Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
When it comes to dinner, the last thing you want is a long and complicated process. These easy dinner recipes are designed for busy evenings, with easy-to-find ingredients, straightforward prep and minimal cooking time. You’ll get many of these quick and easy dinner ideas out in 30 minutes – without compromising on flavour. The ones that take a little bit longer (but are still ready in under an hour) are simple recipes that don’t involve too many steps, just a longer cook time.
Whether you’re feeding a family, catering to picky eaters and dietary preferences or cooking for one, you’ll find fast and reliable options that don’t require a long shopping list or clean-up time. From speedy spaghetti with flavour-packed sauces and one-pan dinners to fuss-free curries, stir-fries and tray bakes, these easy dinners make mealtimes stress-free. Set the timer, dinner is on its way. Here are our top dinner recipes primed for busy weeknights.
Top Easy Dinner Ideas for 2026
Pork katsu with sweet potato mash and gochujang-lime butter
Crisp and creamy, katsu is always a crowd-pleaser and comes together in 35 minutes.
Almond-crusted snapper with buttermilk dressing and summer slaw
Inspired by Australiana, green and gold combine in this fresh and easy midweek fish dish that’s ready in half an hour.
Oven-roasted Thai curry with pumpkin and tofu
Prep for 15 minutes and then let the oven do the heavy lifting.
Spaghetti alla puttanesca
Pasta from the pantry. A quick sauce. This two-step puttanesca is a no-brainer for a midweek meal.
Roast chicken with white wine, porcini and sage sauce
This is the Italian version of marry-me chicken that comes together in one pan for minimal washing and effort.
A cheat’s recipe for spinach and ricotta ravioli
When it comes to these filled quadrilaterals, it pays to think outside the square: we use wonton wrappers for ease.
Cheat’s porcini mushroom risotto with radicchio and sage
Bittersweet radicchio and porcini bring depth to this easy weeknight mushroom risotto.
Oregano and honey pork cutlets with watermelon salad
A balanced meal packed with flavour, ready in 35 minutes.
Korean cauliflower curry
Sweet and savoury with a splash of spice, this Korean cauliflower curry makes for an easy addition to the weeknight meal rotation.
Roast baby snapper with potatoes, lemon and capers
A fish dish where the prep involves placing everything in one pan and letting the oven do the work.
Crunchy garlic and tomato pasta (skordomakaronada)
A non-intimidating staple tomato pasta dish in Mediterranean households — and soon yours, too.
Pork skewers with chimichurri and grilled potatoes
Fire up the barbecue and get sizzling with these punchy pork skewers.
Hot-smoked ocean trout and pearl barley salad
This hot-smoked ocean trout recipe makes for a delicious and fresh weeknight dinner.
Chickpeas with steamed eggplant, almonds and harissa
Steamed eggplant gives this dish the perfect hit of umami. Ready in 30 minutes.
Feta and polenta frittata with crisp Brussels sprouts
Ready in under half an hour, this convenient and substantial frittata is for lazy just-came-home-from-work dinners.
Sean Moran’s linguine with shredded rocket, lemon, chilli and parmesan
This perfectly balanced linguine is enhanced by zesty lemon and a kick of spice.
One-pot braised chicken with white wine and mascarpone
A final stir-through of mascarpone takes this breezy one-pot midweek dish to another level.
Spaghetti alla carbonara
The proper way to make this easy Italian classic.
Baked chicken and rice with chilli and ginger dressing
A twist on Hainanese chicken and rice, this version is easy to prepare.
Greek lamb meatballs with orzo, tomato-garlic sauce and fried oregano
A quick and easy lamb meatballs recipe primed for weeknight dinners. Ready in 40 minutes.
Rice noodle salad with grilled steak, lime and Vietnamese mint
A quick, satisfying meal that punches above its weight in the flavour game.
Beetroot salad with feta and lentils
We all know someone who thinks salads are boring. Consider them converted with this simple flavour-packed number.
