Which quick, healthy meals do you rely on most often? £100 voucher & Deli Kitchen products to be won

[MaddyMumsnet]

Life can be busy, and finding the time to prepare something both healthy and tasty can feel like a challenge – especially when you’ve got little (or not-so-little!) ones to feed as well.

Whether it’s breakfast before the school run, a speedy desk lunch, or a no-fuss dinner after a long day of juggling work, homework and after-school clubs, we’d love to hear your go-to meals that tick all the boxes for speed, nutrition, and flavour!

Everyone who comments below by 15/09/25 will be in with a chance to win a £100 VEX voucher & x5 Deli Kitchen products of their choice, that’ll be delivered in a straw tortilla basket (T&Cs apply).

Batch cooking is key - a bologaise with grated carrot and chopped peppers and courgette - made into a different meal each night is how I manage.

Omelette, gnocchi with spinach and tomato sauce. Pesto pasta with brocolli

Fajitas are a good staple in our home, especially due to our different dietary wants/needs. Husband has chicken, child is vegan so fake chicken pieces and I have halloumi - the main part of peppers and onions cooked together and then the single options added in the wraps.

Chicken and pesto pasta bake in the slow cooker. Add spinach and job done!

The slow cooker and my ninja for a chicken, and some fries - sprayed with a flavoured oil - quick, easy and nutritious.
A chicken in the morning spayed and set to cook for 4 hours, it at the best temp when we come home - I prep my veg and leave in water and add to my ninja whilst they dress in the their clothes from the uniform, and we seem to get a good meal every night - stews in winter - with veggies which take on a better taste when they absorb the meat juices.

pasta, red pesto, cream, smoked salmon with peppers, onions and a handful of frozen peas. Length of time for the pasta to cook to make. Throw chilli flakes in for the grown ups.

I do love a slow cook hot pot which isn’t quick as it takes all day to cook, but the prep is only a few minutes- I just have to be organised to do it before work. (More than once I’ve found myself half way to work before remembering I’d cubed all the veg and lamb the night before ready to bung in the slow cooker and then completely forgotten.)

Salmon stir fry with noodles. I cheat with a pack of frozen stir fry mix veg to which i add lots of garlic and ginger (again i use frozen for speed/convenience) and any sad veg from the fridge that needs using up. Towards the end i stir through some hoisin sauce. I cook the salmon in the airfryer and boil the noodles for 4 minutes. Easy, quick, lots of veg.

For a quick lunch we make fake pizzas with ciabatta - lightly toast ciabatta halves in the airfryer then spread with some tomato puree or leftover tomato pasta sauce, sprinkle with dried oregano and then top with mozzarella and then add toppings (very thin slices of red pepper, mushroom, red onion sweetcorn, or maybe some strips of pepperoni or ham). Pop back in the airfryer until the cheese melts and serve with green salad on the side.

Chicken flatbread is always a winner here. Thighs roasted in the oven with any flavours- oregano and lemon, tikka or BBQ usually- with any veg thrown in as well. Bag of mixed salad and some chopped cucumber for everyone to make their own. I always add sliced chilli, DD likes extra sauce etc. If I've got time I'll make flatbread, if not Sainsbury's do a nice garlic & herb one. Easy, balanced ish, cheapish and not making 3 different meals!

I batch cook lasagne and then there are always portions of lasagne in the freezer for when a child needs a decent meal.with minimum effort.

I also find jacket potatoes work well with 4 children as they can each then top the potatoes with different things (tuna /beans /cheese) depending on their preferences

Fandos or fake Nando's- pre marinated chicken in air fryer , chargrilled broccoli, frozen mash with added butter and seasoning. Garlic bread, all done in 20 minutes

BBQ chicken wraps. I always have cooked chicken in the freezer so defrost this, mix with bbq sauce, cheese, sweetcorn, red peppers and serve cold or hot and crispy from the oven.

A big favourite in our house and so easy and quick is Pasta with chorizo, fresh lemon juice, red onion, cream and spinach. With some homemade garlic ciabatta. Or a stir fry with beef strips, peppers, carrots peeled thinly with a potato peeler, broccoli or mange tout, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey and ketchup.

Quesadillas- always have tortillas and cheese in the kitchen, so then whatever we have - leftover chicken, beans, veg all just gets grilled in a tortilla. There’s always tomatoes too, and pink onion slices which makes a good topping or side salad

Turkey, beef or quorn mince (or a mixture) made into a bologaise on Sunday - I can than make a variety of meals during the week with minimal effort by adding fries, pasta, lasagne slices or mashed potato. Hidden veggies not only add texture and flavour, but then also give me satisfaction in knowing they are getting good vitamins and fibre in their diet.

Ninja cooked chicken - done in 40 minutes and very juicy and full of flavour - all of the meat will go into wraps, a curry, with a tin of chicken soup to make a casserole, or in a sandwich with some fries.

Our go-to is tuna and sweetcorn pasta - miix cooked pasta with canned tuna, sweetcorn, and a little plain yogurt or light mayo. Add grated cheese on top.

Pesto pasta! Simple quick and easy. If I have 5 mins I add tuna and or sardines

I make a lot of healthy salads to keep in the fridge. We can make up Buddha bowls with a variety of different salads and top with various nuts, hard boiled egg, cheese or any cold meat left in the fridge. Or all of the above.

At the moment I have: dill/cucumber/yogurt; coleslaw/apple/celery; feta/beetroot plus various green leaves and tomatoes.

Oh and pickled things- courgette, cauliflower in a red wine vinegar dressing which makes a great salad dressing too.
Ideally I have a lentil salad or a 5 bean salad on the go as well. Better cook that today!

Microwaved jacked potatoes with salad and beans and cheese. Nice and quick and healthy.

When DC lived at home the very quick dinners were:
Chicken tray bake: chicken legs tossed in garlic and herbs with chunks of red and yellow pepper, baby potatoes, red onion and butternut squash. Served with bag of salad leaves

or for mega quick dinner on school nights, pasta with fresh ready made tomato and chilli or tomato and mascarpone sauce. Add fresh basil, olives for anyone who likes them, grated grana padano and steam some broccoli on top of the cooking pasta, then toss it in butter melted in the microwave with a bit of lemon zest.

Wraps are always a good choice with leftover chicken, some peppers, lettuce mayo and grated cheese - easy to eat, quick and filling for them - I will also quickly cook some peppers, chicken and soy and these to a wrap in winter.

I make a big batch of spiced chickpeas that can go on toast, in a wrap, as a side dish on a curry evening or as a part of a salad.

I batch cook ‘tomato’ sauce (onion, garlic, basil, Tom purée, tinned toms, sometimes olives/peppers/herbs) - freeze in pots and defrost in microwave (or in advance)- use for myriad of quick dinners.
puff pastry sheet - tomato sauce, other ‘pizza’ toppings
pasta
veggie meatballs/meatballs/falafel + tomato sauce + rice
etc

Cook jacket pots in advance, reheat on the night in the air fryer.

That sounds good, so what kinds of ways do you make it in to a different meal each night.