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!
I cannot believe I finally get to show you this! Book number THREE, Simple Weeknights, is officially here to pre-order – and to celebrate, I’m giving you a little sneak peek inside. 🥹
Simple Weeknights came from a really simple idea: making weeknight cooking easier, while keeping dinner interesting.Most of us have the same handful of ingredients that make their way into our trolley each week – chicken, mince, pasta, tinned beans, a few vegetables – because they’re affordable, versatile and we know our families will eat them. The hard part is finding enough different things to do with them that dinner doesn’t start to feel like the same rotation on repeat.
That’s really what this book is about: variety without more effort. Taking those everyday ingredients and giving you lots of simple, delicious ways to use them, so you can keep dinner interesting without making your weeknights harder in the process. There are 80+ recipes, every one designed to be on the table in around 30 minutes or less, with 15-minute dinners, one-pan meals, tray bakes, hands-off cooking and simple shortcuts that make getting dinner on the table that little bit easier.
And because the recipes are only one part of making weeknights work, I’ve also shared how I manage everything around them – from meal planning and shopping to using what I already have, getting ahead when I can and leaving room for the weeks that don’t go to plan. These aren’t rules or things you have to do. They’re simply the little habits that have helped make cooking at home easier and more enjoyable for me.
And most importantly, I never want eating at home to feel like the boring option. I want the food to be something you genuinely look forward to – the big pan of noodles in the middle of the table, Friday-night chicken wings and fries, pasta on the couch. Because making weeknights simpler isn’t just about getting dinner on the table faster. It’s about making home cooking easier to return to, and more enjoyable when you do.
To give you a taste of what’s inside, I’ve pulled together 20 recipes from Simple Weeknights that you already know and love. They’re just a small peek at the 80+ recipes waiting for you in the book.
And I am SO excited to say that Simple Weeknights is available to pre-order worldwide! If you want a copy, please make sure you pre-order so you can secure yours and don’t miss out.
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.
These Baked Chicken Rissoles are quick to prep, oven-baked (no splatter), and deliver on juicy centres with crispy edges. They’re freezer-friendly, kid-approved, and flexible enough to pair with whatever sides you’ve got on hand – an easy, reliable weeknight dinner.
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.
This Quick Coconut Chicken Curry recipe is comforting and flavourful, perfect for cosy family dinners any night of the week. Tender chicken pieces are simmered in a rich, coconut-based curry sauce, before being topped with yoghurt and mango chutney. It is freezer-friendly and is delicious served with basmati rice and naan bread.
This Juicy Oven-baked Kebabs recipe is a quick, budget-friendly fakeaway that delivers bold flavour, and it’s easily cooked in the oven. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd or customising for fussy eaters, and the garlic yoghurt + sumac onion combo takes it over the top. Make it once and it’ll be on regular rotation.
Juicy chicken meatballs meet creamy, garlicky risoni. Marry Me Chicken Meatballs with Risoni (Orzo) is quick, easy and packed with flavour – perfect for a cosy night in. Serve it with extra parmesan (because more cheese is always a good idea).
This quick and easy Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner for when you are wanting to skip the takeaway and eat a comforting meal at home.
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.
You only need simple ingredients, one pan and 15 minutes to have this easy but gorgeous Spinach and Ricotta Tortellini with Creamy Tomato Sauce on the table. Vegetarian tortellini is transformed into a fulfilling family meal with a comforting creamy, cheesy and tomatoey sauce.
Freezer dumplings and a handful of pantry staples transform into a warming bowl of Quick Dumpling Laksa in one pan in just 20 minutes. The fragrant curry-coconut broth feels like a takeaway treat but is easy enough for weeknights. Make it when you want comfort food that doesn’t require effort.
Golden, juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin, nestled into garlicky, lemony risoni – all cooked in one pan. No boiling pasta, no juggling pans. This One-pan Greek Chicken and Risoni (Orzo) recipe is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner that looks impressive but couldn’t be easier!
This Street-style Soy Noodles recipe is a fast, fakeaway-style noodle dinner made with pantry sauces, tender chicken and crunchy veggies. Everything comes together in one pan in under 15 minutes – perfect for busy weeknights when you want something comforting and family-friendly without the effort.
This Speedy Satay Chicken recipe is a quick, minced (ground) chicken dinner ready in under 20 minutes. Juicy chicken is simmered in a creamy coconut peanut sauce that coats every piece, perfect served over rice with fresh toppings. An easy weeknight, family-friendly dinner that delivers takeaway-style flavour with minimal effort.
This comforting and satisfying Chicken with Homemade Gravy recipe is as delicious as it is easy. Caramelised chicken is cooked in a creamy, flavoursome gravy in just one pan, using simple, low-cost ingredients.
This Minced (Ground) Beef Stroganoff recipe is creamy, glossy comfort food made completely weeknight-realistic. Budget minced beef, minimal prep and a rich paprika sauce that clings to pasta beautifully. On the table in 30 minutes and flexible enough to serve with whatever you have.
Tender beef tossed with onion, choy sum and thick noodles in a glossy, peppery sauce. This Black Pepper Beef Noodles recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and tastes just like it’s from your favourite noodle shop.
This Deconstructed WontonSoup recipe is a cosy, low-effort twist on a family favourite. No folding required – just juicy pork dumplings, silky wonton wrappers, and a rich, savoury broth ready in 25 minutes. One pot, freezer-friendly and weeknight gold!
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 Baked Chorizo Fried Rice recipe is a low-effort, oven-baked, one-pan dinner that delivers big flavour with minimal prep. The chorizo does all the heavy lifting, the oven takes care of the cooking, and everything comes together using simple pantry and freezer staples. It’s budget-friendly, kid-approved, perfect for busy nights – and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day, warm or cold.
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.
