Quick Midweek Dinners Under an Hour: Easy Speedy Suppers

If you’re looking for quick midweek dinners under an hour, this collection is packed with easy, flavourful recipes that make weeknight cooking simple and stress-free. From comforting pastas and hearty curries to light frittatas and baked dishes, these meals are designed to get dinner on the table fast without compromising on taste.

Simple, Fast and Delicious Weeknight Meals Ready in Under 60 Minutes

Here is a collection of simple and delicious midweek dinner ideas that you can prepare in under an hour. These quick recipes are perfect for busy evenings when you want tasty food without spending too much time in the kitchen.

Speedy suppers

If you're stuck in a cooking rut, here's a fabulous collection of easy midweek recipes that get on the table in under an hour. That's all the preparation and cooking nailed in less than 60 minutes. You'll find everything from soups and salads, to meaty mains, spicy stir-fries, quick curries, and even a speedy pizza.

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Tomato, Gouda and pesto tart

This pretty tart will be on the table in 35 minutes, thanks to ready-rolled puff pastry. You should spread the base with tomato purée, top with pre-sliced cheese, then add sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and slices of large tomatoes. Someone bakes it in the oven, then they smother it with fragrant pesto (from a jar is fine) and fresh basil.

Smoked salmon frittata

A frittata is an Italian dish, similar to an omelette. This one contains eight eggs, so it is enough to feed four with a salad on the side. It's very simple – just mix eggs, cream, Parmesan, fresh dill, and smoked salmon strips together, start cooking in an ovenproof skillet on the hob, then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking. A pack of smoked salmon trimmings would work well here, and they are economical to buy.

Almond chicken curry

Here's a real spice sensation of a curry, with curry leaves, ginger and garlic. Don't worry if you don't have all the spices – it will still taste great. Someone coats chicken thighs, cut into strips, in the spices then cooks them in a fresh tomato sauce, thickened with ground almonds. Add fresh spinach towards the end of cooking, then serve with flatbreads or rice.

Nasi goreng

This Indonesian fried rice recipe loads fresh prawns and dried shrimp, which you can find in any Asian grocery store. You need cold, cooked rice for it, so it's a good leftovers dish or buy a pouch of pre-cooked rice for speed. Chilli and garlic are the main flavours, but the addition of sesame oil and fish sauce adds more layers of interest. Top with a fried egg, and it's all done in half an hour.

Cacio e pepe

'Cacio e pepe' means cheese and pepper in Italian, and this classic dish couldn't be simpler. The chef makes the sauce using the starchy cooking water from the pasta, which, when mixed with Parmesan and freshly-ground black pepper, creates a silky, rich sauce that sticks to the pasta. It's a crowd-pleasing 15-minute dinner.

Garlic butter prawns

Need dinner for two in a hurry? In this dish, a buttery sauce spiced with turmeric, brown mustard seeds, chilli, garlic, black pepper, and lime cooks fresh prawns. They take just a few minutes to cook, so ensure you've prepared the rice to serve with them beforehand. Fresh coriander adds tartness and freshness to the finished dish.

Gnocchi, aubergine and tomato bake

Here's a simple, one-pan dish of roasted aubergine, onion, tinned tomatoes, garlic, shop-bought gnocchi and mozzarella. The beauty of the dish is that you can adapt it further to add spicy sausages, olives, spinach or green beans, depending on what you have to hand. You need only 10 minutes of prep, then you bake it in the oven.

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Pulled tandoori-spiced chicken

Make two chicken breasts go further and feed four people by cooking and shredding the meat. The chef first coats the chicken in a yoghurt and spice marinade, then pan-fries, shreds, and cooks it again in a creamy yoghurt masala. Pile the mixture into flatbreads with a crisp salad of cucumber, onion, carrot, and fennel, dressed with lemon juice.

Herby bean stew

This vegan stew really is hearty: it’s high in protein from beans and lentils, and it contains potatoes, plus plenty of fresh vegetables and herbs for a real flavour boost. A little mustard and yeast extract add a savoury note. Serve with chunks of whole meal bread for a super-healthy meal.

Smoky black beans

An earthy one-pot dish where chipotle adds smokiness. Fry off chopped onion until soft, then add garlic, cinnamon, a bay leaf, cumin, and chipotle. Stir in sliced carrots and tinned black beans, then just leave it all to cook for 20 minutes. These beans are great topped with sour cream and fresh coriander, served with rice or in wraps.

Herb and hazelnut-crusted chicken

Here's a new take on chicken schnitzel. Grind blanched hazelnuts finely in a food processor, and mix them with fresh herbs, Parmesan, and lemon zest. Use this mixture with flour and beaten egg to coat flattened chicken breasts before frying them in oil until piping hot and wonderfully crisp. The recipe works just as well using pecans in place of the hazelnuts, and you can use turkey breast or pork tenderloin instead of the chicken

FAQs

1. What do you consider the best under an hour midweek dinners?

Some of the most delicious choices are frittata, gnocchi bake, curries, stir-fry dishes and basic pasta meals such as cacio e pepe.

2. May these meals be prepared ahead of time?

Yes, there are plenty of foods, such as curries, stews, and baked pasta, that can be prepared ahead of time and then reheated on a hectic evening.

3. What ingredients help to make things cook faster?

Pre cooked rice, ready-rolled pastry, canned beans, tinned tomatoes and shop bought gnocchi are time saving options.

4. Is it acceptable to have these dinners for families?

Absolutely. Most recipes call for preparation for 2-4 people, but easily can be doubled for larger families.

5. What are some simple strategies to eliminate stress during the week?

Plan meals in advance, use simple recipes that require a minimum of chopping and preparation, and cook with one pan or in the oven to cut down on clean-up.