There are some days when cooking feels like one more task on an already endless list. After a long day, what we really want is something familiar, comforting and satisfying — preferably without spending an hour in the kitchen. These easy food hacks take everyday favourites and turn them into indulgent little meals that feel like a reward, with minimal effort and maximum comfort.

Loaded Buldak

An increasingly popular instant-ramen, Buldak noodles have become a go-to late-night, last-minute meal for many people, thanks to their quick preparation time of under five minutes. However, a plain bowl of noodles coated in the notoriously spicy Buldak sauce might not be satiating enough after a long day. Upgrade your ramen with these additions for a more indulgent meal:

• Yummiez Chicken Momos: Steam them as instructed on the packet and then top your ramen with a couple of these! They pair incredibly well with the spice and add some much-needed protein to the meal. If you have a little more time on your hands, briefly fry the momos with butter, garlic and a dash of gochujang paste for some added flavour.
• Fried Egg: Nothing tops a spicy ramen better than a crispy, fried egg – especially if it's with chilli oil and scallions.
• Cheese: Lots of it. It perfectly balances out the spice and renders the meal more comforting.

Caesar salad with crispy chicken

A Caesar salad may be a classic, but it hardly has to be boring. Here, the traditional croutons make way for crispy chicken, bringing a hearty crunch and a boost of protein to the familiar combination of crisp lettuce and creamy Caesar dressing. The result is a quick, satisfying meal that feels substantial enough to stand on its own while still retaining the freshness of a classic salad.

• Make the dressing: In a bowl, mix mayonnaise (or blended paneer for a healthy alternative), freshly squeezed lemon juice, capers, a garlic clove, mustard and grated cheese.
• Prepare the veggies: Traditionally, Caesar salads feature romaine lettuce as its sole vegetable base. However, you can add others to make it a more filling meal – onions, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and broccoli.
• Make the chicken: Swap the croutons for Yummiez Hot & Crispy Chicken bites which you can pan-fry in under five minutes (use an air fryer if you'd prefer to avoid the oil). Adding the same crunch as the croutons in the salad, these crispy chicken bites come with extra flavour and protein!
• Serve: Mix all parts together in a large bowl and top generously with copious amounts of grated cheese.

Chicken crunch wrap

When exhausted, we often reach for the easiest and quickest meal available with little consideration for health. A chicken crunch wrap strikes that perfect balance that is nutritional enough, satiates cravings and takes under 10 minutes to make. It's also highly customisable as you're able to switch to different parts of the recipe for an entirely unique result each time.

• Chop up some veggies: Lettuce, onions, tomatoes are common features in crunch wraps but customise this selection to your taste.
• Make a sauce: The quickest sauces ever would be the classic mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, a classic cocktail sauce or Sriracha mayo.
• Fry your chicken: Pop a couple of Yummiez Chicken Nuggets into the air fryer
• Assemble your wrap: Place a layer of fresh lettuce on a tortilla. Next add all your other vegetables and roughly chopped chicken nuggets. Generously drizzle your sauce. Optionally, toast your wrap on a hot pan for a couple of minutes for an extra crunch.

Spicy veggie stir-fry

Sometimes even chopping vegetables seems like too much of a chore. But having a sad meal after an excruciatingly long day at work seems like it would only make things worse. However, using Yummiez'sMixed Vegetables, you can whip up a sweet and spicy stir fry that can be enjoyed with a hearty bowl of rice.

• Thaw the veggies: Soak them in water for a few minutes and drain once thawed.
• Cook the veggies: Heat up a spoon of oil/butter on a pan and toss in your veggies. Keep stirring until nearly cooked.
• Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, add some soy sauce, honey, sesame seeds, ginger-garlic paste, chilli flakes, pepper and optionally, some gochujang. Mix well and dilute with water if needed before pouring it into the pan with the veggies. Stir until well combined.
• Serve: Plate it with a bowl of warm rice and enjoy!

Italian BLT sandwich

Disgustingly hot and sweaty commute back from work? Even the thought of turning the stove on and cooking in the kitchen would have anyone feeling ill at that point. A BLT sandwich, however, is arguably the quickest meal on this list – it'll have you in and out of the kitchen in minutes!

• Prepare your base: Slice your bread of choice. Spread pesto on it for extra flavour  or stick with the classic slice of cheese.
• Add your fillings: Fold and place salami in the bread, along with sliced tomatoes, lettuce and olives. Customise the toppings to your liking – think of it as Subway at home.
• Sauce: The options are endless, be it a balsamic glaze, a quick cocktail sauce, or a spicy kick with chipotle.

At the end of a tiring day, comfort food doesn't need to be complicated. Sometimes, all it takes is a few simple additions or a twist on something familiar to turn an everyday meal into something that feels a little more special. So, the next time the day has taken it out of you, skip the elaborate cooking and give yourself an easy meal worth looking forward to.

Which one would you try first? Pick your favourite quick-fix comfort meal and tell us about your experience in the comment section