44 quick and delicious dishes you can prepare in a flash

Easy dishes to beat the clock

Time is precious, and you don’t always want to spend a lot of it cooking. If you’ve had a long day or you’re busy or tired, the last thing you want to do is stand in the kitchen for hours on end. Luckily, a delicious meal doesn’t have to take long to put together. We’ve rounded up some of our best recipes that you can have on the table in no more than an hour, so you don’t have to choose between saving time and a tasty, nutritious meal.

Read on for our favourite quick recipes, from low-effort traybakes to speedy 10-minute wonders – counting down to the quickest of all.

Under 60 minutes: Niçoise bake

Take the ingredients of a classic salade Niçoise – potatoes, anchovies, green beans, olives and tuna – add a garlicky herb dressing, then top with Parmesan and bake until the cheese is crisp. This is an easy recipe that takes just 20 minutes to prepare for the oven.

Get the recipe for Niçoise bake here

Under 60 minutes: harissa and lemon baked fish with couscous

Big on flavour, bold in colour and prepared in one easy tray – there's a lot to love about this spicy fish dish. Any meaty fish fillet will do, like cod, haddock or salmon. Or, if you want to make it veggie, coat large field or portobello mushrooms in the harissa marinade instead. Note that they will need 10 minutes longer in the oven, which will push the overall time to slightly over an hour.

Get the recipe for harissa and lemon baked fish with couscous here

Under 60 minutes: gnocchi, aubergine and tomato bake

Fresh shop-bought gnocchi is always helpful to have in the fridge for quick midweek dinners. Here, it bulks out a tasty aubergine and tomato sauce, which is topped with cheese and grilled until bubbling. You can also add a variety of ingredients to put a spin on the basic recipe; think diced chorizo, chilli flakes, capers or anchovies. For more vegetables, add spinach or chopped green beans.

Get the recipe for gnocchi, aubergine and tomato bake here

Under 60 minutes: butternut squash, sage and Comté risotto

Sweet roasted squash and earthy sage are a match made in heaven. Add rich Comté cheese, and you'll have yourself the key ingredients for a dreamy risotto. If you can't find Comté, use Gruyère instead. Risotto is easy to make, but you do have to keep stirring it – the stirring causes the starch grains in the rice to release, which is what gives you the creamy texture.

Get the recipe for butternut squash, sage and Comté risotto here

Under 60 minutes: chickpea and chicken traybake

This nifty traybake may take almost an hour, but most of that is oven time. In under 10 minutes, you’ll have it ready to go in – and then you can put your feet up until it’s ready to come out. A fantastic family dinner courtesy of The Great British Bake Off’s Nadiya Hussain, it’s packed full of red onions, aubergine and chickpeas, while cumin, coriander, paprika and turmeric give it bags of flavour.

Get the recipe for chickpea and chicken traybake here

Under 60 minutes: spicy chicken and cashew traybake

We think it's worth going to the effort of making your own Cajun spice mix, but feel free to use a shop-bought packet if you prefer. The mix is used to flavour chicken thighs, chorizo, peppers, cherry tomatoes and sweet potato in this easy traybake. Olives (black or green – it's up to you) add a piquant note, and cashews add crunch. Serve it up with dollops of sour cream and a green salad on the side.

Get the recipe for spicy chicken and cashew traybake here

Under 50 minutes: quick pizza

You really can make pizza in under 50 minutes. The secret is using fast-action dried yeast for the dough, so you only have to wait around for 10 minutes for it to prove. To avoid a soggy base, spread the sauce (a simple combination of passata, garlic, olive oil, salt and oregano) thinly over the dough. A hot oven and pizza stone are key for an even bake, but you could use a couple of upturned baking trays instead of the stone.

Get the recipe for quick pizza here

Under 50 minutes: lentil ratatouille

This one-pot dish isn't just about the lentils. It also contains aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes and onions – all the components of a classic Mediterranean ratatouille. But the lentils add protein to make this into a main-course meal, so there's no need for any accompaniments. Some crusty baguette would help, though, to mop up the sauce.

Get the recipe for lentil ratatouille here

Under 50 minutes: tarka dahl

Made with spiced, flavoured lentils, this Indian dish is warming and nourishing. It'd make a perfect side for grilled meat, but you could also have it as a main dish with naan bread. This recipe uses mung lentils, which are yellow, but you could use red lentils instead. The combination of ginger, garlic, chilli and spices with fresh tomatoes makes it wonderfully aromatic.

