5 Easy Dinners for Busy Weeknights

The good news is that healthy, tasty meals don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By following a simple formula and making use of clever shortcuts, you can put balanced, delicious dinners on the table without the stress.

Here are 5 meal ideas to make life easier and save time in the kitchen after a busy day. 

Tray bake 

Chop up your favourite vegetables, such as potato or sweet corn, for some carbohydrates. Add your vegetables and some whole chicken breast to your tray, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, toss in some spices and roast until cooked. Sub out chicken breast for fish, red meat or tofu if you'd prefer. 

Here's an example of a one-pan peri-peri chicken recipe.

Why it's good: Everything cooks together, which means minimal washing up, and you can get other things done while it's in the oven. 

Use that slow cooker 

Put the slow cooker on in the morning and have dinner ready to go when you get home from work or the kids' activities in the evening. If you have more time in the evening after the kids go to bed, you can prepare the meal then and slow cook it overnight. When you wake up, your meal will be ready to pop in the fridge for reheating that night. 

Check out these slow cooker recipes from No Money No Time.

Why it's good: You can choose to prepare the meal when you have the most time available, and then it's set and forget. 

Frittata  

Whisk some eggs together with milk (and cottage cheese for extra protein), add in a variety of vegetables, e.g., grated carrot and zucchini, diced capsicum, mushrooms and cheese for flavour e.g. grated tasty cheese or feta then cook in the oven. Voila! 

Try this Zucchini, Pea and Corn Frittata from No Money No Time 

Why it's good: meat-free meal, plenty of vegetarian protein, minimal washing up, packed full of fibre. 

Fish, chips and salad 

Cut some potatoes into chips and pop in the oven to roast. While they're getting a head start, use a pre-packaged salad mix or make a simple garden salad with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, feta and a simple balsamic and olive oil dressing. Then pop some fish in the oven with the chips while they finish roasting and dinner is served. 

Try this yummy recipe for Blue Eye Cod with mango salsa. 

Why it's good: Quick, simple and nutritious! 

Leftovers

I know this tip is an obvious one, but hear me out. Cook in bulk once a week, stock up your freezer, and give yourself a regular night off cooking. Having freezer meals is particularly helpful on those nights you get home later than expected and can discourage you from resorting to a takeaway meal. 

Soups, curries, pasta sauces and shepard's pie are all examples of meals that freeze well. 

Why it's good: You know what they say – failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Keeping some backup meals in the freezer is key for those nights when things pop up unexpectedly.