Hitting the pans midweek can feel like a chore, another thing to add to your daily ‘to-do’ list. But the reward, when you find a recipe that’s speedy, easy and so good that it earns a spot on your permanent midweek meal rotation, is unbeatable. A bolognese (especially one with a secret squirrel twist) will always perk up a weary Wednesday, for example, or a couple of zingy chicken tandoori sliders will get your mind sliding into the weekend, even if there are still several days to go. Want all the delicious without the drudge? We’ve got you.

Sid Sahrawat’s Tandoori Chicken Sliders

Where in the rules does it say sandwiches are only for lunch? Sid Sahrawat’s subtly-spiced chicken tandoori rolls – a favourite at his restaurant Cassia - are made with fresh coriander relish and crunchy salad, and they sprinkle a bit of well-earned sunshine into the end of a long workday. Dinner rolls are a little below fist-sized, so you may want to cater for two or more per person or add extra slaw on the side and you do need to allow for a smidge of marinating time, something that can be done in seconds before you head out the door in the morning.

George Calombaris’ Seaweed Butter Spaghetti Bolognese

It’s the sacred law of bolognese sauce that every cook includes a least one special ingredient that adds a little of their own personal dolce vita. George Calombaris’ genius twist is a lick of seaweed butter, that takes moments to make using supermarket nori sheets and delivers a big umami hit. And of course bolognese is a brilliant repeat performer: batch cook double or triple quantities, freeze, and enjoy it all over again later in the week. 

Shannon Bennett’s Broccoli and Pea Risotto

If you think risottos sound like too much hard work, think again. This bright, fresh little number is full of garden-y goodness and will slide silkily onto the dinner table in under 30 minutes. It’s also a true wallet winner, with Shannon Bennett using whole broccoli rather than just the florets to minimise waste and maximise value. For a richer, creamier risotto, Bennett advises swapping out commonly-used arborio rice for carnaroli, a clever tip he picked up from Heston Blumenthal.

Matt Wilkinson’s One Pot Spaghetti

No two words are better friends to the midweek cook – or the midweek dishwasher - than ‘one pot’. And even better, Matt Wilkinson’s lightning-fast pasta is built from ingredients (diced tomatoes! Garlic! Lemon!) that you probably already have kicking round the kitchen. If tomatoes are out of season (or you let yours get a bit sad and shrivelled on the kitchen counter) you can even swap in tinned tomatoes. Simply put, this dish practically makes itself.

A midweek meal should feel like a comforting hug; a reward for nailing that deadline or getting every kid in the family in and out of the door without a major catastrophe. Each of these tasty recipes has the secret sauce of simplicity and speediness in spades, so your weeknight dinners never have to feel like a slog again. 

What are your slam-dunk weekday dinner winners? Let us know below.