Quick and easy, healthy evening meals

Knowing what to cook in the evening after a day at work or socialising with friends can often feel like a burden. Cooking and planning your evening meals doesn’t have to be something you dread with a plethora of healthy, easy and quick meals to cook right at your fingertips.

Many of us want to make quick meals in the evening, especially for those who can’t stand for long periods of time or require stairlift solutions to get around their home. Keep reading for a selection of easy and healthy but equally delicious meals that can be cooked in less than an hour, perfect for those who can’t decide what to rustle up.

Quick and easy, healthy evening meals:

• Red Lentil Dhal
• Carrot and Lentil Soup
• Pea and Pancetta Carbonara
• Tomato and Basil Omelette
• Healthy Salmon Pasta

Red Lentil Dhal

Total cook time: 25 minutes

This recipe may sound complicated but it is very straightforward to prepare and cook and is a real winner for an upcoming dinner party or just for you to enjoy one autumn evening. This recipe was suggested by Romy, a blogger and lover of recipes at Romy London UK. She explains a little more about why she thinks this is a great evening meal recipe for people of all ages:

"When it comes to quick & healthy evening meals, my go-to is a simple red lentil dhal! It's so easy to make with just a few ingredients, but oh-so flavoursome! It's also delicious on its own, or alongside rice or naan bread, and even tastes great reheated the next day - the perfect all-rounder!"

The Dahl is jam-packed with flavour, delicious spices and fresh vegetables, not only making it deliciously filling and warming but relatively healthy too. You can find the full recipe and ingredients list below

Recipe and ingredients list: Red Lentil Dahl

Carrot and Lentil Soup

Total cook time: 35 minutes

Another delicious, colourful and warming meal is soup. This carrot and red lentil soup is the ultimate dish for an evening cosying up in the living room and is packed with goodness and flavour.

With fresh carrot, tasty lentil, garlic and seasoning all in the mix, this recipe is one of the easiest to cook, with you only having to simmer the ingredients, adding water and then sieving or blending to your desired consistency. Jamie Oliver has the recipe on his website and details all the ingredients you will need if you wish to give it a go.

Another delicious, colourful and warming meal is soup. This carrot and red lentil soup is the ultimate dish for an evening cosying up in the living room and is packed with goodness and flavour.

With fresh carrot, tasty lentil, garlic and seasoning all in the mix, this recipe is one of the easiest to cook, with you only having to simmer the ingredients, adding water and then sieving or blending to your desired consistency. Jamie Oliver has the recipe on his website and details all the ingredients you will need if you wish to give it a go.

Recipe and ingredients list: Jamie Oliver’s Carrot and Lentil Soup

Pea and Pancetta Carbonara

Total cook time: 15 minutes

A classic Italian dish that is loved by many and is a popular feature on menus across the UK, this Carbonara recipe has a twist with the addition of peas as well as bacon and creamy sauce. Carbonara is a dish that can be tailored to your choice, so if one day you are craving peas and another you want to add chicken, it all tastes just as good as the traditional mix.

This bacon and pea recipe is a favourite of many due to its simple but tasty flavours and it is very simple to put together in the evening after a long day.

The recipe comes from the site Delicious Magazine and they describe the recipe as: “Peas, pasta and pancetta mixed with creamy carbonara sauce… It doesn’t get much better for an inexpensive, crowd-pleasing supper.”

Recipe and ingredients list: Delicious Magazine Pea and Pancetta Carbonara

Tomato and Basil Omelette

Total cook time: 25 minutes

Some may think that an omelette isn’t traditionally an evening meal but this is another diverse but simple meal that can be ready in under 10 minutes. An omelette is full of nutrients and can be served with chips, salad or a jacket potato so there are plenty of options for different taste buds.

This simple recipe comes from Jamie Oliver and only takes 25 minutes to cook. Simply cut the basil and tomatoes on a board, beat 2 large free-range eggs and set aside. Gently cook the tomatoes until soft before adding the eggs to the pan. When the egg starts to firm, add the basil and cook until golden and brown.

Recipe and ingredients list: Jamie Oliver Tomato and Basil Omelette

Healthy Salmon Pasta

Total cook time: 20 minutes

Fish and salmon are high in omega and great for the mind and body. This simple and healthy salmon pasta recipe ticks all the boxes for an easy evening meal with tonnes of flavour. Topped off with peas and flaky salmon, the pasta is coated in flavoursome crème fraiche for a rich and decadent meal.

This delicious meal is from Olive Magazine and they describe it on their website as: “Make your next salmon pasta dish really creamy (but still healthy) with reduced-fat crème fraiche. Peas and dill add greenery and there's lemon zest for freshness.”

Recipe and ingredients list: Olive Magazine Salmon Pasta

There are so many delicious combinations that can be put together to create yummy evening meals that won’t take hours to prepare. Hopefully, some of these recipes will have given you a few ideas for future meal planning. Want to find more articles like this? Head to the blog section to find a great selection of informative articles.