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

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)

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

Su Udon 
(Japanese noodles in broth)

Aloo Gobi 
(Indian potato and cauliflower curry)
A small bowl of aloo gobi

Aloo Gobi 
(Indian potato and cauliflower curry)

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

Liang Mian 
(Chinese cold sesame noodles)

Orecchiette con Broccoli 
(Italian ear-shaped pasta with broccoli)
Bowl of orecchiette con broccoli

Orecchiette con Broccoli 
(Italian ear-shaped pasta with broccoli)

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

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)

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

Frittata 
(Italian open-faced omelet)

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)

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

Shawarma 
(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)

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)

Muesli 
(Swiss oats and fruit breakfast)
Pouring muesli into a bowl

Muesli 
(Swiss oats and fruit breakfast)

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

Pollo Encebollado 
(Central American chicken simmered with onions)

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

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

Camarões Piri-Piri 
(Mozambican, Angolan shrimp in fiery red pepper sauce)
Piri-piri peppers

Camarões Piri-Piri 
(Mozambican, Angolan shrimp in fiery red pepper sauce)

Łosoś Pieczony z Koperkiem 
(Polish baked salmon with dill)
Polish baked salmon with dill and lemon slices on a plate

Łosoś Pieczony z Koperkiem 
(Polish baked salmon with dill)

Vatapá 
(Brazilian seafood stew with coconut milk)
Vatapa Brazilian seafood stew

Vatapá 
(Brazilian seafood stew with coconut milk)

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

Pollo Chilindrón 
(Spanish chicken with tomatoes and peppers)

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)

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

Quiche Lorraine 
(French bacon and egg tart)

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

Fesenjan 
(Persian chicken in pomegranate-walnut sauce)

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)

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

Oyakodon 
(Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

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

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

Sopa de Ajo 
(Spanish garlic and bread soup)
Bowl of sopa de ajo on a table with sunglasses and napkin

Sopa de Ajo 
(Spanish garlic and bread soup)

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

Encebollado Ecuatoriano 
(Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)

Fettuccine Alfredo 
(Italian pasta tossed with butter and cheese)
Plate of fettuccine alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo 
(Italian pasta tossed with butter and cheese)

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)

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

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

Dan Chaofan 
(Taiwanese egg fried rice)
Dan chaofan fried rice on a plate

Dan Chaofan 
(Taiwanese egg fried rice)

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

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Migas 
(Portuguese, Spanish leftover bread dish)
A pan of migas murcianas

Migas 
(Portuguese, Spanish leftover bread dish)

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

Matoke 
(Ugandan beef and plantain stew)

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

Paprikás Csirke 
(Hungarian chicken paprikash)

Pasta alla Puttanesca 
(Italian pasta with tomatoes, olives and capers)
Bowl of pasta puttanesca

Pasta alla Puttanesca 
(Italian pasta with tomatoes, olives and capers)

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

Bubble and Squeak 
(English fried potatoes and cabbage)

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

Salade Niçoise 
(French Provençale tuna and vegetable salad)

Pollo en Fricasé 
(Caribbean chicken fricassee)
Caribbean chicken fricassee

Pollo en Fricasé 
(Caribbean chicken fricassee)

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

Chakchouka 
(North African eggs poached in a pepper ragout)

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

Kuku Paka 
(Kenyan chicken in coconut curry sauce)

Horiatiki Salata 
(Greek tomato, cucumber and olive salad)
Tasty Greek salad in a bowl

Horiatiki Salata 
(Greek tomato, cucumber and olive salad)

Cedar Plank Salmon 
(Canadian salmon grill-roasted on aromatic wood)
Salmon on cedar planks cooking on a grill

Cedar Plank Salmon 
(Canadian salmon grill-roasted on aromatic wood)

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)
Bowl of steaming bulgogi

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)

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)

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

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

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