Could you tell me your go-to 'easy-but-delicious' meals?
Posted by Intrepid_Layer_9441@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 121 comments
I'm coming to the UK soon from a different country, and will be on a shoestring budget initially. Obviously I've got some easy meals of my own from my country but would love to know your UK-based quick and easy meals or recipes. I can handle a fish finger sandwich but tuna and other seafood is too aggressively fishy for me.
batgirlsmum@reddit
Beans on toast.
Cheese on beans on toast.
Cheese on beans on cheese on toast.
Cheese on beans on cheese on marmite on toast.
Mangerstaa@reddit
Beans upon toast.
Oster-P@reddit
Beans in the hole
andypanty69@reddit
I see what you did there. Lure a person in with a delicious sound sequence of meals building up to an amazing finale. And then, having built the anticipation, wham! Hit them with the "I'm leaving now, don't ever invite me back, you people are sick, evil" meal.
I can't believe you brought marmite into the wires to my screen let alone put it into a recipe for some poor, unsuspecting reader.
See that evil stranding there in the corner looking smug? That's you that is.
Fureniku@reddit
Toast with mug of beans
(My university flatmate was refusing to move her shit for like a week so I could wash my plates. I'm too petty to do it for her)
Cold_Philosophy@reddit
Lucky batgirl to have such a mum!
Timely_Resist_2744@reddit
To mix it up a bit you can swap out the toast for a jacket potato
tripping_yarns@reddit
Poached egg on beans on cheese on toast.
LiorahLights@reddit
Fried egg on cheese on beans on toast.
Never_trust_dolphins@reddit
You forgot cheese on beans on Worcestershire sauce on toast
Ahleanna-D@reddit
You forgot freshly ground pepper on Worcester sauce on cheese on beans on toast
Flashy-Nectarine1675@reddit
Toast under beans
Oster-P@reddit
Mince beef fried off with onions and green peppers, chuck a tin of beans in the pan with a load of BBQ sauce. Serve that over some rice and mixed veg with cheese on top. Or just serve it on a baked potato with cheese
Ok-Variation-4113@reddit
Big Mac Lrg with a coke.
epicpownage1234@reddit
Have you heard of corned beef hash? Not sure how popular it is outside of the UK. Doesn't get much nicer for a hot quick meal
spoo4brains@reddit
Corned Beef isn't a cheap food any more.
throwmeorblowme89@reddit
I was going to say corned beef casserole, but then I remembered how expensive corned beef is now. Definitely not a cheap meal.
epicpownage1234@reddit
There's a bargain buys near me that sells it dirt cheap, basically end of life stock, compared to a tesco or whatever. Worth a look if you've got a bargain buys or home bargains near you. Usually have a mix match of cupboard foods.
NixyPix@reddit
Wow, I grew up poor and corned beef hash is the very first meal I remember eating. I’ve never bought it as an adult but would never believe it would become expensive.
throwmeorblowme89@reddit
To be fair, even beans are expensive now. I remember beans on toast was a cheap meal, now it would just be toast!
Toe_Bean_Bandit@reddit
If you don't like corned beef, a lot of us make it with sterling steak instead as an alternative.
hublybublgum@reddit
Weird one but I've seen people make similar meals with slight variations.
Pasta of your choice Veggies, I go for Peppers and brocolli/Spinach Garlic (all of it of course) Chicken optional Cream of chicken soup
Just fry up the chicken and veg, pour in the soup and maybe some extra chicken stock cubes and water, whack the pasta in and you've got a banger in less than 15 minutes
vcdaisy@reddit
Do you know which part of the UK you are coming to? Supermarket prices vary a bit. Things from M&S or Waitrose will likely be more expensive than from Aldi or Lidl.
If you know the area, we can probably point you in the right direction to get the best value.
Also need to know your facilities for cooking. A shared kitchen can be a nightmare if others help themselves to your store cupboard things like pasta or rice.
Numerous_Freedom1764@reddit
Home made meatballs and spaghetti with sauce
Takes 5 minutes to make and 25 to cook (I prefer oven cooked meatballs)
I haven't tried making my own sauce yet so Lloyd Grossman is helping out for now
Complex-Plan2368@reddit
Omelette, jacket potato, pesto pasta.
Matrixblackhole@reddit
Wraps! You can put a lot of things in those, we love them for lunch in my family.
VariousClassroom8056@reddit
My eyes must be going, I read that as wasps and thought it was a seasonal high protein dish.
