8 Easy and Delicious Dinner Recipes for Busy Nights
Minimal fuss with maximum reward.
Whether you've had a busy day, you're tired, or you're planning a last-minute dinner party, having a selection of easy recipes to turn to is always a good idea. We've rounded up a selection of no-fuss meals to make that will have satisfying results.
From decadent pasta to an elevated salad, these recipes are quick and easy but don't skimp on flavour. And if you're in need of more delicious dinner ideas for any occassion, head to our recipes page.
1. Spicy Mushroom Tacos
What's not to love about a delicious taco? These juicy morsels are versatile, quick to make, communal, and look incredibly tasty. These warm tortilla parcels are filled with a spicy mushroom mix topped with shredded purple cabbage, lime, and chipotle cream for freshness. When combined, these flavours and textures make a mouthwatering taco that we guarantee will hit the spot every time.
2. Creamy Pasta Alla Gin
In a vodka sauce, the vodka helps maintain a cohesive texture, allowing the creaminess to meld with the tomato base. Gin will do just this but also add subtle complexity to the dish as it has herbal and botanical notes. Simple and delicious, this heavenly pasta is perfect for dinner parties and busy weeks.
3. Tofu Larb in Lettuce Cups
This vegetarian version uses tofu and mushrooms in replace of the meat, which beautifully soaks up the zesty, fragrant sauce. Served in a refreshing lettuce cup, and you've got yourself a refreshing dish that can be served as an entree, finger food or light meal.
4. Fettuccine With Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Eggplant and Burrata
Want to take a quick trip to Italy on a weeknight after a long, hard day at work? A bowl of this creamy vegetarian fettuccine paired with a glass of chilled white wine will do the trick.
While this dish is incredibly simple to make, it tastes decadent thanks to the luxurious melted burrata cheese that's gently folded through the long strands of silky pasta.
5. Risotto Verde With Peas, Spinach, and Parsley
This recipe combines arborio rice, butter, and Parmigiano-Reggiano combined with fresh peas, spinach, and parsley. The result? A risotto verde that embraces the creaminess we love and that is brought to life with greenery that adds vibrancy and freshness. It's most delicious when the broth is high-quality and the rice has a good bite.
6. Minestrone Soup
Minestrone is a fantastic soup to turn to when the weather turns cool, you need to use vegetables that are soon to expire, or you're looking for a nutritious meal to make. Filled with a medley of veggies and beans and topped with parmesan to add a rich, cheesy flavour to the broth, Kat Vel's take on this Italian classic delivers the heartwarming flavours you'd hope for.
7. Baked Rigatoni With Broccoli and Zucchini Pesto and Pangrattato
If you’re craving some comfort food (who wouldn’t be right now), we’ve got the perfect weeknight-friendly solution. An Italian kitchen classic, this easy-to-make but ridiculously good, baked rigatoni, is not only the solution to your weeknight dinner juggle, but will soothe your soul in the way that only carbs can.
8. Grilled Broccolini, Lemon and Lentil Salad With Crunchy Breadcrumbs
This salad is worthy of being the main event in its own right. It really has it all – creaminess, crunch, freshness and a good zing from the lemon. With a generous dose of buffalo mozzarella to top it all off, it isn't your average garden salad.
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