I'm Nicole. Here you’ll find easy, delicious, low-cost family dinner ideas that you can make with simple ingredients, without having to spend hours in the kitchen!
Some nights, the absolute last thing you feel like doing is cooking. You’ve had a full day – work, school runs, activities, a mental to-do list that never seems to end – and by 5 pm, standing in the kitchen feels like a monumental task. I get it. I spend my days at a desk, I’ve got two young kids, I’ve recently started going to the gym (this is HUGE for me), and there are nights where my energy is completely spent before I’ve even thought about dinner.
But here’s what I keep coming back to: cooking at home is still one of the simplest ways to save money, stay on track and feel like you’ve got some control over the week. It doesn’t need to be complicated or impressive – it just needs to get done. And that’s exactly what these five dinners are built for.
This One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Ramen Noodles recipe is the ultimate quick and easy dinner – ready in just 20 minutes with minimal prep and even less cleanup. The noodles cook right in the pan with the chicken and broccoli, soaking up a simple, flavour-packed sauce for a budget-friendly meal the whole family will love. It’s flexible, fuss-free and perfect for busy weeknights.
Sticky, sweet and savoury minced (ground) beef cooked until glossy and caramelised. Serve Peking-style Beef over rice with cool cucumber ribbons and spring onion (scallion) for a quick fakeaway dinner that’s faster (and cheaper!) than delivery.
An easy one-pot meal, this Jammy Tomato and Pesto Gnocchi Bake recipe is the ultimate low-effort weeknight pasta dinner. The gnocchi cooks directly in the sauce, the pesto melts into creamy pockets, and the top turns golden and bubbly – no boiling pasta and barely any washing up. Family-friendly, flexible, and ready in around 30 minutes, it’s comfort food designed for busy nights when you still want a proper home-cooked meal.
This Garlic Butter Prawn (Shrimp) Linguine recipe is an impressive meal for any night of the week, with perfectly cooked prawns and a garlicky, buttery sauce, all ready in under 20 minutes.
Crispy roasted potatoes make the perfect base for this loaded taco bowl, topped with spiced beef, guac, salsa and cheese. This Loaded Potato Taco Bowl recipe is budget-friendly, freezer-friendly, and a fun way to mix up taco night without adding extra effort.
For recipes labelled ‘gluten-free’ or ‘dairy-free’, the ingredients included in the recipe are typically gluten- or dairy-free. However, it is the user’s responsibility to carefully check the ingredient panels on the specific brands of products purchased and used. Simple Home Edit cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions.
