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!
If deciding what to cook every night is taking up far more brain space than it deserves, this week’s meal plan is here to make things easier. There’s a good mix of quick dinners for the busiest nights and slower, hands-off meals for when you can get something cooking earlier in the day. One-pan Baked Chicken and Gravy gives you juicy chicken and plenty of gravy without multiple pots and pans, while Chicken Quesadillas are quick, inexpensive and brilliant for using whatever you already have in the fridge. Easy Prawn (Shrimp) Linguine gets a fresh, flavour-packed dinner on the table fast, and the Loaded Potato Big Mac Bowl is a fun, family-friendly option everyone can load up to suit themselves. For slower days, the Slow-cooked Chicken with Peas, Carrots and Gravy and Beef Pot Roast do most of the work for you and give you that comforting, cooked-all-day flavour without needing you in the kitchen all day. Seven dinners, plenty of variety and one less decision to make each night – which, by about 5 pm, feels like a very good deal.
This Slow-cooked Chicken with Peas, Carrots and Gravy is the kind of comforting dinner that tastes like it’s been cooking all day. Tender chicken simmers low and slow in a rich gravy with soft carrots and peas, creating an easy family-friendly meal that’s perfect served over creamy mashed potato. Made with affordable ingredients and simple pantry staples, this is one of those low-fuss dinners that works beautifully for busy weeknights, meal prep or cosy weekends at home.
One-pan Baked Chicken and Gravy is the ultimate fuss-free wholesome family meal. Easy prep, simple, low-cost ingredients and just one pan are all that’s needed to make this crispy-skinned, tender and juicy chicken with a rich gravy.
Crispy potatoes, juicy seasoned beef, melty cheese, and a creamy homemade burger sauce – this is a fakeaway dinner the whole family will love. It’s quick to prep, easy to customise, and perfect for those busy nights when you want something fun, filling and fuss-free. Add it to your meal plan for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that saves you money (and a trip to the drive-thru).
This Tuna Avocado Crispy Rice Salad recipe features creamy avocado, budget-friendly canned tuna, and fresh vegetables tossed with a tangy sesame-soy dressing. Easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining!
These Chicken Quesadillas are perfect for busy nights when you need a quick, family-friendly meal with minimal clean-up. Loaded with seasoned chicken, melty cheese and customisable veggies, they’re ready in just 20 minutes and can be made ahead or frozen for later. Whether it’s a Friday fakeaway or a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe checks all the boxes for flavour, convenience and versatility.
This Garlic Butter Prawn (Shrimp) Linguine recipe is an impressive meal for any night of the week, with perfectly cooked prawns and a garlicky, buttery sauce, all ready in under 20 minutes.
This easy oven-braised pot roast is made with a whole beef chuck roast, carrots, celery and onion, slowly cooked until the beef is fall-apart tender. Everything cooks in one pan with a simple homemade beef gravy made from tomato paste, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs – no packet gravy in sight. Serve The BEST Beef Pot Roast recipe with creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate comforting family dinner. The hands-on preparation is minimal and the leftovers are just as delicious the next day.
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.
