Tell me your simple, delicious meals because I am totally useless at cooking a decent meal

[Urghears]

I'm basically atrocious. I buy crap such as breaded chicken, fish fingers and chicken nuggets. Usually with either baked beans or steamed veg. I just can't seem to get the energy or enthusiasm to get a decent meal. I don't like spicy food. Hate rice. Mash spuds are all I can do.

The crushing silence of the internet....

Following

Try and forget about like making a 'dish' or a meal and just think about putting foods together that you like. But healthier ones.

Like buy chicken or fish instead of breaded types and then have it with a salad or Cous cous, or potatoes.

Just put pesto on chicken and maybe sun dried tomatoes. Or lemon and herbs. Or whatever you like!

This is me, I hate cooking and I’m not good at it, DH cooks!

However if I do have to, the basics I can make without simply heating something in the oven are…

Bacon and pea no-stir risotto, I think it’s a BBC recipe
Fajitas (fine to use a pack or seasoning packet)
Gammon with jackets and a veg
Salmon stir fry - again, it’s often pre-chopped veg and a sauce, but salmon is very easy to fry or oven bake in foil parcels (so salmon and new potatoes, salmon and pasta etc)
Spaghetti bolognese
Slow cooker stews
Chicken thigh tray bakes

Work your way up slowly, use sauces and packets to help while you learn to cook some items and you’ll slowly branch out to learning the spices

Tik Tok is your friend here! I use it to find loads of recipe ideas or you could even try out a Gousto box (or something along those lines) as you can often get great discounts for signing up and it's easy to cancel if you don't think it's any good.

Three words - BBC good food. Their online recipes are great.

Also the other day I watched a Delia Smith clip recommended on twitter, and learned how to make an omelette properly. I've made loads since. It does take having the right pan, but it's as simple and good as it is possible to have. I'll find the link.

Mash is good though, and you literally just have to add something to it and you have a meal (from someone who does crap mash!!!)

Wrap a couple of salmon steaks in buttered foil, bake in the oven for 30 mins. Serve with boiled new potatoes and a green veg of your choice.
Never fails. Yum.

Chicken skewers, pitta with Salad and tzatzki and corn cobs.

Griddle the skewers , I sprinkle with a seasoning from sainsburys, Chipotle and lime. Pitta in the toaster. Frozen corn cobs 10.mins in microwave. Plate of chopped salad to share.

Sometimes Griddle halloumi instead of chicken with same accompaniments

Try hello fresh or simply cook for ideas.

one of my faves is shop bought breaded chicken - slice them open and smear inside with tomatoe puree, a slice of ham and some cheese. Bake and serve with potatoe and veg (o have rice, but if you don’t like use potatoes)

what about pasta bakes as well?

frittatas are nice with boiled potato and salad.

A quick stir fry with your veg and protein of choice is always a good option. Can do microwave rice.

BBC good food website - search for easy recipes and/or your favourite ingredients - see what makes you feel hungry and have a go . I taught myself to cook from recipes so it is possible

Delia omelette clip

Our quick and easy is to take a flat bread, cover with sliced tomato, then tuna. Top with grated cheese and shove in the oven until the cheese is melted. Serve with a mixed salad from a bag.

Homemade quiche with a pre-made quiche base £1.60 from Sainsbury’s! The best 😋

www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/65852/recipe/quiche-lorraine

I serve it with homemade wedges.

My favorite from Tik Tok is:

heck chicken sausages (pop them in oven to cook)
When sausages are almost cooked dice up a red onion and fry in a pan with some garlic and onion granules.
Add around 250ml chicken stock into the pan with the onions and chop up the sausages and add in too.
Chuck in some orzo pasta and leave to simmer for 8-10 mins.
Throw in some Spinach and wilt.
Job done ✔️

Traybakes/All in one meals.

Chop veg, add meat, few herbs etc - easy and delicious.

Mob website has loads. Nigella has a few, as others have said Good Food Website the same.

www.tamingtwins.com/marmalade-sticky-sausages/

Get Jamie Oliver's '5 ingredients'

For a really easy meal, mince and potatoes: a much under-rated British classic, if properly done.
Cop an onion and fry it in oil until it's soft.
Add about 500g of mince, fry until mostly cooked.
Sprinkle in a spoon of flour and stir it about, then add about half a mug of water, salt, pepper, 1-2 Oxo or other stock cubes, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and a teaspoon of mixed herbs. Just let it simmer until it thickens up - I give mine quite a long time.
As it simmers, prep and boil the spuds, Serve them with salt, pepper and butter.

A basic beef stew is also a good one.

One of my student staples was cooked pasta, still hot, mixed with a tin of condensed mushroom soup, a few actual mushrooms sliced quite small, and salt, pepper and mixed herbs, all stirred together in an oven-proof dish, flattened out and covered in grated cheese. Bake it for about 20 mins and serve with a green veg,
You can jazz it up by adding friend onions, or making your own sauce.

Agree BBC Good Food recipes
Jacket potatoes and toppings
Stew or bolognese in slow cooker
Oven chips, fried eggs and beans
Pasta bake
Chicken thighs and chopped veg traybake
Dhal
Home made soup
Stir fry
Sausage and bean casserole/cobbler.

Jamie Oliver 5 ingredient meals is great, I have used it to teach dd to cook (she is 18 with ASD). Fish pie is one her favourites and it’s really simple.

A simple spag bowl? Also taught dd a basic version with only a few basic ingredients.

Today we had BBQ chicken (chicken breast coated in bbq sauce) and home made chips using our home grown potatoes. Very easy and simple.

Stir fry and noodles.

Curry in the slow cooker.

Pasta mixed with tinned tuna, sweetcorn & mayo with some black pepper is a fave here - warm or cold. Mix some small chopped peppers/spring onion/celery in too for a bit of extra crunch (ideal pasta salad for lunches and bbqs)

Or stir fry & noodles - dead easy & healthy.
Jacket pots with chilli/cheesey beans/tuna mayo

How about a chicken pasta pesto dish? Fry onions and peppers, garlic and diced chicken until cooked through. Meanwhile cook pasta. Add pesto to the chicken, half a jar or a whole jar to taste, doesn’t need to be fancy, and the same amount of creme fraiche. The creme fraiche is key. Delicious.