Quick & Easy 5-Ingredient Meals For The Whole Family

Tasty, simple and exciting meals don’t have to start with a long shopping list. With the last few weeks seeing us spend more time inside with our families, what better way to bond and enjoy each other’s company, than with some delicious recipes that everyone in your home will love. The best part? Each recipe uses only 5-ingredients! So, they’re quick, easy and gentle on the back-pocket, too.

For the family: Pumpkin & Tuna Pasta Bake

This cheesy and delicious pasta bake is the ultimate cosy winter dish to feed the entire family. You can have the whole meal on the table in less than 30 minutes – perfect for those hungry kids!

Ingredients:

375g pasta of your choice (we like Penne, Macaroni or Fusilli)
500g pumpkin, chopped into 2cm cubes
425g can tuna chunks in Springwater
300g sour cream
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Method:

Bring a large saucepan to boil, cook the pasta about ¾ of the way through (usually 6-7 minutes). Then, add the diced pumpkin and cook for a further five minutes until pumpkin is tender and pasta is al dente. Drain well.

Return the pasta mixture to the pan and add tuna, sour cream and half of the cheese. Toss until everything is combined well. Spoon the mixture into your ovenproof baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

Grill on high for 5-8 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Enjoy.

A little bit gourmet: Chicken Piccata with Butter & Caper Sauce

For a gourmet-style meal that is cheap and cheerful to create, try this effortless chicken dish packed with loads of zest and flavour.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breast fillets, halved horizontally
100g butter, roughly chopped
¼ cup baby capers
2 lemons, zested and juiced
½ cup flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method:

Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of baking paper. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound until about 1.5cm thick. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large frying pan over high heat, melt 10g of the butter and cook the chicken breasts until golden brown and just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a clean plate and cover with foil.

Reduce pan to a medium heat. Add remaining butter, stirring until melted and golden brown. Add capers and cook for one minute. Add lemon juice and half of the lemon zest. Return chicken breasts to pan and pour the butter mixture over the top. Once chicken is completely cooked through and butter sauce has thickened, add chopped parsley. Gently shake the pan and remove from heat.

Serve chicken with remaining lemon zest sprinkled on top. Enjoy.

Something sweet: Nutella Brownie

We get it, being stuck inside for self-isolation can make your sweet-tooth go crazy! Treat yourself to something decadent with these quick and easy Nutella brownies. Sugar craving = satisfied.

Ingredients:

½ cup hazelnuts, skins removed and roasted
2 cups Nutella
4 large eggs, lightly whisked
1 cup self-raising flour
200g milk chocolate, coarsely chopped (dark chocolate also works)

Method:
Preheat your oven to 180ºC. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine the Nutella and egg. Add flour and fold to combine. Add the roasted hazelnuts and milk chocolate. Stir to combine before spooning into your prepared baking pan.

Bake for 45 mins or until lightly firm to the touch (tip: bake for 35-40 mins if you want them extra gooey). Remove and once cooled, cut into pieces. Enjoy with ice-cream or whipped cream.