dinner recipes

11 Yummy Dinners That Taste Like They Took Hours, but Are Ready in No Time

Rate This Recipe

Busy weeknights are incredibly demanding. Whether it’s the need to relax after a long day at work or the desire to try something new, easy to make, yummy dinners are always appreciated. Luckily, these recipes are here to help! Here are delicious dinners that taste like they took hours to make but will be ready in a few minutes!

1. Quesadillas

Chicken Quesadillas

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you want a delicious, low-effort meal that will look like it took hours, quesadillas are your best bet. They are tasty and nutritious, and you can enjoy them for dinner without any sides. On a popular online platform, a food critic says, “If you want to make quesadillas even more appealing, just add leftover chicken or a can of cooked beans. You don’t have to do much.”

2. Egg Fried Rice

Egg fried rice

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

You’ll find this meal on any restaurant menu. The combination of rice, eggs, and other classic ingredients makes the meal look labor-intensive, but it’s not! An online user advises, “Take your leftover rice, add soy and fish sauce, mix some eggs, stir, and voila! You’ll have a meal that a five-star hotel serves.”

3. Peanut Butter on Toasted Sourdough With Hot Honey

Peanut Butter

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Even the combination of ingredients makes this dish sound like it takes a whole lot of time to put together. However, peanut butter toast is a simple meal that you can enjoy in a few minutes. Toast your sourdough for two minutes, heat your honey on the side, and grab your peanut butter. Yum!

4. Chickpeas and Shakshuka

Chickpeas and Shakshuka

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

When you mix tomatoes, harissa spices, chickpeas, and some eggs, then bake for fifteen minutes, you’ll end up with a low-effort delicious meal. As part of an online discussion, a respondent said, “You can get a savory meal when you add eggs to anything. This shakshuka combo is genius.”

5. Japanese Golden Curry

Japanese Golden Curry

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Judging from the name, you may have to spend a lot of time in your kitchen to get a delicious Japanese curry. A long prep and cook time couldn’t be further from the truth! All you need to do is dice chicken and sauté on a pan with onions, carrots, potatoes, and a bit of water. Simmer for fifteen minutes, throw in some curry cubes, cook for five more minutes, and your fancy meal is ready.

6. Baked Salmon and Broccoli

Baked Salmon and Broccoli

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

A friend and I discovered this recipe and have been whipping it up quickly on most nights, even when we have those unexpected guests. You only need to oil and season salmon on a baking sheet, then bake it for twelve to fifteen minutes while sautéing broccoli on your pan for about four to five minutes. The meal is simple, refreshing, and could go on any restaurant menu.

7. Asian Noodles and Beef Salad

Asian Noodles and Beef Salad

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

This meal comes with a result that looks fancy and sophisticated. But here’s the kicker: You only need to boil your noodles, add leftover beef, and then throw in fresh herbs and spices to bring everything to life. By the time you serve, your plate will look rather compelling.

8. Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

A fancy name for a simple dish! Time to look into your Italian cookbooks! Cacio e pepe is a meal that may look like it takes hours to prepare, but it’s ready in no time. To enjoy it, cook your pasta, add black pepper, add generous cheese servings, butter, and bon appétit!

9. Scrum-Delicious Burgers

Man eating burger

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Burgers are one of my family’s favorite summertime dishes. While the meat layers make a simple burger look complex, it’s an easy dish for a delicious dinner. Just like any other burger, put together a simple patty and assemble, but the only difference is that your scrum-delicious burger has generous meat servings and onion toppings. Also, it doesn’t skimp on the cheese. It’s always fun to enjoy a burger that’s a little more special.

10. Baked Potatoes and Fish With Rosemary and Garlic

Baked Potatoes and Fish

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

An online user chimed into a discussion and said, “Baked potatoes and fish are my go-to for busy weeknights. My husband enjoys them and always thanks me for the effort! As a loving wife, I’ll never tell him it takes a few minutes to pull off this dish”. To prepare the dish, oil and season your potatoes; place them in the oven for fifteen minutes, then make space for your fish on the same tray. Add rosemary, salt, pepper, garlic, and breadcrumbs to the tray and bake again for another fifteen minutes.

11. Microwave Baked Sweet Potato With Beans

Sweet Potatoes

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

As canned beans are already pre-made, they make work easier. Poke a few holes in your sweet potato and microwave each side for four minutes. Then, heat the beans and pour them over a well-split potato. As Gordon Ramsay once said, trick them into believing you put all your hard work into the potato. On a forum online, a foodie agreed with this recipe, adding, “I’ve made this dish for over ten years now; it never gets old.“

Source: Reddit.

Written by: Louisa.

 

Reader Interactions

Did you like this recipe? Please leave a review and let me know what you thought! I appreciate it so much.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

recipes