Quick midweek meal ideas

[Littleguggi]

I like to cook most meals from scratch which of course adds time. Working full time and having a busy schedule, I need quick midweek meal ideas.

I usually meal plan and batch cook/ freeze meals but life has been so busy recently I just haven't had time to do this. Even my food shops are a weekly dash around the supermarket.

What are you eating tonight? Or what do you typically eat midweek? I need ideas to help me start meal planning again!

Stir fries
soups
pasta with homemade pesto
west African peanut stew
mushroom stroganoff

Omelette (whatever I have in the fridge) and potato wedges (airfryer).

Orecchiette with broccoli. This is a favourite in our house, but it has to be very garlicky and spicy. You can add some sausage if you want.

Ratatouille that I make in the Instant Pot. It keeps well in the fridge, and you can use it for pasta sauce, veggie lasagne, or just a side.

Thai curry in the freezer. I use a Hot Thai Kitchen method (see YouTube) for making a freezer version. Or you can just make the sauce and freeze it. Defrost and add protein and veggies.

Burrito bowls. These are really quick. Yesterday we had one with blackened fish. I have a rice cooker, so I can leave the rice to do its own thing.

Tagine and couscous. You can use the ratatouille as a base for the tagine. Just add some spices and protein.

Sainsburys do a good frozen bag of chargrilled Mediterranean veg. I tip that into a frying pan with olive oil and let it defrost and cook, add in a bit of garlic, pepper, chilli flakes, salt. Add tin of tomatoes and half tin of water and let it reduce down. Then put some kind of protein from freezer in the oven (breaded chicken / fish / sausages etc).

I then use the cooking time to do chores / have shower and by the time the stuff in the oven has cooked the veg sauce is ready. Plate up and dinner is served with minimal fuss and lots of different veg in it without the faff of chopping and peeling.

Thank you everyone, I've been making note of all these ideas.

For those who are saying not to bother batch cooking, I know that works for me. In fact I batch cooked some curry base sauce and pasta sauce at the weekend and have been so much more organised this week.

I think my issue is that when I cook, I use every utensil possible and turn the kitchen upside down, half the effort is having to tidy afterwards although DH is good at that! I find if I batch cook it saves a lot of tidy up time!

Particularly like the suggestions of Gucci, ready made pastry based dishes, ratatouille (although would love a recipe if someone cares to share?) and meals using frozen veg!

Gnocchi not Gucci 🤦🏾‍♀️

Chicken fried rice. That is what is happening here tonight.

Rice is practically for free so thrown in an egg and leftover chicken with peas and sauce it up and it costs pennies.

Placemarking!