility thattheymight be terrible for our health-- has scared you enough to put down the screen, we have a solution for you. We're not talking about giving up your devices cold turkey. In our society, that's nearly impossible. But we're up for putting them down for an hour each day to take the time to cook ourselves and our loved ones something delicious.

We've found 15 recipes that should inspire you to take the unplugging plunge. Each of them takes just 60 minutes, a reasonable amount of time to go screen-free. You've got this.

1

Mrs. Mooney's Gumbo

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Half Baked Harvest

Get the Mrs. Mooney's Gumbo recipe from Half Baked Harvest

2

Mongolian Beef

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The Woks Of Life

Get the Mongolian Beef recipe from The Woks of Life

3

Pan-Seared Fish With New Potatoes And Pea Sauce

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Feasting at Home

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5

Skillet Grilled Seafood and Chorizo Paella

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Half Baked Harvest

6

Thai Chicken Street Noodles

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How Sweet It Is

Get the Thai Chicken Street Noodles recipe from How Sweet It Is

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7

Orange Chicken

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The Woks Of Life

Get the Orange Chicken recipe from The Woks of Life

8

Italian Turkey And Tomato Basil Eggplant Roll Pasta Bake

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Half Baked Harvest

9

Pork Chive Dumplings

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The Woks Of Life

Get the Pork Chive Dumplings recipe from The Woks Of Life

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10

Spatchco*ck Braise-Roasted Chicken

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Slim Palate

11

Lobster Bisque Pot Pies

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How Sweet It Is

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12

Nutella S'mores Puff Pastry Pop Tarts

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How Sweet It Is

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13

Honey Butter Stone Fruit And Blackberry Meringue Tart

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Half Baked Harvest

14

Mini Lavender Pavlovas With Summer Berries

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Cafe Johnsonia

15

Baba Ganoush

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Slim Palate

Get the Baba Ganoush recipe from Slim Palate

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Before You Go

Meet Your New Favorite Chicken Recipes

A Surprising Way To The Holy Grail Of Chicken(01 of 05)

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Maple syrup is the secret weapon for getting crispy-skinned roast chicken in this recipe from Gena Knox's Southern My Way: Food & Family cookbook. You mix the sweetener with chopped pecans and some apple cider vinegar, and brush it onto the chicken for the last 25 minutes of cooking; the sugars help the meat develop a beautiful, crunchy exterior.

Get the recipe: Maple Pecan-Glazed Chicken

(credit: Brian Woodco*ck)

A Go-To Bird For All Seasons(02 of 05)

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Knox has a terrific way to jazz up grilled (or grill-panned) chicken, and it only requires four simple ingredients: olive oil, garlic, cumin and lime juice. The vibrant flavors give the dish a warm-weather feel no matter what time of year you're eating it. To complete the meal, try it with a simple avocado and tomato salad, or black beans and rice.

Get the recipe: Lime Grilled Chicken

(credit: Brian Woodco*ck)

A Fantastic Use for Croutons (That's Not Salad)(03 of 05)

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Toasted baguette cubes can take a Caesar salad from good to great, and it turns out they can also work their magic in a one-pan chicken-and-vegetables dish, as Kelsey Nixon shows in her cookbook Kitchen Confidence. The croutons add a subtle crunch to the dish, softening slightly as they soak up all the flavor from the meat and vegetables (you can use whatever's in season, from parsnips to sweet potatoes to carrots to sugar snap peas).

Get the recipe: Lemon-Scented Chicken Thighs

(credit: Sarah Remington)

The Best Chicken Salad You've Never Had(04 of 05)

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Put down the mayo and step away from the chopped celery: Chef Jody Williams has shown us a totally new (and amazing) way to make an American classic. The author of Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food lays torn pieces of a still-warm roasted chicken (use a rotisserie one if you like) atop a bed of salad greens, boiled potatoes and haricots verts. Everything gets drizzled with a Dijon vinaigrette, and you've got a dish that feels light enough for lunch yet substantial enough for dinner.

Get the recipe: Roast Chicken Salad and Haricots Verts with Mustard Vinaigrette

The Throw-It-in-a-Pan-and-Forget-About-It Chicken(05 of 05)

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This dish came about out of necessity, improvised with items Sweet Paul magazine creator Paul Lowe had on hand when some unexpected guests showed up. As Lowe explains in his book, Sweet Paul Eat & Make, you simply lay chicken thighs in a baking dish; scatter lemon wedges, olives and capers over the top; pour lemon juice and olive oil over the chicken; and, bake for 25 minutes. The lemon juice makes the chicken tender and the capers and olives mix with the juices to create a tasty sauce.

Get the recipe: Chicken with Olives and Capers

(credit: © Alexandra Grablewski)

Related

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15 Delicious 1-Hour Recipes That'll Help You Unplug Every Day (2024)

FAQs

What to cook in 1 hour? ›

Recipe that Take about an Hour to Make
  • Chicken. Chicken Meatballs.
  • Chicken. Sweet and Sour Chicken.
  • Vegetable Sides. Brussels Sprouts in the Oven.
  • Snacks. Sweet Potato Chips.
  • Breakfast. Sweet Potato Hash.
  • Desserts. Perfect Every Time Brownies.
  • Cakes. Better Than Sex Cake.
  • Breakfast. Baked Oatmeal.

What should I cook if I'm bored? ›

Soups, stews, bolognese sauces, white sauces, beans and lentils are all good big batch foods that can be transformed into a variety of dishes.

