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If you need some inspiration for a weekly dinner plan, here are 7 easy family dinner ideas! Click on the recipes below for the print friendly versions and the make ahead and leftover instructions.
This Creamy Garlic Chicken is a fast and easy recipe that I think looks impressive, yet requires very little effort and time in the kitchen! This recipe is made with very few simple ingredients making it the perfect weeknight family dinner to enjoy at the end of a long day. The star of the show is the chicken; it is seasoned beautifully and then dusted with flour, creating a crust for the gloriously creamy, indulgent garlic sauce to cling to. Making this meal at home is much cheaper than what it would cost ordering it out, yet it tastes incredible and feels fancy, all in under 20 minutes.
Whenever I think of fast and easy, Mexican flavours are always high up there on my list of go-to recipes. I love that everyone can load up with their salads of choice (think tomato, lettuce, shredded cheese and avocado) and it’s incredibly satisfying making these Black Bean Burritos with ingredients that I choose, versus buying takeout. They are quick, they are easy, they are a low-cost option made using black beans (my husband did not realise they were made with no beef!) and they pack incredible flavour. The avocado dip in the recipe is well worth whipping out your food processor for, but if that all just seems like too much effort, these work equally well with sour cream or plain Greek yoghurt on the side. The delicious black bean filling is freezer-friendly (no waste!) and paired with fluffy tortillas and rice, you will want to make this recipe again and again.
This is a great, simple dinner option that you can get on the table quickly the next time you are craving takeaway. This is good. SERIOUSLY good. The chicken is cooked to perfection (corn flour is used to keep it tender and juicy) before being coated in a sticky, sweet chilli glaze. It is on the table in less than 20 minutes with minimal effort and fuss. I serve it with steamed rice and although you could plate up with any vegetables you like, I love the crisp freshness (and speed!) of sliced cucumbers to accompany.
My kids love sushi and when I made this Speedy Beef Teriyaki recipe for the first time, they eyed it off sceptically. I told them I got the recipe from the lady at our local sushi shop and watched as they immediately ate an entire bowl, asking for seconds and declaring this “their favourite meal ever”. I’ve been making my own teriyaki sauce for years. It is made with simple ingredients and tastes incredible, although you can absolutely make this recipe with store-bought teriyaki sauce when you really need dinner on the table fast. The teriyaki sauce is added to minced/ground beef and is simmered until sticky and golden. You can serve this meal with any vegetables of choice but edamame beans, shredded carrot and shredded cabbage are firm favourites here, especially when teamed with a big dollop of creamy mayonnaise! On the table in less than 20 minutes, this is a fantastic dinner for quick weeknights and is sure to make it to your meal plan rotation again and again.
This Creamy Lemon Tortellini with Zucchini is on the table in less than 20 minutes – prep time included! This is the perfect weeknight dinner for those days when you need an effortless, delicious family meal in a hurry. The cheese filling in the pasta instantly makes it feel more filling and substantial, it’s comforting, and although I’ve opted for silky zucchini, it can be loaded with any vegetables you like! It is all made in one pan so clean up is easy, it is suitable to freeze and the sauce is so incredibly delicious and moreish that you will want to make it again and again.
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