Greek lamb cutlets with feta skordalia and crushed olives
Our Greek-style lamb cutlets, finished with traditional feta skordalia and crushed olives, is ideal for weeknight cooking. Opa!
Stuffed eggplant with shredded chicken and mozzarella
A comforting eggplant recipe that epitomises the big-flavoured goodness of Greek home cooking.
Ouzo, saffron and garlic mussels
Garlic and saffron are the spice stars in this simple three-step seafood dish.
Barramundi with Grenobloise sauce and colcannon
A comforting pan-fried barramundi recipe with Grenobloise sauce and colcannon makes for one quick and easy dinner.
Chive and green peppercorn roast chicken with spring vegetables
This dinner-ready recipe for green peppercorn chicken proves that a roast can be perfect for midweek meals.
Fragrant prawns with Thai basil and udon noodles
Fresh, fast and flavourful: this is the easy way to make prawns a midweek meal.
Welsh rarebit steak with butter beans
A scotch fillet steak recipe for dinner — with a golden, cheesy twist.
Paper-baked snapper with artichokes and mushrooms
A fuss-free snapper recipe ideal for family dinners.
Ajvar orecchiette with ricotta and dill
An impressive pasta dish that’s perfect for any day of the week.
Salt and pepper prawn and pork noodles
A flavour-packed noodle dish that requires very little time and effort.
Seared beef with palm sugar and coconut slaw
A fast, everyday salad recipe that doesn’t skimp on flavour.
Warm mixed bean, chickpea and mozzarella salad
This quick and easy dinner-worthy salad comes together in minutes.
Shawarma-spiced roasted lamb rack
Lamb doesn’t have to be a long drawn out cook. These roasted lamb racks are ready for the plate within 30 minutes, salad and all.
Chana masala
A comfort bowl that’s ready in a matter of minutes.
Pepper steak with baby lettuce salad
Marinate your steaks in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce for a delicate flavour and a tender flank. Ready in 35 minutes.
Lamb chops with grilled zucchini and tahini
Quick grilled lamb chops with a side of vibrant zucchini is just the way to welcome in a lazy weeknight.
Crisp eggplant schnitzel with yasai itame
Crisp, panko-crumbed eggplants are perfectly paired with a Japanese yasai itame.
Soba noodles with nori sesame butter and sake-grilled prawns
An easy, everyday Japanese-inspired soba noodle recipe that requires little time and effort.
Stir-fried udon noodles with mustard greens, tofu and peanut sauce
A fast vegetarian udon noodle recipe that takes little time to make but is big on flavour.
Lemon chicken with bean and radish salad
Quick, easy and healthy. This is a chicken dish you’ll want to commit to memory.
Steak with caramelised onion and ginger ponzu
A quick and easy steak recipe that goes beyond a charred barbecued rump.
Spiced tahini baked fish
This spiced fish recipe makes for a simple yet flavoursome dinner idea.
Lamb, beetroot and walnut with herb dressing
An everyday lamb recipe that requires little effort.
Mixed mushroom and brie tart
Pre-made puff pastry makes this tasty tart a weeknight winner.
Pintxo-style chopped steak sandwiches
A speedy steak snack that’ll transport you to a Spanish wine bar at first bite.
Chicken roasted on Catalan tomato bread
A quick and easy chicken dinner recipe that goes beyond a simple roast chook.
Torn pasta soup with fennel and parmesan croutons
Made with a flavoursome vegetable stock and adorned with crunchy croutons and shreds of fennel, this torn pasta soup recipe makes for a quick and easy dinner.
South Indian coconut and chickpea stir-fry
A quick, easy and aromatic chickpea dish to have on rotation.
Greek pork with silverbeet and olives
A Mediterranean meal that’s big on flavour and a cinch to make.
Prosciutto-wrapped lamb with peach and mozzarella
A speedy lamb dish that doesn’t skimp on flavour.
Zucchini and kataifi fritters
These zingy fritters make for a quick and vegetable-packed midweek meal.
