30 Friday night meals the whole family will love

TGI Friday

Fridays are for relaxing, whether that means getting together with friends and family, or just putting your feet up with something delicious to eat, but easy to make. For the perfect Friday night in, we've put together a collection of simple yet delicious recipes ideal for celebrating the end of another week. Choose from sharing plates, burgers and nachos, opt for a relaxed date-night dinner, whip up a spicy curry, or embrace all the comfort food feels with easy one-pan dishes. We've even included a selection of faff-free yet indulgent desserts, to really get the weekend started.

Read on to find your new Friday night faves. 

Chinese sweet sticky ribs

Kick the weekend off the right way with a platter of spicy, sticky ribs that everyone can help themselves to. The ribs need to marinate, so do this the day before – you’re likely to have the majority of the marinade ingredients in your store cupboard – then all you have to do is bung them in the oven when you get home. The result is so much better than a takeaway.

Get the recipe for Chinese sweet sticky ribs here

Texas hash

This one-pan spicy rice, beef and veg combo is brimming with flavour, yet takes just 10 minutes to prepare. The hash is cooked on the barbecue but, if the weather doesn't play ball, it's just as tasty simmered on the hob. Once cooked, top individual bowls with sour cream and grated cheese. A chilled beer also makes an excellent accompaniment (it is Friday, after all).

Get the recipe for Texas hash here

Easy pizza

We’re not messing around when we describe this pizza recipe as easy. The dough takes a mere 10 minutes to prove, then it's time to add your favourite toppings and off you go. This recipe makes two pizzas, so it's perfect for both date nights and for slicing up and serving as part of a sharing platter.

Get the recipe for easy pizza here

Chilli con carne

Spicy beef chilli cooked low and slow isn’t really a Friday night project, so be smart and make the dish ahead of time (it keeps for three days in the fridge), or freeze it and leave to thaw overnight. Then it's just a reheat job come the weekend. The trimmings make all the difference here; serve with big bowls of guacamole, sour cream, grated cheese, fresh salsa and piles of crunchy tortilla chips.

Get the recipe for chilli con carne here

Crispy, sticky chicken wings

Despite tasting deep fried, these sticky, spicy wings are actually baked in the oven. The recipe has a couple of clever tips to help achieve this: add bicarbonate of soda to the rub to make the wings extra crisp, and start them off in a cold oven to render out the fat. It makes enough for four, but the quantities are easily upscaled. To add to the good news, there’s no marinating required, so they can be ready in less than an hour.

Get the recipe for crispy, sticky chicken wings here

Tartiflette savoyarde

Alpine comfort food at its finest, this rib-sticking recipe, with its creamy potatoes, crisp chunks of bacon, caramelised onions and melted cheese is perfect for a cosy night in. It's on the table in an hour – just serve with a green salad and some crusty bread.

Get the recipe for tartiflette savoyarde here

Easy vegetarian lasagne

A classic lasagne is a labour of love. Here's a speedy, Friday night version with vegetables, lentils and cheese layered up with sheets of fresh pasta in a herby tomato sauce. Top tip: using your food processor to grate both the veg and cheese will make it even quicker to prep.

Get the recipe for easy vegetarian lasagne here

Jackfruit loaded sweet potato fries

Loaded fries are just the thing for a Friday night, and this recipe is an absolute winner. Use frozen sweet potato fries to save on time and effort, then layer them up with pulled barbecued jackfruit and mountains of cheese (you won't regret it).

Get the recipe for jackfruit loaded sweet potato fries here

Pesto chicken with Taleggio and tomatoes

It might look (and taste) impressive, but this dish of chicken breasts with a creamy, cheesy, pesto sauce topped with crunchy breadcrumbs is a doddle to make. It's a one-tray recipe for six, with minimal washing up, ready in just 45 minutes – need we say more? Serve with new potatoes roasted in their skins (pop them in the oven at the same time as the chicken) and a salad.

