Cook for families is never easy, is it?
You’re usually trying to whip something up while fending off snack requests from one child and trying not to trip over the other. At the same time, you need to find something that at least pretends to be nutritious, doesn’t cost the earth, and that they will actually eat.
I am no Nigella Lawson in the kitchen (or anywhere else for that matter), and while I do try to cook meals that taste good, if I’m honest, my main criteria for meal choices are as follows:
- Easy to cook
- Leave minimal washing up
- The kids won’t complain about it
They might not be in order, but they are my main boxes to tick.
I’m fairly experienced at this now, having two small children and a much larger child – otherwise known as my other half. The big one will eat anything, the two small one, not so much. Yet, over the years, I have found a couple of family meals that are easy to cook, healthy, tasty, and perhaps most importantly, don’t leave much washing up!
One-Pan Chicken And Veg Tray Bake
This is one of those meals that feels like a proper dinner but takes hardly any effort. Everything cooks together on one tray in the oven. The flavours blend nicely and the amount of washing up is minimal. Cheap too!
Ingredients
Chicken thighs or drumsticks
Baby potatoes or chopped regular potatoes
Bell peppers
Red onion
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Dried herbs such as oregano or mixed herbs
How To Make It
Preheat the oven to about 200°C. Chop the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, slice the peppers and onion, and spread everything across a large baking tray. Place the chicken pieces on top.
Drizzle olive oil over the whole tray, season with salt, pepper, and herbs, then give everything a quick shuffle so it’s coated. Roast for around 35–40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are golden.
Why It Works
It’s hearty, balanced, and incredibly forgiving. You can swap vegetables depending on what’s in the fridge (or what the kids will and won’t eat), and the oven does most of the work while you get on with everything else. Best of all, it’s one tray and done.
One-Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
A tasty pasta dish where the pasta cooks directly in the sauce, meaning you skip the usual separate pan of boiling water. One less step in the process.
Ingredients
Pasta (penne or fusilli works well)
Garlic
Tinned chopped tomatoes
Vegetable or chicken stock
A splash of cream or soft cheese
Olive oil
Parmesan or grated cheese
Optional extras like spinach or mushrooms
How To Make It
In a large saucepan, gently cook the garlic in a bit of olive oil. Add the chopped tomatoes and stock, then stir in the dry pasta.
Let everything simmer together, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick. As the pasta cooks, it absorbs the liquid and thickens the sauce.
Once the pasta is tender, stir in a splash of cream or a spoonful of soft cheese and sprinkle over some grated cheese.
Why It Works
There’s only one pot involved and the pasta creates its own sauce as it cooks. It’s comforting, mild enough for kids, and easy to adapt depending on what you have in the fridge. Good the next day if you make a batch too.
Sausage And Potato Tray Bake
Another tray bake. This one is really filling, simple, and always seems to go down well with the children. Sausages are one of the few things they have always been happy to eat.
Ingredients
Pork sausages
Potatoes
Carrots
Red onion
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
A little honey or mustard (optional)
How To Make It
Chop the potatoes and carrots into chunks and slice the onion. Spread them across a large roasting tray and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Place the sausages on top and roast everything at about 200°C for roughly 35 minutes, turning the sausages halfway through.
If you like, you can drizzle a bit of honey or mild mustard over the sausages near the end for extra flavour.
Why It Works
It’s simple comfort food and there’s very little prep involved. Everything cooks together and the oven does the hard work while you tidy up or help with homework.
Quick Egg Fried Rice
A great meal for using leftover rice and a brilliant option when you need something quick. Very cheap and the kids never complain about it.
Ingredients
Cooked rice (cold rice works best)
Eggs
Frozen peas and carrots
Spring onions
Soy sauce
A little sesame oil or vegetable oil
How To Make It
Heat a large frying pan or wok with a little oil. Scramble the eggs first and set them aside. This does create more washing up I suppose, but not much.
In the same pan, add the rice and frozen vegetables and cook for a few minutes, breaking up any clumps. Stir in soy sauce and a tiny splash of sesame oil.
Add the eggs back in, toss everything together, and finish with sliced spring onions.
Why It Works
It’s fast, filling, and all happens in one pan. The flavours are mild enough for kids but still interesting enough that adults enjoy it too.
Baked Potato With Easy Toppings
A very simple dinner that feels cosy and satisfying, especially on colder evenings. A baked potato doesn’t need much of an introduction, let’s be honest.
Ingredients
Large baking potatoes
Butter
Grated cheese
Baked beans
Optional toppings like tuna, sweetcorn, or leftover chicken
How To Make It
Pierce the potatoes with a fork and bake them in the oven at around 200°C for about an hour until soft inside and crisp outside.
Slice them open, fluff the inside with a fork, add butter and cheese, then top with warm baked beans or any toppings your family enjoys.
Why It Works
There’s hardly any prep, once they’re in the oven you can set a timer and leave them to it, and everyone can customise their own potato. It’s simple, filling, and perfect for evenings when energy levels are low.
5 Dinners to Make Weeknights Easier
So there you go, 5 dinners to make your weeknights easier.
They might not all work for you, but I hope at least a few of them do. My family genuinely love each one, so whenever it’s my turn to cook, one of these is usually served up. Don’t get me wrong, fish fingers and chips have a place in our house too- but not more than twice a week 😂
If nothing else, let these ideas serve as inspiration for other meals, and if you do come up with any winners, please do let me know.
No seriously, my kids will get tired of these eventually, so please do let me know 🙏