Easy dinner ideas!

[BellyTubbies]

I’m a terrible cook but trying. My DH does most of the cooking as he used to be a chef but he’s working abroad for several months and it’s me and the DC. What are your healthy, quick meal ideas?

I can do some soups and stews and freeze them, and things like chicken and mash with veg, but I’m not good with food, I’m not massively bothered by it, so dinner ideas are always a struggle for me!

I need easy basics that aren’t too unhealthy please!

James May "Oh,cook" book might be an idea.

It's written by someone who can't cook ! I bought it for DH, but I've spotted it in the Charity Bag as he CBA to learn anything.

Well you are off to a good start op as you have the basics

gammon cooked in the slow cooker (I just place a little water and sometimes honey for the last hour). Handy to have in for sandwiches or with mash or whatever

Thai curry - I cook chicken fillets (I normal boil them then drain and lightly cook in curry paste and add the coconut milk )

pork chops, onions and other root veg and baby potatoes - roast together in a baking tray with tin foil to cover until the last 20 mins
for about an hour - this is lovely with bbq seasoning or Cajun or dried mixed herbs

Tray Bakes. Lots of books or the BBC website recipes. Bung stuff on a tray, shove in oven, dinner.

Yes tray bakes are great, lots of different meat, chicken and fish options and being baked with plenty of veg they can be pretty healthy.
A fritata is easy, great for adding pretty much any veg and a bonus of being good both hot and cold, so leftovers for lunch the next day.
Also on the egg theme shakshuka. Basically just a tomato and veg sauce with eggs baked in.
Being summer I tend to do lots of 'on a stick' with salad kinds of meals. I tend to use either chicken breast or prawns with some kind of marinade (lemon, garlic and herb, honey and mustard, paprika, tandoori etc) I intersperse the meat/fish with veg like peppers, cherry tomatoes, courgette on the skewer because stuff on a stick gets eaten better! Serve with salad and flat breads or pitas or cous cous.
Cod wrapped in pancetta with a tomato sauce.
Pasta with quickly fried peppers and onions, garlic, a tin of tomatoes, splash of balsamic and herbs. Can be served as it is, or with bacon, or poor into an oven dish top with cheese and breadcrumbs and bake.

Lots of great suggestions on here already.

You can't really beat a carbonara for a quick and tasty tea

I feel like I suggest this on so many threads but it's honestly my favourite meal ever and I'd happily eat it every day 😂.
Crispy beef ramen
Other favourites are
Slow cooker chicken enchiladas
Meatball subs
Jambalaya

We also have things like stir fry using the pre cut veg and sauces, pizzas using flatbread, sausage traybake, fajitas/tacos. Big max tacos have been a big success here too!

Wrap chicken breasts in prosciutto and bake in oven till cooked. Invest in meat thermometer if you're not confident of timings etc

Bash chicken breasts flat with rolling pin. Mix pesto and philly in equal proportions and spread over bashed chicken. Bake 30 to 25 mins.

Pizza. Buy bases or use flatbreads, spread with tomato sauce and toppings of choice, in oven for 15 mins or so.

Baked potatoes with bowls of fillings for kids to choose from. Coleslaw, grated cheese, baked beans, whatever they like.

Go old skool and have a rotating weekly menu so one day jacket, another pasta, another pizza etc. bit of a sanity saver and makes it easier to plan.

How old are the kids? Could they get involved in planning and cooking?

I like to attempt reduced meat intake so:
halloumi grilled or in pan with pitta, salad, maybe chips
Stir fry with crispy tofu
Eggy bread with marmite
Omelette
Jacket potato with beans

Etc

You can also do a picnic style dinner - sandwiches, pork pie, coleslaw etc

Depends what your kids eat and whether they get hot meal at school

The What's for Dinner cookbook by Sarah Rossi has loads of tasty and easy recipes to try.

Hello everyone, thank you so much for all these amazing ideas and book/website suggestions! Kids are only 3 and 5 so not brilliant eaters, but they’re keen kitchen helpers!