At MATR, we know that everyday life can get busy. It might already be past six, and everyone at home is starting to get hungry.
After a long day at work, school or looking after the kids, few people feel like spending an hour in the kitchen. That’s why quick and easy dinners can make everyday life a whole lot easier.
In this article, you’ll find practical tips for making healthy meals in less time, inspiration for different dishes, and answers to some of the most common questions about quick and easy dinners.
How to get healthy food on the table faster
Making a healthy dinner quickly doesn’t have to be complicated.
Below, we’ve gathered a few simple tips to help you get dinner on the table faster at home.
1. Choose proteins that don’t require preparation. One thing that can take up a lot of time in the kitchen is marinating, tenderising or simply waiting for meat to absorb different seasonings.
To make cooking faster, choose protein products that don’t require any extra preparation before use. MATR is one example. Our products require no additional preparation. Because of the fermentation process, they already have a delicious umami flavour.
This also means you can heat MATR in a frying pan or just in the oven straight away.
2. Use fewer ingredients. The more ingredients a recipe has, the longer it will take to prepare. Our advice is to keep things simple.
Quick and easy dinners don’t need to involve lots of ingredients. Choose a good source of protein, a few vegetables, and season with salt and pepper. That’s often all you need to get a healthy, satisfying meal on the table quickly.
3. Prepare your food when you have some free time. Spend half an hour over the weekend chopping onions, cutting vegetables into cubes and portioning out protein into airtight food containers. That way, all the ingredients are ready the next time you need to cook. This can easily cut your time spent at the stove shorter on a busy Wednesday.
4. One-pot or oven-baked meals. One-pan and one-pot meals are an easy way to make quick and healthy food. Everything is cooked in a single pot or on one baking tray, helping you save time and avoid a pile of dishes.
For example, you can place vegetables and protein on a baking tray, put it in the oven and let the food cook while you get on with other things. In the meantime, you can set the table, take care of a few tasks or simply take a well-deserved break.
20-minute recipes: Quick and easy dinners for busy weekdays
Once you know these tips, all that’s left is to decide what kind of dish you want to make.
Here are three types of meals that can all be turned into quick and easy dinners in under 20 minutes.
Bowls and salads
Bowls and salads are an easy way to make quick and healthy meals. Combine fresh vegetables with rice, grains, a good source of protein and a simple dressing for a filling meal.
The best thing about bowls and salads is that you can easily adapt them to whatever you already have in your fridge. That way, you can make a simple, healthy and varied dinner without spending too much time in the kitchen.
Try our recipe and make your own MATR Buddha Bowl.
Sandwiches, wraps and flatbreads
Sometimes, you don’t even need to get out a pot or pan to make a quick and healthy meal. A sandwich, wrap or flatbread can be ready in just a few minutes. Fill your bread with MATR, fresh vegetables and a delicious dressing, and you have an easy and satisfying meal.
Sandwiches, wraps and flatbreads are especially great for busy days or when you need to take your meal with you on the go.
We recommend trying our delicious MATR focaccia sandwich. With its soft bread and delicious filling, it’s sure to become a new favourite of yours.
Quick one-pot meals and stir-fries
When time is short, stir-fries and quick one-pot meals are a great choice for dinner. You can quickly cook your ingredients in a pan or add them to a pot and let them simmer for a few minutes.
One extra tip from us is to cut your ingredients into smaller pieces, then they’ll heat through even faster.
Try our version of a green stir-fry with MATR and get a healthy, quick and easy dinner on the table.
Quick and healthy meals with MATR
With the right ingredients and a few simple recipes in mind, you can easily make a nutritious meal in under 20 minutes.
At MATR, we’ve put together a whole collection of recipes designed to make cooking healthy dinners fun, easy and quick.
Try our healthy recipes and spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table with the people you love.
Find more inspiration for quick and easy recipes in our recipe collection. Want to learn more about MATR and how our products are made? Read more here.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a meal a quick and easy dinner?
A meal can be considered a quick and easy dinner when it is both nutritionally balanced and can be prepared in 20 minutes or less. It typically requires a source of protein that doesn’t need extensive preparation, along with vegetables and carbohydrates that can be cooked quickly, such as rice, pasta or flatbread.
Which kitchen tools can help you cook faster?
A sharp knife, a wok pan and a baking tray are three kitchen essentials that can make a big difference when preparing quick and easy dinners. A sharp knife saves time during preparation, while a wok pan provides quick and even heat, helping your food cook properly without burning.
What are some easy and healthy dishes I can make?
Try a filling bean salad, wholegrain wraps or a quick stir-fry with vegetables. Explore more options and find your new favourite dish in our recipe collection.
What can I make for dinner in 15 minutes?
Make a quick pasta with MATR, pesto and vegetables, a stir-fry or a fresh bowl with MATR and plenty of greens. Haven’t tried MATR yet? Find out where you can buy our products.