Quick and easy dinner ideas to make at home

Do you constantly find yourself in a situation where you're clueless about what to cook for dinner? You'd make a mental list of quick meal options, but nothing sounds appealing? You might be in a hurry on some evenings to get meals on the table, and to ponder what to cook for dinner is not helping at all!

Well, you don't have to spend a fortune on dinner. Instead, save budget by opting for less expensive meats such as beef and chicken or go meatless with bean-based dishes. Regardless of your cooking style, keep it simple with these delectable meals that will delight the whole family without breaking the pocketbook.

Chicken Marsala

Have this recipe saved up if you're seeking new ways to spice up the chicken. The traditional creamy, savoury sauce is simple to make and so delicious that you'll want to pour it over everything. Then, serve it with steamed veggies or your favourite side dish for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 8 cutlets of chicken
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup of flour
• 2 tablespoons of canola oil
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 package of sliced mushrooms
• 1/3 cup of chopped onion
• 2 minced medium garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup of dry Marsala wine
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 3/4 cup of chicken broth
• Fresh thyme

Method

1. Pound the chicken until it's approximately 1/4 inch thick using a meat tenderiser. If you don't have the tool, use the bottom of a solid cup as an alternative.
2. Then, season the chicken with salt and pepper before dredging it in flour. Heat the canola oil in your cookware, preferably a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken in batches for about 2 minutes on each side, until everything turns brown, or until the oil is sizzling. Set the cooked chicken aside and cover for it to keep warm.
3. Remove extra oil from the pan and melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté the mushrooms and onions for about 5-7 minutes, or until tender. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the garlic is aromatic.
4. Simmer for at least 15 minutes or until all the liquids have thickened. Pour the sauce on top of the chicken and top with a sprig of fresh thyme.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

When a need for mac and cheese strikes, it generally hits hard and quick. What could be easier—or more delicious—than quick mac and cheese? The best mac and cheese should be rich, thick, and cooked from scratch. And the best part of it is that it just takes 5 minutes from beginning to end, with the help of an instant pot!

Ingredients

• 450 grams of elbow pasta
• 4 cups of water
• 3/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded

Method

1. Combine water, pasta, and salt in your instant pot. Give it a good shake. Then, cook the pasta for about 3 minutes with the pot's pressure cook or manual option. Quickly remove the steam to avoid overcooking your noodles.
2. Lift the lid* when you're confident that no more pressure remains. Add all the cheeses and heavy cream into the pot and stir until everything is well blended before serving.

*Note: There must be very little water remaining in the pot. If there is a lot, strain it first before mixing in the cheese and heavy cream.

Five-Spice Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Do you need more meal ideas for a weeknight? This five-spice chicken sheet pan dish is so tasty and simple that it'll quickly become the new midweek dinner staple. Chinese five-spice gives the chicken thighs and cabbage a boost in taste, a few minutes in the oven on a sheet pan, and bam! Dinner is served.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of powdered five spice
• 1 teaspoon of freshly minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil + another 1/4 cup
• 2 kilogram of chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
• 1 cabbage head (sliced into 1-inch wedges)
• 3 large, peeled carrots (cut into 2-inch pieces)
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Red pepper flakes and green onions for garnish

Method

1. Combine all the honey, soy sauce, garlic, olive oil, and five-spice powder in a large mixing bowl and mix everything. Add in the chicken and cover it with the marinade thoroughly. Then, refrigerate the chicken for approximately an hour. However, it's recommended for you to leave it overnight for the chicken to absorb more flavours from the marinade.
2. Preheat the oven to 255°C.
3. Set the vegetables on a rimmed sheet pan and sprinkle some olive oil on top. Then season everything with salt.
4. Put the marinated chicken on the sheet pan and roast for about 35 minutes or until the veggies are soft. Make sure the chicken's internal temperature registers at 75°C using an instant-read thermometer.

Conclusion

There may be some days where you'd have to prepare dinner as fast as you could or some days where you feel too tired to prepare an extravagant meal for the family. Some recipes out there require a lot of time and effort, so these three simple and tasty recipes would help you to prepare a quick meal for the night. One bite would definitely make your tastebuds dance with joy!