Fast and Simple Food

When you make it through a long day and finally back to your apartment, one of the last things you may want to do is cook dinner. You have to find the ingredients, prep them, get out any pots and pans, and then do whatever technique your dish requires to cook. Sometimes it can feel like a real hassle, even if you live in Indianapolis luxury apartments with high-end kitchens like the ones at 82 Flats at the Crossing. However, sometimes all you need is a few go-to recipes that keep it simple so you can avoid constantly ordering in or relying on too many frozen pizzas. Here are some simple recipes to take out the stress and minimize the mess!

Super Simple Recipes

These recipes are made to make your life as easy as possible with a minimal ingredient list and minimal steps to prep. These are the kinds of dishes to turn to when you’re just cooking for yourself or need a casual, quick meal to make for you and friends or family.

Chicken Pad Thai: Pad Thai is a general crowd-pleaser, so this is a great recipe to have on hand. Most of the sauce ingredients you likely already have hiding in the fridge or cabinet. It takes a minimal amount of equipment, too. All you need is a small bowl and a pan. A final bonus for this recipe: it’s customizable. If you don’t love tofu or bean sprouts, then toss in a different veggie you have hiding in the fridge or freezer to make it more robust and unique to you. Pro tip: want to skip dealing with the hassle of cutting up raw chicken? You can always opt for a rotisserie chicken or precooked chicken from the deli section.

Pesto Pasta: If you’re looking for fresh and fast, this is the recipe for you. Enjoy a simple sauce of pesto, lemon juice, arugula, and parmesan. Bright flavors like these are ideal for a summer meal fix. You can also easily add seasonal sides, like some fresh fruit or crusty bread. If you want some protein, you can always add a side of chicken or steak or mix in some cannellini beans to make it more robust.

Easy Recipes

These recipes may have a few more ingredients, but they still feature minimal prep, minimal equipment, and great flavor. These could be your go-to recipes when you need something with more volume for a bigger group or want plenty of leftovers for lunches and other dinners. Whatever your strategy, these recipes will save on time but deliver on deliciousness.

Chicken Tortilla Soup: Don’t be daunted by the ingredient list for this one! Almost everything is already cooked, canned, or is a seasoning. The only thing you have to chop is some onion, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime wedges! A great benefit of this recipe is the simmering time. During those 20 minutes, you can clean up the prep area, set the table, wash some dishes, or even make it through a quick workout or TV episode. That way you won’t feel like your evening is being stolen by cooking.

Coconut Curry: This is another recipe with a longer ingredient list but again, minimal prep work. You can also change the vegetables, add some chicken, or adjust the seasoning blend to make it your own. A pro tip to save on prep: many grocery stores feature precut items in their produce area, like cauliflower florets and butternut squash. Take advantage of these shortcuts. They may cost a little more than buying the produce item and prepping it yourself, but it will still cost less than buying a meal out that only has one serving.

Simple But Impressive

Sheet Pan Tandoori Chicken: With a quick marinade and one sheet pan, you can impress your dinner guests with this flavorful chicken. The best part? The chicken and veggies all cook together, so you don’t have to worry about running around prepping your side dishes. You get your whole meal done at once, which leaves you time to have fun with guests or even go tidy up a bit while it all cooks. When it’s time to serve, show off by plating your chicken on its own platter and the vegetables in a large bowl. Want to expand the menu? This dish would be easily complemented with some rice or naan or sliced mango with some honey and mint.

Keep your life simple but luxurious at 82 Flats at the Crossing. Our Indianapolis apartments at Keystone at the Crossing are in a prime location and feature top-notch amenities. If you want to make your meals extra fresh, you can grow your own herbs in your personal outdoor space. If you want to enjoy a meal outdoors, visit the community grilling cabana. When those hectic nights happen and you just can’t make it to the kitchen, you can go out to top dining destinations in the area or you can pick up a fresh meal at HercuLean Meal Prep, located nearby. Want to learn more? Give us a call for more information and to schedule a tour at (317)-661-2850.