5 Easy Dinner Recipes for Weeknights

After a long busy day at work or running errands, you finally arrive home and it isn’t long before you start hearing what’s for dinner?. 

Everyone’s hungry, but you’re staring at the pantry and fridge, wondering what on earth you can make that’s quick, easy, and delicious. What you need are easy weeknight dinners for family that you can whip up in no time. 

We’ve got you covered! Here are some of our favourite tips that will help make your evening meals a breeze. From ways to save time, to some of our favourite recipes, we have everything you need for quick weeknight dinners. Let’s dig in!

Easy weeknight dinners: pantry staples

When time is short and you need to cook something fast, it pays to have a few everyday ingredients on-hand. Making sure you always have a supply of common pantry staples is the secret to pulling quick and easy dinner recipes together without a hitch. 

Stock up on things that you use for most dishes such as bread, pasta, flour, butter, eggs, olive oil, vegetable stock, and basic herbs and spices. These will ensure you’ve always got the basics you need for a hearty home-cooked meal.

Time-saving kitchen tips to streamline weeknight dinners

Preparation is the key to streamlining those busy weeknight meal times. Here are some time-saving tips to help have dinner on the table in the blink of an eye:

• Organise your kitchen. This helps you know where everything is, and that your most frequently used items are easily accessible. This will make the cooking process run more smoothly.
• Prepare dry ingredients ahead of time. Things like breadcrumbs are a handy recipe addition, so whizz up a batch and you’ll always have them when you need them.
• Pre-cut veggies on the weekend. Pop them into zip-lock bags in the fridge. That way they’re ready to throw into the pan or pot at a moment’s notice. It’ll also save you clean-up time during the week!
• Double-up when you make a dish. When you cook, make twice the amount you need, and freeze half for another night. Future you will be grateful.
• Freeze a stash of herbs. Extend the life of your favourite herbs like rosemary, coriander, basil, mint, or thyme by storing some in the freezer for later use. You can either pop some into a ziplock bag, rolling out any excess air before sealing, or make oil-cubes to kick-start cooking by putting some herbs into ice trays and filling with olive oil.

Our favourite quick dinner recipes

Half the challenge of weeknight meals is thinking up different things to eat. Having a few delicious and simple go-to recipes up your sleeve can be a game-changer. Here are some of our top picks for quick dinner recipes that are sure to become family favourites in your house: 

Zucchini Pizza Recipe

Family pizza night gets a twist (and a healthy dose of veggies) with this cheesy sensation. Our Zucchini Pizza Recipe has a perfectly crispy base, smothered with bright and herby basil pesto, lavishly laden with parmesan, ricotta and a medley of cheeses, and topped with zucchini and pine nuts for a burst of flavour. This is one super easy pizza recipe that’ll make you feel like you’ve been transported to an Italian ristorante!

Roasted Chicken Tray Bake with Pea, Tomato & Asparagus

Our Roasted Chicken Tray Bake is a one tray wonder that you can prepare in advance and just pop into the oven to cook. Succulent chicken topped with cherry tomatoes, asparagus, capsicum, peas, and finished with zesty parmesan cheese. As easy dinner recipes for beginners go, this one’s a sure-fire crowd pleaser. Even more so when served with hot toasted bread topped with melted butter. Yum!

Cheesymite Crumbed Chicken Salad

For a fun Aussie twist on a classic chicken salad, try our delicious Cheesymite Crumbed Chicken Salad. The chicken is coated in a mouthwatering crumb thanks to our fan-favourite Cheesymite Scrolls, adding a unique and tasty crunch. Paired with fresh greens and a light dressing, this dish is decadent and as easy as chicken dinner recipes can get.

Baked Crispy Chicken Burger Recipe

Level up your burger game with this crunchy spicy flavour-bomb. Tender chicken coated in a crispy cornflake crumb, paired with fresh cos lettuce, pickles, red onions and a kicker of a sauce that combines the smoothness of honey with a hit of buffalo hot sauce. Tame the heat with a dollop of greek yoghurt and this taste-bud tingler will quickly join your rotation of easy weeknight meals.

Cheesy Beans & Toast Recipe

If you’re after an easy mid week dinner to chase away the winter chill, this cheesy beans recipe will warm you to your core. An elevated version of baked beans on toast, it’s an easy vegetarian recipe that’s packed with protein. Nutritious cannellini beans bathed in a rich tomato sauce, wilted spinach, topped with oozy mozzarella, and served with crusty sourdough bread… It’s pure comfort.

How to make sure you always have fresh weeknight dinner ideas

If there’s one thing about weeknight dinners, it’s that they can quickly feel predictable if you aren’t careful. Inject some fun into the weekly menu planning by getting the whole family involved. Ask each family member to pick their favourite meals, or even rate them, and add the top contenders to the dinner rotation. Getting family helping out with preparing and cooking food can also spark interest and a willingness to try new dishes. And if you’re still stuck for ideas, there’s plenty more easy dinner recipes to choose from at Bakers Delight.

So next time you’re staring at the fridge wondering what to make for dinner, give one of these easy dinner recipes a whirl. They’ll help make your weeknight meals both stress-free and delicious. Whether it’s a quick pizza, a hearty tray bake, or a comforting dish of cheesy beans on toast, you’ve got this!

Ready to get cooking? Head to Bakers Delight to stock up on all your bakery needs. Happy cooking!