Summer paccheri with prawns, tomato and pickled chilli
Add some cooked crab or lobster meat to this weeknight favourite and transform it into a luxe dinner party entertainer.
Vietnamese chilli and lime caramel pork stir-fry
A winning midweek meal to have on rotation.
Spiced lamb larb with crisp vermicelli
This fragrant salad works beautifully with lamb but the fresh mint, basil and coriander will go just as well with beef, chicken or duck.
Kombu-cured kingfish poke bowl
This twist on the Hawaiian bowl combines cured kingfish with the crunch of fresh salad and pickled veg, plus rice for sustenance.
Asparagus and soba noodle salad with furikake pine nuts
Make it a meal: for a more substantial dish, stir-fry prawns in sesame oil and garlic and toss through the noodles.
Prawn linguine with semi-dried tomatoes and olives
A summery prawn pasta that’s a no-fuss midweek meal? Yes please.
Sushi bowls
A quick and easy dinner idea for when you can’t be bothered to cook.
Stir-fried sweet potato noodles with tofu
Easy, quick, and vegetarian — this is the ultimate weeknight meal.
Seared tuna with baby spring greens
Poke bowls have had their moment. Here’s a vibrant seasonal salad that transcends trends.
Barbecued hanger steak with cacio e pepe mushrooms
A cacio e pepe sauce makes everything better.
Skillet spanakopita
This spanakopita is made in one pan, making it a perfect weeknight meal.
Mixed seed and spice crêpes with roasted pumpkin
A breakfast-for-dinner winner.
Pan-roasted snapper with tarragon gribiche
Quick, easy, and chef approved, this pan-roasted snapper with tarragon gribiche is sure to become a new weeknight favourite.
Broccoli rabe, burnt butter and sage spaghettini
The trick with this simple dish is to sauté the broccoli rabe enough so that it’s wilted and tender, without becoming soft.
Smoked cheddar and onion quiche
With short, flaky pastry and a soft, savoury filling, you shouldn’t forget the versatile quiche for your next lazy weeknight meal.
Prawns and clams baked in tomato and chilli
There’s something so satisfying about cooking with clams.
Golden biryani with John Dory and lemon raita
Fragrant and filling, this low fuss meal is perfect for a midweek dinner.
Grilled rump steak with Massaman curry sauce
Quick, easy, warming, and hearty, this recipe for grilled rump steak with Massaman curry is the perfect way to add intrigue to your regular Wednesday steak and chips.
Swordfish steaks with honey and citrus kosho dressing
Swordfish is one of the meatiest fish, and these steaks with a light honey dressing will show you why.
Nasi goreng with snake bean relish
Need Indonesian-style fried rice in a flash? You need this super-fast recipe for nasi goreng.
Cheat’s wonton soup
This wonton soup is an express version of the recipe that cuts time, not flavour.
Veal cotoletta with asparagus and preserved lemon
The lemon and asparagus prevent this dish from feeling too rich and heavy, and if you don’t have veal, chicken breast will work just as well.
Vietnamese rice paper rolls
Flavour and freshness with every bite.
Prawn and avocado salad with spiced tomato dressing
How to improve on fresh prawns with avocado? Adding a smoky, spicy tomato dressing to the mix.
Lamb koftas with beetroot salad
Fast, fresh and flavoursome – this lamb mince recipe is the whole package.
Harissa chicken with carrot, rice and quinoa pilaf
Chicken, boring? Things look up with the addition of harissa, the North African spice paste.
Fast chicken satay
Fire up the grill and keep the good times rolling.
Roast chicken with capsicum salsa verde
The fast and easy roast chook you need for the week.
Lamb with fennel, salsa verde and preserved lemon
A light but satiating midweek dinner, spiked with bright and spicy salsa verde.
Prawns with saffron, chilli and quinoa
A light midweek dinner made easy.
Lamb cutlets with date and almond salad
A little spice and sweetness equals this very worthy midweek meal.
Corn and buttermilk fritters
Patties we’d happily eat any meal of the day. Make them for dinner and freeze them for lunch.