Get the recipe for pesto chicken with Taleggio and tomatoes here

Spiced salmon with pineapple salsa

A side of sweet and spicy salmon, punchy fresh pineapple salsa and caramelised onion rice come together to make a tasty dinner for eight that's ready in under an hour. We do recommend you marinate the salmon the day before to maximise the flavour, but that’s the only bit of pre-planning required.

Get the recipe for spiced salmon with pineapple salsa here

Mumbai roadside hot lamb sandwich

Looking forward to a quiet night in with your partner or best friend? In that case, look no further than this recipe for flatbreads stuffed with spicy minced lamb, fried until crisp and served a zingy herb chutney. Although the breads are made from scratch, they're super-simple and quick to pull together. Substitute the lamb with minced chicken or turkey, if you prefer.

Get the recipe for Mumbai roadside hot lamb sandwich here

Skirt steak with chimichurri

A whole piece of skirt steak (or flank) cooked on the grill and served with a punchy, herby, Argentinian salsa makes for the ultimate steak night meal for six (or, if there are fewer of you, the leftovers will be delicious in a sandwich or with eggs). There are no complicated processes called for here; it’s much easier to cook a whole piece of steak, rather than faffing around with several individual ones, and the salsa can be made a few days ahead, to minimise on last-minute stress. Do note that skirt steak is best served rare, otherwise it has a tendency to toughen up.

Get the recipe for skirt steak with chimichurri here

Spicy tofu nachos

Not so keen on the thought of topping your nachos with tofu? Trust us – once tofu is coated in Cajun spices and jalapeños and fried until crisp it becomes a real flavour sensation. This dish is all about assembly: layer tortilla chips with the crunchy tofu, onions, herbs, sweetcorn and Cheddar, then bake until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Finish with mashed avocado and fresh coriander.

Get the recipe for spicy tofu nachos here

Peanut satay chicken

A delicious dinner for two ready in 30 minutes is the start to the weekend we all deserve. Made with mostly store cupboard ingredients, this spiced, charred chicken is served with coconut rice and a crunchy peanut sauce. Add a crisp cucumber salad and a sprinkling of chilli, and you'll be all set.

Get the recipe for peanut satay chicken here

Parma Ham and fennel pasta bake

Take your pasta bake game up a level with this tasty number featuring braised fennel and Parma Ham in a creamy sauce finished with lashings of Parmesan. There's a little bit of prep to do with this recipe, but the oven does most of the hard work and it's ready in around an hour. Serve with a salad and crusty ciabatta and say cheers (or cin-cin) to the weekend.

Get the recipe for Parma Ham and fennel pasta bake here

Chicken casserole

This creamy chicken, bacon and mushroom casserole is a perfect one-pot dish. You can even make it the day before and, as a bonus, it freezes well. Serve with buttery mashed potato and green beans for an easy meal for four.

Get the recipe for chicken casserole here

Quick mustard prawn curry

If Friday night is curry night in your house, this recipe will quickly become a go-to. It's aromatic and spicy, but not overpoweringly hot, and a dash of cream at the end tempers the heat beautifully. You can substitute the prawns with squid or a firm white fish, such as monkfish or hake. Serve with rice – by all means use a pouch of pre-cooked basmati to save time.

Get the recipe for quick mustard prawn curry here

Lamb and chorizo burger with apricot salsa

You can sear these deliciously different burgers on the barbecue or cook them on the hob, depending on the time of year. Serve with a fruity, zingy apricot, onion and herb salsa (apricots can be substituted with peaches or plums), a dollop of garlic mayo (which you can buy) and oven chips.

Get the recipe for lamb and chorizo burger with apricot salsa here

Chicken and prawn stir-fry

Packed with veg and a wonderful array of flavours and colours thanks to the black bean sauce, garlic, ginger and chilli, this stir-fry for six calls for 15 minutes of chopping and prepping, but it's then quick to cook. Buy ready-diced chicken breasts or fillets for ease and serve with pre-cooked pouches of jasmine rice.

Get the recipe for chicken and prawn stir-fry here

Spicy chicken gyros

Fresh herbs, zesty lemon, yogurt-marinated chicken with a hint of garlic and chilli; this easy gyros dish ticks all the tasty boxes. It's not hard to make, either; served with a tomato salsa, toasted pittas and minty tzatziki, there's just a bit of chopping to do, then everyone can assemble their own.

