The Babish Culinary Universe took a joyful dive into the world of low-budget creativity, asking subscribers for their favorite struggle meals and then cooking through the wildest and most resourceful submissions. This article celebrates those finds and expands with three simple, nourishing recipes—congee, spaghetti Neapolitan, and lentil sloppy joes—that fit the spirit of cooking, easy recipes for anyone who needs to make do with what’s in the pantry.
Why struggle meals matter
Struggle meals are more than thrift: they’re invention under constraint. They use staples—rice, eggs, ramen, canned protein, ketchup—and turn them into something satisfying. The creator’s taste-testing is upbeat, forgiving, and curious, offering ratings and tweaks while celebrating ingenuity. For readers looking for cooking, easy recipes, these entries are full of practical inspiration.
Subscriber picks: quick takes and honest ratings
Egg Rice — simple, essential (rated 8/10)
A base of microwave rice topped with a soft, almost-omurice-style egg shell, finished with furikake and sriracha. It’s fast, comforting, and inexpensive—classic cooking, easy recipes territory. Key tip: keep the eggs custardy so they mix into the rice for a silky texture.
Shin Hot Dog Fried Rice — adventurous and spicy (rated 7/10)
Canned hot dogs seared crisp, frozen veg, microwave rice, and Shin ramen seasoning. Unexpectedly coherent: the ramen packet flavor translates well to fried rice, and the smoky canned sausages contribute meaty notes. Use leftover chilled rice if possible, or add a touch of water to par-cooked grains to finish them in the pan.
“Ass Risotto” — carbonara trickery (rated 9/10)
Rice cooked in stock without stirring, rested, then mixed with egg and Parmesan as in carbonara to produce a creamy, gloopy dish. It’s not technically risotto, but it’s brilliant for quick creaminess when Arborio isn’t available. Pro tip: don’t rinse the rice—leave the starch for viscosity.
Marm-eans on Toast — British comfort elevated (rated 6/10)
Heinz baked beans with a spoonful of Marmite, placed over cheesy toast and broiled (or air-fried). Marmite amps up umami; shredding a block of cheddar is preferable to pre-shredded cheese. This is straightforward and satisfying—perfect when bread and beans are on hand.
Not-Quite Chili — lentils + cottage cheese (rated 5/10)
Overcooked lentils, canned tomatoes, and a heavy hand of garlic/onion and adobo seasoning. Cottage cheese adds creaminess but looks unappealing to some. This one is healthy and filling; cook lentils less and add color and heat for a higher score.
Gochujang Dahl — spicy, veggie-forward (rated 6/10)
Red lentils cooked with scallion, garlic, gochujang, and ketchup/soy—plus frozen veg. It’s hearty and nutritious, though overly spicy for some palates. A dash of acid (vinegar or pickling liquid) brightens it; consider cumin or roasted chili for a more dal-like profile.
Spicy Peanut Ramen — condiment wizardry (rated 9/10)
Peanut butter, soy, toasted sesame oil, chili crisp, and a touch of garlic/onion powder turned basic instant noodles into a rounded bowl. This is a top example of how condiments can turn instant ramen into a full meal—perfect for anyone after cooking, easy recipes that actually hit.
Bacon Egg Fried Ramen — breakfast for dinner (rated 6/10)
Bacon rendered slowly, eggs mixed with seasoning, and ramen finished in the bacon butter. Delicious but very greasy—drain some fat or skip the extra butter for balance.
F*ck Off I’m Drunk — unapologetically loud (rated 5/10)
An all-in condiment explosion: sweet-and-sour sauce, Kewpie mayo, chili crisp, Sriracha, and shredded pepper jack over spicy ramen with a fried egg. Fun and messy; best sampled at 3 a.m. and not recommended for delicate stomachs.
Three practical recipes to send back to your struggling past
These are straightforward, budget-friendly recipes that use overlapping pantry staples so one small shopping trip yields many options. They’re written for readers who want cooking, easy recipes that are forgiving and quick.
Congee — rice porridge for the win
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup rice, 4 cups water (adjust for desired thickness), salt, toppings (sautéed onions & peppers, mushrooms, bacon, scallions, soy, sesame oil).
- Method: Don’t rinse the rice. Simmer rice in water until it breaks down into porridge (time varies by rice type). Stir occasionally, then let rest so carryover heat finishes it. Season and pile on toppings—congee is a canvas.
Congee is comforting, stretching, and endlessly customizable—an essential entry in any cooking, easy recipes playbook.
Spaghetti Neapolitan — ketchup-based pasta (10–20 min)
- Ingredients: Spaghetti, 4 slices bacon (chopped), 1 small onion (sliced), 1 green pepper (sliced), mushrooms (optional), 2/3–3/4 cup ketchup, 1–2 tbsp soy sauce, pasta water, butter, Parmesan.
- Method: Render bacon with a splash of water to coax fat out. Sauté mushrooms, then veg. Add pasta water, soy, and ketchup; sizzle to develop sweetness. Finish pasta in the sauce, add butter and Parmesan, and serve with extra bacon.
It’s fast, nostalgic, and a smart use of ketchup—classic cooking, easy recipes made modern.
Lentil Sloppy Joes — thrifty, protein-packed sandwiches
- Ingredients: Cooked lentils (slightly underdone), chopped mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, ketchup, Worcestershire, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, a splash of stock, optional chopped bacon, molasses or brown sugar.
- Method: Brown mushrooms, add veg and spices to toast, then add sauces and stock. Stir in lentils and simmer until saucy. Spoon onto buns and, if desired, top with cheese.
Lentils stand in for ground meat with great cost and health benefits—adapt seasoning to preference and don’t overcook the lentils before finishing in the sauce.
Final thoughts: bake bread and find meaning
Beyond cheap meals and clever combos, the creator offers a gentle reminder: learning to bake bread can be a grounding, rewarding habit. It’s not about saving money alone—it's about the satisfaction of making small things better with skill and time. In the spirit of cooking, easy recipes, baking your own loaf can turn a basic PB&J into something meaningful.
Expert tips for struggle cooking
- Use condiments smartly: Ketchup, soy, gochujang, and chili crisp transform simple starches into full meals.
- Stretch staples: Congee and sloppy joes stretch rice and lentils into many bowls or sandwiches.
- Mind textures: Undercook lentils slightly if they’ll finish in sauce; don’t rinse rice if you want creaminess.
- Balance fat: Render fat slowly and drain if a dish becomes too greasy.
"Somewhere, there's a future self that's looking back on you with gratitude for surviving, for making it work, for not giving up." — Babish Culinary Universe
These cooking, easy recipes are about creativity, thrift, and flavor. Try one tonight, and keep a small list of your go-to struggle meals—those recipes will serve you well when life gets tight and tasty at the same time.
This article was created from the video I Tried My Subscribers' Struggle Meals with the help of AI.
Cooking, Easy Recipes: Subscriber Struggle Meals Reimagined by Babish Culinary Universe. There are any Cooking, Easy Recipes: Subscriber Struggle Meals Reimagined by Babish Culinary Universe in here.
