15 easy dinner ideas

Whip up a delicious dinner in no time with these easy-to-make recipes.

easy meals

by Bryony Firth-Bernard |
Updated on

Coming up with different meal ideas every week is tough, especially if you’ve got more than one mouth to satisfy, and if you’re short on time you'll want an easy meal that’s quick and simple to prep.

Whether you’re after family food, or something that’s hearty and healthy, we’ve rounded up some easy meals that won’t keep you hours in the kitchen, but still taste delicious!

Slimming World chicken supreme

Slimming world chicken supreme

This meal takes less than 30 minutes to make and swaps out double cream for Quark, instantly lowering its calories. Serve alongside rice or your favourite veggies and you’re onto a winner.

Veggie fajitas

veggie fajitas

Fajitas are the ultimate quick dinner dish - tasty, nutritious and super easy to make too. This recipe is great if you’re looking to up your daily veggie dosage and you can always add some chicken if you want some extra protein. Leftovers are ideal for lunches too.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Bolognese
©Jamie Oliver

You can’t go wrong with a great spaghetti bolognese and this recipe from Jamie Oliver is packed full of flavour with red wine, streaky bacon and rosemary.

Hairy Bikers chilli con carne

Chilli con carni
©Hairy Bikers

Another classic dinner dish that is super easy to make. This recipe from the Hairy Bikers is also healthy too, at 302 calories per serving. If you make a big batch, you can use the leftovers for a burrito, that’s another easy meal sorted.

Jamie Oliver’s Harissa Chicken Traybake

Harissa Chicken traybake
©Jamie Oliver

This dish is packed with maximum flavour and with only 9 minutes prep time, it's the perfect dinner dish for when you’re pushed for time in the kitchen. Simply prep, then let the oven do the hard work.

Slimming World lasagne

lasagne

Simply make your beef ragu, then layer it in an oven-proof dish with pasta sheets, sauce and cheese to get this tasty dinner dish. This sauce filling has a healthy twist, as it’s made from veggies and Quark. If you’re looking to cut down on your meat intake, you can always give this veggie alternative a go.

Slow cooker breakfast

slow cooker breakfast
©B&M

Breakfast for dinner can feel like the ultimate mid-week treat and is ideal for when you’re really out of meal ideas. This recipe is so straight forward, as everything is cooked in the air fryer. An easy meal win? We think so.

Tuna pasta bake

Tuna pasta bake
©Sainsbury's

This easy meal is rich in protein, packed with vitamin D and can either be made with a tomato or white sauce.

Joe Wicks’ chicken curry recipe

chicken curry
©Joe Wicks: Lean in 15

Joe Wicks is renowned for making great tasting food with little time on his hands, and this flavorsome chicken curry can be whipped up in just 15 minutes.

Joe Wicks’ Chicken Pie

Chicken pie
©Joe Wicks: Lean in 15

Enjoy this creamy chicken pie in less than an hour, which swaps shortcrust pastry for filo, for a healthy twist.

Quick and easy veggie stir-fry

Stir fry
©Getty

Packed with lots of fresh veggies, this recipe is great for a fast weeknight dinner or lunch.

Easy chicken gyros

Chicken gyros
©Foodie Crush

Warm flatbread packed with herby chicken, tzatziki sauce and ready in under 30 minutes - what’s not to love?

Easy homemade beef burgers

beef burger
©Tesco

Who doesn’t love a good burger? Especially in the summer. This recipe from Tesco makes a great weekend treat and only takes 40 minutes to prep and cook.

The Hairy Bikers moussaka

Mousakka

This traditional Greek bake boasts luscious layers of juicy lamb mince cooked in a tomato based sauce, layered with slices of aubergine and potatoes, before being topped off with a creamy low fat sauce. It does take around 40 minutes to bake in the oven, but with 20 minutes prep, it's no hassle.

Simple steak

sirloin steak
©Getty

Steak is a great source of protein and can be served alongside a range of sides, from chips to rice and potatoes. There's so many affordable cuts too at supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl. This recipe by BBC Good Food teaches you how to cook a sirloin steak perfectly.

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