Meal Plan Go-to Recipes – “Core Meals”

“Core meals” are the tried and tested recipes that you know everyone in your family loves to eat. These are your go-to meals, made with familiar ingredients that you can rotate on your meal plan without much thought. Mealtimes are so much easier and less stressful when you know the family are going to love what’s on the menu – especially if you have fussy little eaters in the house.

When meal planning, give yourself a break and add these core dishes to your plan first, before choosing new recipes you would like to try out. As you cook new recipes and your family takes to them, they can be added to your list of core meals.

Quick and easy – A core meal should be something I can make quickly, without spending hours in the kitchen – these are zero-fuss recipes that generally take less than 30 minutes (or hardly any prep if they are slow-cooked dishes). They make weeknight dinners manageable and stress-free, especially when my energy levels are low.

Freezer-friendly – Meals that I can batch-cook and freeze for later save time and effort on days when I don't feel like cooking. I love those low and slow dishes that I can have blipping away on the stove for hours. I can make a big batch of these meals and freeze them before simply reheating and serving.

One-pan – Dishes that require minimal cleanup are always a winner. But aside from reducing the number of dishes to wash, one-pan meals simplify the cooking process. I particularly love all-in-one dishes that incorporate vegetables so I don’t need to think about sides. This not only saves time but also makes the cooking process less daunting.

Catch-all – Meals that are versatile enough to use whatever ingredients I have on hand are always welcomed. It’s great being able to use up leftover vegetables in the crisper, so that nothing goes to waste.

Nourishing – I look for balance and recipes that are nutritious, providing a mix of proteins, plenty of vegetables and healthy fats, but also recipes that are warming and comforting, creating that cosy feeling that makes dinnertime feel special.

Family-friendly – This one might seem obvious, but core meals at our place need to include familiar, family-friendly flavours and ingredients. This means no unusual spices (or at least the ability to add spice to individual dishes if desired) and ideally vegetables that are interchangeable depending on individual taste buds. Knowing the meal will be popular with the whole family is a key part of removing stress at dinnertime!

Cook once, eat twice – There is nothing better than being able to repurpose leftovers, knowing I’ve got another dinner or a day of lunches sorted. Many of the core meals at our place lend themselves to being cooked once and eaten twice!

At my place, these are the 20 core meals I regularly include in my 7 or 14-day dinner rotation.

Bolognese

This one is a no-brainer, but classic bolognese is a must. It’s the ultimate freezer staple at our place as everyone enjoys it. I love being able to toss the rich, delicious sauce through pasta, then serve leftovers in a toasted (grilled) cheese sandwich or loaded onto a baked potato with melted cheese. We also love the sauce served with zoodles (zucchini/courgette noodles) instead of traditional pasta, or sandwiched between layers of roasted eggplant (aubergine) with dollops of green pesto and a sprinkling of parmesan. When I have a little more time up my sleeve, I make Slow Cooked Beef Ragu, which is bolognese on another level!

Freezer-friendly Chicken Schnitzel

I know that my family loves any crunchy, golden-crumbed foods, so these freezer-friendly schnitzels are perfect for making ahead of time, ready for when I need them. They can be served with my Freezer-friendly Mashed Potatoes (which I always have on hand) and steamed vegetables, homemade coleslaw and corn cobs, a simple Green Leafy Salad with Balsamic Dressing or even creamy Macaroni and Cheese pasta. The best thing about this recipe is being able to repurpose the leftovers. We enjoy chicken schnitzel stuffed into wraps or sandwiches in lunchboxes, or topped on a classic caesar salad.

Beef Rissoles

These might seem basic, but that’s the beauty of them. These juicy, tender beef patties can be served with just about anything, from mashed potatoes and veggies to homemade wedges or fried rice. They make fantastic lunchbox fillers, can be loaded into rolls with other ingredients to make gorgeous “subs” and are great served warm or cold.

Creamy Garlic Chicken

Not only is this recipe incredibly popular with you guys on my socials (it’s my most made recipe!), but my family adore it just as much. This one never fails to impress with the tender chicken in creamy, luscious sauce and takes only 20 minutes. You honestly can’t go wrong with this dish and it can be served with very simple sides like steamed greens or something more fancy, such as potato gratin. This is also a lovely dish to serve when unexpected guests pop over.

Nachos

When I want to end the week with a fun, casual family meal with tons of flavour, this 15-minute nachos is just perfect. The flavour-packed Mexican beef in these nachos can be stuffed into burritos, crunchy taco shells or loaded on rice – and it’s great for freezing. You can swap out the beef for canned beans if you prefer, for a vegetarian option – or try my Loaded Veggie Nachos.

One Pot Lasagna

All the deliciously meaty, cheesy satisfaction of a traditional lasagna, without the effort! My family adores this foolproof, simplified version of the classic. It’s all made in one pan and is on the table in less than 30 minutes. It’s freezer-friendly, which is always a bonus, and one batch is enough to feed my family twice. I’ll often serve it with steamed greens (green beans and broccolini/tender-stem broccoli are our favourites) and Freezer-friendly Garlic Bread when we are feeling extra indulgent.

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

An easy oven bake is also an essential to have up your sleeve, and this cheesy chicken and broccoli pasta version is my absolute favourite as it’s just so flavoursome. Only 10 minutes of prep, then let the oven do the rest. It’s a nourishing family dish, is fantastic for freezing and contains the three best food groups: protein, veggies and melted cheese! You can swap out the farfalle or shell pasta for whatever you have on hand.

Cottage Pie

Loaded with flavoursome minced (ground) beef and “hidden” vegetables that melt down into the most delicious gravy, this cottage pie saves me when I want to serve up something warming and nourishing. One batch will last across two meals and I regularly freeze half to save for an extra busy day. It’s the ultimate winter warmer.

