No matter the time of year, a homemade meal always feels like a comforting oasis. The catch? Time. Every season brings about a different reason to being busy and spending hours in the kitchen isn’t always on the agenda. This is why I’ve got your back with 8 easy alternatives to takeout. These are the lifesavers you need when you crave something homemade but want it on the table in a flash. Let’s dive in!

1) Speedy stir fry

When time is of the essence, stir-fries are your best friend. Toss your favourite veggies and protein into a hot pan, add a dash of soy sauce, and you’ve got a flavourful stir-fry in minutes. You can even buy your favourite ready-made stir fry sauce to make it a no-brainer. Serve it over rice or noodles for a quick and customisable meal.

2) Wrap it up with wraps

Wraps are the unsung heroes of quick meals. Grab tortillas, fill them with leftover chicken or turkey, add some fresh veggies, cheese, and drizzle with your favourite sauce. They are as speedy to make as they are delicious to eat. Bonus: you can use leftovers that you have in the fridge from your Christmas lunch or dinner, or any veg that’s nearing the end of it’s lifetime. My kids love these! Another one of my favourite quick meal ideas.

3) Family favourite: pasta

Pasta is the ultimate family-pleaser and quick meal canvas. Boil your favourite pasta shape, toss it with a jar of marinara/tomato sauce or pesto, add some veggies or meat, and you’ve got a lovely, fast dinner on your plate. Quick, easy, and endlessly customisable.

Recently, we were on a camping trip and needed a lunch with storecupboard ingredients. We mixed a can of chopped tomatoes with store-bought bolognese, and a can of corned beef. We had some leftover caramelised onions and threw them in as well. I would have never made up this concoction otherwise, but I’m happy I did because it turned out delicious!

4) Omelette party

Breakfast for dinner? Absolutely! Whip up a quick omelette with whatever veggies and cheese you have on hand. It’s a protein-packed meal that’s ready real quick. Plus, it’s another great way to use up those leftover ingredients in the fridge. And, it’s easy to customise for picky eaters. Eat with oven fries on the side, or serve inside a sandwich.

5) Quesadilla quick fix

Quesadillas are the epitome of quick comfort food. Lay a tortilla in a hot pan, sprinkle with cheese, add your favourite fillings, and fold. In minutes, you’ll have a gooey and satisfying quesadilla that’s perfect for busy evenings.

6) Baked potato bonanza

We almost always have potatoes on hand yet forget about this simple dish that’s such a great comfort food. Throw the potatoes in the oven, load them up with leftover chili, cheese, sour cream, and any other toppings you fancy. It’s a simple and hearty meal that requires minimal effort.
Start by washing and pricking your potatoes with a fork. Pop them in the oven at 400°F (200°C/gas 6) for about 45-60 minutes until they’re tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. While they’re baking, prepare your toppings – think leftover chili, cheese, sour cream, chives, and so on. Once the potatoes are ready, cut lengthwise slits, scoop out some potato, mix with your toppings, and load them up with the potato + topping mixture. It’s a simple and hearty meal that requires minimal effort, perfect for this time of year!

7) One-Pan Wonder – Sheet Pan Dinners

For the ultimate in ease and convenience, embrace the one-pan wonder of sheet pan dinners. Toss your protein and veggies onto a sheet pan, season to taste, and let the oven do the work. This option has minimal cleanup and you can use whatever you have at hand – what’s not to love?

8) Taco Tuesday any day

Tacos aren’t just reserved for Tuesdays; they’re the champions of quick and satisfying meals that really please everyone because they are so easy to customise. Brown some ground meat, toss in your favourite taco seasoning, and assemble. Top with lettuce, cheese, salsa, and any other toppings you desire. It’s a fiesta on a plate, ready in no time. Taco ’bout a speedy solution!

And…how to make homemade dinners happen

Meal planning! If you’ve tried meal planning before (and not just once or twice, but week after week!) and nothing seems to stick, I’ve got something that might be the game-changer for you.

My Meal Planning Challenge is coming up, and here’s why it’s different from anything else you’ve tried:

✌🏼 It’s FUN!
✌🏼 I’ll walk you through creating your own meal plan (and shopping list) using my easy 3-step method
✌🏼 You’ll get a plug & play workbook—a fill-in-the-blanks system that’s designed to save you hours every week. You’ll use it during the challenge and beyond!

And, there are prizes to keep you motivated!

• €100 Amazon gift card (or $100 / 150 AUD / £80)
• €50 Amazon gift card (or $50 / 75 AUD / £40)
• My Slow Cooking & Fast Batching course

All you need is 20 minutes a day for 3 days!

Challenge Dates & Times: Monday, 21st October – Wednesday, 23rd October
Join me for three 20-minute live sessions at 7:30pm CET (or catch the recordings if that time doesn’t work for you).

You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to meal plan quickly and confidently. Sign up here – before all the spots get filled up!

>> JOIN THE MEAL PLANNING CHALLENGE <<

There you have it – 8 easy meal ideas that’ll rescue you from the takeout temptation. The next time you’re tempted to dial for delivery, remember these quick and easy options that are just a few steps away, and don’t take too long to make either. SAVE this blog post by bookmarking it, so you can some back to it!

Love,

Nakita xxx