It's pretty simple to cook a perfect steak if you follow our tips. And what could be better than serving a juicy sirloin with homemade garlic butter? Just serve with oven chips and a crunchy green salad. Dinner will be ready in under 30 minutes – couldn't be easier.

Get the recipe for steak with garlic butter here

A Thai curry can be time-consuming if you make your curry paste from scratch. But in this shortcut version, a shop-bought paste is jazzed up with fresh garlic, ginger and Thai fish sauce. The result is a rich, creamy and fragrant coconut sauce with a kick of heat from the chilli.

Get the recipe for Thai green chicken curry here

Thin French pancakes with a savoury filling are a perfect midweek meal solution. These are filled with soft, salty goats' cheese, smoky ham, pickle and Comté cheese (although any hard, strong-flavoured cheese will do), with a spread of fig jam to add a little sweetness to the mix. Try these, then play around with your own filling combinations.

Get the recipe for cheese, ham and fig crêpes here

Mexican breakfast eggs are not just for breakfast. With re-fried beans, tomatoes, avocado and eggs, served on soft flour tortillas, they make a hearty dinner too. From start to finish in 15 minutes, it's a perfect veggie option after a busy day.

Get the recipe for huevos rancheros here

No need to buy a jar of pasta sauce when this homemade, rich tomato one is super quick to whip up. Combined with succulent prawns, crispy chorizo, a pinch of chilli flakes, fresh basil and your best olive oil, this will be a new favourite pasta supper.

Get the recipe for prawn, chorizo and basil linguine here

The star of this simple recipe is the irresistible four-ingredient satay dressing. If you've never tried straight-to-wok noodles, give them a go – they're a massive time-saver in the kitchen and they cut down on the washing up. 

Get the recipe for satay noodles here

A risotto is a perfect midweek standby meal. As long as you have risotto rice and stock in the cupboard, you can just add in almost anything. A bag of frozen peas and lots of freshly grated parmesan make a great meal. Or push the boat out with this buttery risotto with prawns, peas, herbs and courgettes.

Get the recipe for prawn, pea and courgette risotto here

Colourful and nutrient-rich, this salad is perfect for a lighter dinner. To cut the prep time of this recipe, use ready-cooked beetroot and even ready-cooked, tinned potatoes.

Get the recipe for smoked mackerel, orange and beetroot salad

A classic char siu pork is a labour of love and takes time to prepare. Here's a cheat's version made with tender pork fillet, lots of ginger and garlic in a soy-based sauce. Throw in the pak choy at the end or add some fresh spinach. Either way, it's really quick to make and great over rice.

Get the recipe for char siu pork here

You can make this steak salad, full of Vietnamese flavours, at home in under 30 minutes. The hot, marinated beef is piled on the onion, herb and tomato salad, then it's tossed at the table.

Get the recipe for Vietnamese steak salad here

This Sichuan-inspired recipe packs a punch with a healthy amount of chilli. It's a great veggie dish but you could always add some strips of cooked chicken too, to bulk it out for the meat-eaters.

Get the recipe for mushroom chow mein here

Amatriciana sauce is an Italian classic and hails from the region around Rome. It has a rich, tomato base with pancetta or bacon, garlic and onion, with the slightest hint of chilli. Grated parmesan is added to serve but if you want to be more Roman about it, try pecorino cheese which although similar to parmesan in texture, is made from sheep's milk instead of cow's.

Get the recipe for rigatoni amatriciana here

Speedy dinners don't get much easier than an omelette to serve four which is baked in the oven in one large dish. It's loaded with feta cheese which makes it filling too. The caramelised red onions add a sweet note and you could serve with a green salad and fresh bread.

Get the recipe for feta, spinach and caramelised onion omelette here

Hearty, warming chilli often requires a lengthy cooking time but this vegetarian version takes just 15 minutes and doesn't compromise on depth of flavour. There's no fiddly chopping involved and you just need to cook some rice while the chilli is cooking.

Get the recipe for black and kidney bean chilli here

Serve up a taste of the Caribbean with this tasty plantain curry. It's a one-pot dish that everyone will love, with a really simple homemade curry paste and a creamy coconut sauce. It's vegan too.

Get the recipe for plantain and chickpea curry here

Here's a juicy, punchy lamb burger which is ready faster than you could dial for a takeaway. It's best if you leave them in the fridge to firm up before cooking so we'd recommend you make a double batch, then freeze half for when you want them again. Serve with a cooling homemade raita.

Get the recipe for harissa-spiced lamb burgers here

Give fish stew a Vietnamese twist with fragrant herbs such as coriander (cilantro), mint and Thai basil. You can vary the fish according to your preferences and what's available.

Get the recipe for tangy seafood stew here

If you're after a light pasta dish, look no further than this seafood-packed tagliatelle. Prawns, scallops, and tomatoes are tossed through the noodles for a filling and fresh meal.

Get the recipe for tomato and seafood tagliatelle here

A meal in a bowl, this soup is made super satisfying with greens, beans, a poached egg and a slice (or two) of toasted ciabatta. A hearty and nutritious meal, ready in just half an hour.

Get the recipe for kale and cannellini soup here

Loaded with meaty mushrooms and crunchy nuts, this is an easy throw-it-all-in dish, ideal after a long day. You can completely get away with using a good-quality, shop-bought black bean sauce instead of making one from scratch.

Get the recipe for shiitake and cashew black bean stir-fry here

The combination of crispy fried falafel, creamy condiments, crunchy salad and tangy pickles is out of this world. You could also play around with your favourite sauces and fillings for a personalised sandwich.

Get the recipe for falafel sandwich here

Eggs, bacon and spaghetti make the recipe a whole lot like a carbonara, but Thai elements like fish sauce and chilli turn it into a tasty hybrid dish. We guarantee everyone will be coming back for seconds.

Get the recipe for pad Thai carbonara here

You can't beat a soy and honey glaze for roasted salmon. This recipe incorporates the crowd-pleasing fish plus greens and a ginger, lime and peanut dressing.

Get the recipe for sticky soy and honey-roasted salmon here

Ready in 30 minutes, this warming, spicy and fragrant broth is combined with rice noodles, thinly sliced beef and finished with the sour tang of lime to cut through the richness of the soup. It's a quick winner dinner.

Get the recipe for beef noodle soup here

You could serve these fragrant beef kebabs in a wrap with pickles or on a generous helping of creamy hummus with a zesty mix of red onion, sumac and parsley. Either way they make a brilliant speedy supper.

Get the recipe for spiced beef skewers here

This is inspired by the flavours of hot and sour tom yum soup with the quick prep time of a stir-fry. Using a wok to explode the spices in hot oil, injects a slight smoky flavour and enriches the broth. If you can’t find Thai aubergines, you could use oyster mushrooms.

Get the recipe for Thai aubergine tom yum here

A speedy twist on an Italian classic, this chicken parmesan recipe is a perfect combination of chicken, a rich, herby tomato sauce and melting mozzarella, topped with parmesan and crunchy breadcrumbs.

Get the recipe for one-pan chicken parmesan here

This dish isn't traditionally Italian but we're not being purists here. This recipe calls for leftover gammon but you can also just slice up some ham, and crispy bacon wouldn't go amiss either. Add a little indulgence when it's ready to serve by adding a handful of freshly grated parmesan. 

Get the recipe for ham and egg linguine here