Cooking for four can feel like orchestrating a small symphony—sometimes it’s harmonious, other times, a chaotic crescendo of pots and pans. I’ve always believed that a dinner table is where stories unfold, laughter echoes, and flavors dance together. So, whether it’s a Tuesday night or a spontaneous gathering, these recipes are your backstage pass to a deliciously easy performance.
Steps
- Butter Bean & Chorizo Stew: Sauté sliced chorizo in a pan until it releases its oils. Add butter beans and simmer with pesto for a few minutes until heated through. Serve hot for a hearty meal.
- Quick Pizza Dough: Mix flour, yeast, salt, and water into a dough. Knead briefly and let rest for 5 minutes if you prefer a thin crust. Add tomato sauce and desired toppings before baking.
- Air Fryer Meatballs: Combine ground sausage and beef with seasoning, then form into balls. Cook in an air fryer until browned and cooked through. Serve with tomato sauce over pasta or in a sub.
- Air Fryer Pork Chops: Season pork chops with paprika, mustard, onion powder, and parmesan. Cook in the air fryer, flipping halfway until done. Serve with your favorite sides.
- Air-Fryer Fish Fingers: Coat fish fillets in breadcrumbs and seasoning. Cook in the air fryer until crispy and golden. Serve in a sandwich with lettuce and tartare sauce.
- Smash Burgers: Form beef into balls and press into a hot skillet to create a crust. Cook until desired doneness, then serve in buns with lettuce, gherkin, tomatoes, and sauces.
- Creamy Chicken Pasta: Cook chicken pieces in a skillet until browned. Add cream and pasta, simmering until pasta is soft and sauce is thickened. Serve warm for a flavorful meal.
- Easy Thai Prawn Curry: Sauté prawns in a pan with red Thai curry paste. Add coconut milk and simmer until prawns are cooked through. Serve with rice for a quick dinner.
- Easy Teriyaki Chicken: Cook chicken pieces in a pan with teriyaki sauce until sticky and well-coated. Serve with sticky rice and steamed greens for a complete meal.
- Honey Chicken: Mix chicken with garlic, soy sauce, lemon, and ginger, then cook in a skillet. Serve with rice and broccoli for a balanced meal in 30 minutes.
- Prawn & Salmon Burgers: Combine prawn and salmon mixtures, then form into patties. Cook until golden and serve with spicy mayo for a healthy burger option.
- Asparagus & Meatball Orzo: Cook pork meatballs until browned, then add orzo and asparagus. Simmer until orzo is tender and serve with a creamy sauce.
- Spiced Carrot & Lentil Soup: Sauté spices, then add carrots and lentils with broth. Simmer until tender, then blend until smooth for a nutritious soup.
- Cheese Omelette: Beat eggs and pour into a hot pan. Add mature cheddar and fold when cooked. Serve as a quick snack or meal.
- Crispy Sesame Lemon Chicken: Coat chicken in sesame seeds and fry until crispy. Drizzle with lemon sauce and serve with spring onions and sides.
- Fish Tacos: Season fish and cook until flaky. Serve in tortillas with vegetables and sauces for a flavorful meal that counts towards your 5-a-day.
- Nutty Chicken Curry: Cook chicken in a creamy curry sauce with nuts until tender. Serve with rice for a quick and flavorful dish.
- Green Chicken Salad: Toss cooked chicken with greens and a dressing. Serve as a side or main dish with toasted sourdough.
- Mustard-Stuffed Chicken: Stuff chicken fillets with mustard mixture and bake. Serve as a main dish that is sure to become a favorite.
- Falafel Burgers: Blend chickpeas with spices and form into patties. Cook until crispy and serve as a low-calorie, satisfying burger.
- Easiest Ever Seafood Rice: Cook pre-prepared seafood with rice in a pot. Simmer until rice is tender and serve for an easy meal with minimal cleanup.
- Tuna & Sundried Tomato Pasta Bake: Mix tuna and sundried tomatoes with pasta and sauce. Bake until bubbly and golden for a quick supper.
- Spanish Rice & Prawn One-Pot: Cook prawns with rice and Mediterranean spices in a pot. Simmer until rice is cooked for a wholesome dinner.
Ingredients
- 200g of chorizo, sliced
- 1 jar of fresh pesto (approximately 190g)
- 2 x 400g cans of butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 large onion, chopped
FAQ
- How can I make a quick and easy pizza dough?
- To make a rapid pizza base, combine your ingredients and let the dough prove for no more than 5 minutes if you prefer a thin crust. Then, add tomato sauce and your preferred toppings before baking.
- Can I cook meatballs in an air fryer?
- Yes, you can cook sausage and beef meatballs in an air fryer for convenience. Serve them with tomato sauce and pasta, or enjoy them in a meatball sub for a delightful meal.
- What is a simple way to prepare fish fingers using an air fryer?
- To make fish fingers in an air fryer, coat the fish and cook until crisp. Serve them in a sandwich with lettuce and tartare sauce for a tasty homemade fish finger sandwich.
- How do I make a fast Thai prawn curry?
- For a speedy Thai prawn curry, use red Thai curry paste and have the dish ready in under 20 minutes. It’s a perfect choice for a quick weeknight meal.
- What is a simple recipe for creamy chicken pasta?
- This creamy chicken pasta is a crowd-pleaser that’s packed with flavor and easy enough for anyone to prepare, including children. It’s perfect for a family dinner.
Tips
- For the butter bean and chorizo stew, ensure you use fresh pesto to enhance the flavor and keep the preparation time to just 20 minutes.
- When making quick pizza dough, remember that if you prefer a thin crust, it’s not necessary to let the dough rise for more than 5 minutes.
- For air-fryer pork chops, season them with paprika, mustard, onion powder, and parmesan to achieve a flavorful crust with minimal effort.
- When preparing fish tacos, include a variety of vegetables to boost flavor and nutrition, aiming to fulfill three of your five daily servings of vegetables.
Equipment
- Air fryer – This is used for recipes like air fryer meatballs, pork chops, and fish fingers.
- Pizza stone or pizza peel – Useful for making quick pizza dough and achieving a crispy crust.
- Immersion blender or countertop blender – Handy for making smooth soups like spiced carrot & lentil soup.
- Slow cooker – Useful for the slow cooker option of the spiced carrot & lentil soup.
- Food processor – Useful for making falafel burgers and prawn & salmon burger mixtures.
- Wok or large non-stick skillet – Ideal for making stir-fries or dishes like easy teriyaki chicken and nutty chicken curry.
- Rice cooker – Could be useful for dishes like easiest ever seafood rice and Spanish rice & prawn one-pot to ensure perfectly cooked rice.