Get the recipe for tarka dahl here

Under 50 minutes: almond chicken curry

As well as being a straightforward, chuck-it-all-in dish, this curry is also pretty forgiving if you don't have all the spices listed. Ground almonds add a pleasing nuttiness, and sour, fruity amchur powder gives the sauce an edge. If you can't get hold of it, use a tablespoon of tamarind paste instead. For a plant-based version, add cooked chickpeas in place of the chicken.

Get the recipe for almond chicken curry here

Under 50 minutes: herby lentil stew

This recipe is definitely in the running for one of the best vegan comfort foods ever. It's high in protein, with beans and lentils, and packed with vegetables, herbs and garlic. As an added bonus, it's all made in one pot – and it takes just 15 minutes to prepare, with 30 minutes' cooking time.

Get the recipe for herby lentil stew here

Under 50 minutes: smoky black beans

These beans would be perfect in a burrito, fried in a quesadilla or served with rice, sour cream and guacamole. You use canned black beans, so it takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook in a pan. The beans are spiced with cinnamon, cumin and chilli to give that characteristic smokiness.

Get the recipe for smoky black beans here

Under 50 minutes: shortcut chicken biryani

Traditional biryanis can take a while to prepare; however, you can take a few shortcuts with this version without compromising on flavour. You'll need to pre-soak the rice, but the recipe uses an all-in-one cooking method, and the chicken is cut into small chunks, so it cooks quickly and soaks up all the flavour from the spices.

Get the recipe for shortcut chicken biryani here

Under 40 minutes: braised red cabbage, sausages and apples

Seeing the word 'braised' in a recipe usually implies that something is slow-cooked, but this quick midweek meal is on the table in under an hour – and it doesn't skimp on that rich flavour. Thanks to red wine vinegar and dark maple syrup, the red cabbage cooks down fast, and it'll be glossy and tender in just 15 minutes. Serve this meal with a dollop of piquant English or Dijon mustard to cut through the hearty sausages, earthy apples and rich cabbage.

Get the recipe for braised red cabbage, sausages and apples here

Under 40 minutes: Burmese prawn curry

This moreish prawn curry (known as bazun hin in Burmese) is fragrant with garlic and ginger, and spiced with the heady flavours of paprika, turmeric and chilli powder. Burmese curries don't typically contain coconut; however, in this recipe, creamed coconut (or coconut milk) adds richness and a hint of nuttiness to the sauce. If you're planning on having leftovers, portion out the curry before adding the prawns, as they don't reheat very well.

Get the recipe for Burmese prawn curry here

Under 40 minutes: one-pan vegetable lasagne

The only hard work involved in making this easy veggie lasagne is chopping onions, garlic, courgettes and button mushrooms for the sauce's base. It's a 'broken' lasagne, so there's no layering involved. Instead, fresh pasta sheets are cut into strips and stirred through the tomato sauce. The fresh pasta cooks quickly on the hob, then the whole thing is simply popped under the grill until the cheese is bubbling and oozingly melty.

Get the recipe for one-pan vegetable lasagne here

Under 40 minutes: pan-fried salmon with pine nut salsa

The salsa in this recipe takes a simple fillet of salmon to a whole new level. It's the clever combination of celery, pine nuts, olives, capers, saffron, currants, parsley and lemon that makes it so tasty. We love this dish served with some buttery baby potatoes on the side.

Get the recipe for pan-fried salmon with pine nut salsa here

Under 40 minutes: egg and coconut curry

You'll rarely see an egg curry on Indian restaurant menus, but it's a popular dish in Indian homes. Make a simple garlic and ginger paste, add turmeric, chilli powder and garam masala, then simmer it all in creamy coconut milk. The eggs are hard boiled before being added to the sauce, and the whole thing is finished off with chopped coriander. Best of all, it takes less than 15 minutes to prepare, and it cooks in just 20 minutes.

Get the recipe for egg and coconut curry here

Under 40 minutes: tomato and pesto tart

Having a sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry to hand means you can whip up a meal in a flash. You can top it with whatever you like, but we love this tart, made with fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, shop-bought pesto, Gouda and basil. Here's a top tip: if you're using frozen pastry, defrost it in the fridge overnight (or for a couple of hours at room temperature), and don't unroll it until you're ready to start cooking.

Get the recipe for tomato and pesto tart here

Under 40 minutes: Vietnamese seafood stew

This tangy Vietnamese seafood stew is made slightly more accessible by swapping out specialist ingredients for items readily found in the supermarket. Garlic, pomegranate molasses and fish sauce mingle with fish, prawns, tomato and pineapple, resulting in a stunning dish that's packed with flavour. You can have it on the table in just 35 minutes, too.

