I'm Nicole. Here you’ll find easy, delicious, low-cost family dinner ideas that you can make with simple ingredients, without having to spend hours in the kitchen!
By Friday night, my motivation to cook dinner is hanging by a thread and the takeaway apps start looking VERY appealing. 😂 Don’t get me wrong, I love scheduling a takeaway every now and again – but I like it to be something we choose because we genuinely want it, not something I panic-order because I’ve run out of steam. Staying in means I’m more in control of the grocery budget, we’re eating the kind of food I actually want us to eat, and I don’t get to the end of the month wondering how we somehow spent a small fortune on dinner. But I also don’t want Friday night at home to feel like the boring option. These are the dinners I make instead: Big Mac Tacos, Drunken Noodles, Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork, Portuguese Chicken and Chips and all the fun, loaded, saucy things we’d happily order out. They’re manageable when energy is low, much kinder on the budget and, most importantly, they still make Friday night feel like a bit of a treat.
This quick and easy stir-fry comes together in under 20 minutes with a flavour-packed sauce, tender chicken and fresh Thai basil. A drizzle of chilli oil vinegar at the end adds a little extra zing to these Drunken Noodles!
Golden, crispy schnitzels, garlicky caesar dressing and cheesy garlic bread – this is not your average sandwich. It's packed with crunch, flavour and pure comfort, all in one bite. Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwiches are easy to make and even easier to love.
This Easy Sweet and Sour Pork recipe is the perfect homemade version of your favourite takeout! Tender pork pieces are fried to golden perfection, then tossed in a tangy, sweet and slightly sour sauce along with capsicum (bell pepper) and juicy pineapple. Serve it over jasmine rice for a quick, easy, and budget-friendly meal that your family will love.
This Juicy Oven-baked Kebabs recipe is a quick, budget-friendly fakeaway that delivers bold flavour, and it’s easily cooked in the oven. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd or customising for fussy eaters, and the garlic yoghurt + sumac onion combo takes it over the top. Make it once and it’ll be on regular rotation.
Butterflied Portuguese Chicken is a no-fuss family dinner that delivers big flavours and serious crunch. Serve with crispy oven fries for the full fakeaway experience.
These Sticky HoisinBeef Noodles are the perfect fakeaway for busy nights. A rich, glossy hoisin sauce coats tender noodles, caramelised minced (ground) beef and plenty of vegetables, creating a comforting dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes. It’s budget-friendly, incredibly versatile and a brilliant way to reinvent beef mince using simple pantry staples.
Hi Robin, I’m afraid not. If you click on the recipe in the post you will be taken to the website. You are able to print out the recipe, though, if that helps. 😊
For recipes labelled ‘gluten-free’ or ‘dairy-free’, the ingredients included in the recipe are typically gluten- or dairy-free. However, it is the user’s responsibility to carefully check the ingredient panels on the specific brands of products purchased and used. Simple Home Edit cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions.
Robin says:
Can I get these sent to my inbox?
Simple Home Edit Team says:
Hi Robin, I’m afraid not. If you click on the recipe in the post you will be taken to the website. You are able to print out the recipe, though, if that helps. 😊
Marcy says:
Thank you so much for the ideas