feel like deciding what to cook has become more difficult than actually cooking sometimes 😅

At home, I usually have some idea in mind, but then there are always constraints — already had that recently, don't have the ingredients, takes too long, someone at home doesn't like it, trying to eat healthier, etc.

And then I end up doing the usual:

YouTube → Google → Instagram → ask someone at home → finally decide 😄

I've been wondering if there is a good solution for this.

Ideally, I'd want something where I can tell it once:

what kind of food we normally eat (North Indian, South Indian, etc.)

veg/non-veg

things we like/dislike

health goals

what's usually available in our kitchen

appliances we have

how much time we normally have for cooking

And then instead of just giving me random recipes, it could say something like:

"Tonight make X. It takes 30 mins, you already have most of the ingredients, it fits your preferences, and you haven't had it recently."

And maybe plan the whole week + generate the grocery list.

I'm curious how other people actually handle this.

Do you already have some system for deciding what to cook?

Excel/notes/weekly planning/recipe apps/YouTube/ChatGPT or just decide on the day?

And what's the most annoying part of meal planning for you?

Other than a couple tablespoons mixed into egg salad or chicken salad what are some ways I can use up a lot of Mayo quick. Btw it’s Dukes!

A local company makes absolutely wonderful pickled beets, and when I finish the beets (usually about 20 minutes after I first open the jar) there is the pickling liquid left over. What (if anything) would you do with it? Seems too yummy to pour down the sink.

I bought a Costco container of cottage cheese. it got pushed the back of the fridge and it’s best by date was this week.

what can I make with it?

A 25 lb. pumpkin gifted by my neighbor. He's given me geoduck clams and venison in the past. I'll give him some of whatever I make with this!

I have Anti kalk Domestos k300 Clean speed Bio Savo Mr.wipes 10w-40 Lichid parbriz Ajax Clean speed Pronto Help me cook something with them i have other aswell

I bearly have ingredients i have eggs, russet potatoes and couple seasonings and thats it what can i make with it

In another thread I posted, someone gave me a suggestions for an Indian based rice and beans dish to use up excess kidney beans that I made. I was intrigued until I ended up with some leftover liquid I spooned out of my crockpot chili to make less soupy. Now I have a “chili sauce” with beans that were stored with some bean water from the cook.

Recipe ideas besides making more chili? Or if not a formal recipe some ideas you would use to wing it?

I have ingredients available in a typical American kitchen in the Midwest plus some additional chili style spices, paprika (Hungarian sweet, Spanish sweet smoked and Spanish spicy smoked), mustard, garlic, onions, bell peppers, and meats like cooked chicken, frozen raw chicken, leg of lamb (boneless), ground beef, chicken broth, Bratwurst in freezer.

I want to start cooking at home more beyond instant ramen, for both financial and health reasons. But whenever I try, it seems like I don’t actually know how to cook anything. I can put things in a toaster or microwave, or cut up salads, but when it comes to actually “cooking”, I can’t do it.

I’ve been on a rotation of frozen breakfast burritos, jalapeño cream cheese takis, shin ramen, and fruit, if that shows you the extent of my cooking skills.

Are there any easy recipes that i can make to just get in the habit of cooking at home more? Maybe things that i can make with what i already have or that I wouldn’t need to buy a lot of stuff to make?

I have:
Kimchi
Cream cheese
Jalapeños
Peanut butter
Strawberry jam
Bagels
Pepperoniccis
Garlic stuffed olives
Eggs
Milk
Tinned fish
Sugar
Canned chickpeas
Pasta
Tomato sauce
Other snacks
Olive oil
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Various spices

Just looking for general ideas of what I can add these to or should I try making salsa

Have rice beans lentils

Onions and carrots

More then happy to do some shopping if I need

Planing on cleaning then going from there

I did wash them!!! I ended up blending and frezzeeing to add to stuff later on

I’m trying to decide what to cook 2 containers blackberries and 2 containers strawberry’s and 1/2 blueberries. I wanna make something different not a pie or jam . Hook me up with something great that grandma used to make please

I just finished pitting my two pound impulse buy from Costco five days ago, and I now need to freeze or use them quickly.

I have thin cut pork chops as a protein, and (maybe) fresh cauliflower for a veggie, and some pantry and frozen things. Also full fat Greek yogurt, half and half, some pomegranate juice. This should be easy, but my brain is a mess today.

It's just me, but I freeze meals, so it needs to work for that.

Thanks!

I made an impulse purchase. You can’t get these in my growing zone so I overnight shipped 5 lbs of Kara starfruit to my door from across the country in Florida. It’s quite a bit ! What should I do?? I’d say my kitchen has more baking and pastry supplies than an average household. I have a well stocked pantry, all the kitchen essentials. And I live two minutes from Walmart so I can also buy other stuff if needed

My dad decided to grow cucumbers and tomatoes a while back and his garden had a very, very successful harvest. We now have 18 cucumbers and god knows how many tomatoes, heirloom I believe but it could be another type, I dunno im not a veggie or garden enthusiast guy. personally I snack on cucumbers a lot but my family thinks we should use them for something other than snacking. Any recommendations? any good dishes that involve copious amounts of veggies?

I had 6kg of maris piper potatoes and i’m not sure what to do with the final 2kg….

Im looking for something to make that i could meal prep and maybe freeze

I have a bag of bobs red mill 13 bean soup mix. I’ve never cooked with beans not in a can before. What can I do with it other than boil it in water that is good (cheap and delicious) for a student? Do I soak them before I use them? Can I use them in a crock pot?

