Easy Recipes for a Busy Working Week
Cooking after a long day at work can be a struggle – especially if all you want to do is kick off your shoes, put your feet up and eat a meal you don’t have to mess around with! Those are the moments where it’s easy to reach for quick, convenient options like ready meals and takeaways.
Having a set of go-to, fuss-free recipes you can rely on is a life-saver (and a time-saver!) in those moments. So we’ve rounded up some fresh and delicious recipes that’ll easily slot into your routine!
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Easy recipes for breakfast and lunch
Breakfast Muffins, ready in 30 minutes
When you know you’ve got a long day ahead of you, nothing prepares you better than a filling breakfast. These delicious Breakfast Muffins will keep you full for hours and they’re super easy to batch cook.
The filling in our recipe includes courgettes, mushrooms, onions and bacon medallions but you can change things up to suit you. Add peppers, cheese, spring onion, broccoli – whatever you fancy.
Just make sure to adjust any nutritional values when swapping out ingredients for alternatives.
Once prepped, chill in the fridge and store for a few days as a grab and go breakfast, quick-bite snack or even a light lunch! At 256 calories per serving, they’re definitely a lighter way to start the day.
Herby Lemon Chicken Salad, ready in 20 minutes
You might be thinking, not another salad! But don’t worry, this zesty, herby lunch is so packed with flavour you’ll never get bored.
Our Herby Lemon Chicken Salad is flavoured with tangy lemon and lots of herbs, including sumac.
Sumac provides the tart, citrusy punch that will keep you coming back to this one as a staple light lunch. It’s a versatile spice you can find in your local supermarket, or you can also find it online.
You can portion this one up by freezing or chilling the lemon chicken in batches – just make sure not to store it with the salad, as this will need to be added fresh.
As an Everyday Light recipe, this one is only 284 calories per serving, so there’s breathing room to add a wholemeal bread roll if you fancy making it a bit more filling.
Yorkshire Pudding Wrap, ready in 20 minutes
The Yorkshire Pudding Wrap really has no business working as brilliantly as it does. The true genius of this recipe is in substituting bread for Yorkshire pudding batter.
As a wrap, it works surprisingly well because it remains intact even if it’s stuffed with plenty of tasty filling.
Our indulgent recipe uses tender beef, which is a great way to use up any leftovers from your Sunday dinner. If you’re in the mood to mix it up, you could even try melted cheese and onion versions.
This recipe can’t be frozen or reheated, but it does keep well in the fridge and is just as enjoyable cold when you’re on the go!
BLT Pasta Salad, ready in 20 minutes
Our BLT Pasta Salad puts those pesky pasta cravings to bed without high calories or fussing about. Using just a handful of ingredients, this delicious light lunch can be ready in just 20 minutes and is only 448 calories per serving.
To make the mixture even creamier, simply add a few extra spoonfuls of lighter than light mayo.
The recipe also works well as a light evening meal or side dish, so there are plenty of opportunities to eat the extra portions stored in the fridge.
Caramelised Onion Cheese Toasties, ready in 25 minutes
Cheese toasties are a comfort food go-to to begin with, but Caramelised Onion Cheese Toasties reach a whole new level. An ideal lunch for when you’re short on time, there’s no fuss or fancy ingredients here. They’re also satisfyingly filling thanks to the added tasty veggies.
If you’re not a huge fan of mushrooms, you can always swap them out for cherry tomatoes. You can serve your toastie as it comes or it works really well served alongside our Greek Salad if you want to add a little something extra.
Cream of Spinach and Rocket Soup, ready in 30 minutes
There’s nothing more comforting than a hot bowl of soup. Our Cream of Spinach and Rocket Soup is a great lunchtime option that’s super easy to make, even easier to batch cook and packed with green goodness.
If you prefer things peppery, add plenty of rocket into the mixture. Or, for a milder flavouring, go heavier on the spinach.
We like to use a stick blender to blitz the ingredients and save on time.
This one from Amazon has all the power you need to blend in quick time.
Because this recipe is so storage friendly, it’s an effortless addition to your weekly routine. Keep batches in the freezer or store chilled for a few days, whatever works best for you.
Easy recipes for dinner
The recipes are in order from least to most time-consuming, so it’s handy for you to choose after a busy day.
Bovril Spaghetti, ready in 10 minutes
Yep, you read that right. Our tangy Bovril Spaghetti takes just 10 minutes to put together! Plus, you only need one pan to make it, so there’s no need to stand at the sink washing up all evening either.
This recipe is always a great fallback plan when there’s not much in the cupboard because the ingredients list is nice and short. You can even throw in any extra vegetables you have that need using up.
It’s also completely freezer friendly, so you’ll be able to stockpile.
Salmon Burgers, ready in 20 minutes
This recipe is a great burger alternative using the familiar zesty trio of salmon, lemon and dill. It’s easy to plan enjoying these Salmon Burgers at some point during your week because they freeze so well.
Just make sure your salmon fillets haven’t been frozen and defrosted already before you use them. You can also save further time by making the breadcrumbs for this recipe in advance.
If you have stale bread that’s heading nowhere but the bin, you could blitz your bread into crumbs and store in a freezer bag for a few months. That way you’ll always have some readily available.
You can find more on this tip and many more in our article on reducing food waste.
Broccoli and Mushroom Stir-fry, ready in 28 minutes
We love a good stir-fry because they’re so versatile and simple to put together. Our Broccoli and Mushroom Stir-fry is packed with filling veggie goodness, so it’s low in calories and flavourful.
The oyster sauce gives the whole recipe a salty yet sweet edge, but it can be swapped out for vegetarian alternatives.
You can easily batch cook and save this one in the freezer for another week.
Bolognese Risotto, ready in 30 minutes
Two Italian classics combined in one tomatoey, creamy dish – what’s not to love? Our Bolognese Risotto requires minimal fuss and is ready in 30 minutes, so it’s ideal when you’re wanting something fast and flavoursome. Top with parmesan to really bring out those herby flavours.
Best of all, it’s nice and easy to store in the freezer. Just be sure to check out the rice-specific freezing guidelines in the recipe first.
Creamy Butter Chicken, ready in 35 minutes
Our Creamy Butter Chicken is a warming delight to come home to. You might not think to prep a Fakeaway as a midweek meal, but at just 210 calories per serving, it’s a no brainer.
Just as creamy and rich as the buttery original, our version uses almond flour and fat free natural yoghurt instead. If you like a kick to your curry, don’t be shy with the chilli powder!
Any leftovers or additional portions are freezer friendly, so you can reheat and enjoy the spicy flavours all over again.
Plan ahead with our brand-new Quick & Easy Planner!
When life gets a bit busier, it’s a good idea to have a plan. Our NEW Quick & Easy Food Planner is the perfect slimming companion to record your meals and keep track of your progress.
With diary style pages for 3 full months, the planner also has 26 exclusive recipes. All of the recipes are simple to follow with minimum fuss and maximum flavour in mind, so you won’t have to worry about time.
Need some extra help and motivation on your slimming journey?
It can feel challenging to stay on track and eat healthy when you feel short on time. Planning ahead is a great way to combat veering off track on those days that run away from you. All of our freezer suitable recipes come with unique guidelines for freezing, so just be sure to check those out before you meal plan!
What are your go-to quick and easy recipes? Tell us what you’ve been cooking over on our Facebook Group. There are almost 1 million members in the group already, waiting to share inspiration, motivation and support for your slimming journey.