Get the recipe for Vietnamese seafood stew here

Under 30 minutes: pad Thai carbonara

A combination of eggs, bacon and spaghetti makes this recipe a whole lot like a classic Italian carbonara. However, some added Thai flavours turn it into a tasty fusion dish – with a kick of chilli, too. It really does take just 10 minutes to prepare, meaning it can be on the table in under 25 minutes from start to finish.

Get the recipe for pad Thai carbonara here

Under 30 minutes: sweet and sour stir-fry

You'll never look back once you've made this easy sweet and sour sauce. The sweet part comes from canned pineapple, while the sour flavour comes from vinegar and soy. It's up to you what you add – sliced pork fillet, chicken breast, tofu or prawns would go perfectly with the sliced peppers and chunks of onion. Serve it up with rice on the side.

Get the recipe for sweet and sour stir-fry here

Under 30 minutes: sticky soy and honey roasted salmon

You can't beat a dish made in just one roasting tin. In this recipe, salmon is roasted on four different greens and glazed with soy, sesame and honey. Once it's cooked, add a dressing of ginger, lime and sesame, and top the whole thing with chopped peanuts, chilli and more lime. It's just bursting with flavour. Serve it with rice or noodles for a filling meal.

Get the recipe for sticky soy and honey roasted salmon here

Under 30 minutes: Thai aubergine tom yum soup

Bursting with Thai flavours, the base of this aromatic broth combines ginger, lemongrass, lime leaves and chilli. The recipe is vegetarian and contains tofu, which you could happily substitute with chicken or prawns for meat and seafood eaters. The coconut milk adds a rich creaminess, and we love the topping of Thai basil and coriander, which adds a burst of freshness.

Get the recipe for Thai aubergine tom yum soup here

Under 30 minutes: smoked bean and mushroom quesadillas

Quesadillas – two soft tortillas stuffed with cheese and filling, cooked in a pan – are the ultimate homemade fast food. And the beauty of them is that you can use pretty much any ingredients you like to fill them (although cheese is a must to help bind everything together). Our version combines garlicky mushrooms with paprika-spiked butter beans, but you could also throw in leftover roast chicken, diced chorizo or pulled pork.

Get the recipe for smoked bean and mushroom quesadilla here

Under 30 minutes: black bean and chipotle soup

This rich, fiery soup is a breeze to make, with chipotle paste your shortcut to heat and depth of flavour (chilli paste makes a good replacement if you can't find chipotle, but you'll lose some of that smokiness). The soup is balanced out by the toppings: crunchy tortilla chips, cool sour cream, sharp pickled jalapeño, creamy avocado, zingy lime juice and fresh herbs.

Get the recipe for black bean and chipotle soup here

Under 30 minutes: one-pot tomato pasta

As well as being ready in under 30 minutes, everything for this easy meal is cooked in one pot – yes, even the pasta. The spaghetti is cooked directly in the tomato sauce, which is rich with garlic and thyme. Toasted breadcrumbs (which are cooked in the same pot before the sauce) are sprinkled on top.

Get the recipe for one-pot tomato pasta here

Under 30 minutes: pork medallions with crème fraîche and mustard sauce

Sweet apples and leeks pair wonderfully with pork. Here, they form the base of a tasty sauce for loin steaks. Grainy mustard and crème fraîche add piquancy, cutting through the richness of the meat. Rice or creamy mash would make an ideal side.

Get the recipe for pork medallions with crème fraîche and mustard sauce here

Under 30 minutes: peanut satay chicken

Feel like chicken tonight? Here's the perfect recipe for you. A satay sauce, made with coconut milk, crunchy peanut butter, ginger and lime, is hard to resist. Here, it's used to smother chicken which has been marinated in turmeric, curry powder and grated garlic. Coconut rice and a fresh cucumber salad lift the dish wonderfully.

Get the recipe for peanut satay chicken here

Under 20 minutes: roasted coriander cod

Spices like ground cumin, paprika and turmeric, plus garlic, chopped coriander, olive oil and chilli flakes go into the flavour-packed topping for this roasted cod. You could also use another type of meaty white fish. It would be great served with fluffy rice or lemony crushed potatoes.

Get the recipe for roasted coriander cod here

Under 20 minutes: black pepper beef

Coarsely ground black peppercorns, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar and salt make a rich sauce for flash-fried fillet steak strips, sliced onions and sliced green peppers. The beef soaks up all the tasty flavours, but if you want a meat-free main, you can use tofu or chunks of portobello mushroom instead.

Get the recipe for black pepper beef here

Under 20 minutes: shortcut dan dan noodles

Dan dan noodles usually take a while to make and involve several different components, but this shortcut version packs the same flavour and skips the hard work. Sausagemeat and five-spice powder are fried until crisp to emulate the traditional Sichuan peppercorn–spiced pork.

