‘I Don’t Know’ Is Our Favorite, 5-Ingredient Answer to ‘What’s for Dinner?’

It’s the dreaded question that looms over you throughout the day. If you’re a parent, you know it well. But even if you’re only in charge of feeding yourself, it’s an ever-nagging thought until it’s answered: 'What’s for dinner?'

Instead of allowing the question to stress you out or bog you down with a mental shopping list, now you can give the answer you’ve always wanted to—and mean it. “I Don’t Know” isn’t just an honest response. Believe it or not, it can also be a delicious one.

Meet ‘I Don’t Know’: The Recipe

We know—it sounds like a joke, but "I Don’t Know" is actually a brilliantly simple take on classic comfort food. The facetiously-named dish was developed to be a foolproof dinnertime solution, making a complete meal out of just a handful of pantry and freezer staples—in only 40 minutes.

Think shepherd’s pie made simple. It still features layers of beef, veggies, and potatoes, but calls on a condensed soup shortcut to easily add creamy, savory flavor. Plus, all five ingredients involved are easy to keep on hand: potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup—even the ground beef can be thawed from frozen. Add a sprinkle of shredded Cheddar cheese, and you’ve got a savory, satisfying dinner with minimal effort.

“This has become a family favorite,” one Allrecipes member shared. “My husband asked me what was for dinner—I told him I didn't care, he told me he didn't know. So he decided to Google 'recipe for I don't know.' This came up and we gave it a go. Needless to say, I'm making I don't know for dinner again tonight.”

How to Make 'I Don’t Know'

To make this simple dinner, start by cooking sliced potatoes in a saucepan until tender. Drain the potatoes and set them aside, then, in a separate bowl, stir together the frozen vegetables and condensed soup until coated.

Next, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, adding any desired seasonings and draining the excess grease once it's cooked through. Spread the beef evenly in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Layer the vegetable mixture on top, followed by the sliced potatoes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings you like, then top with shredded cheese. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted.

While the base recipe is delicious as is, there are plenty of ways to customize it. One Allrecipes member swore by adding crumbled bacon to the ground beef layer, saying it makes all the difference. Others have swapped in fresh, par-boiled vegetables or used a different type of condensed soup for a new flavor twist.

Still, the original recipe has received rave reviews, with many vowing to make it a staple in their household. “So I am making this EVERY TIME I ask my husband or children what they want for dinner and they say ‘I don’t know,’” one Allrecipes member joked. “I shall not tell them that it is an actual recipe called that, and we will see how long it takes for them to figure it out!”

So, the next time you hear that age-old dinner question, we bet this answer will pop into your mind. Because when you don’t have a dinner plan, this hilariously simple dish will save the day.

Get the Recipe: I Don't Know

Read the original article on ALLRECIPES