Asuperniceguy2@reddit
I can't believe this but I thought it said wasps as well!
garlicandherbsauce@reddit
literally anything in a wrap, bored of air fryer food? shove it in a wrap
thorn312@reddit
It probably depends on your definition and skill, my partner doesn't like to cook and has said that when he sees a recipe that professes to be quick and easy starts with chopping an onion he nopes out.
I would say for me, pasta dishes like spag bol or easy chilli. You can use jars if supermarket own brand sauce if you don't want to make your own, the branded ones unless on offer, are usually pricey. Instant noodles, beans on toast and pot noodles are also much loved.
Check if your local supermarket has a loyalty card or app, it's almost prohibitively too expensive to use tesco without their card nowadays.
Tins of soup are always a nice cheap option, lidl does very cheap fresh crusty bread as well.
runawaydebt@reddit
I'm with your partner on that one! I was going to do an easy recipe for tea and it started with chopping and onion and I declared I wasn't doing it as it was a ball ache so my husband made it and said it was a piece of piss 🤣 he's a chef tho and enjoys cooking whereas it's a massive chore to me.
thorn312@reddit
It's much the same here (albeit reversed). I cook, he cleans. I love cooking and am happy to spend ages in the kitchen with YouTube or something in the background and if it involves lots of prep, I bring the chopping board and knife, peeler etc, food waste bin over to the coffee table and watch TV while doing it. We also have complete opposites with how we like a lot of food cooked with me being less cooked or rare when appropriate, he would rather things be more cooked.
I actively enjoy cooking, my other half really really hates it. We have much different brains in most ways, I thrive in slight chaos when there's lots going on at once and take great delight in serving up nice food. Well, he gets the pretty food, I get the bits that don't look as nice and usually eat from a plastic tub which is referred to as the goblin bowl.
jrbp@reddit
Pasta, rice, beans, oats, potatoes, chicken mince, pork mince, eggs. Near enough an infinite number of options within those ingredients
garlicandherbsauce@reddit
pasta dishes
toby1jabroni@reddit
“Food”.
garlicandherbsauce@reddit
OP is asking for go to easy meals, making a pasta dish only takes 25 minutes lets say compared to making a full sunday dinner???
Silmarillien@reddit
Potato wedges in olive oil, garlic, oregano, lemon with some chicken or meatballs. They take some time to cook in the oven but in the meantime you can do other stuff.
Salt-Evidence-6834@reddit
Nong Shim noodles. Add in some pre-cooked meat, & some mushrooms & spring onions. Other finely cut veg can be added too, but don't overdo it as it will reduce the spiciness. Takes around 10 minutes included preparation (assuming you have some meat handy).
Riewd@reddit
Daal
Cold_Philosophy@reddit
Dhal as well.
But not Dahl.
PKblaze@reddit
Filled omelette. Personal favs - cheese and onion, fry the onion first before adding the egg then add the cheese before the omelette firms up.
Soy sauce and chive. Mix some soy sauce in with the egg mixture and then add chives whilst it's cooking.
AromaticVacation3077@reddit
Omelettes are always the answer. My favourite (and also one of the easiest) is a sorrel omelette which sounds fancy but it 100% isn't.
SaltyName8341@reddit
Jacket potato and cheese
Affectionate-Boot-12@reddit
Baked beans only take a few minutes to heat up so add them in as well.
potatosample@reddit
New potatoes Chorizo Onion Garlic or garlic paste Paprika Pepper Salt Eggs
Add eggs on top of your potatoes. Congrats, you've made some variation of Huevos Rotos. Bonus points for adding cheese and spring onions on top.
Cold_Philosophy@reddit
I think there’s a splendid and realistic cookbook to be drawn from this thread.
TylerDarkness@reddit
Creamy tomato pasta. Fry garlic in butter, add passata, tomato puree, decent amount of cream and seasoning (salt pepper and mixed herbs or seasoning of your choice). Add grana padano or parmesan to make it more cream/cheesy if you want to. Cook for a long as it takes to boil pasta. Works well as a pasta sauce or topped with cheese and done in the oven as a pasta bake.
Kibby9331@reddit
Peanut Chicken noodles 1 pack chicken instant noodles 1/2 chicken thigh or breast cooked 2 sprigs broccoli finely chopped 1 - 2 mushrooms thinly sliced 1-2tsp peanut butter
1)place the mushrooms and broccoli in the bottom of a bowl 2)place noodles and seasoning packs on top 3)pour over enough hot water just to cover and with a small plate cover the bowl and leave for about 5 minutes 4)lift off plate 5)drain noodles and veg 6)add chicken and peanut butter and mix well while everything is hot 7)eat
mcglash@reddit
Beans on toast. Eggs. Omelette or whatever. Spaghetti or whatever pasta carbonara. Cheese on toast..Pitta bread pizza.