Get the recipe for shortcut dan dan noodles here

Under 20 minutes: peanut and paneer rice

Sizzling curry leaves, roasted peanuts, mustard seeds and dried chillies create the base for this genius dish, which turns leftover rice into a tasty meal. A dash of chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala adds another layer of flavour, which is soaked up by the grains, cubes of paneer and chickpeas in the most delicious way.

Get the recipe for peanut and paneer rice here

Under 20 minutes: prawn laksa–inspired noodles

Taking inspiration from laksa, a spicy Malaysian noodle soup, this dish may cut a few corners, but it's just as delicious when you need a speedy supper. The base consists of coconut milk, vegetable stock, chilli and shop-bought Thai red curry paste (usually, a laksa paste is used). The noodles are cooked in the soup before the prawns and fresh coriander are added. You could add extra vegetables too, such as spinach or bok choy.

Get the recipe for prawn laksa–inspired noodles here

Under 20 minutes: spaghetti carbonara

An easy, classic carbonara recipe should be in every cook's repertoire. Fry off guanciale (or bacon), separately beat egg yolks with pecorino and seasoning, add cooked spaghetti to the bacon pan, then stir in the egg mixture. It's simple, quick and incredibly satisfying.

Get the recipe for spaghetti carbonara here

Under 20 minutes: miso ramen

Instant ramen noodles are a store-cupboard saviour – just add whatever ingredients are lingering in the fridge to the broth. You can use shop-bought miso ramen noodles to make it, or add miso paste to the cooking water if you're using plain noodles. As well as your preferred veggies, herbs and pickles, a soft-boiled egg will make this one a filling, nourishing dish.

Get the recipe for miso ramen here

Under 20 minutes: spinach orecchiette

With just six ingredients required, you can rustle up this creamy pasta dish in no time. Frozen spinach makes life easy, and it also happens to have a deeper flavour than fresh. Add cream, olive oil, garlic and grated Parmesan to serve. It's one of our favourites when only carbs will do.

Get the recipe for spinach orecchiette here

Under 20 minutes: smash burgers

Advocates for the smash burger will tell you it’s perfectly thin, crispy on the outside and ideal for piling into a bun at least two patties at a time. It’s also very quick to make, cooking speedily in a searing-hot pan. Once you’ve formed your patties (only a few minutes’ work), each one needs to be cooked for just two minutes on each side. Serve your patties in your favourite type of bun with cheese, salad and American mustard – gherkins optional.

Get the recipe for smash burgers here

Under 10 minutes: lamb kebabs

Disclaimer: you might need around 13 minutes to make these tasty lamb kebabs, depending on how long they take to grill – but we couldn't not include them. The minced meat is fragrant with the moreish flavours of chilli, garlic, cumin and coriander, and the finished dish is served in tortilla wraps with mint yogurt.

Get the recipe for lamb kebabs here

Under 10 minutes: masala omelette

Spend five minutes prepping, and you can have yourself a flavourful omelette filled with chopped green chillies, spring onion, tomato and fresh coriander leaves. This recipe makes two omelettes, but if you're cooking for one, still prepare two – one to enjoy straight away, and the second to make into a sandwich the next day.

Get the recipe for masala omelette here

Under 10 minutes: mushroom chow mein

A speedy stir-fry that tastes divine, this chow mein is packed with oyster mushrooms, baby pak choy and noodles, all combined with a spicy homemade sauce. The sauce has a chilli kick and is made from simple store cupboard ingredients. Buy straight-to-wok noodles to make it even faster to prep.

Get the recipe for mushroom chow mein here

Under 10 minutes: chilli king prawns

Chinese five-spice, fresh chilli and garlic purée add a flavour punch to meaty king prawns, chopped bell peppers and onion in this fast stir-fry. Stir-frying is a speedy way to cook, and you can take further shortcuts with the accompaniments, too. Use microwave rice, toasted sourdough or straight-to-wok noodles for an instant side.

Get the recipe for chilli king prawns here

Under 10 minutes: Parma Ham and Cheddar toastie

Grilled cheese sandwiches are the ultimate quick comfort food, and a balance of different flavours and textures is the key to making a great one. This version is stuffed with sharp Cheddar, sweet Parma Ham, chutney, spinach and grated apple (trust us, it's a toastie game-changer).

Get the recipe for Parma Ham and Cheddar toastie here

Under 10 minutes: smoked salmon omelette

Eggs really are Mother Nature's fast food, so when you're pushed for time, they can be the perfect solution. We've upped the ante by adding smoked salmon and creamy garlic and herb cheese to a simple omelette, making a speedy meal extra special.

Get the recipe for smoked salmon omelette here

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