Move Over, Boring Meals

Do you have the same old dishes playing on repeat? It may be time to bump your eating game up a notch. Break free from culinary monotony and add some zest to your life by introducing some new dishes to your rotation. Here are ten basic meals you’ve eaten enough of and ten adventurous ones to try. 

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1. Steak and Potatoes

We get it–steak is delicious and potatoes are their perfect mate. It’s a classic, but it’s tiresome. Next time you go to a nice restaurant, why not try something new?

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2. Spaghetti

Pasta with tomato sauce, while simple and good, isn’t exactly adventurous. How many times have you eaten it in your lifetime? Let’s try something different.

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3. Pizza

The concept of putting stuff on top of dough and baking it is as old as time. Although pizza is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, it does get old. 

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4. Hamburger

Hamburgers will always have their place at a backyard barbecue and we love them. We just think it’s high time to give some other dishes their day in the sun. 

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5. Chicken Noodle Soup

There’s a reason it’s what people eat when they’re feeling sick–it’s bland. Of all the soups out there, this watery beige concoction is low on our list.

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6. PB & J

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are as much an American classic as apple pie. They’re tasty but unless you have nothing else in your pantry, you could do better.

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7. Fish and Chips

It’s a good indication that the meal will be bland when there are no colors on the plate. Fish and chips is a pub classic and it may go well with a pint, but it’s not very exciting.

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8. Caesar Salad

We love salads, but this one takes the cake for being the most boring of them all. Just look at the ingredients: iceberg lettuce which is essentially water, croutons which are really just dried-out bread, creamy dressing, parmesan cheese, gross bacon bits, and chicken, the most uninteresting protein. 

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9. Pad Thai

Please, friends, stop ordering only chicken pad thai with a fork when you go for Thai food. This is the dish that every American orders and although it’s tasty, there are so many killer Thai dishes that’ll knock your socks off, it just takes venturing out of your comfort zone.

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10. BLT

Bacon is overrated. There, we said it! A sandwich made up of basic bread, tomato slices, and lettuce, with bacon as the star is bound to be boring. 

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Now that we've talked about the most snooze-worthy meals, let's wake up and talk about the exciting ones you can have instead.

1. Chicken and Waffles

Don’t knock it til’ you try it! Chicken and waffles is peak Southern comfort food. We don't know who was the genius who first thought of putting these two items together, but the combination of sweet and savory really works!

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2. Lentil Dahl

You’ve probably heard about how nutritious lentils are, so why not include them in your meal rotation? Lentil dahl is an Indian aromatic stew made from lentils and spices. It’s extremely versatile and comforting. 

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3. Shakshuka

Looking for a new way to serve eggs? Shakshuka is a flavor-packed Mediterranean breakfast dish of eggs poached in simmered tomatoes. It’s perfect when you have a lot of tomatoes on hand. 

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4. Braised Short Ribs

What’s nice about short ribs is they’re super cheap, and when braised, they get extremely tender. Simmer them in a sauce of red wine, broth, and vegetables for an easy one-pot crowd-pleaser. 

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5. Butter Chicken

This Indian dish is comprised of succulent chicken in a spicy creamy marinade. It’s a lovely departure from your tired old chicken dishes and is surprisingly easy to make. 

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6. Seafood Paella

Tired of boring old rice? Try paella, a Spanish dish made from short-grain rice, seafood, and spices like paprika and saffron. The ultimate leftover dish, you can put just about anything in a paella from chorizo to chicken thighs, the result is sure to be satisfying.  

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7. Bibimbap

This classic Korean dish is made up of sticky rice, a fun sweet and spicy sauce, and an egg on top. Although originally with marinated beef, it can be made with practically anything you want to make a delicious bowl of stuff. 

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8. Pork Katsu Sandwich

Move over BLT! There’s a new sandwich in town and it’s called pork katsu. This Japanese sandwich consists of panko-breaded pork, cabbage, and mayo between two slices of soft milk bread. Yum!

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9. Moussaka

Moussaka is a casserole similar to lasagna made from eggplant, lamb, and creamy bechamel sauce. It’s a staple of Greek cuisine that is equally comforting and delicious. 

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10. Ratatouille

When it comes to food, the French know what they're doing. Of all the greatest hits of French cuisine, ratatouille stands out because it’s vegetarian–that doesn’t mean it’s not bursting with flavor though! Eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers mingle together to make a delectable stew. 

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