5 Midweek Meals For Busy People

Midweek family meal ideas for busy people, one pot cooking, meat dishes.

We're all painfully aware of that time of day when the kids are home from school, we're walking in from work, your partner comes in too and you're all seriously hungry, tired and no one wants to slave over the stove. I get it, I live it, its one of the most stressful hours of the day.

How about trying some of these midweek meals with handy shopping list next week. If you're really savvy you'll double up and take for lunches or freeze for super easy left over meals.

Quick Chicken Curry (4 servings)

One large sliced onion

1 sliced red pepper

1 tbs ginger & garlic paste

1 tsp ground coriander powder

1 tsp ground cumin powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp chilli powder (mild or hot depends on your preference)

1 tsp garam masala powder

1/2 tsp salt

600g diced chicken

1 tin chopped tomatoes

Fry onions in coconut oil, ghee or butter slowly until softened and starting to brown, add ginger & garlic paste and peppers, stir for 1 minute. Add spices and salt and stir again for 1 minute, add chicken and stir for 3 minutes, add tin of tomatoes and cover and simmer for 10 minutes then remove lid and simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened. Serve with rice, or Indian breads.

Thai Green Curry Fish Parcels (4 servings)

4 portions of cod

1 large thinly sliced onion

handful of mange tout or sugar snap peas

Sliced green pepper

2 tbs coconut cream

1 tbs Thai green curry paste

Lay the four portions of cod on individual pieces of foil large enough to wrap into a parcel, mix coconut cream with the Thai green curry paste and divide onto the cod portions, divide the vegetables among the parcels and wrap with the foil. Place on over dish and bake for 20-30 minutes at 200 degrees centigrade or until fish begins to flake and veg are tender. Serve with rice or noodles.

Steak & Caramelised Onion Sandwiches (4 servings)

4 Rump steaks

2 large, thinly sliced onions

4 small/individual ciabatta loafs

Bag watercress or rocket salad

Fry the onions, until browned and sticky, heat a griddle and cook your steaks to your liking, just before steaks are done slice ciabattas in half, drizzle with live oil and toast under the grill, pile sliced steaks, caramelised onions and salad into the ciabattas and enjoy with a beer.

Seafood Pasta (4 servings)

300g mixed seafood (mussels, squid, prawns etc)

400g spaghetti

1 tin of chopped tomatoes

2 cloves of garlic finely chopped

I chicken or fish stock cube

1 tsp paprika

Handful chopped parsley

heat tomatoes, garlic and stock cube slowly while cooking spaghetti in salted water. Add paprika and mixed seafood to the tomatoes before adding the drained spaghetti and chopped parsley. Serve with garlic bread and lemon wedges if preferred.

Beef & Mushrooms Stir Fry (4 servings)

400g rump steak sliced thinly

300g spring greens chopped

1 inch piece of ginger chopped finely

4 tbs oyster sauce

2 tbs dark Soy sauce

150g chestnut mushrooms sliced

Heat 1-2 tbs oil in a wok until hot, fry the beef in batches and set aside, fry the ginger, greens and mushrooms for three minutes before adding the beef and the sauces, serve with rice or noodles.

Do let us know if you try any of these meals ideas, they're a big hit here at Jamie's HQ and I hope they go down well in your busy house too!

Shopping List

Meat/Fish/Poultry: