Quick Dinners for Busy Evenings

Guide

Quick cooking without hustle

A quick dinner should save time and still taste like a proper meal. Therefore, it is not only the total time in the recipe that is crucial, but also the active work: How much must be cut, how many pots are on the stove and which steps can be taken at the same time?

Particularly relaxed are dishes with a clear order. Noodles, Rice or potatoes, you prepare vegetables and sauce. Herbs, lemon, cheese or roasted seeds are added at the end and bring freshness and flavour with little effort.

Which dishes are on the table particularly quickly?

Pan dishes and one-pot recipes

Pan dishes are ideal if ingredients have short cooking times. Vegetables, meat, fish or tofu are fried one after the other and seasoned directly with sauce or spices. One-pot dishes save additional washing up: Pasta, rice, legumes and vegetables cook together, delicate ingredients only end up in the pot.

Pasta, rice and potatoes

Pasta is a reliable basis for quick sauces with tomatoes, pesto, cream cheese or seasonal vegetables. Rice dishes are particularly quick with already cooked rice; curries and pans prepared in parallel are suitable for fresh rice. Potatoes quickly become fried potatoes, frittata or a warm salad in the pan.

Salads, bowls and cold food

If nothing is to cook long, salads, bowls, wraps and sandwiches are a good choice. To make them filling for dinner, you add bread, couscous, beans, eggs, cheese, fish or chicken to vegetables and lettuce. A strong dressing combines the ingredients and prevents the meal from looking like a loose leftover.

The right stock for spontaneous evenings

With some durable basics, you don't have to shop around every time for a quick dinner. Combine a filling base, protein source and something fresh to make pasta, curry, soup, bowl or pan dish from a few ingredients.

• Basics: Pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes, bread or quick gnocchi.
• Protein: Eggs, beans, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tuna or cheese.
• Taste: Tinned tomatoes, pesto, soy sauce, mustard, broth, spices and lemon juice.
• Fresh Reserve: Frozen vegetables, peas, spinach and herbs are quickly ready for use and can be portioned easily.

Food is on the table in around 30 minutes

• Start with water, oven or pan: The longest waiting time is then already during the preparation.
• Cut ingredients after cooking time: Solid vegetables come first, tender leaves, herbs and cheese come last.
• Bundle work steps: A large pan, baking sheet or saucepan is enough for many full dishes.
• Simply taste: Salt, acidity, a little spiciness and a fresh topping give quick recipes a clear finish.

Cooking vegetarian quickly and still getting full

A Quick vegetarian dinner needs a filling component in addition to vegetables. Legumes, eggs, tofu, cheese, nuts, pasta, rice or potatoes give substance. Roasted flavours from the pan, a creamy sauce and something crunchy provide variety without unnecessarily extending the list of ingredients.

Quick Dishes for Family and Meal Prep

For families, mild basic dishes are handy, with pungency, herbs, cheese and other toppings coming separately to the table. If you cook more, leftover portions will be for lunch the next day. Sauces, curries, soups and cooked vegetables are easy to prepare; salad, herbs and crispy ingredients are only added just before serving.