10 Easy Meals and Snacks That Require Few Cooking Utensils

Utensils are a pain– a pain to clean, a pain to put away. No one likes excessive dishes to do, so if you’re looking for a quick meal this summer that requires minimal effort pre and post-enjoyment, here are ten recommendations for you.

1. Vegan Sandwich

Sandwiches are the ultimate no-utensil meal. This Vegan Humdinger sandwich just requires a knife and a grater if you choose to grate your own carrots (sometimes they can be purchased pre-grated). 

2. Masala Meals

This simple Indian dish is a one spoon, one pot dish, and everything can be prepared with one knife. It can be eaten with simple naan bread, rice, or other grains that you think would compliment the Indian flavor. Try this Mushroom Mutter Masala. Also, try this Healthy Vegan Tofu Tikka Masala – you’ll also need a large casserole in addition to the pot.

3. Summery Smoothie

If you’re just looking for a quick, light meal or snack, a smoothie simply requires a few scoops and measurements in order to get  the ingredients into your blender. Try this Summery Mango and Hemp Smoothie and this Beginner Green Smoothie. 

4. Picnic Wraps

This is the same idea as the sandwiches: there isn’t anything much simpler than some veggies between two pieces of bread. In this case, the bread is the wrap of your choice, and these are the perfect light wraps for a summer picnic. Check out this recipe description as well to find out how to incorporate them into your next eco-picnic this summer.

5. Stir-Fry

Beets will soon be coming into season for most of us, and there are many ways to prepare the messy root vegetables. This Stir-Fried Beetroot Salad with Ginger, Lime and Toasted Spices recipe is a yummy way of preparing the routes with a knife and a single pan. They can be eaten with other vegetables, grains, on their own…the meal can be quite simple! Also, try this Spicy Mushroom Stir Fry with Garlic, Black Pepper and Chives. Don’t forget that the greens are delicious and edible as well!

6. Chickpea Salad

This one requires no cooking, so it requires no spatulas, wooden spoons, or pots…just get out a can of chickpeas and chop in some veggies! The dressing is super easy as well, meaning this is an ideal simple, quick meal. If you have grains or bread around, the meal would be more filling, but if you’re looking for something light or a quick side-dish, this salad is your friend. A small bit in a container makes a perfect, healthy on-the-go snack. Try this Lemony Chickpea Salad and this Tangy Vegan Curried Chickpea Salad.

7. Kebabs on the Grill

Kebabs, or veggie skewers, are almost easier than salad because you can choose heartier vegetables, cutting back on chopping time. Really, the only tasks are chopping, putting on the skewers, and then letting them sit on the grill for a bit. There’s not much as summery as casually grilling outside!

This Tofu Vegetable Kebabs recipe includes a great peanut sauce, which would increase your utensil usage for sure, so if you’d rather use a store-bought sauce, that would cut down on the prep time. Alternatively, a marinade could be as simple as some soy sauce and garlic. The options are limitless here! And, if you let your kebabs get crunchy on the outside, these treats can be finger foods as well. Try these Pineapple Island Vegan Kebabs and these Grilled Fruit Kebabs.

8. Black Bean and Corn Salsa

If you’ve got a couple cans of beans lying around (and some chips), this quick salsa recipe just requires throwing the beans in a bowl for some spice and vegetables. Scoop it up with some chips, and you’ve got a utensil-free finger food.

9. Brain Food Porridge

If you want a simple, hot breakfast, there’s nothing better than a bowl of oatmeal. To mix it up, use grains such as millet instead of oats, throw them in a pot, and voilà! A utensil-free preparation. If you’d like to make something a bit fancier, follow this recipe in order to spice things up a little bit.

10. Coconut Whipped Cream

To finish this list off, here’s a simple dessert recipe! Here’s an easy vegan whipped cream recipe, a scoop of which on some fresh fruit is a great summer dessert. So much simpler than baking, which requires tons of utensils, and incredible delicious!

Image source: Mushroom Mutter Masala