20 Mixes For People Who Love Food But Suck At Cooking
Because you see the delivery guy more than you see your own roommate.
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1. Quaker stepped-up oatmeal mixes that'll just require adding water and microwaving. I've had them before and they have no business being that delicious.
2. Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix so you can, well, you already know the joke I was going to make.
3. Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice Mix for a super satisfying main in 30 minutes when you just add a pound of meat or shrimp.
Perhaps you've wondered, as I have, if people in New Orleans actually use this stuff. – well on a recent trip there, I spotted this on the shelf of the *legit* Italian grocery store where they invented the muffuletta sandwich. So that's good enough for me! (P.S. Go there.)
Promising review: "This is an easy and versatile dinner option. I've been using this product awhile and found that it was very easy to buy through Amazon Pantry. I try to keep at least one Zatarain's product on hand for a last minute dinner option. With the jambalaya you can use chicken, shrimp, sausage, really any kind of meat you want! Or a mixture of meats! Keeps my fiance happy and our stomachs full for less!" —Emma
Get it from Amazon for $1.69.
4. World Seasonings Curry in a Hurry combines 18+ ingredients for a delicious curry taste you can add to all sorts of things, from roasted cauliflower to a dry rub for meats.
Promising review: "So much flavor in each pinch! Each one has the ability to transform your meals. My toddler doesn’t always love his veggies as much as I’d hope, but with a pinch of flavor from Go Greek and he finishes his broccoli!! Curry in a hurry is our favorite to add to lentils. So many uses for each one." —Sea Warrior
Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (also available in eight other spice blends like Go Greek and Italiano Pronto).
5. Honest Earth All-Natural Creamy Mash will help you fix mashed potatoes for a crowd (or just yourself!) in no time flat.
Promising review: "These are the best. My daughter first found them at Costco, and then I found them here for essentially the same price. The small packets are deceiving, they make a lot! I use milk or water or a combination of both and butter of course. You can add in all the stuff you might with homemade and they come close. I use partial packages for recipes and small meals. I have even made a thinner version (just more liquid) with some spices to make a quick late night potato soup. A staple in our house now." —Sharon
Get a box of 14 pouches from Amazon for $22.58.
6. And Idahoan Au Gratin and Scalloped Homestyle Casserole Potatoes – a pantry mainstay you can rely on as sides for many different weeknight dinners.
Promising review: "My favorite thing about these potatoes is that they are both delicious and gluten free. They taste like normal scallop potatoes. They are easy to make and provide a nice side to most meals." —Michelle La Homme
Get them from Amazon for $14.
7. Krusteaz Gluten-Free Honey Cornbread Mix can easily help sop up the remains of a ~perfectly good~ canned chili.
Promising review: "This cornbread is amazing. I was hoping it would be close to regular cornbread, since 'close' seems to be all we can wish for (those on gluten-free diets know exactly what I'm talking about). I will be so bold as to say this is the best cornbread I've ever eaten....regardless that it is gluten-free. The whole family loved it...and that doesn't happen too often." —Rick
Get it from Amazon for $3.78 (also available in nine other tasty mixes).
8. Betty Crocker Bisquick Baking Mix in a shake-and-pour container to make whipping up some pancakes or putting that waffle iron from your wedding registry to excellent use.
9. FlapJacked Protein Pancake and Baking Mix as a breakfast-for-dinner option that'll keep you feeling satisfied.
Promising review: "This is my first time trying protein pancakes as I'm trying to lose weight and gain muscle. I wanted something yummy and different than traditional diet foods and sources of protein and these are great! They're a little dense and not exactly a perfect match to a pancake flavor, but pretty darn close. I put a little sugar free butter flavored syrup on them, even added cinnamon to one batch. I will be buying more." —Kaselyn
Get it from Amazon for $6.64 (available in three flavors).
10. Mommy Knows Best Lactation Cookie Mix for something that isn't a meal, per se, but will SO come in handy for busy new moms who don't have the time to search for lactation cookie recipes on Pinterest.
Promising review: "I loved these cookies! I had a lazy side that would only produce around half an ounce, while my other side would do 1.5–2 ounces. I was trying to pump and nurse at the same time. I made these cookies - super easy to do — and after eating 1–2 about an hour before i tried to pump was able to get 3 ounces per side, including the lazy side! Definitely recommend!" —Honeybee
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
11. Kosmos Q Buffalo Wing Dust to step up the game watch with flavor that tastes like you got it from that hole-in-the-wall wing place in town. (Those places always have the best wings, hands down.)
