Imagine this: you’re at home, the day feels long, money is a little tight, and all you want is something warm, familiar, and comforting. For many of us, that’s where “struggle meals” come in; those simple dishes your family made, your mom threw together, or you learned to whip up when there wasn’t much else in the kitchen. They’re not fancy, not picture-perfect, but somehow they always hit the spot in a way restaurant food never quite can. There’s something deeply nostalgic about them, almost like edible comfort blankets from simpler times.
And that’s exactly what people opened up about in a Reddit thread we came across — sharing their most unexpected, creative, and sometimes surprisingly delicious “struggle meals.” From day-old rice mixed with milk and raisins, to tater tot casseroles, to mac and cheese with hot dogs thrown in for good measure… It’s a mix of chaos, comfort, and culinary survival. Some of it might sound questionable, but honestly? A lot of it just works. Keep scrolling, but don’t blame us if you suddenly get hungry halfway through.
#62
American goulash- ground beef, elbow macaroni (any pasta would do really) and some canned tomatoes and canned corn. It was one of the few ways I’d eat corn. Occasionally I’d throw in some canned green beans too.
The American version of shepherd’s pie- I’ve used both canned and frozen mixed vegetables for this. Could be any sort of ground meat works.
And on that note, pot pie sounds good if you want to used chunks of meat. Pretty much the same filling, you just top it with pie crust or biscuit dough instead of mashed potatoes.
Tuna noodles- canned tuna with some macaroni and mayo. Grandma uses celery but I’m not a fan so I season with celery salt instead. I always go light on the mayo.
Quiche was my struggle dish last night. It might sound complicated but if you have a pie crust it’s super easy to make and easy to change out filling options.
Roasted chicken breast with roasted potatoes and asparagus was my original no thought meal. I know asparagus is more expensive but it could easily be substituted with broccoli or green beans. Just coated everything with olive oil, the chicken and potatoes got Everglades seasoning and lemon juice went on the veg, then roasted till ready to eat.
The American version of shepherd’s pie- I’ve used both canned and frozen mixed vegetables for this. Could be any sort of ground meat works.
And on that note, pot pie sounds good if you want to used chunks of meat. Pretty much the same filling, you just top it with pie crust or biscuit dough instead of mashed potatoes.
Tuna noodles- canned tuna with some macaroni and mayo. Grandma uses celery but I’m not a fan so I season with celery salt instead. I always go light on the mayo.
Quiche was my struggle dish last night. It might sound complicated but if you have a pie crust it’s super easy to make and easy to change out filling options.
Roasted chicken breast with roasted potatoes and asparagus was my original no thought meal. I know asparagus is more expensive but it could easily be substituted with broccoli or green beans. Just coated everything with olive oil, the chicken and potatoes got Everglades seasoning and lemon juice went on the veg, then roasted till ready to eat.
Report
3points
#63
Pork chop cooked in cream of mushroom and fried taters. Leftover soup can get oddly exciting. Toss together leftover meats with chopped taters onion and carrots.
Report
3points
