Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals
With the right prep, ready-to-use ingredients and time-saving cooking methods, you can prepare delicious, balanced homemade dishes. Discover these handy shortcuts and quick recipes to simplify your weeknight dinners.
Meal Prep
Making meals ahead of time doesn’t mean cooking everything at once. Very often, only certain components need to be prepared: sauces, marinades, already cooked proteins, washed and cut vegetables or cereals ready to be reheated. In the evening, all that’s left to do is assemble, reheat or complete the meal, which speeds up dinner without giving the impression of eating a reheated dish. It is precisely this modular aspect that makes this approach successful for weeknight meals.
To optimize your routine and better plan your menus and schedule, read our article on the 5 rules of meal prep.
Batch Cooking
The principle of batch cooking is simple: prepare large batches of one or more dishes in one go, then divide them into portions. A hearty chili, a vegetable stir-fry with protein or a gratin can fuel several dinners. Unlike meal prep, this technique results in complete dishes that only need to be reheated.
Here are some recipe ideas to make in large quantities.
Quick Proteins
Chicken, fish, shrimp, tofu, legumes or eggs are all quick sources of protein that allow you to cook complete and balanced dishes in no time, even when the week is busy. They can be easily integrated into pasta, salads, lunch bowls or stir-fries for meals rich in flavour—and often ready in less than 30 minutes.
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Ready-Made
These solutions are sure to lighten dinner prep.
- Ready-to-eat foods: Roast chicken, mixed salads or frozen meals that have already been cooked can be served immediately or after a simple reheating.
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- Ready-to-cook products: portioned and marinated meats, frozen vegetables and fresh pasta require quick cooking before being eaten.
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- Ready-to-cook ingredients: store-bought sauces and condiments, pre-washed and pre-cut vegetables and express seasonings allow you to assemble or cook a dish in a short time while ensuring maximum taste.
By combining these options, it becomes easy to prepare meals throughout the week.
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Efficient Cooking Methods and Appliances
Each one offers time saving and flexibility, perfect when you want to eat well.
- The air fryer quickly cooks food with little to no oil, for light, crispy meals.
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- The slow cooker slowly cooks meats, legumes and vegetables unattended. Just put in the ingredients in the morning to enjoy a hot meal at the end of the day.
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- The pressure cooker allows you to prepare more elaborate or usually time-consuming dishes that you wouldn’t do during the week, while simplifying the dinner routine.
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- Baking on a sheet pan is ideal for cooking the ingredients of a recipe with minimal preparation and dishes.
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