Painting kitchen cabinets. Is there an alternative to stripping?

I stained mine with gel stain from General Finishes - I didn't need to sand or strip them. It was a ton of work - but I saved a ton of money. Here's some pictures from it - https://www.justmeasuringup.com/kitchen-cabinet-makeover/

Hi, it sounds like you have a lot of cabinets to do. Remember that your health comes first so if the expense isn't a big problem, I'd think in this case you'd be ahead to hire the work out. Probably not the best for you to be breathing in the paint or the stain even if you don't need to sand. Sometimes it's just better to call in a pro and have it done!

Make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the doors and hardware. Mark the doors and cabinets with tape where they go. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like Zinsser 123, KILZ,or BIN and have it tinted to the color of the top coat. This will prevent dark or stained surfaces from showing through the top coat. Acrylic, or water-base, paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Alkyd, or oil-base, paints require good ventilation because the paint contains solvents that can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick. Alkyd options require mineral spirits for cleanup, but they provide a hard, durable paint finish. Whichever you use, buy the best-quality paint you can afford for a lasting kitchen cabinet finish. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.