Simple Dinner: 8 Tasty Recipes to Get You Out of the Basics

A simple dinner doesn’t need to be limited to basic rice and beans, and if you’re out of ideas, let us help! You can make a lot of tasty things and make everyone’s mouth water, because the recipes that we have included in this list are delicious and are made with ingredients you have in your fridge.

There are dishes that you can even reuse that concoction that’s left in the fridge! Discover 8 easy and cheap recipes that will turn your simple dinner into a real party.

Ground beef with okra

Ground beef with okra is a delicious recipe for a simple dinner – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 20 minutes

Performance: 5 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons of oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 1 chopped seedless tomato
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 diced carrot
• 600 g of minced meat
• 1 sachet of beef broth powder
• Salt, black pepper and fresh thyme to taste

Method of preparation:

1. In a pan, heat the oil, over medium heat, fry the onion and garlic for 3 minutes.
2. Add the tomato and sauté for another 2 minutes.
3. Add the okra, lemon juice, carrot and sauté for 1 minute.
4. Add the ground beef, beef stock and sauté until the water that builds up in the pan dries up, stirring occasionally.
5. Season with salt, pepper, thyme and serve immediately.

Ground beef steak with gravy

Ground beef steak with sauce – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 40 minutes

Performance: 6 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 700 g of minced meat
• 1 egg
• 1 pack of creamed onion powder (68g)
• 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
• Salt, black pepper and chopped parsley to taste
• 6 tablespoons of oil
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 1/2 cube of beef bouillon
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of wheat flour
• 1 cup of water (tea)

Method of preparation:

1. In a bowl mix the minced meat, the egg, the cream of onion powder and the breadcrumbs.
2. Season with salt, if necessary, pepper and parsley.
3. Model steaks 6.
4. In a large skillet over high heat, heat the oil and fry the steaks on both sides. Reserve.
5. In the same pan, heat the oil and saute the onion for 2 minutes.
6. Add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and extract.
7. Stir for 1 minute, dissolving the beef stock.
8. Sprinkle with flour and mix for 1 minute. Add the water, a little at a time, stirring until it thickens.
9. Sprinkle the steak and serve immediately.

Ribeye steak in butter

Buttered strip steak is perfect for those who want a simple and tasty dinner -Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 30 minutes

Performance: 4 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 800 g of rump cut into strips
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 onion in strips
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley (minced)

Method of preparation:

1. Season the meat with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a frying pan over high heat with the butter and fry the meat until golden brown.
3. Add the garlic, onion, green smelt and saute for 2 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat, transfer to a serving plate and serve.

Macaroni with white sauce in a pressure cooker

Macaroni with Pressure White Sauce – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 20 minutes

Performance: 6 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 1 cube of chicken stock
• 2 cups of water (tea)
• 2 jars of cream
• 100 g of diced cooked ham
• 1 package of frozen peas
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 500 g of penne pasta, screw or tie
• Grated Parmesan for dusting

Method of preparation:

1. Dissolve the chicken broth in the water, pour it into a pressure cooker and add the cream, ricotta, ham, peas, salt and pepper to taste.
2. Add the pasta and mix with a spoon.
3. Cover, bring to medium heat and cook for 5 minutes after starting the pressure.
4. Turn it off and let the pressure release naturally.
5. Open the pan, transfer to a serving plate, sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

Zucchini gratin with béchamel

Zucchini with bechamel – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 40 minutes

Performance: 4 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 3 courgettes, cut into 1 cm rounds
• 1 table spoon of salt
• 50 g of grated parmesan for dusting

white sauce

• 2 tablespoons of margarine
• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of wheat flour
• 1/2 liter of milk
• Salt and nutmeg to taste

Method of preparation:

1. In a pan, over medium heat, put the courgettes, cover with water, add salt and boil until al dente.
2. Reserve.
3. For the bechamel, in a pan, bring the margarine to medium heat and when it has melted, add the wheat flour and mix well until golden brown.
4. Add the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly, until a cream is formed.
5. Season with salt and nutmeg and switch off.
6. Add the sour cream and mix well.
7. Put 2 tablespoons of béchamel in a small refractory, place the courgettes and pour the remaining béchamel.
8. Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake in a preheated medium oven for 15 minutes to brown.
9. Serve immediately.

Chicken leg with creamed corn

Chicken leg with creamed corn is also a great option for a simple dinner – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 45 minutes

Performance: 6 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of wing leg
• 1 packet of onion soup powder (68g)
• 1 cup mayonnaise (tea)
• 50 g of grated parmesan

Cream of corn

• 2 cans of corn
• 1 cup of milk (tea)
• 2 tablespoons of margarine
• 1 small onion chopped
• Salt and chopped parsley to taste

Method of preparation:

1. In a bowl, mix the onion soup and mayonnaise until it forms a paste.
2. Pass the rods through the dough and place in a refractory.
3. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake in a preheated medium oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown.
4. Blend 1 can of corn with the milk and flour in a blender and set aside.
5. In a skillet heat the margarine and saute the onion and the other can of corn for 3 minutes.
6. Add the beaten corn and stir until thickened.
7. Remove from the heat, season with salt and add the chopped parsley.
8. Serve together with the roasted coxinhas.

grilled sardines

Grilled sardines – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Preparation time: 50 minutes

Performance: 4 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 500 g of peeled potatoes in slices
• Salt, black pepper and chopped parsley to taste
• 1 can of drained sardines
• 1/2 cup (tea) of milk
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce (tea)
• 100 g of grated mozzarella
• Oil for greasing

Method of preparation:

1. In a pan, over medium heat, cook the potato in boiling salted water for 10 minutes and drain.
2. Layer the potatoes in a greased refractory.
3. Spread the sardines, make another layer of potatoes and drizzle with the milk seasoned with salt and pepper.
4. Spread the tomato sauce on top and sprinkle with the cheese.
5. Immediately after, take to medium oven, preheated, for 30 minutes or until browned.
6. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately, if desired, with white rice.

quick sausage patty

Quick sausage pie is also a very tasty simple dinner – Photo: Guia da Cozinha

Time: 40 minutes

Performance: 8 portions

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of milk (tea)
• 2/3 cup oil (tea)
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 3 cups wheat flour (tea)
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• Margarine and wheat flour for greasing and flouring
• Grated Parmesan for dusting

Filling

• 3 tablespoons of oil
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 chopped onion
• 3 chopped tomatoes
• 500 g of sliced ​​sausage
• 3 tablespoons of ketchup
• 3 tablespoons of mustard
• salt to taste

Method of preparation:

1. 1. In a skillet, over medium heat, heat the oil and saute the garlic and onion for 2 minutes.
   2. Add the tomato, the sausages and sauté for 5 minutes.
   3. Then add the sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt, cook for 3 minutes and set aside.
   4. Blend the milk, oil, eggs and salt in a blender until smooth.
   5. Pour the flour and baking powder into a bowl and mix with a spoon.
   6. Roll out the dough into a 26 cm diameter buttered and floured mould.
   7. Spread the filling on top, sprinkle with Parmesan and bake in a preheated medium oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
   8. Let it cool, turn it out of the mold and serve it decorated as you like.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.