[jff]

The total time it takes to start the rice cooker, slice a chicken breast (it can even be frozen, just slice it small), and give the chicken a quick fry in my cast iron pan (which I then rinse out and wipe clean, 10 seconds cleanup) is probably less time than you'll spend sitting in the drivethrough of McDonalds.

While you're waiting for the rice to cook, you can spend some time with your kids or watch the expensive cable service every "too poor to cook" person I've ever know has had.

[snogglethorpe]

Ricer cookers are magic.

One of my favorite "I'm too tire too cook" meals is to just chop up whatever veggies I have laying around or picked up at the corner store on my way home, and toss the whole mess along with some rice into a rice cooker. I usually include some other random other miscellaneous dried grains/seeds/beans I have in bags to add some taste variety (red lentils = incredible, they're like a spice and a staple at the same time!). You don't need to pay any attention to the actual cooking, because the rice cooker will do it perfectly every time, without attention or care.

Press the button, veg in front of the computer for a while, rice cooker beeps, and ... dinner! :D

Cleanup is just a 2 second wash of the the non-stick pot...

[jff]

It's a bit more expensive, but I also like taking Zatarain's boxed black beans and rice ($2), getting it started, then tossing in some chunks of raw chicken as soon as it starts boiling. It's quick, you basically mix the ingredients together and stir occasionally until it's done. For about $3-4 (once you buy a chicken breast) you get a tasty dish with rice, beans, and chicken that'll serve two.