Australia’s top 10 easy dinner recipes from the past decade
The foodies at Taste.com.au have revealed their readers’ most-loved easy dinners from the past decades. This list includes retro faves and Asian delights - and each recipe is simple to cook up.
And when it came to easy dinner recipes, these were the dishes people came back to time and time again.
From a classic shepherd’s pie to a creamy chicken pesto pasta and a slow-cooked lamb curry recipe, there’s so much to love about these fragrant and easy set-and-forget winners, or flash-in-the-pan heroes.
Classic shepherd’s pie
A classic British and Irish dish that’s loved the world over, shepherd’s pie is the ultimate comfort food. Made with lamb mince, a rich gravy and buttery mashed potatoes, this recipe has all the elements for a perfect Sunday dinner and is on the table in just over an hour. We love the addition of Worcestershire sauce as it brings a deep umami flavour and a sweet, tangy and spicy punch all at once.
Easy fried rice
Fried rice is a staple of Aussie takeaway and while we might all have our favourite restaurant that makes it just the way we like it, it’s a dish that is easy to replicate at home. In this super simple version we use pantry and fridge staples, but the beauty of a basic fried rice recipe is that you can always adjust the ingredients based on what you happen to have on hand at any given time. A great way to use up leftover veggies and protein, fried rice can be bolstered with plenty of healthy ingredients and can easily be made vegetarian or vegan. This version keeps things simple, which means that kids love it, making it a family-friendly dinner option. It’s also a great way to use up leftover cooked rice from the night before. If you’d like to make a low FODMAP version of this fried rice, check out our tips in the Notes section of this recipe. For more fried rice goodness, check out our best easy fried rice recipes all in one place, including our healthy, oven-baked, one-tray fried rice for your weeknight convenience! Additional recipe notes by Alison Adams - Food Writer and Recipe Tester
Creamy chicken pesto pasta
I love it when I have recipes in my repertoire that are easy enough for a mid-week meal, yet I can also serve it to guests (they don’t have to know it’s easy, right?). This is one of my favourites. First thing to love about this creamy chicken pesto pasta recipe is that it’s made in only one pan! The pasta is cooked, drained and then it goes straight back into the pot. In go the remaining ingredients and voila! Dinner is on the table. Another thing to love is that it uses ready-made supermarket ingredients; a roasted chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and bought pesto, yet when it’s all tossed together it tastes restaurant quality. Also, this is a really versatile recipe. You can double the pesto and get rid of the cream or serve it without the chicken for a hearty vegetarian main. - Alison Adams, Food Writer and Recipe Tester
Spaghetti marinara
Add all your favourite seafood to this delicious spaghetti marinara.
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni is one of our go-to meals for those crazy busy school nights. Ticking all the boxes we require for an easy dinner - kid-friendly, a bit of veg, and guaranteed to result in empty plates at the end of the night - is it any wonder we have one on the go, and one in the freezer at all times? What we love about this recipe is that there is no need to fill individual cannelloni tubes (we use fresh lasagne sheets instead) so it cuts down on the prep time immensely. If you want to up the veg, add some salad leaves on the side, or for little kids, some chopped carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes. If you’re partial to the odd meat filling, like beef or lamb, we have plenty of variations on cannelloni - just check the note sections below for the link.
Coconut chicken curry
This quick and easy coconut chicken curry is a simple way to liven up the week.
Chicken enchiladas with tomato salsa
For classic Mexican, fill tortillas with chicken, salsa, cheese and vegies, top with extra salsa and cheese, then bake until irresistible.
Sticky Chinese pork stir-fry
This speedy recipe will leave the cook happy and the family full.
Curried sausages
Retro is back, baby! At last, I can make my shameful curried sausage love public. As a meal, it has enough kick to know you’re alive, but it’s not too spicy for kids, making it an ideal midweek dinner for families – and it’s pretty easy on the budget too! When craving curried sausages, this is the recipe I always use. The natural sweetness of carrots coupled with the fruity chutney is a perfect match for the piquant curry powder and hearty sausages. Curried sausages can be served with rice (as a nod to curry) or mashed potato (hello bangers)! My guilty pleasure, however, is serving it with the sausage already cut up, in a bowl, with thick slices of buttered bread, on the couch!
Slow-cooked lamb curry
This spicy lamb curry is best prepared in a slow cooker.
For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.
Originally published as Australia’s top 10 easy dinner recipes from the past decade
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