Family meals made easy with Countdown

Countdown shares the essential recipes, tips and tricks you need to enjoy delicious, family-friendly meals and snacks every day of the week.

1 Keep it quick

Dinner doesn’t have to be a drama. The key is to focus on recipes that star economical ingredients and rely on quick preparation and easy methods.

Budget-friendly ingredients like mince are perfect for weeknight dinners. This one-pot bolognese is ready in just 30 minutes, plus it makes quick work of washing up. Serve with a side of crunchy greens like lightly steamed broccoli or beans.

Sausages are a family favourite for a reason. Tasty and kind on your pocket, sausages are a versatile protein that can be added to almost any dish. Try this simple, 4-ingredient warm lamb sausage and ravioli salad. Enjoy as is or try crumbling through feta or adding chopped sundried tomatoes if you feel like jazzing it up a bit.

If time is really not on your side, Asian-inspired meals are perfect for getting dinner ready in a snap. Try this teriyaki noodles and cheat’s meatballs recipe, it’s healthy, tasty and can be on the table in just 25 minutes from prep to plate.

2 Be prepared

Rather than reaching for a takeaway menu, stock the freezer with meals you can zap back to life.

Make the most of a rainy afternoon and create a big batch of freezer-friendly meals, like this chilli con carne. Freeze into meal-sized portions then enjoy later on with rice, coriander and sour cream. Or you can defrost, spoon into tortillas then roll and bake for quick enchiladas; or pour on to corn chips, top with cheese and pop in the oven to create nachos. Serve with a fresh, crunchy slaw for a quick, easy meal.

In the mood for Italian? This classic chicken cacciatore is a great meal to have on hand. Chuck in a few handfuls of baby spinach, kale or frozen baby peas when you’re reheating it then serve with mashed potatoes, pasta or polenta. Mix it up so you never get bored!

Be sure to label and date all your frozen food/meals so you know what’s what and what’s past its prime. Soups and stews can stay in the freezer for up to three months, while leftovers like pizza can last for up to two months.

Top tips:

• Remember that liquids will expand in the freezer, so be sure to leave a little extra room in the container.

• You can save leftover wine, stock or juice by pouring it into your ice cube trays and freezing to use in recipes later on.

• Try freezing your favourite fresh veges while they’re in season. Beans, peppers, eggplant, asparagus and beetroot all freeze well. Wash, blanch, refresh in ice water then dry throughly. Pack into airtight containers or moisture-proof freezer bags.

• To avoid contamination, thaw food in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.

3 Snack right

Here’s a familiar story: School’s over, the kids are home and dinner is still a while away. Keeping peckish tummies happy with healthy, homemade snacks is easier than you think.

These apricot energy balls are packed with natural goodness and can be made up to a week in advance, so you can have them on hand in the fridge.

Put overripe bananas to good use in this apple banana bread – make a few loaves ahead of time, slice and keep in the freezer. Simply pop a few slices in the toaster and spread with butter or nut butter for an easy after-school snack.

4 Get the kids involved

Healthy eating habits start at home, so what better way to get the little ones on the right track than getting them involved with dinner? You’ll get an extra set of helping hands plus you’ll be teaching them essential life skills.

Get the younger kids helping with measuring, mixing, stirring and rolling while older kids can get stuck in with reading instructions, grating, peeling and simple, supervised chopping tasks.

They’ll love helping create these pita pocket pizzas with Italian salad or this spaghetti with pea pesto – both are simple enough for kids and tasty enough for the adults.

5 Stock the pantry

When all else fails, it pays to have a few staples stored away in the pantry to whip up a quick home-cooked meal.

Stock up on non-perishable foods like canned corn, tinned tomatoes, baked beans and canned tuna or salmon. These ingredients are great for adding a vege or protein boost to a range of simple dishes. Keep a bag of rice and a few packets of pasta handy and you’ll be set.

Try making this pasta dish – all you need is four simple pantry staples and 15 minutes to get it on the dinner table. Serve with whatever greens you have handy – use mesclun to throw together a quick salad or chuck a handful of spinach in with the rest of the ingredients.

Make dinner time that much easier with these simple recipes, ideas and tips.

This article was created in collaboration with Countdown.

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