Let’s be honest: after a long day of work, school runs, and Joburg traffic, who wants to spend hours faffing in the kitchen? These tasty dinners are family-friendly, easy to prep, and will have dinner on the table without stress (and without sacrificing flavour). Click through to the full recipes to cook them yourself!
Spiced Carrot & Lentil Soup
A warming, nutritious bowl that’s ready in under 30 minutes? Yes, please. It's perfect for those cooler Joburg evenings when you want something comforting without lots of chopping and cleaning. Carrots and red lentils simmered with fragrant spices make this soup both wholesome and delicious. Plus, it’s vegetarian, freezer-friendly, and great with crusty bread.
Get The Recipe!
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
A bit more indulgent, but still incredibly doable after work, Delish’s Creamy Tuscan Chicken transforms simple chicken breasts into a rich, creamy skillet dinner with garlic, spinach and tomatoes. It tastes like you’ve spent hours cooking, though it won’t take that long at all. This also goes great with pasta, rice, or even mashed potatoes to soak up that silky sauce.
Get The Recipe!Meatball Pasta Bake
When you need a hearty one-dish dinner that'll have the kids asking for seconds, this is it. Taming Twins’ pasta bake uses pre-prepped meatballs mixed with pasta in rich tomato sauce and melty cheese. It's all cooked in one pan, so you won't be washing dishes late into the evening, either.
Get The Recipes!
Easy Teriyaki Chicken
This BBC Good Food favourite brings sweet and savoury together with minimal effort. Juicy chicken gets coated in a glossy, homemade teriyaki sauce and served with rice and greens for a complete, crowd-pleasing meal. Perfect if you want bold flavour with very little fuss.
Get The Recipe!Baked Gnocchi with Broccoli
Soft gnocchi, tender broccoli and a creamy, cheesy sauce all baked together in one dish — this recipe is comfort food without the stress. Best of all, there’s no need to boil the gnocchi first. This all comes together in one dish with minimal prep, and it's veggie-packed enough to feel balanced.
Get The Recipe!
Feel a little intimidated by the kitchen? Does the prospect of cooking a meal from scratch give you the nervous sweats? We've highlighted some great cooking classes in Joburg that'll take you from 'Idiot Sandwich' to 'Gordon Ramsey' in a jiffy. Click here to see the list!
