Healthy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Say hello to Hakka fried rice, your favourite Chinese fried rice’s spicier cousin. If you’re looking to switch things up for your weekly meal prep, or need a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is just the ticket. Packed with protein-rich chicken and eggs plus colourful vegetables, this rice a sure winner!

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Meatless Monday just got even tastier with a lightened air fryer version of an Italian favourite: eggplant parmesan. The patties can be breaded up to a day in advance making this a perfect weeknight dish.

Nothing is more easy than a “one and done” meal where all the protein and veggies are cooked in one vessel, and this sweet and sour shrimp and tofu recipe seriously delivers on ease. Most of the work is upfront prepping the ingredients — and then everything gets cooked in very quick succession all in one wok or pan. It’s a great weeknight meal to keep in your back pocket and so delicious served over rice or noodles.

Related: Expert Tips on How to Make the Best Rice Ever

Soba noodles are quick to cook and they work well at room temperature, making them a natural choice for a quick or make-ahead vegan dinner. You could even whip up this dish before leaving the house for your evening plans, as it comes together in one pot in under 10 minutes.

This simple pan fried gnocchi comes together in under 30 minutes and is the perfect weeknight pasta dish. It gets its flavour by browning the butter first, which gives a really toasty and nutty aroma to the final dish. Use store-bought gnocchi for ease or homemade if you are feeling adventurous!

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Tibs are a quick, easy and delicious Ethiopian-style stir-fry traditionally made with beef or lamb. Mushroom tibs are an easy way to make a tasty plant-based alternative to this popular dish. It is super flavourful and perfect for a quick lunch or weeknight dinner. Tibs are typically served with injera (a spongy fermented Ethiopian flatbread), but can also be enjoyed with rice, fonio or quinoa.

Ready to make the most comforting dinner with the least amount of effort? Then you’ll love this beef Bolognese. Pop everything into the slow cooker in the morning and by dinnertime you’ll have a hearty, satisfying dinner. For the ultimate comfort dinner, serve the Bolognese over a big pile of your favourite noodles.

Related: Our Honest Review of the Our Place Dream Cooker

We’re all about any recipe loaded with veggies and protein that qualify as a proper standalone meal. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake made with flour, eggs, finely-chopped cabbage and customizable add-ins such as shrimp, scallops, bacon, chicken, bell peppers, and mushrooms, making it the perfect weeknight meal that can use up odds and ends in the fridge and crisper.

Don’t let this super quick vegetarian dinner recipe fool you: it’s substantial and nutritious, and the trick is to let the flavours of the marinated vegetables meld and intensify the kale and beans.

Say goodbye to pasta and tuna and hello to instant noodles and soy sauce with this fast and insanely delicious Japanese stir-fried udon. We love the delightfully chewy and thick whole-wheat noodle and meaty king oyster mushrooms. And the best part? You can whip this up in just over 15 minutes!

Related: Pan-Fried Udon Noodles with Pork and Scallions

Grilled portobello mushrooms are the star of this filling vegan dish that comes together in just 30 minutes. With a nourishing filling of sweet potatoes and black beans, you’ll be hooked on the satisfying mix of textures. Plus, the salsa verde herb sauce lends a tangy hit of acidity to the dish that’ll have you scraping your plate clean.

This may be a simple and easy recipe to whip up, but you’ll find these brothy white beans pack a major flavour punch! This part stew, part dip is creamy, herby, and garlicky and pairs perfectly with a piece of toasty sourdough, making it a satisfying weeknight meal.

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