30-minute Meal Ideas For A Stress-free Autumn Term

With both kids in school again I’ve been making a real effort to keep my evenings organised. So far I have been on top of it with meals, but there are always those days when we just don’t have the time or inclination to slave over the stove, you know the days – when you have had a busy day at work, had little sleep, or the kids have after school clubs. I wanted to share my family’s favourite 30-minute meal ideas, which range from cheap and quick to something a little more indulgent. Most recipes are also made up of things we tend to have in the cupboard or freezer, so there’s no need to do the dreaded mid-week top-up shop.

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30-minute meal ideas for busy parents

Cornflake chicken

I find that the breaded chicken method where you coat in flour, egg then breadcrumb is really messy and creates piles of washing up. So when I came across this idea for cornflake chicken I had to give it a go (if you’re not convinced, think of the crushed cornflakes like a rugged polenta). The lemon and pepper seasoning in the yoghurt adds a really nice zing – just dip the chicken in then add the cornflake layer. Parmesan is included for extra flavour and ensures the coating goes really crispy when cooked in the oven.

Omelette, fries and peas

This is our go-to on nights when we’re going between school and clubs (not that there have been any clubs this year….but I am hoping they resume again next year). Pop some chips into the oven and while cooking you can prep the omelette. Cooking the omelettes in batches means that the total time spent on this meal can rack up to 15 minutes – still pretty impressive for a family dinner. I like my omelette with bacon, cheese and whatever vegetables I have in the fridge.

Nachos

A bit of a winner in our house, we always keep a bag of tortilla chips in the cupboard so we can knock up some quick sharing nachos. We toast ours in the oven for a few minutes and top with some spiced beef mince and grated cheese so it goes nice and melty. When ready, then add sour cream, salsa and a dollop of guacamole. If you have some chilli in the fridge that you’ve saved from a previous batch, you could use that instead of the mince – or pop some sliced jalapenos on if you like it really hot!

Corned Beef Hash

This is Emmy’s all-time favourite and it is quick and easy to make too so that’s always a bonus.

Peel and dice some potatoes, par boil for 5 minutes, drain and dry. Transfer these to a wok or frying pan with a little oil and fry until cooked. Add diced corned beef and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with beans or even a fried egg on top.

Home-made soup

This is a warming and filling meal served with crusty bread, we usually have for lunch but can be enjoyed as a dinner if you are short on time.

I have a soup maker so chop all ingredients into it, turn on and 20 minutes later I have a soup we can all enjoy, and better still it’s packed with veg and as it’s blended down the kids have no idea what healthy ingredients they are eating.

Feeding the family on those busy weekday evenings can be a daunting task, yet there are a whole host of inspirational meal ideas to be discovered. What’s your favourite 30-minute dish?