5 Easy Dinners That Actually Taste Amazing

Weeknight dinners don't have to choose between easy and delicious. These five recipes lean on a handful of pantry staples, one main pan and a few smart shortcuts, so dinner is on the table in about 45 minutes and still tastes like you tried.

Why these dinners work

Every recipe on this list follows the same three rules: one main cooking vessel, ingredients you can find at any grocery store, and a flavour "booster" (cheese, citrus, garlic butter or a quick sauce) that makes the whole dish taste finished.

1. Cheesy chicken parm bake — everything you love about chicken parmesan, baked in one dish (full recipe below).
2. Garlic butter shrimp pasta — 20 minutes, a squeeze of lemon and plenty of parsley.
3. Sheet-pan lemon herb chicken & vegetables — toss, roast and walk away.
4. One-pot creamy tomato gnocchi — pillowy gnocchi simmered right in the sauce.
5. 15-minute beef stir-fry — sweet-savoury sauce, crisp vegetables, steamed rice.

Quick notes on the other four

Garlic butter shrimp pasta

Cook 300 g spaghetti. In the same pan, melt 3 tbsp butter with 5 minced garlic cloves, add 450 g shrimp and cook 2 minutes per side. Toss with the pasta, a splash of pasta water, lemon juice, chilli flakes and parsley.

Sheet-pan lemon herb chicken

Toss chicken thighs, baby potatoes and broccoli in olive oil, lemon zest, oregano and garlic powder. Roast at 220°C (425°F) for 30–35 minutes, adding the broccoli for the last 15.

One-pot creamy tomato gnocchi

Sauté onion and garlic, add a can of crushed tomatoes and 120 ml cream, then simmer store-bought gnocchi right in the sauce for 4–5 minutes. Finish with spinach and parmesan.

15-minute beef stir-fry

Sear thinly sliced flank steak in a very hot pan, remove, then stir-fry peppers and snap peas. Return the beef with a sauce of soy, honey, garlic, ginger and a teaspoon of cornstarch.