Eyup_Amigo@reddit
Anything on toast
magicpjj@reddit
Toast on toast
Cold_Philosophy@reddit
That’s an elaborate bread sandwich.
Pristine-Code-2532@reddit
Shit?
catchyaontheflip@reddit
that would be served on a shingle and is more familiar to our American friends
BCF13@reddit
A tin of mackerel, I love it in pasta/on a baked potato.
Healthy, delicious and cheap for the win.
Intrepid_Layer_9441@reddit (OP)
I wish I could handle the flavor of fish! It's so good for you.
cardamommycupcake@reddit
So good. Check out tinnedfishreviews on Instagram. He’s converted a lot of people.
My quick cheapish meal is bacon and mushrooms in spicy tomato sauce with pasta. Lasts a couple of days as well. Or chorizo spicy tomato sauce with butter beans or whatever beans you fancy. Very good with eggs, chicken , baked potato or buttered baguette or hot flat bread. Use tinned tomatoes for both with garlic, onion, chilli or hot sauce, whatever hot stuff you have, very adaptable:)
Hope everything works out for you! 🤞
Leucurus@reddit
Fry an onion until soft, skin a couple of sausages and add the sausagemeat, chooping it up with the spatula as you saute it. Add tomato puree. Add broccoli, or frozen peas. While that's happening cook dried pasta in boiling salted water, drain it, reserving some of the pasta water to add into the sausages mix to loosen, add parmesan. Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce, add some parsley if you feel fancy, serve.
Dependent-Ganache-77@reddit
Tagine or curry can be tasty, in bulk, super healthy and cheap. Carrots, onions, potato, chickpeas, lentils, cauli, rice/couscous don’t cost a huge amount. Peppers a bit more. Spend your money on the good quality pastes, use stock and tinned tomatoes for liquid. If you spend a bit of time making a huge pan it keeps very well.
Dramyre92@reddit
Pot noodles. A staple.
toby1jabroni@reddit
OP specified “delicious”. Can’t even call pot noodle delicious when you have the munchies and are completely off your face.
UKMatt2000@reddit
Less appetising than dog food.
Intrepid_Layer_9441@reddit (OP)
Is that like two-minute noodles?
BorderlineWire@reddit
Maybe? You just add boiled water to the container the noodles come in. Pot Noodle is a brand, and it’s something to try because it’s the famous British instant noodle. I don’t think they’re as good as other cup noodle offerings available now but they are the ones we all grew up with.
Personally, my favourite in the category are the Koka ones. I sometimes get the ones in the larger pot and top with a protein, a vegetable and some crispy onions for an evening meal.
JeffSergeant@reddit
Yes, with extra salt.
MurderedByTheBurbs@reddit
It’s like cup-o-noodles in the US
tripping_yarns@reddit
Lobbies/lobscouse/corned beef hash. The name varies but it’s this:
Chop potatoes, onions and carrots into a big pan, if you’re posh you can sweat them in butter for a bit under some greaseproof paper, but not essential. Add salt and pepper.
Just cover with water or beef stock and bring to the boil. Add tomato puree or ketchup and a healthy dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Chop a tin of corned beef and add to the stew. Possibly a bit of oregano if you like.
Stir occasionally and let it simmer until the veggies are soft. Hopefully it’s thickened and has a nice consistency, if not, add a slurry of cornflour to thicken it up.
Eat. Tastes even better when reheated though.
Shot-Ad5867@reddit
Beans on toast
toby1jabroni@reddit
Come on, not that easy!
Fingers_9@reddit
You can make it delicious by adding garlic, turmeric, corriander ground and leaf, cumin and green chili.
toby1jabroni@reddit
You had me up to coriander! Anyway, good suggestions besides that one.
Even a dash of tabasco or worcestershire sauce makes a nice change I find.
Makemeup-beforeUgogo@reddit
Omelette with bit of chopped onions, mushroom and spinach. Pinch of celery salt and pepper. Takes 10 minutes.
Pasta with pine nuts, spinach or basil and cherry tomatoes, bit of salt and olive oil. Takes 15-20 minutes.
Pasta mixed with cream of mushroom. Takes 10-15 minutes
Cous cous with lightly fried onions, mushrooms and spinach. Takes 10-15 minutes
Noodle soup, boil noodles, crack in an egg, chopped spring onions, parsley/mint, dried seaweed, a protein like prawns, chicken or soy protein. Add bit of miso paste or noodle soup base, add salt to taste. Takes about 15 minutes.
You can see a pattern of utilising ingredients for a weekly shop!
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
I do Dahl, quite a lot. Lentils, spices, coconut milk, and then serve with rice & frozen greens. So very cheap and filling!
