Minimal effort, maximum flavour. 46 of our easiest dinner recipes to try this week
Need a cheat's guide to delicious dinner recipes? Here's the best quick and easy dinner ideas from the Good Housekeeping cookery team.
When it comes to midweek cooking, we know ease is everything. After a long day, nobody wants a sink full of washing up or a recipe with 27 steps. The good news? Quick and simple can still be seriously delicious.
From a crispy herby chicken schnitzel to cheat’s gnocchi with sage butter, these easy dinner recipes are designed to get supper on the table with minimal effort and maximum flavour. Expect comforting pasta dishes, speedy traybakes, one-pan wonders and lighter meals that don’t compromise on taste.
With over 45 fuss-free ideas to choose from, your midweek dinner plans are officially sorted.
Herby Chicken Schnitzel
There is nothing better than a chicken schnitzel - until you've tried this herby schnitzel with creamy potato salad. Ready in only 40min.
Recipe: Herby Chicken Schnitzel
Lamb and Lentil Shakshuka
We love turning to a shakshuka - there's nothing more satisfying than seeing those eggs just set so you're left with a beautiful oozy egg yolk. Yum!
Recipe: Lamb and Lentil Shakshuka
Cheat's Gnocchi with Sage Butter
A fresh, hearty Italian dish.
Recipe: Cheat's Gnocchi with Sage Butter
Katsu Cod Fishcakes
Make the curry sauce up to a day ahead, cool, cover and chill. Reheat over medium heat until piping hot to serve.
Recipe: Katsu cod fishcakes
Cheat's Satay Chicken and Salad
This quick version of satay sauce doesn’t require any cooking to thicken, which makes it the perfect midweek meal alongside the healthy and fresh slaw.
Recipe: Cheat's Satay Chicken and Salad
Cheat's Lobster Macaroni Cheese
We've used a tin of lobster bisque and prawns to make a cheat's lobster macaroni cheese recipe.
Recipe: Cheat's Lobster Macaroni Cheese
Cheat’s Traybake Roast
Let the oven do all the work in this really easy midweek dinner.
Recipe: Cheat’s Traybake Roast
Easy Meatloaf with Baked Beans
A comforting classic, served with quick barbecue beans.
Recipe: Easy Meatloaf with Baked Beans
Easy Meatball Lasagne
Jarred roasted peppers are the secret to a super simple but flavoursome sauce here. Swap the Parmesan for mature Cheddar cheese, if you like.
Recipe: Easy meatball lasagne
Cheat's Chicken Chowder
This soup is a real crowd pleaser – and it’s so easy to whip up. Make it even quicker by using leftover chicken.
Recipe: Cheat's Chicken Chowder
Prawn and Mango Noodle Salad
You only need to boil the kettle for this refreshing Asian-style salad
Recipe: Prawn and Mango Noodle Salad
Smoked Mackerel and Giant Couscous Salad
This hearty salad recipe is packed full of good-for-you-ingredients and can be on the table in under 30 minutes
Jerk Tofu Tray Bake
A simple vegan tray bake that's packed full of flavour.
Recipe: Jerk Tofu Tray Bake
Orzo Paella
Our nod to the Spanish favourite swaps traditional rice for quick-cooking orzo pasta.
Recipe: Orzo Paella
Nacho Chilli Beef
Load this nachos recipe up with toppings and deliver to the table for everyone to dig in.
Recipe: Nacho Chilli Beef
One Pan Chicken and Chorizo Rice
Chicken thigh fillets remain juicier than breasts. Avoid easy cook rice, or the end result will be mushy.
Recipe: One Pan Chicken and Chorizo Rice
Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice Traybake
All the flavours of delicious sweet and sour chicken, without any of the fuss. Feel free to microwave the rice, or serve with steamed instead, if you fancy.
Easy Fish Pie
With a ready-made soup as the sauce and a pre-made mash topping, this has to be the easiest fish pie ever!
Recipe: Easy Fish Pie
Cheat's Chilli Recipe
Want a quick-fix dinner that's full of flavour? Using ready-made salsa speeds up prep time.
Recipe: Cheat's Chilli Recipe
The GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Our GH Kitchen Manager Linzi Pucino is our very own Italian food expert (originally hailing from the North East of Scotland!) and can be found working her way through midweek recipes that cover all bases, from haggis to ragu! Our Kitchen Editor Nadine Brown loves digging into the stories behind her favourite foods and enjoys applying her eclectic tastes to more modern, flavour-forward recipes - just don't give her too much chilli! Our Junior Food Content Produce Frankie Prichard combines a love of beautiful presentation and flavour-led, seasonal cooking in her recipe development, along with a passion for bringing people together through food. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time
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