Quick and Easy

A plate of chicken tostadas
Image by Takeaway

Some (most?) days you’re pressed for time, and you just need to get a meal on the table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Turn to the wider world for a cornucopia of options!

The following recipes are relatively straightforward and simple to prepare. And for the most part, they will allow you to get dinner on the table in around an hour or less. Keep in mind that a few do call for time to marinate meat, poultry or fish or to soak dried beans. Start marinating or soaking in the morning, and things will come together quickly for dinner that night.

International quick and easy recipes

Su Udon 
(Japanese noodles in broth)
Bowl of udon noodles in broth with chopsticks

Su Udon 
(Japanese noodles in broth)

Chilaquiles 
(Mexican fried tortillas in sauce)
Platter with chilaquiles, garnished with crema

Chilaquiles 
(Mexican fried tortillas in sauce)

Tostadas de Pollo 
(Mexican fried tortillas with chicken)
A plate of chicken tostadas

Tostadas de Pollo 
(Mexican fried tortillas with chicken)

Pancit Bihon 
(Filipino stir-fried rice noodles with meat and vegetables)
A plate of pancit bihon rice noodles

Pancit Bihon 
(Filipino stir-fried rice noodles with meat and vegetables)

Carne Asada 
(Central American grilled steak)
Carne asada taco on paper plate

Carne Asada 
(Central American grilled steak)

Oyakodon 
(Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)
Oyako Don (Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

Oyakodon 
(Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)
Bowl of Japanese New Year soba noodles

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)

Matoke 
(Ugandan beef and plantain stew)
Ugandan beef and plantain stew

Matoke 
(Ugandan beef and plantain stew)

Truchas a la Navarra 
(Spanish, Basque ham-stuffed trout)
Two fried trout on a plate with lemon and serrano ham

Truchas a la Navarra 
(Spanish, Basque ham-stuffed trout)

Blaff 
(Caribbean lime-poached fish)
Limes on the three

Blaff 
(Caribbean lime-poached fish)

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)
Cheeseburger with tomatoes, lettuce and onion wrapped in paper

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)

Shashlik 
(Central Asian grilled skewered lamb)
Shashlike lamb skewers on the grill

Shashlik 
(Central Asian grilled skewered lamb)

Gai Pad Yod Khao Pod 
(Thai chicken with baby corn)
Baby sweetcorn on a cutting board

Gai Pad Yod Khao Pod 
(Thai chicken with baby corn)

Mae-un Dak Gui 
(Korean hot and spicy grilled chicken)
Korean hot and spicy grilled chicken

Mae-un Dak Gui 
(Korean hot and spicy grilled chicken)

Pollo Chilindrón 
(Spanish chicken with tomatoes and peppers)
Pollo chilindron Spanish chicken with peppers

Pollo Chilindrón 
(Spanish chicken with tomatoes and peppers)

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)
Bowl of steaming bulgogi

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)
Two Sonoran hot dogs

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)

Moules Marinières 
(French, Belgian, Dutch mussels in white wine sauce)
Bowls of French mussels in white wine sauce

Moules Marinières 
(French, Belgian, Dutch mussels in white wine sauce)

Paprikás Csirke 
(Hungarian chicken paprikash)
Paprikas csirke Hungarian paprika chicken

Paprikás Csirke 
(Hungarian chicken paprikash)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)
Falafel (Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)
Baleada on a plate

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Char Kway Teow 
(Malaysian, Singaporean stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp)
Serving of char kway teow on a plate

Char Kway Teow 
(Malaysian, Singaporean stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp)

Spaghetti Carbonara 
(Italian pasta with bacon and eggs)
Plate of spaghetti carbonara

Spaghetti Carbonara 
(Italian pasta with bacon and eggs)

Gazpacho 
(Spanish chilled tomato-cucumber soup)
Woman enjoying a bowl of gazpacho

Gazpacho 
(Spanish chilled tomato-cucumber soup)

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)
Two sloppy Joe sandwiches

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)

Encebollado Ecuatoriano 
(Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)
Encebollado Ecuatoriano (Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)

Encebollado Ecuatoriano 
(Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)

Salade Niçoise 
(French Provençale tuna and vegetable salad)
French Provençal tuna and vegetable salad

Salade Niçoise 
(French Provençale tuna and vegetable salad)

Quiche Lorraine 
(French bacon and egg tart)
Quiche lorraine with a slice missing

Quiche Lorraine 
(French bacon and egg tart)

Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)
Zaru Soba (Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Pollo en Fricasé 
(Caribbean chicken fricassee)
Caribbean chicken fricassee

Pollo en Fricasé 
(Caribbean chicken fricassee)

Kuku Paka 
(Kenyan chicken in coconut curry sauce)
Pot of kuku paka Kenyan curried chicken stew

Kuku Paka 
(Kenyan chicken in coconut curry sauce)

Liang Mian 
(Chinese cold sesame noodles)
Plate of Chinese sesame noodles

Liang Mian 
(Chinese cold sesame noodles)

Ma Yi Shang Shu – Ants Climbing a Tree 
(Chinese cellophane noodles with ground pork)
Serving of ants climing trees

Ma Yi Shang Shu – Ants Climbing a Tree 
(Chinese cellophane noodles with ground pork)

Bubble and Squeak 
(English fried potatoes and cabbage)
Skillet with bubble and squeak

Bubble and Squeak 
(English fried potatoes and cabbage)

Maine Lobster Rolls 
(American, New England lobster salad sandwiches)
Lobster roll sandwich

Maine Lobster Rolls 
(American, New England lobster salad sandwiches)

Zhajiang Mian 
(Chinese pork and noodles in brown bean sauce)
Zhajiang Mian (Chinese pork and noodles in brown bean sauce)

Zhajiang Mian 
(Chinese pork and noodles in brown bean sauce)

Pollo Encebollado 
(Central American chicken simmered with onions)
Yellow onions

Pollo Encebollado 
(Central American chicken simmered with onions)

Shawarma 
(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)
Shawarma vendor slicing for a sandwich

Shawarma 
(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)
Fesenjan (Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

Frittata 
(Italian open-faced omelet)
A slice of frittata cut from the rest

Frittata 
(Italian open-faced omelet)

Kushari 
(Egyptian pasta, rice and lentils with tomato sauce)
Egyptian kushari shop

Kushari 
(Egyptian pasta, rice and lentils with tomato sauce)

Garides me Feta 
(Greek shrimp baked with tomatoes and feta)
Bowl with garides me feta Greek shrimp dish

Garides me Feta 
(Greek shrimp baked with tomatoes and feta)

Xihongshi Jiang Xia 
(Chinese stir-fried shrimp in tomato sauce)
Chinese shrimp in tomato sauce

Xihongshi Jiang Xia 
(Chinese stir-fried shrimp in tomato sauce)

Chakchouka 
(North African eggs poached in a pepper ragout)
Single serving of chakchouka with spoon

Chakchouka 
(North African eggs poached in a pepper ragout)

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)
Platter of Hawaiian kalbi beef ribs

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)

1 2

Whats4eats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.