'Craving a pickle': 22 Girl Dinners to Inspire a Meal That's Good for the Soul

Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor

Jun 17, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

Do you know what you're going to have for dinner tonight? No. Are you considering food delivery to avoid cooking or cleaning? Yes. Want to save money? Also yes… What's a hungry foodie supposed to do when they're feeling overwhelmed, lazy, and cheap?

Sounds like it's time we introduce you to the delights and wonders of girl dinner.

What's "girl dinner," you may ask? Girl dinner is a wonderous habit that once manifested itself in the kitchens of the world's busiest working women, but now, it's an internet wildfire that's taking over your average diner's attitude. Girl dinner isn't an actual meal, per say, but it's more of a mindset. Often budding from the lack of inspiration in the kitchen, girl dinners are usually foraged from the fridges and pantries of people who don't feel like cooking.

Girl dinner has nothing to do with satay pans, elaborate sauces, simmering, griddles, or any cookware beyond the simplicity of the microwave, and girl dinner relies on the laziness of its ambassador. Oftentimes, when I'm having a girl dinner, which is every night my husband is out and I'm reminded I still need sustenance too, my girl dinner is a couple of slices of cheese, a rolled-up piece of deli meat, and a nearly-full jar of olives.

Because nobody ever regretted eating a jar of olives for dinner, right?

I never said girl dinner was good for us, but it sure is easy and delicious. Sometimes, when life is really busy and things are hard, that's all we really need: a comforting, simple meal that doesn't require much effort or choice.
We just gotta eat!
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A spoonful of peanutbutter helps the bad news go down.
Oftentimes, when life is stressful or overwhelming, girl dinner is the only option. Gear up to gobble down some grub that's not on any food pyramid, because girl dinner is the only thing on the menu tonight!
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Out of regular tomatoes? Why not use grape tomatoes! Who cares if they're the wrong shape, they perform the necessary nutritional function.
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Whipping out the blender is phase 5 of girl dinner lore. Sometimes you're feeling feisty and just want to drink your meal. I get it, sis.
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