Lynvor@reddit
Same with chickpeas, 50p a tin, can do so much with them.
TangerineOnly8209@reddit
We add boiled egg
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
I got two large aubergines, £1 each, chopped and toasted. Also, halloumi (often easier to find than paneer) pan fried with some of the spices in a little oil. To add on top. Coriander. Fresh chopped chilli. Many delicious things!
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Oh - crushed cashews! I often scatter those over too. Not cheap but you can make them go quite far!
Staracacia19@reddit
Coconut milk, tomatoes, spices and any veggies make a nice curry/stew too. Basically just coconut milk is amazing (also great for us vegans :D)
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Haha I'm not vegan but am keen to put coconut milk in virtually any 💛✌🏼
Flashy-Nectarine1675@reddit
I used to live on Dhal, in the 80s.
Cherrytree374@reddit
Not a traditional UK meal or anything, but it doesn't get much more easy or delicious when you can't be bothered to do more cooking than boiling some water than fresh pasta, with a tub of low fat cheese mixed in after it's been cooked...
If you're feeling less lazy you can add some grilled bacon bits... And if you are feeling adventurous, add a spoon of English mustard for a kick and some warmth.
bbenjjaminn@reddit
Pasta with a tomato sauce.
Fry some onion and garlic, chuck in a tin of tomatoes and then whatever italian herbs you like e.g. basil, oregano etc and a pinch of chilli powder.
If you want to upgrade it you can fry some bacon and/or mushrooms with the onion and garlic.
No_Concept_3477@reddit
Stir fry (meat optional!) is always a good quick filling one for me 😊
porko1811@reddit
Beans on toast, or cheese and beans on toast if you’re feeling fancy. Stick a fried egg on top if you really want to go for it.
Pasta fagioli. Basically av few tins of beans, onions, tomato puree and small pasta shells like conchigliette. My Italian Nana made this all the time when I was young and I could live off it. Usually enough for 2 days if you chuck a few tins of beans in.
Fish cakes (2x Thai chili are my go to) on lettuce, spring onion and cucumber. Drizzle of mayo over the top.
Tortellini and pesto. Quick, easy and cheap.
Chicken katsu salad. Some breaded chicken, on top of rice, carrot shavings, rocket and edamame beans. Drizzle of wagamamas katsu mayo over the top.
swansw9@reddit
I basically just chop up a load of whatever veg is cheap/seasonal and cook it in a pan with olive oil.
You could add spices and coconut milk and it’s a curry.
You could add vegetable stock and blend it and it’s a soup.
You could serve it with cous cous and it’s a tagine.
You could add tomatoes and blend it up and it’s a pasta sauce.
Sometimes I haven’t even decided what it’s going to be until it’s finished!
JennyW93@reddit
Bean stew. Beans (like cannellini, borlotti, butter beans) plus canned tomatoes plus seasoning.
Cheap. Easy. Quick.
Extra_Actuary8244@reddit
So buy a cheap bag of rice and use rice to bulk up the stew
approachingxinfinity@reddit
Fry up some mushrooms, butter beans, and spinach - whack that on toast
Fingers_9@reddit
Curried sardines, beef in ale or stout, baked chicken thigh with vegetable rice.
hdhxuxufxufufiffif@reddit
Cheap, delicious British fusion food, I'm a fan of this masala beans on toast:
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jan/25/meera-sodha-masala-baked-beans-on-toast-recipe-vegan
takesthebiscuit@reddit
I wfh, a high protein lunch for me is a tin of sardines in tomato and a couple of fried eggs on toast
L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit
Beef Stroganov - simple steak - pan fry, get some good caramelisation going on, Take the pan off the heat (very important) take the steak out - let it rest to one side. To the pan add cream - single or double, stir it in before re-introducing the pan to a low heat - gradually bring up to a simmer, stirring all the while - add button mushrooms.
The cream will thicken, add milk if needed - while gently bubbling away slice up your steak, toss the whole lot in - season with salt and pepper serve with chips, preferably good chunky ones perfect for dipping.
And, now, if you'll excuse me - dinner calls.
UKMatt2000@reddit
I wasn’t expecting the chips, reminds me of a nice pub curry with rice and chips.
Pikebbocc@reddit
I think you missed the memo of the shoestring budget - steak as a first ingredient isnt the way forward.