Promising review: "Rich, buttery and somewhat spicy buffalo flavor without the sauciness! Really happy to have found this product!! Comes in a resealable bag. This buffalo wing dust (AND the salt-and-vinegar variety) frees me from having to go out for wings. Who doesn't like self-sufficiency with their tasty wings??" —Tracy C
Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in a variety of flavors).
12. NongShim Shin Ramyun Noodle Soup will help satisfy your cravings for that legendary noodle shop where they know your name like on Cheers. It could be the next best thing ;).
Promising review: "These are GREAT ramen noodles all things considered. I’m a ramen foodie and nothing beats the authenticity of traditional Ramen. However if you’re on a budget this is definitely the way to go. The noodles taste great, the spices are amazing. I love spicy food and this product definitely doesn’t disappoint! Just beware if you don’t like spicy use less of the seasoning packet. One pack is very filling and that’s coming from me, a decent-sized guy. I like to add green onions, cilantro, a soft boiled egg, and sautéed pork loin. Takes 20 minutes max to prep with these additions (see pic). You won’t be disappointed with this product." —A.P. Marshall
Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $17.34.
13. King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread + Muffin Mix you can easily whip up and pour into a muffin pan because if eating a slew of muffins for a meal is wrong, I don't wanna be right.
14. Redtown Chili Seasoning Mix that'll make cooking up a hearty pot of the good stuff even better thanks to its ease.
Promising review: "This chili seasoning makes a delicious, unique pot of chili. I made the recipe on the back even though I was skeptical of the simplicity. Boy was wrong! I ate the whole pot. I have been making chili for years using everything from coffee stouts to andouille and none have tasted as good as Redtown Chili. I will always have Redtown Chili in my cupboard." —brad giacomini
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $10.99.
15. McCormick Bag 'n Season Original Chicken Cooking Bag and Seasoning Mix to bring the right amount of seasoning to the dinner table.
Promising review: "These easy chicken season bags are a perfect one-pot dinner... just chop up veggies, toss in chicken, sprinkle seasoning over everything, and cook away! Couldn't be simpler, and the taste is always a crowd pleaser (if you like tender, flavorful chicken). I travel a lot and always take these with me on longer trips to cook up a tasty and familiar meal. I now get requests to bring packets overseas with me!" —Amazon Customer
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $14.27 (also available for roasted pork tenderloin, pork chops, and pot roast).
16. Stonewall Kitchen Traditional Crepe Mix can help you feel fawn-cy when you realize crepes are a base for soooo many things. Nutella crepes, ham and cheese crepes... think of the possibilities!!!
Promising review: "The crepes that I have made using this product have turned out to be so delicious, I now just stick to buying this brand." —Maria Contreras
Get it from Amazon for $7.95.
17. Zatarain's White Bean Seasoning Mix will be just the thing to step up a weeknight meal because even people who aren't good at cooking know that seasoning is the key to memorable flavors — I guess except that chicken recipe lady that went on Oprah.
Promising review: "I am from Louisiana and I moved to Georgia because my husband is military. I could not find this product anywhere in Georgia, so I decided to buy it through Amazon. This is the only brand that makes such good rice and beans. I also love the red beans and rice mix. It tastes just how my mother makes her beans and rice. I add sausage, green chiles, onion, and other things (depending on my mood) and it turns out great!" —karen waters
Get 12 boxes from Amazon for $22.69.
18. Campbell's Slow Cooker Sauces Tavern Style Pot Roast lets you simply add beef and veggies to your most-used kitchen appliance.
Promising review: "Campbell's Tavern Style Pot Roast with Mushrooms and Roasted Garlic is a fantastic, easy to use meal solution. With two to three pounds of beef, a slow cooker and a bit of patience, this sauce will turn a chuck roast into a mouthwatering, tender and moist comfort food meal. It has a rich flavor that comes from what is, for the most part, an all natural ingredients list. I enjoy the Tavern Style Pot Roast with Mushrooms and Roasted Garlic, and I recommend it for its convenience." —J. Sullivan
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $19.14+ (also available in six more flavors).
19. McCormick Italian Herb Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix you can throw on roasted potatoes or just add to some jar pasta sauce for a hint of homemade flavor.
Promising review: "My family are Italian and I'm a chef. I use a lot of spices. This mixture is wonderful. I use it on roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, in my breadcrumbs. I'm ready to buy another in about a week. For Lazy Spaghetti add a tablespoon to Ragu sauce for two people. I even fooled my family... they thought it was Grandma's recipe." —Adviso INC.
Get it from Amazon for $10.60.
20. McCormick Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix (and a can of tomato sauce) to throw together a super satisfying meal for your meat-loving fam. Let's give sloppy joes the appreciation they deserve!!!
How your fam's going to dance when they find out it's sloppy joe night
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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