The masterlist of easy meals for the days you’re just not bothered

Jul 8, 2024

There are some evenings that we simply can't be bothered. Work was long, the commute was more annoying than usual, we don't feel like making much of an effort and we just want something quick and easy that requires minimal attention before we can flop in front of Netflix for the evening.

We get it. But when you go to look for that quick and easy recipe, noting is ever just simple. There's always one obscure ingredient, or a ridiculous prep time or else it's just not enough to fill us. We've gone back to basics with these super-quick comfort food eats so you can save this for inspiration later on. Happy eating!

Spaghetti Bolognese

Ah the old classic. We all learned this in home economics right? But a quick refresher never hurts!

You’ll need…

450g lean ground beef
30g fresh basil
4 cloves garlic
1 1/2tsp oregano
2 cans chopped tomatoes
20g tomato paste
450g wholegrain spaghetti
1/2tsp salt
2tbsp olive oil
50g parmesan cheese
200ml red wine

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add chopped onion and garlic into the pan.

Sautee for 5-6 minutes before adding in the tomato paste and then the ground beef.

Stir and cook through.

Boil water in a saucepan and add some salt. When the water is boiling, add in your pasta and cook it through before straining and setting aside.

Next, add oregano, chopped fresh basil and stir it in.

Next, add in your canned chopped tomatoes and stir into the ground beef. Season with salt.

Serve the tomato-beef sauce over the pasta and garnish with a sprig of fresh basil if you’re feeling fancy!

Omelette

A lunchtime or quick dinner staple, the humble omelette is versatile, easy to make and a great way to pack a few more veggies into your diet.

You’ll need…

2 eggs
1-2 strips serrano ham
3-4 mushrooms
1 handful spinach
½ shallot
Salt and pepper
1 clove garlic
30g cheddar cheese
1tsp olive oil

Chop your shallot, garlic clove, mushrooms and spinach into small pieces.

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.

Sautee your shallot and garlic clove for 3-4 minutes, before adding in your mushrooms and cooking them through.

Season with salt and pepper.

In a cup, crack both eggs and whisk together with a fork.

Pour the whisked eggs into the pan over your shallot, garlic and mushrooms, ensuring it reaches the edges of the pan.

Slice serrano ham into small pieces before scattering on top of the egg mixture, along with chopped spinach and cheddar cheese.

Fold the omelette in the pan until it forms a roll and is cooked through.

Beef broccoli stir fry

You'll need…

400g flank steak
400g broccoli
2 cloves garlic
1tsp ground ginger
50ml soy sauce
50g light brown sugar
1tbsp cornstarch
1/4tsp red pepper flakes
1tbsp sesame seeds
2tbsp olive oil
100ml water
Salt and pepper
200g rice

Add cornstarch, 50ml of water, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and chopped garlic clove into a small bowl and use a fork to mix them together well.

Chop your broccoli florets into small sections and set aside.

Cut your flank steak into thin strips and season with salt and pepper, rubbing them into both sides.

Heat olive oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add in your broccoli and then pour in the remainder of your water, covering the pan over with a lid to steam the broccoli for 7-8 minutes or until broccoli has softened.

Remove broccoli from the pan and add your remaining olive oil before adding in your steak strips. Stir to cook through on both sides.

Next, pour in the contents of your bowl that formed the base for your sauce and allow it to simmer in the pan for 1-2 minutes and then add in the cooked broccoli.

Make sure everything is coated with the sauce before serving over white rice and topping with sesame seeds. Voila! An easy, tasty dinner.

Pasta bake

This is a great one for meal planning or for sharing meals with house mates if they take turns with the cooking. Easy to make and lots of servings, this one will see them through the early college days!

You'll need…

500g chicken breasts
1 bunch fresh basil
1/2tsp red pepper chili flakes
1 jar marinara sauce
400g penne pasta
1tsp oregano
1tsp parsley
1/2tsp pepper
1tsp salt
2tbsp olive oil
400g mozzarella cheese
200g parmesan
300g ricotta cheese

Turn your oven on to 200C.

Boil a saucepan of water and add a little salt. When it boils, add in your penne pasta and boil until cooked. Strain and set aside.

Chop your chicken breast into small pieces.

Heat olive oil in pan over a medium heat. Add in your chicken and cook through.

Season with oregano, salt and pepper, parsley and chili flakes, before adding your marinara sauce.

In a deep baking tray, empty the contents of your pan. Top with cooked penne.

Next, add in your ricotta and chopped fresh basil, stirring it into the tomato-chicken-pasta sauce until it’s creamy and coated.

Layer lots of mozzarella and parmesan on top and cover with a layer of tinfoil.

Pop it in the oven for 20 minutes and then remove the tinfoil layer, cooking it for another 5 minutes.

Garnish with more chopped basil and serve!

Baked salmon

This might not be one that they particularly want to make, but it’s definitely one they should have in their arsenal. Fish is an important source of omega three and it essential in our diets.

1-2 salmon fillets
1tbsp coriander
2 cloves garlic
50ml lime juice
200g white rice
Salt and pepper
1tsp chili flakes
2tbsp olive oil
1 avocado

Heat your oven to 200C.

On a flat baking tray, lay out a strip of tinfoil.

Lay your salmon fillet out on it and pour olive oil and half your lime juice over your fillet.

Season with salt and pepper, chili flakes and coriander.

Chop garlic cloves and scatter them over the fillet too.

Fold the tinfoil around the fish and place it in the oven to cook for 15-20 minutes, peeling back the foil for the last five minutes.

Meanwhile, boil water in a saucepan and cook the rice. Once cooked through, strain and season it with salt, coriander and the remains of your lime juice.

Slice the avocado into sections and serve with your salmon on a bed of coriander-lime rice.

Chickpea curry

You'll need…

100g baby spinach
1 can chickpeas
Fresh coriander
3 cloves garlic
1 green onion
1/2 lemon juiced
1 onion
2tbsp tomato paste
300g brown rice
3tsp olive oil
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp pepper
3/4tsp salt
1tsp cumin
3tbsp water

Heat olive oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Add in 1 clove of chopped garlic and spinach, allowing the spinach to wilt.

Toss in lemon juice and salt and stir them in and set the pan aside.

In a different pan, heat olive oil and add in the rest of the chopped garlic and chopped onion.

Season with curry powder, cumin and cinnamon, stirring to allow the onions to saute.

Toss in your chickpeas, tomato paste, salt and pepper and some water to create the sauce, stirring continuously.

Serve with brown rice, layering the chickpea mixture on top of the garlic spinach. Garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions for a little extra spice!

Sheet pan fajitas

This is definitely one for the lazy evenings! A lifesaver we’re all well-acquainted with, the sheet pan fajitas is here to save the day!

You'll need…

400g chicken breast
2 bell peppers -red/orange/green
Fresh coriander
1/2tsp garlic powder
1 Lime
1/2tsp onion powder
1 red onion
2tsp chili powder
1tsp salt
1/2tsp smoked paprika
1 1/2tbsp olive oil
Tortillas

Heat oven to 200C.

Thinly slice peppers and red onion and toss them in a bowl.

Cut your chicken breast into strips and add them in as well.

Pour in olive oil, salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and toss to make sure everything is coated.

Lay tinfoil over a baking tray and spread out the contents of the bowl across it.

Bake for 25-30 minutes and in the last five minutes, place your tortillas onto a piece of tinfoil, fold it over and place them in the oven to warm up.

Remove everything from the oven, slice up a lime, squeezing it over the tray and chop your fresh cilantro up to scatter over the food. Dinner is served!