How to make food in 5 minutes? ›

5-minute meals recipes
  1. Storecupboard pasta salad. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  2. Pan-fried camembert sandwich. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  3. Prawn & coconut soup. ...
  4. Classic French omelette. ...
  5. Chicken wrap with sticky sweet potato, salad leaves & tomatoes. ...
  6. Creamy tomato courgetti. ...
  7. Speedy tuna pasta salad. ...
  8. Easy pea & mint soup.

What to make when you have no food left? ›

15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
  1. Buttery, gooey grilled cheese.
  2. PB&J because duh.
  3. Tuna melt tostadas.
  4. Pancakes! Pancakes!
  5. Scrambled eggs.
  6. Waffles.
  7. A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal.
  8. Spaghetti carbonara.
Apr 28, 2020

What food fills you up for hours? ›

"Protein is the macronutrient that will likely leave you feeling more sated, but fiber-rich carbohydrates — whole grains, beans, lentils, oatmeal, raspberries and even some vegetables like collard greens, kale and artichokes — are a close second," says Arrindell.

What is the most easiest food to cook? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
  • Honey Balsamic Chicken. ...
  • Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ...
  • White Bean Soup With Vegetables. ...
  • Smoked Gouda and Mushroom Quesadillas. ...
  • Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage. ...
  • Scrambled Egg Tacos. ...
  • 15-Minute Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. ...
  • One-Pot Chicken and Rice with Artichokes.
Jan 2, 2019

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

13 Emergency Dinners for When You Don't Have Time to Cook
  1. 01 of 14. Broiled Tilapia Parmesan. ...
  2. 02 of 14. Asian Beef with Snow Peas. ...
  3. 03 of 14. Vegetarian Chickpea Tacos. ...
  4. 04 of 14. Sicilian Spaghetti. ...
  5. 05 of 14. Waffle Pizzas. ...
  6. 06 of 14. Shrimp and Peanut Butter Noodles. ...
  7. 07 of 14. Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups. ...
  8. 08 of 14.
Jul 26, 2021

What to make when you're hungry and have no food? ›

Here are 17 recipes to cook when you have no food in your fridge!
  • Chili With a Kick!
  • Warm German Potato Salad With Bacon.
  • Grated Sweet Potato Pudding.
  • Pioneer Woman's Buttered Rosemary Dinner Rolls.
  • White Bean Dip With Pita Chips.
  • Jean's Ham Salad.
  • Pear Apple Butter.
  • One Pot Spaghetti.
Aug 24, 2023

What can you cook in 8 minutes? ›

8-minute recipes (91)
  • 8 minute Spanish rice. ...
  • 8 minute spicy Ramen. ...
  • 8 Minute Fudge. ...
  • 3 Minute Bread Pudding (for breakfast and snacktime) ...
  • Easy Egg Sandwiches in 5 Minutes! ...
  • California Farm Panfried Halibut with Asparagus. ...
  • SHRIMP FETTUCCINE ALFREDO 😋❤️😘💋💋💋 ...
  • Glossy!

What cooks food quickly? ›

  • Air Fryer. Air fryers were the must-have appliance a few years ago because they could cook french fries, wings and cheese sticks with less fat. ...
  • Instant Pot. Instant Pots have been an essential kitchen appliance for about a decade. ...
  • Toaster Oven. ...
  • Food Processor. ...
  • Slow-Cooker. ...
  • Stand Mixer. ...
  • Chef's Knife.
Nov 1, 2022

What to eat with barely any food? ›

Rice Bowls are so easy and versatile. You can top them with whatever little bits of meat, cheese, beans, and veggies you have on hand. Depending on which rice you buy, dinner can be ready in 20 to 45 minutes. Cook some rice, assemble your toppings, and get to good eating!

How to make tasty food at home? ›

10 Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better
  1. Don't Prepare Garlic and Onions in Advance. ...
  2. Don't Seed Tomatoes. ...
  3. Keep Fats Tasting Fresh. ...
  4. Strike Only When the Pan Is Hot. ...
  5. Never Discard the Fond. ...
  6. Season with Sugar, Too. ...
  7. Bloom Spices and Dried Herbs in Fat. ...
  8. Brown Breads, Pies, and Pastries.

What takes 30 minutes to cook? ›

30-minute meal recipes
  • Mustard-stuffed chicken. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Air-fryer fish tacos. This is a premium piece of content available to registered users. ...
  • Coconut fish curry. ...
  • Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) ...
  • Air-fryer sweetcorn fritters. ...
  • 30 minute chicken & tarragon pasta. ...
  • Thai prawn noodles. ...
  • Pork noodle stir-fry.

What can I cook in short time? ›

25 healthy recipes you can cook in 5 minutes or less
  • Pea and broad bean couscous. ...
  • Beetroot and lentil salad. ...
  • Fast home-made baked beans. ...
  • Porridge. ...
  • Pasta with cherry tomatoes and rocket. ...
  • Home-made hummus. ...
  • Smashed avocado and wilted spinach. ...
  • Cucumber (or potato) raitha.

What cooks food in a short amount of time? ›

Dry-heat cooking methods such as airfrying, baking, roasting, microwaving and stir-frying work well when cooking vegetables quickly as do certain wet heat cooking methods such as blanching and boiling.

What takes 20 minutes to cook? ›

Under 20-minute recipes
  • Salmon with beetroot, feta & lime salsa. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Basic omelette recipe. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. ...
  • Air fryer sausages. ...
  • Air-fryer lamb chops. ...
  • Air fryer salmon. ...
  • Burrata bruschetta. ...
  • Air-fryer garlic bread. ...
  • Smoked mackerel, courgette & butter bean salad.

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