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!
Every Get Ahead Sunday looks a little different – sometimes it’s a full prep session, other times it’s just one or two recipes to give me a head start. This week I’ve focused on meals that are easy to prep, freezer-friendly, and genuinely helpful when the week gets busy. I’ve made a big batch of Homemade Chicken Soup (featured in my debut cookbook The Simple Dinner Edit) – it’s simple to throw together, one chicken goes a long way, and it freezes beautifully. I’ve also prepped The BEST Chicken Sandwich Filling from Simple Dinners Every Day (my new cookbook, pre-order now, while stocks last), which keeps well in the fridge and makes lunchboxes a breeze. There’s a batch of Sticky Hoisin Beef ready to go for a fast midweek fakeaway dinner – it reheats like a dream – and some Lunchbox Protein Pancakes that freeze brilliantly for quick breakfast or snack options. Just a little prep, but it already feels like the week ahead is under control.
These pancakes are a freezer-friendly lifesaver for busy mornings and lunchbox chaos. Made with pantry staples and no protein powders, they’re fluffy, filling and kid-approved. Enjoy them warm with yoghurt or cold straight from the fridge.
This Sticky Hoisin Beef recipe is fast, flavour-packed and made for busy nights. Rich, saucy minced (ground) beef is cooked with crunchy veggies, then served over chewy rice noodles and finished with crushed peanuts and lime. Budget-friendly, low effort and ready in 20 minutes – no drive-thru needed.
This Homemade Chicken Soup recipe is simple and rustic, made with a whole chicken and vegetables that slowly cook until they are tender and fragrant. The recipe includes how to freeze the chicken soup so it’s ready for you to enjoy when you need it.
Once you've tried The BEST Chicken Sandwich Filling recipe, you'll never look back. Poached chicken is chopped and combined with a creamy mayonnaise dressing spiked with tangy pickles, red onion and crunchy celery. It's so quick to make and is great in rolls, wraps or bread slices. You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 3 days.
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.
Tracie Duff says:
Your recipes are all fabulous your cookbook sits on my kitchen bench and used every week
Nicole says:
Hi Tracie, this makes me so happy! Just wonderful. Nic x
Aggie says:
These recipes looks delicious, enough vegetables in it! And a variation looks great 🥰for recipes
Nicole says:
Great to hear, Aggie! Nic x