21 Dinners To Make Without Touching A Fresh Ingredient

Some nights, fresh ingredients just aren’t happening. Maybe you skipped the grocery store or maybe you’re staring down a fridge full of nothing. Either way, these dinners don’t need anything more than what’s in your freezer, pantry, or the back of the fridge. No chopping, no wilting herbs, no guilt about ignoring that bag of spinach again. They’re fast, low-effort, and still feel like actual meals.

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

This dinner leans entirely on freezer and pantry staples—frozen mushrooms and peas, broth, rice, and a splash of whatever milk or cream you’ve got on hand. No chopping, no produce, and definitely no need to babysit the stove the whole time. It’s rich, cozy, and perfect for nights when you’re running on fumes but still want something better than microwaved soup.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Spring Lamb Nachos

Frozen ground lamb, peas, and shredded cheese make this way more than a snack. You can throw it together in one pan, bake it, and call it dinner without ever opening the crisper drawer. Add canned or jarred toppings like olives or pickled jalapeños if you have them, or just keep it simple. These nachos are fast, filling, and weirdly satisfying for how little effort they take.
Get the Recipe: Spring Lamb Nachos

Tofu Fried Rice

Day-old rice, frozen peas, frozen carrots, and a block of tofu straight from the fridge turn into a full meal in 15 minutes. It hits the same notes as takeout without needing fresh herbs or chopping anything. Add soy sauce and sesame oil from your pantry, toss it in a hot pan, and dinner’s done. This one’s great when the only thing fresh in your kitchen is bad news.
Get the Recipe: Tofu Fried Rice

Creamy Tomato Farfalle

All you need is a box of farfalle, jarred sauce, frozen peas, and some prosciutto or bacon from the fridge. The result is a creamy, salty, sweet pasta dish that feels like you tried without actually trying. It comes together fast, makes good leftovers, and doesn’t ask you to prep a single fresh ingredient. Perfect for the kind of night where you open the fridge and immediately close it again.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tomato Farfalle

Recipe for Pea Salad

Frozen peas, mayo, shredded cheese, and some pantry seasonings turn into a cold salad that’s oddly addictive and incredibly easy. This one’s great for when you want something quick that doesn’t involve cooking or chopping. It works as a side or a light dinner on hot days when effort feels impossible. You could dress it up with bacon bits or red onion if you’ve got them, but it’s fine just as it is.
Get the Recipe: Recipe for Pea Salad

Hot Turkey Sandwich

Use leftover turkey from the freezer, a can of gravy, and frozen peas to pull this together in minutes. It’s salty, saucy, and hits that comfort food mark without needing a single fresh ingredient. Serve it over white bread or whatever’s left in the bread bag. This is the kind of dinner that looks like you planned ahead but really just raided the freezer.
Get the Recipe: Hot Turkey Sandwich

Riso al Forno

Baked rice with frozen peas, cheese, and whatever protein you’ve got stashed in the freezer—this one’s filling, easy to prep, and all hands-off. Just toss everything in a dish and let the oven do the work. It’s perfect when you want something hot and hearty but can’t be bothered with a knife or cutting board.
Get the Recipe: Riso al Forno

Pancetta Pea Pasta

Frozen peas, pasta, and chopped pancetta from the fridge come together fast in this salty, slightly sweet dinner. No produce, no stress. You boil the pasta, crisp the meat, toss in the peas, and you’re done. This one works great for when you need something easy and comforting but don’t want to think too hard about it.
Get the Recipe: Pancetta Pea Pasta

Arroz con Pollo

This one-pot meal relies on frozen chicken thighs, peas, and pantry rice to deliver a full dinner without needing fresh anything. The spices bring it all together, and it reheats like a dream. It’s great for busy nights, lazy weekends, or whenever the produce drawer is just holding ketchup packets and expired lettuce.
Get the Recipe: Arroz con Pollo

Peanut Butter Rice

This might sound weird until you try it. Rice, frozen peas, peanut butter, soy sauce, and a little garlic powder come together in one pot for a salty-sweet dinner that actually works. It’s cheap, fast, and perfect when groceries are running low but you still want something filling.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Rice

Air Fryer Garlic Ginger Shrimp

Frozen shrimp go straight into the air fryer with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce from the pantry. No defrosting, no prep, just 20 minutes to a flavorful, hands-off dinner. Serve it over rice, or just eat it straight. It’s a solid choice when you need to fake effort fast.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Garlic Ginger Shrimp

Brown Butter Shrimp and Orzo

Frozen shrimp, orzo, corn, and canned tomatoes come together in one pan with brown butter for a dinner that feels fancier than it is. It cooks quickly and doesn’t ask for anything fresh. You’ll get flavor, comfort, and fewer dishes than you’d expect from something this good.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Shrimp and Orzo

Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp

All you need is frozen shrimp, pasta, garlic, and canned tomatoes to pull off this one. It’s done in 30 minutes and doesn’t ask for chopping, marinating, or anything fresh. It’s simple but hits hard on flavor and gets the job done when you’re too tired to cook and too stubborn to order out.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp

Gochujang Chicken

Frozen chicken thighs, gochujang, soy sauce, and sugar make up this spicy, sticky dinner that’s fast and satisfying. No prep, no fresh ingredients, just bold flavor and a sauce that’s good on everything. Serve it over rice and call it a night.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Chicken

Ground Beef Stir Fry

Brown some frozen ground beef, toss in frozen veggies, and mix with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. It’s fast, reliable, and doesn’t need anything fresh to feel like a real meal. You can throw it over rice, noodles, or just eat it from the pan if you’re too tired to deal with plates.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry

Pesto Salmon

A frozen salmon filet and a jar of pesto turn into dinner in 25 minutes flat. No defrosting, no chopping—just bake it and go. Serve it with pasta, rice, or any frozen vegetables you’ve got left. It’s great for when you want to feel like you tried without actually putting in much effort.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon

Blackstone Pizza

If you’ve got frozen naan or crust and some jarred sauce, pizza night is back on. Top it with whatever’s hanging out in the fridge or freezer. Throw it on the griddle or in the oven, and dinner’s ready. Way better than digging through the freezer for a frozen pizza you forgot you already ate.
Get the Recipe: Blackstone Pizza

Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Skip the thaw and go straight from freezer to air fryer. A quick maple mustard sauce makes this salmon dinner feel complete without any prep. It’s done in 20 minutes and works with frozen veggies or leftover rice.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts

Toss frozen chicken breasts straight in the air fryer and season them with pantry spices. They come out juicy and ready in 30 minutes. This is the move when you forgot to defrost anything and still need to eat something that looks like dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These go from freezer to plate in about 15 minutes. They’re crispy, fast, and perfect when the bar is low and everyone just wants something familiar that doesn’t take actual cooking. Serve with frozen fries, rice, or whatever’s easiest.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Vegetable Cheddar Quesadilla

Frozen veggies, shredded cheese, and a tortilla. That’s it. Throw it in a skillet and dinner’s done in under 10 minutes. Great when you’re out of produce and patience but still need to feed someone.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Cheddar Quesadilla