5 nights of family dinner ideas for this week
Thea Everett
If you’re feeding a family, weekdays don’t afford you much time to meal prep. Whether you want to avoid thinking about meal-planning altogether, have a big clan to cook for, or a household of fussy eaters, we’ve done the hard work and picked 5 of our best family recipes for weeknights, with ideas on how to use up the leftovers too.
We’ve got a hands-off chilli, a salmon traybake, a cheesy gnocchi bake and sticky pork noodles to deliver that electric ‘Friday Feeling’. Mix up your weekly rotation with these dinner ideas and you’ll be cutting down on washing up but won’t feel like you’re missing out on flavour. Find more of our 5 nights a week guides here.
Monday: one-pot gnocchi and mozzarella bake
For Monday night comfort, dig into this one-pot gnocchi which serves 4-6. It’s an easy-to-make family meal that knows not to mess with the classic tomato, basil and mozzarella flavour combination.
Tuesday: chilli con carne
Chilli con carne is a classic for a reason. Our most popular version feeds a crowd (8 people to be exact) and is made with red wine, black treacle and little cinnamon for subtle sweetness. It simmers for a long time on a low heat until it reaches tender, rich perfection. If you need yours to be veggie, just switch in some plant-based mince and add a teaspoon of Marmite for umami.
Wednesday: easy salmon traybake
The crowds go wild for our easy, salmon tray bake and so will you, because it’s exactly the kind of low-maintenance meal that a Wednesday demands. The recipe is easily doubled if you need it to be and it’s a winning combination of succulent salmon, peppers and courgettes, which all get baked on one tray, meaning less time spent washing up.
Thursday: five-spice chicken schnitzel with greens
If your family love chicken nuggets (face it, who doesn’t?), allow us to introduce you to this dinner. We love a schnitzel, because it’s an ingenious way of keeping a chicken breast moist, with the added benefit of flavour and crunch. Our five-spice chicken schnitzel that’s ready in 30 minutes ticks all the boxes. Serve with citrussy greens for something different to your usual side dish. All it needs is pak choi, lime and spring onion, which you’ll also be needing in tomorrow’s…
Friday: pork and peanut noodle
Mark the weekend the right way with our pork and peanut noodles. The recipe will cost you less than a takeaway AND these the pak choi, spring onions and peanuts all offer plenty of vitamins and minerals. Make sure not to forget the lime to squeeze over the dish at the end, it really lifts things!
As for the leftovers…
Leftover chilli con carne can be used to top jacket potatoes for lunch. Serve with salsa and a dollop of crème fraîche or sour cream, and a sprinkle of coriander if you like.
Leftover salmon and roast vegetables would make a delightful tart. Just fill a tart tin with pastry (you can make your own as here) then follow the custard instructions in this recipe. Enjoy with salad for weekday lunch.
Should you have any left, the remaining schnitzel makes for a smashing sandwich filling: just top with sriracha mayonnaise and slaw.
Or, go ahead and check out all our midweek meal ideas.
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