20 family meals you can make in less than 20 minutes

Recipe ideas for quick, easy weeknight dinners that are high on flavour, family-friendly and low-fuss? What's not to love. You will have these recipes on high rotation – guaranteed.

Source: Jiwon Kim

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Cooking for the family is fine, but why does it have to happen every. single. night?

Deep breaths. Every night of the week for the rest of your days is what it is.

The trick to making it through is having an arsenal of quick, easy weeknight dinner recipes up your sleeve that you can effortlessly fire off at a moment's notice.

Which is where the easy, breezy 20 comes into its own. These 20 dishes take less than 20 minutes to get on the table, but they offer a variety the family will never grow tired of. Feel free to run them out each night, then start at the beginning and do it all again.

1. Salmon foil-yaki

Salmon and vegetables wrapped in foil with butter, soy sauce and sake and cooked for 10 minutes flat. Source: Adam Liaw

Foil-yaki is like the Japanese equivalent of the French en papillote, only better. Better because you can have this dish done on the stove in the time it takes the oven to heat up.

2. Adam Liaw's pantry pasta

Source: Jiwon Kim

On days when the fridge feels completely bare, this 15-minute recipe by Adam Liaw is a lifesaver — all you need are a few pantry basics.

3. Spinach and sesame sauce

Based on ‘horenso gomae’ a Japanese dish that translates to spinach with sesame dressing, this simple version is mix and serve. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

You couldn't order a take away faster than this dish takes to make. Let alone collect it. Ready in 10 minutes and packed with all the power of spinach.

4. Spicy chilli beef mince

Source: Jiwon Kim

This beef mince recipe takes no longer than waiting for a takeaway — and the leftovers make a perfect packed lunch the next day. That’s two meals in under 20 minutes!

5. Cong you tofu

The tofu takes 10 minutes and throwing together a green salad to serve it with the other 10. Source: Adam Liaw

This gem of a vegetarian dish requires not much more thought than keeping the spring onions from burning. A great appetiser or a snack to accompany your drinks!

6. Oyakodon

Chicken and egg simmered together in the tastiest broth you can muster is a sure-fire winner around the dinner table. Source: Adam Liaw

Oyakodon tastes amazing, but it's not the only reason it's one of Japan's most popular family meals. Find a dish you can whizz together in around 15 minutes and it's certain to become a favourite.

7. Salmon meunière

Salmon loves butter and we love salmon. Source: Adam Liaw

All manner of salmon dishes fit the bill for an easy, breezy dinner, but none are quite as tasty as Adam Liaw's take on salmon meunière. Saltbush and lemon myrtle are two native ingredients that pack some serious punch. Plus butter. Lots and lots of butter.

8. Lemongrass pork belly

This is Adam Liaw's much-simplified version of his favourite Vietnamese broken rice (cơm tấm) dishes. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

Just remember to start this dish the night before so the pork belly has plenty of time to marinade. Then we're talking restaurant-quality pork for approximately 10 minutes of effort.

9. Spinach and dill fried rice

Adam Liaw's fried version of Greek spanakorizo is absolutely delicious, and very simple to make. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

There's an entire bunch of English spinach smashed into this family favourite. You're welcome.

10. Mozzarella in carrozza

A toastie to behold - the Napolitan sandwich is filled with cheese, ham and tomato, dipped in egg and then fried until golden and crisp. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

No shame in a toastie for dinner. No shame at all.

11. Broccolini and sausage spaghetti

We know you're thinking "how can something this packed with flavour be made in a mere 20?", but it can. Source: Adam Liaw

When particularly tasty ingredients come together, good dinners are made. Here it's spicy Italian sausage getting loved up with charred broccolini, chilli and parmesan. Tied in a bow with good ol' spaghetti.

12. Salt and pepper noodles

Source: Jiwon Kim

Pantry staples including chicken stock powder transform this pork and cabbage noodle dish into something restaurant-worthy. The best part – it only takes 15 minutes to hit the table.

13. Beef and broccolini

You'll make this once and then the family will insist you make it every week for the rest of time. And that's okay. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

This is a complex tasting dish, but it's quick. Fifteen minutes worth of quick. You could theoretically add extra time by marinating the beef for longer, but if Adam says 10 minutes is enough, then that's how long we'll take.

14. Zucchini scrambled eggs

Sure beats a bowl of cereal for your evening meal. Source: Adam Liaw

Eggs for dinner is always a good idea.

15. Baked river trout

Fry this one of the barbie and save yourself some washing up time as well. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

Fish has so many things going for it, but the fast cooking time is surely up there. How else could you produce a restaurant-quality dish like this in less time than it takes to shower?

16. Pork belly and spring onions

Spring onion oil drizzled on pork belly - or any type of protein - is a fragrant, wholesome affair. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

Pork belly is such a tasty winner that we're bringing it to the table again. This time it's showing its light side, wok-fried simply with spring onions and sesame seeds.

17. Stir-fried lettuce and mushrooms

Cos lettuce goes surprisingly well in a stir-fry. It's lighter and crunchier than spinach or bok choy. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

You'll have this vego dish on the table before you've even removed your coat. Everything goes straight into the wok bar the lettuce. Fry it up, toss in the greens and serve.

18. Zabak mucveri

A yoghurt dressing adds plenty of tang to these herby fritters. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

These little Turkish dill and zucchini puffs are incredibly easy to make. They give a lovely crunch in the mouth that will be a hit with the kids.

19. Crunchy fish hand rolls

As soon as a recipe contains the word "crunchy" you can bet your kids are going to love it. Source: Adam Liaw

If Yumi Stynes' kids can eat this dish once a week, ours can too.

20. Lemon chicken

Light and bright, this lemon chicken is easily the best you'll ever taste. You restaurateur, you! Source: Danielle Abou Karam

Faster than home delivery, Adam Liaw's fresh take on lemon chicken is the BOMB.