Sichuan spicy chicken with rolled rice noodles
This easy, oven-baked Sichuan chicken with noodles has spice and everything nice. Plus, it’s ready in less than 60 minutes.
Roast chicken, pancetta and Brussels sprouts tray bake
Pancetta-wrapped chicken and roasted, buttery Brussels sprouts. What else could you want?
Rigatoni with chicken ragù and green sauce
This three-step light ragù is freshened up further with a herb-packed green sauce.
Chicken scallopini with mushrooms and broccoli rabe
Chicken, mushrooms and greens. This meal is the complete package.
Snapper curry with green beans and coriander
This mild yellow curry is incredibly easy to whip up when you’ve got a good-quality curry powder on hand. Add a generous squeeze of lime to enhance the flavour.
Cauliflower and egg “fried rice”
A fast and easy way to up your vegetable count.
Mike McEnearney’s flank steak with rosemary, capers and Sichuan pepper
For a speedy steak dinner, just choose beef flank.
Fast chilli con carne
Some purists believe there is no room for beans, but we think they add a rich, earthy flavour.
Zucchini and haloumi skewers with mint dressing
We’ve brightened up the haloumi with the crunch of zucchini and a fresh, vibrant mint dressing.
Ten-minute spaghetti with olives, capers and lemon
All flavour, no filler.
One-pot recipe for mussels with risoni and herbs
You can’t get past the classic pairing of mussels in white wine.
Penne with broccoli and pancetta pangrattato
A simple bowl of pasta that strikes the right balance in terms of crunchy elements and tender greens.
Chicken noodle salad with turmeric-lime dressing
Light, simple and deceptively easy to make.
Victor Liong’s pork zhajiang mian
Mix it through, slurp it up.
Chicken biryani
A multi-layered affair with chicken, rice and spice.
Chicken cacciatore with olives
Our spin on the traditional Italian dish that’s vibrant, hearty and primed for midweek dinners.
Kare pan toasties (Japanese curry bread)
The famous Japanese curry bread gets a fast makeover in this easy toastie recipe.
Beef taco rice
Beef taco rice is an Okinawan specialty that is an example of how fusion is by no means a dirty word.
Pork and shiitake meatballs with sweet soy
With Japan’s tsukune as our culinary inspiration.
Fast chilli con carne
A midweek winner that’s satiating and ready in under 30 minutes.
Big pork and prosciutto meatballs with polenta
Big pork and prosciutto meatballs with polenta recipe – Blend tomato, onion, garlic and herbs in a blender until smooth. Tip mixture into a large saucepan.
Roasted salt and pepper chicken drumettes with cucumber salad
A salty, golden crowd-pleaser ready in 40 minutes.
Japchae with prawns
This recipe for Japchae (Korean stir-fried noodles) is simple, fragrant and delicious.
Rigatoni with quick sausage ragù
This rich rigatoni with a quick sausage ragù delivers all the satisfaction of slow-cooked tradition in under an hour.
Char-grilled sirloin steaks with anchovy butter and swede purée
Classic steakhouse meet luxe European flair with this quick dinner for two.
Pan-fried swordfish with Malaysian-style curry sauce
If you’re after a speedy fish dish with spice and sweetness, we have you covered.
Kung pao tofu with sesame crumb
Sweet heat meets crunch in this vibrant plant-based stir-fry.
Spicy chorizo and chickpea braise with smoked almond romesco
A smoky, Spanish-style braise that’s warm, rustic and weeknight-friendly.
Roast chicken Marylands and sweet potato with zhoug and tahini yoghurt
Roasted comfort meets vibrant spice in this share-worthy chicken dinner. Ready in under an hour.
Spiced lamb racks with roast vegetables, couscous and harissa yoghurt
Bold spices, golden roast veg and vibrant harissa — this dish is your new lamb signature.
Roast onion tarte Tatin with apple and Comté salad
A quick and easy tart recipe for an impressive vegetarian lunch.
