Husband moaning about dinners

[Willow990]

I meal prep every Sunday for dinners for the week ahead, a typical week looks something like this:

Mon - chilli or spaghetti bolognese
Tuesday - curry (chicken)
Wednesday - fish (salmon usually)
Thursday - stir fry
Friday - Steak

I told DH this morning what I was planning for next week and he asked whether there’s any chance of some variety and for me to try some new dishes. He works long days and I’m usually about to serve up as he walks through the door.

Has anyone got any ideas for how I could freshen things up?

So he’s fussy but also wants variety? Wow!!

shakshouka, chicken pesto pasta, chili con carne, various kinds of tray bakes (different veggies and seasonings for variety), one pot gnocchi (or spätzle!) dishes with vegetables and cream, frittata, stuffed zucchini, salad with baked brie and bread, tofu stir fry…

my lazy go to is lentil (or regular) pasta with tuna and tomatoe sauce and salad 😅

Nigella’s chicken cacciatore with cannellini beans is easy, one pot and delicious.

As it’s summer (looks out at the Scottish rain), how about salads - with cold chicken, cold ham, quiches.

Jamie’s baked rice with chicken and chorizo is also delicious.

Macaroni cheese with bacon/cauliflower cheese with bacon.

Fish finger wraps with salad and tzatziki. Or falafel wraps with them.

Home made burgers with sweet potato fries or wedges.

Chat gtp is brilliant for this you could put in parameters what you like max prep time etc - and it will give you ideas. My personal fav easy recipes are a chicken casserole - chicken thighs/drumsticks in a pot, add whatever vege you fancy (I generally go red onion, sweet potato, red pepper). 250 ml stock, 125ml white wine, some garlic, rosemary and seasoning and cooks in 45 mins. Can add tinned tomatoes & chorizo & chickpeas for a Spanish casserole. Narrations of this

Bloody hell why does everyone on here have to be so rude lol she asked for ideas for meals. Seems everyone's just projecting how much they can't stand their husbands.
OP it can get a little boring for me to eat the same meals so I get it and i dont mind cooking as my DH works very long hours and does lots of other things around the house/washes up after. Some ideas that nay have been suggested already:

Lasagne (freezes well if you make a couple)
Chicken wraps with halloumi etc
Tacos or loaded nachos
Flatbreads/naan with chicken/hummus/feta
A creamy pasta/pasta bake is always good for left overs too
Chicken and rice meals and they can be made in one pan too!
Kofte (spiced meatballs) with rice
Ready made spring rolls with a noodle dish
Smash burgers!!!!

This!!

Why are you on this thread? You have nothing useful or constructive to offer.

And if he didn’t have a partner? He would have to work, gym and COOK for himself yes? So maybe it’s his turn one week per month and he gets to see how annoying meal planning is for himself? Honestly op please do this!!

It’s not rude to point out that her DH is rude for complaining! I work full-time and don’t enjoy cooking but I don’t have someone cooking for me - so I just have to deal with it. If someone was cooking all my meals, I sure as shit wouldn’t be complaining, I’d be counting my blessings!!

Tell him to come up with a meal plan.

The Roasting Tin books are great for lots of low effort but tasty and varied tray bakes. The baked gnocchi is a big favourite.

Meal plan AND batch cook at the weekend.

If he's home so late, why doesn't he have his main meal at lunchtime and eat a snack at home? I wouldn't be pandering to him when you have kids to feed

Even though you work part time and he works full time if you factor in childcare you are both doing full time jobs so this should not just be on you. Ask him to come up with some suggestions for simple nutritious meals. When I worked and had a family at home and even now I would batch cook thinks like cottage pies, chilli, curries, lasagne and do roasts using left over meat in risotto or stir fries. Chicken tray bakes are good with potato wedges or baked potatoes and tuna pasta bake or carbonara. Fajitas or home made burgers/meatballs or paella aren’t difficult. This should not just be your problem to solve. Just because he doesn’t like cooking that doesn’t exempt him from doing it.

My partner doesn't cook. If he told me my food was boring I would say your turn to cook. Which would mean he would starve. I would say OP unless your husband is willing to take a turn he either eats what's prepped or sees to himself. So what if he doesn't like cooking. He would probably get great with the practice ...

I'm sensing a Joey Tribbiani 'sandwich appreciation' theme in your place

Can I suggest you set up a 14 or 21 day rotation... just having the same things each week is boring. Next include stuff that he can do that does not take a lot of prep so that, although he does not enjoy cooking he can take his turn during the week, maybe stir fries or risotto could become his star turn. Then every six months, do some food porn, both of you and go through recipe books to see what you might both enjoy seasonally... who knows you might both start to enjoy it.

Joey doesn't share food

If he's that bothered he can find a recipe and put the ingredients on the shopping list or buy then himself. You might try something and he doesn't like that either. Tell him to do the extra work if he's the one with the problem

Make a big Sweet Fanny Adam’s pie, a really big one so he can have it all week.

We're always on the look out for new ideas and I've picked up a few here so thanks to lots of posters! I get so so bored of the same stuff and normally cook because I'm better at it than dh and mainly I make less mess! He does cook but prefers stuff in his comfort zone - spag bol, chilli, sausage and mash, anything by Charlie Bigham...

Same with a lot of people-if it works and it's fair, as in both partners are doing stuff, it makes sense, particularly if the family wants to eat as soon as he walks in. Could the kids help with meal prepping (at an age appropriate level), so you could make it a family activity, and get some different ideas. Admittedly, when you ask a 3 and 4 year old to suggest things, it often gets weird, but on the plus side, as soon as they're old enough, they're used to helping with cooking and can often come up with new things their parents really like!
Why not just google some ideas, send some you like to everyone in your family who is old enough to have a say (obviously your husband, but if you've got older kids/people who come for tea regularly), so you ca try the new ideas?

My chicken thighs and tabbouleh recipe might help? Quite quick.

Chicken thighs (always the superior chicken cut) seasoned and marinated and rubbed well in whatever you want. I use lemon, olive oil, dijon, dill, oregano, crushed garlic, parsley, a lot of paprika. Chuck in the air fryer after a time marinating.

Tabbouleh. Lots of recipes will tell you to faff about with tabbouleh - salting, drying, draining, this and that… Don’t. In my culture we don’t and it’s better! Half a small cucumber diced small, six spring onions cut small with scissors, Chop very ripe tomatoes (four big ones or six smaller ones), don’t peel them - who has time? Then chop all the parsley and mint you can imagine. This should fill your chopping board. Add everything together and stir. Measure 180g of bulghur wheat and pour boiling water over with a bit of salt. Leave for 10 then drain and run cold water over to cool. Add to your tabbouleh. This is NOT a couscous type thing. The wheat should be a little and often ingredient in the very green mix, you might not need all of it.

Finally whisk a raw clove of garlic (maybe two if you like it) , juice of lemon and good olive oil together and pour and mix in to the tabbouleh.

Serve with yoghurt dip like tzatziki and pita. Very quick and healthy

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Of course it doesn't.

I was responding to the assumption that he was at the gym while she was making his dinner, so I'm not sure how you think your response is relevant to what I said.