Get the recipe for spicy chicken gyros here

Thai beef curry

The recipe feeds six, is all made in one pan, can be ready in under an hour and uses a jar of shop-bought Thai red curry paste to great effect – what’s not to love? There’s a rich, creaminess from the coconut, with a good kick of chilli and lovely fragrant notes courtesy of the fresh basil and lime leaves. Included in the instructions is a foolproof method for perfect jasmine rice, too.

Get the recipe for Thai beef curry here

Slow-cooked barbecue chicken sliders

Burger night is sorted with toasted brioche buns filled with juicy, shredded chicken, a smoky chipotle mayo and slices of creamy avocado. Make the barbecue sauce in the morning (it really only calls for store cupboard ingredients), put the chicken mix in the slow cooker and then leave it on low to do its thing. For such a minimal-effort dish, the reward at the end is pretty special.

Get the recipe for slow-cooked barbecue chicken sliders here

Fish tacos

Made with a simple beer batter, these Baja-inspired fish tacos are seriously light and crunchy. Keep the first batch of fried fish warm in the oven while you’re cooking the second. And make sure you have all of your toppings – chipotle sauce, chopped red onion, shredded cabbage and lettuce – ready to go in bowls, so diners can build their own tacos according to taste.

Get the recipe for fish tacos here

Quick lamb kebabs

Bring on the weekend with this deliciously simple supper. The recipe may be easy, but it's really tasty; minced lamb is combined with onion, garlic, lemon and spices, before being grilled until crisp, piled onto tortilla wraps and served with minty yogurt and thinly sliced red onion.

Get the recipe for quick lamb kebabs here

Philly steak nachos

Nachos make a great sharing plate and this recipe is one of the best. Don’t forget to marinate the steak in pickle juice in the morning – it makes all the difference. If you’ve got time, make the cheese sauce ahead too. Then, on Friday evening, all you need to do is sear those strips of steak and layer them onto tortilla chips with jalapeños, fried onions and peppers and the oozy, melty cheese sauce. It serves four but is an easy recipe to double up.

Get the recipe for Philly steak nachos here

Condensed milk ice cream

With zero cooking to do and no fancy ice cream machine required, you could make this ice cream in the morning and it will be ready come evening. Keeping it classic, cream, condensed milk and evaporated milk are mixed with vanilla, but you could add chocolate chips or chunks of honeycomb, too. Serve with fresh berries and warm chocolate sauce for a simple yet special pud.

Get the recipe for condensed milk ice cream here

Chocolate yogurt pots

It's not often you'll come across a 10-minute dessert recipe as good as this creamy chocolate pot. With just four ingredients, chocolate and yogurt are sweetened with agave nectar (or maple syrup), then topped with chopped nuts. The pots just need to be properly chilled before serving.

Get the recipe for chocolate yogurt pots here

Apple and raspberry coconut parfait

When a relaxed night in for two is on the cards, these pretty parfaits are just the thing. Incredibly simple to make, this prep-ahead dessert sees an apple and raspberry compote topped with a vanilla-flavoured coconut cream and fresh berries. Some dessert biscuits or brandy snaps on the side would be lovely.

Get the recipe for apple and raspberry coconut parfait here

White chocolate cheesecake

Ultra-creamy, chocolatey, rich and luxurious, can you believe this dessert for 10 takes just half an hour to make? It needs to set in the fridge overnight, but it really couldn't be simpler. The only cooking involved is melting some white chocolate, then it’s just a case of bashing up biscuits, folding through butter and assembling the cheesecake.

Get the recipe for white chocolate cheesecake here

Toffee apple and salted pretzel rocky road

With such a great balance of chewy, crunchy, sweet and salty, here's the perfect finale for your Friday night meal. All you need to do is melt chocolate, butter and a little syrup together, add the rest of the ingredients – nuts, dried apples, marshmallows – and pile it all into a tin to set. Enjoy!

Get the recipe for toffee apple and salted pretzel rocky road here