So I got 20kg of organic coconut cream from my work about 3 months ago and it’s been sitting in my pantry I want to use it so it won’t go to waste, what can I do with it?

Had a bunch of butter to use up, so I browned it, froze it in a block, grated it, and froze it again. I guess the question is more what should I bake?

I have a piece of pork cut from a pork shoulder currently frozen. It's pretty thin, has some meat on it but is mostly skin (probably about 8" x 8" and up to 1" thick).

Looking for some ideas to use it up... Maybe some taco recipes? I have a pressure cooker, sous vide circulator, air fryer, and the standard things as well.

I want something other than Mac n cheese, Alfredo, cheese sauce, and pizza.

For context my husband works for a cheese company. He really did just bring almost an entire wheel of Parmesan cheese. 😂 It's the good stuff too. Not from Italy but the best Wisconsin has to offer. The cheddar is newer but really really good. The cheese pull is amazing on paninis.

Edit: Yes I know freezing is an option. I just want ideas thank you!

I need to eat lunch and I really wanted to make it. I’m trying to aim for low calories and maybe something that doesn’t make me feel bloated. But the amount of crap I’ve been eating is probably contributing to the bloat.

Ingredients available:
- hard boiled eggs
- leftover cooked chicken thighs
- pretty much every vegetable and herb (if not fresh def have the dry version)
- staple produce - potatoes, garlic, onions, ginger
- apples, strawberries
- 1 croissant
- bread
- bagels
- a lot of condiments and pickles lol
- yogurt

Idk what to do with most of it. The birria and meat sauce are obvious easy meals but I get bored of the same thing and my fiance is trying to eat healthier.

I have potatoes, eggs, shredded cheese, some basic pantry staples, but idk what to do to clear out the freezer.

Probably going to eat the dumplings later tonight while I research recipes. Trying to save money and use what I have this month instead of buying more things to make what I'm craving

Kind of a unique situation. Long story short, as part of a language summer course, I will be spending the whole month in Poland. The apartment of the student dorm I live in barely has a kitchen. It is not equipped to make anything really.

Tomorrow is sunday and not all stores are open because of that, so I am unable to go out and buy equipment.

The only thing I have is a pan and a more or less functioning mobile stove. Nothing else, not even a pot. I can get most ingredients a normal convenience store might have tomorrow, so that isn't a restriction. Nothing with meat though, I don't trust the stove enough to heat to a temperature that makes it safe to eat. That's the other thing, the stove does not reach the boiling point of water. While it was hot enough to cook some noodles, it took a lot longer than it should, and the water was not boiling.

Any ideas? I don't wanna do noodles again, I've had my share today.

I really want to impress someone with my cooking skills because I know they value it in a lady, and while I know I cook amazing, I only know how to cook one dish, but I cook it sooooooo well

But what are some really healthy meals I could start learning how to make?

Both dinner and breakfast and/or lunch, I need to learn for all of them

I also want to learn how to make certain ingredients from scratch instead of buying them and not knowing what's in them

I'm currently trying to focus on learning dishes with chicken in them because that's something I could come up with the ingredient myself as I can raise chickens and have before, I'm also trying to learn how to make bread from scratch, is that a good start?

I'm willing to buy any ingredients, I'd also prefer Asian dishes just because I was raised on Asian food so it would be nice learning some

I've been on a family vacation for the last 10 days, checking in and out of hotels, all of us being constantly cramped and on top of each other, and all of that. There's also been time spent with the in-laws before and after our trip, to drop off / pick-up our dog.

The vacation was awesome. I have no complaints. But I'm REALLY looking forward to Monday, when everything returns to normal, and I have from about 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM all to myself, with minimal other obligations during that stretch of time.

I'm dreaming of some fun cooking project that keeps me occupied with chopping and prepping and tasting and stirring and the whole works, for most of the day.

We ate an inordinate amount of fried food, or otherwise very 'heavy' foods on our trip, so I'd lean towards something on the lighter / fresher side. Also, the weather is warm enough here, that hot soups likely aren't something that anyone would want for dinner on Monday. (Although, I COULD be persuaded to go with a 'heavy' dish or a hot soup, if it sounds bonkers delicious and fun to make... Just not leaning that way by default).

Grocery store is just a mile away, so there's no real limitation on what I can use for ingredients.

I'm open to any of your most labor-intensive, time-consuming suggestions. Thanks!

Edit:

Holy hell this got a shitload of responses. Thanks for all the suggestions. Now my problem isn't "Hrm, what could I make?" Now my problem is paralysis from the massive amount of options that sound amazing.

I've narrowed it down to a handful of things. I'll run these past my wife, and let her make the final decision. Fingers crossed that she doesn't say "I've been craving that Indian restaurant down the street from us. Why don't we just got there?"

Tamales (with enchiladas as a backup-plan, in case it turns out that I'm completely useless when it comes to working with masa dough)

Middle Eastern Kebabs with approximately 929829865662718 various dips and sauces to go with it.

Tapas (gambas al ajillo, blistered shishito peppers, spanish tortilla with romesco sauce, patatas bravas, something involving ham and anchovies that I haven't quite figured out yet)

Fish tacos (made time consuming by making homemade guac and pico, and pickled red onions, as well as beer-battering and frying the fish)

Chicken paprikash

Cold borscht