Easy One-pan Chicken and Roast Vegetables

There is rarely a week that goes by where I don’t factor in this delicious one-pan recipe. I love being able to roast the vegetables that are in season (although my go-to vegetables are potatoes, carrots and onions in the bottom of the pan). It’s nourishing and wholesome, plus leftovers can be used the next day in salads or sandwiches. The aromas that fill the house as the chicken roasts are to die for!

Beef Quesadillas

These are one of my family’s favourite things to eat – crispy tortillas stuffed with flavoursome meat, veggies and melted cheese, then served with guacamole. This one is also great for using up leftover veggies in the crisper drawer of the fridge.

Southern Fried Chicken Burger

My kids love a “fakeaway” any night of the week. This is an example of a fun dinner that I like to factor into our meal plan. FOUR of these burgers made at home cost me the same amount as ONE at our local pub. I find it satisfying being able to save money by eating in as well as know what’s going into our food. Creating mini experiences through food is also how we stay consistent with preparing most of our meals at home.

San Choy Bow

The ultimate catch-all meal, san choy bow allows me to use up any vegetables I have left over in the crisper, whether it’s bean sprouts, peas, carrots, green beans or mushrooms. The kids absolutely love these stuffed lettuce cups, and I love that they’re rich in vegetables. We sometimes toss vermicelli rice noodles through the mix or serve steamed rice on the side. This is definitely an enjoyable eating experience, too – a bit messy, but that’s part of the fun! The kids love loading up their own lettuce cups.

Big Mac Tacos

You can probably tell by now that burgers are super popular at my place. Here’s another twist, slightly lighter than the classic, which combines delicious burger flavours with the fun crunch of a taco instead of a roll. These are honestly so moreish, and the special burger sauce is divine, so I now make them every fortnight. Homemade wedges are the ultimate comfort side for these tacos. Give these a try … you won’t be disappointed.

Filipino Stir-fried Noodles and Chicken

These noodles are unassumingly flavour-packed and are on the table, fast (in well under 30 minutes). It helps that it is all made in the one pan and is a much healthier, cheaper alternative to takeout. It’s nutritious and satisfying with flavours that the kids love. This is another recipe that can be loaded with any of your family’s favourite vegetables – using up what’s in the crisper drawer– as it’s infinitely variable.

Spring Roll Bowls

This is an example of a recipe that has only recently been in circulation on my meal plan. My family adore spring rolls, so I experimented and prepared the delicious filling that I would normally stuff into a homemade spring roll (mushrooms, bean sprouts and minced/ground chicken or pork) but served it on a bed of vermicelli rice noodles instead. These bowls very quickly made it onto our “core meals” list. Try this one … it’s fuss-free and absolutely delicious.

Juicy Homemade Beef Burgers

Like pretty much everyone, my family loves burgers. But it’s so much more satisfying to make them at home. These foolproof and insanely delicious burgers can be on the table in just over 20 minutes. And the best thing is, burgers are so customisable that you know everyone in the family can mix and match the fillings to suit. In fact, sometimes I set the toppings in the middle of the table and everyone has fun building their own burger. Try cooking the patties on the outdoor grill in summer! For a twist on burgers, which is crazily popular at my place, try my Loaded Burger Bowls.

Chicken Chow Mein

Another no brainer – a tasty stir-fried chicken and noodle dish that’s on the table in 25 minutes. The gorgeous Asian flavours are always a hit, and you can turn the spice levels up or down to suit. I like to prep the chicken and shred the veggies up to 2 days in advance, so the meal can hit the table even faster when I’m frantically busy during the week.

Lemon & Oregano Chicken Tzatziki Wrap

It’s hard to believe that the lemony, garlicky chicken in this recipe is so quick and easy to prepare. It’s perfect to marinate ahead of time and can be served in a wrap, on a bed of rice or with a side of crispy potatoes. Again, this one is great for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. They are even better made with my super simple 2 Ingredient Flatbread recipe, which you will want to make time and again for serving with all sorts of meals.

Hainanese Chicken

This is my family-friendly version of this very popular Asian classic. My husband grew up eating Hainanese chicken and I am proud to say that he prefers this over all the restaurant varieties we have tried. My kids now also love this meal just as much. The chicken is traditionally served at room temperature, but my “at-home friendly” version is served warm and falling off the bone. The chicken is served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock with ginger and garlic, but it’s the condiments that steal the show. A ginger and shallot sauce, teamed with chilli sauce and sticky sweet soy sauce complete the dish. The chicken and rice can be served with cooling cucumbers and fresh coriander (cilantro) or simply with the delicious soup with cabbage in the recipe. It’s warming and nourishing and definitely one to try. It’s one of the world’s most popular Asian dishes for good reason!

Wonton Dumpling Soup

Add dumplings to a dish and you’ll have an instant hit on your hands. Homemade dumplings are actually very easy to make with the help of store-bought wrappers. I often make these with the help of my kids as an after-school activity. We freeze half, ready for when we need them to serve in delicious soups, as in this recipe, or with my Stir-fried Pork and Green Beans.

As you can see, I have quite a few core meals to choose from, so I can mix and match them each week or fortnight. They are not all short recipes, so I need to think about how much time I’ll have during the week, and how many of the “low and slow” or roasted and baked dishes I can include – I tend to leave those to the weekend or when I know I’ll be home all day.

Of course, your personal list of core meals will suit your own family’s tastes and, as you discover new recipes, your list will grow ever longer, and some old favourites might be replaced with new flavours as your family’s preferences change over time.

It’s great to keep things interesting by introducing new dishes to your core meal rotation, but don’t feel that you’re being “boring” by serving up the same core meals regularly – the reason they are core meals is because you know everyone loves them!