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

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)

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

Pollo Chilindrón 
(Spanish chicken with tomatoes and peppers)

Moqueca 
(Brazilian fish and coconut milk stew)
Moqueca Brazilian fish and coconut milk stew

Moqueca 
(Brazilian fish and coconut milk stew)

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

Oyakodon 
(Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

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)

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

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

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

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans 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)

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)
Bowl of steaming bulgogi

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)

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

Dan Chaofan 
(Taiwanese egg fried rice)

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

Bubble and Squeak 
(English fried potatoes and cabbage)

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

Muesli 
(Swiss oats and fruit breakfast)

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)

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

Horiatiki Salata 
(Greek tomato, cucumber and olive salad)

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

Migas 
(Portuguese, Spanish leftover bread dish)

Kaeng Khiao Wan Kung 
(Thai shrimp in sweet green curry sauce)
Bowl of Thai shrimp green curry

Kaeng Khiao Wan Kung 
(Thai shrimp in sweet green curry sauce)

Gai Pad Grapow 
(Thai spicy chicken and basil stir fry)
Plate of Thai basil chicken over rice

Gai Pad Grapow 
(Thai spicy chicken and basil stir fry)

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

Fettuccine Alfredo 
(Italian pasta tossed with butter and cheese)

Tabouli 
(Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad)
Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad on a plate

Tabouli 
(Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad)

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

Carne Asada 
(Central American grilled steak)

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

Blaff 
(Caribbean lime-poached fish)

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)

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

Su Udon 
(Japanese noodles in broth)

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

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)

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)

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

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)

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

Spaghetti Carbonara 
(Italian pasta with bacon and eggs)

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

Matoke 
(Ugandan beef and plantain stew)

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)

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)

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

Kuku Paka 
(Kenyan chicken in coconut curry sauce)

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

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

Kålpudding 
(Swedish caramelized cabbage meatloaf)
A casserole dish with baked kalpudding

Kålpudding 
(Swedish caramelized cabbage meatloaf)

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)

Pollo en Fricasé 
(Caribbean chicken fricassee)
Caribbean chicken fricassee

Pollo en Fricasé 
(Caribbean chicken fricassee)

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)

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

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

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)

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

Quiche Lorraine 
(French bacon and egg tart)

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

Gazpacho 
(Spanish chilled tomato-cucumber soup)

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

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

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

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

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