Traditional_Fox2428@reddit
Cook from frozen Lidl chicken skewers. Greek flatbread. Greek salad. Tzatziki. My go to meal when I can’t be bothered. 15 mins to do. Make salad while the skewers air fry.
essicks@reddit
Bangers and Mash
Pie and Mash
Jacket Potato with your choice of filling(s)
Toad in the hole (probably not that easy but very delicious and cheap, sure you could find a good recipe which make it easy)
gerishnakov@reddit
Beans on toast.
awkwardandroid@reddit
I do a pack of microwave rice, a handful of frozen veg, add soy sauce, mirin, garlic and ginger then scrambled eggs in. Easy fried rice
NessunoComeNoi@reddit
Piece of fish. Rice. Tender stem broc. Some sort of sauce (usually Aldis Nandos knock off). Done. 15 mins, filling, healthyish.
No-Honeydew7467@reddit
Stir fry
MurderedByTheBurbs@reddit
Rice & beans plus whatever veg is on sale and whatever sauce & spices. I often go with a Mexican flavors but you can make it so many ways. Most of the staple groceries you are used to in US will be available here.
thierry_ennui_@reddit
If you can afford shoestrings then I've found they make an excellent spaghetti substitute
lapsedPacifist5@reddit
Spaghetti Bolonglace
c00ble@reddit
Peppers + onions + spinach + some protein + whatever sauce
Fry it up
Can't go wrong!
theplumber99@reddit
Toasted tortilla pizza wrap
1 tortilla Pasta/pizza sauce Whatever grated cheese is in the bridge
Fill the inside, fold up and place in toaster for 4 mins
Special-Audience-426@reddit
Beans on toast, egg on toast, 25p noodles with eggs.
Also actual meals like pesto pasta because can throw in most things. Sausage and mash is also cheap.
If you're really on a budget Farmfoods is excellent. I got 1kg packs of chicken breast skewers for 99p each the other day. They usually have a clearance freezer somewhere you can get massive bargains from.
LuckyFish133@reddit
Marinade some chicken in honey, and English + whole grain mustards, fry and shred it, layer it on a slice of bread with mozz, pepper jack, paprika, and sliced spring onions + chives. Then grill that bad boy and enjoy
JeffSergeant@reddit
Tinned tuna has a very mild flavour.
But that aside, beans are always cheap and filling, bean chili is a go-to very cheap dish. Cassoulet is a good one to make in bulk
If you have room to prep food and a freezer, whole chickens are much cheaper by weight than buying the pieces pre-prepared.
PopperDilly@reddit
If wanting to be cheap, jacket potato or anything on toast is good. If you can afford meat sausage and mash is always filling
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Yesss I love a baked tattie! So many things you can add to it!
jez_24@reddit
Chicken thigh (bone in) casserole with cheap supermarket chorizo, sweet potato, peppers, courgette and some kind of white beans or chickpeas, garlic and paprika. Served with cheap long grain rice or potatoes. Parsely and lemon at the end makes it extra tasty
Hips_and_Haws@reddit
I taught my son to cook when he was still young enough to be enthusiastic about stuff. Anyhow I taught him how to make mac & cheese the proper way. Making a roux (butter, floor, milk, 1/2 an onion, cloves & nutmeg) & adding grated cheese. He's made some adjustments (ditching the onion & adding a massive amount of grated cheese), but his version tastes amazing. It's his signature (only) dish to impress!
Flashy-Nectarine1675@reddit
Illustrious_Sea7480@reddit
Egg - fried egg sandwich or poached egg on toast. Every time I eat egg I wonder why I do t do it every day.
SpaTowner@reddit
Where are you coming from? That could influence people’s replies.
Evening-Web-3038@reddit
chips, beans an X.
Where X = whatever else you fancy. A fried egg, some bits of frozen chicken, fish fingers, corned beef, a pie etc.
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
I had an kiwi/Aussie/American mixed up background family friend over the other week. I made cheese on toast and apparently he has never heard of it 😱
roxieh@reddit
This is what I cook when I can't be arsed but want nutrition: spaghetti / linguine, tin of tuna, some peas, mix it with some philedelphia, cheese/parmesan, black pepper. Solid meal, done in like 10 mins and not a nutritional hell hole. Slightly student vibes? Sure but that's whatever. If I'm feeling especially bothered I also fry up some onions and garlic (chopped, frozen) separately and throw them in too.
Scary-Try3023@reddit
Frozen mash pellets in microwave mixed in with either ham/corned beef and cheese and then some baked beans on top
Moist_gooch90@reddit
Chicken noodle soup.
Get a rotisserie chicken from a supermarket and rip it apart with your hands. Whatever you don't immediately eat place in a big saucepan with some chicken stock, celery, sweetcorn, carrot. Let it cook for a while and a few mins before you want to eat it crumble some dried instant ramen noodles in.
Eat with some nice bread and butter.
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