You say you don't have time to cook in the evening, so you'd rather order in because it'll be quicker? Try doing the maths. A delivery turns up in 40 minutes. Every dinner on this list is ready in under 25, and you know exactly what you're eating: calories and protein are listed for each one.
Healthy dinners in under 25 minutes
| Recipe | kcal | Protein | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crispy wholemeal rolls with Prague ham, chorizo and tomatoes | 489 | 28 g P | 5 min |
| Burrata with tomatoes, olives and toasted wholemeal bread | 488 | 22 g P | 8 min |
| Tortilla pizza in a pan | 429 | 30 g P | 10 min |
| Salmon spread with dill and sun-dried tomatoes | 559 | 35 g P | 10 min |
| Light tuna mousse with white beans on bread | 445 | 33 g P | 10 min |
| Smoked salmon with egg and mustard spread on a multigrain kaiser roll | 399 | 31 g P | 10 min |
| Smoked salmon tartare | 370 | 26 g P | 10 min |
| Heavenly eggs with evening bread | 412 | 26 g P | 10 min |
| Hearty beetroot spread with cream cheese and lemon | 208 | 22 g P | 10 min |
| Caprese plate with mozzarella and sourdough bread | 515 | 41 g P | 13 min |
| Bulgur salad with feta and grapes | 631 | 46 g P | 15 min |
| Egg quesadilla | 514 | 39 g P | 15 min |
| Greek salad in a jar with chicken and couscous | 510 | 32 g P | 15 min |
| Turkish eggs à la tzatziki | 423 | 31 g P | 15 min |
| Egg bread with halloumi and cottage cheese spread | 436 | 28 g P | 15 min |
A dinner that doesn't ruin the whole day
Evening is when decisions go worst. Tiredness, hunger and the fridge decide for you. That's why dinners in our plans tend to be lighter than lunches, around 350 to 500 kcal with a decent dose of protein, so you go to bed neither hungry nor stuffed. Calories are information, not a reproach: they help you pick a meal that fits the rest of your day.
By the way, evening is exactly when the cook once, eat twice system pays off most: an extra portion of tonight's dinner is tomorrow's lunch for free.
The Thursday email that plans your next week
Every Thursday we'll send you a sample meal plan for the week ahead, one recipe under the microscope and a tip on which foods are on offer right now.
When even 25 minutes is too much
There are evenings when you can't manage even that. That's when no-cook food helps: spreads, salads with ready-cooked protein, cottage cheese toast. The list includes meals under 15 minutes too; sort by time and pick by taste. We've gathered salmon spreads and quick salmon main courses in our salmon recipes. And when you want a hot one-pot dinner, red lentil dhal is ready in 35 minutes and mostly cooks itself.
Frequently asked questions
What should I have for dinner when I'm trying to lose weight?
A lighter meal with protein: a tuna salad, flatbreads with a dip, a spread with bread. You don't need to eat a tiny dinner; what matters is the whole day. The sample meal plan shows how to put it together.
How late should I eat dinner?
There's no universal rule. In practice, it helps to have dinner 2 to 3 hours before bed, so you don't go to sleep on a full stomach or a hungry one.
What should I make for dinner for the whole family?
One-pan meals and flatbreads are a safe bet: everyone can adjust their own side. The recipes on the list are written per portion, so you just multiply them.
Is it bad to skip dinner?
Now and then, it's no big deal. But if you skip it regularly and then raid the fridge at night, your body is just paying back the deficit from the evening. A light dinner beats no dinner.
Get time and taste back in your week
You get your meal plan, recipes and shopping list ready-made. All that's left for you is the cooking.
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