We love the expertly curated menus of city wine bars and top-tier steakhouses as much as anyone (maybe more). But some nights call for a simple comfort meal whipped up in 20 minutes, followed by a night rotting on the couch. Bliss.
We teamed up with Bird’s Eye and their deliciously convenient Golden Crunch range—now including garlic bread chips—to ask our team for their go-to lazy dinner hacks. So next time you're craving a one-pot wonder, you know exactly what to do.
Be warned: you might be heading straight to the supermarket tonight.
Fake Ramen
After work, our Commercial Director Lei opts for something quick and nutritious. "My go-to is lazy fake ramen. I use a packet ramen, frozen dumplings and soft-boiled eggs. Cook it, then drizzle with some chilli oil. If I have time to grab some bok choy or similar on the way home, I’ll add it in for some greens," she says.
Pizza Chicken
Executive Assistant and Project Manager Ellie puts a twist on a classic with what she's dubbed the "pizza chicken". A no-fuss fancy parmigiana, Ellie's quick tip is to "flatten a chicken breast as a base and top it with pizza toppings and whack it in the oven for 20 minutes." Who needs a pub feed with that level of creativity?
Garlic Bread Chip Gyros
Our Perth Editor Danielle's weeknight go-to is a garlic bread chip gyros. "Chuck your chips and some chicken in the air fryer and pop in a wrap with some tomato, cucumber, feta, and some shop-bought tzatziki," she says. No-fuss fakeaway in minutes.
Tuna And Rice Bowls
For our Junior Commercial Content Producer, Maisie, the secret to a quick feed is all in the art of grabbing whatever's in the fridge, throwing it in a bowl, and drowning it in mayo. "Tuna, rice, cuc, chilli oil, avo and a whole lotta Japanese mayo, and a pack of seaweed if I'm feeling bouj," she says.
Lazy Fish Tacos
Another fan of one-bowl wonders, SEO Specialist Amy loves a low-effort taco. "I'll throw some battered fish in the air fryer and then chuck my cabbage, corn, mayo, and whatever I've got into one bowl." This one does technically require a little assembly—you’ll need to pile the mix and fish into a taco to bring it all together.
Seafood Tortillas
With a family to feed, Chief Commercial Officer Jacqui opts for easy-to-assemble tortillas. "I just pop some Bird's Eye battered whiting in the air fryer. Then top with pickled red cabbage, guac, fresh lime, coriander, all in a mini tortilla," she says. "The kids j’adore."
Anything Pickled
Client Services Manager Maddy is well and truly in her pickle era. "Kimchi, giardiniera, sauerkraut," she says. "So good for your gut, and you don't have to touch a single pan."
"I’m also really enjoying poaching chicken. I put a pot of water on with bay leaves, peppercorns, star anise and bring it to a boil. Once it boils, I turn off the heat, drop the chicken in, pop a lid on and walk away for 20 minutes. Perfectly poached juicy chicken every time!"
Vodka Pasta
For our Commercial Video Manager Bestie, lazy dinners call for a fan-favourite Italian dish. "Super cruisy voddy pasta, all up it takes about 15 minutes," she says. "Top with fennel seeds and grana padano for an extra fancy kick."
Okonomiyaki
When Account Manager Ana needs a fridge cleanout, she whips up her twist on Japanese savoury pancakes. "Whatever veg and meat I have in the fridge, I chuck it into egg batter and top with some mayo and chilli oil or whatever condiments I can find. It looks messy, but it's SO yum," she says.
Cheeseburger Salad Bowls
Our resident meal prep queen and Sales Manager, Bon, loves a cheeseburger salad bowl for a weeknight dinner. "I pre-cook my handmade chips and make bulk burger sauce ahead of time, so all you have to do is cook mince and add lettuce—and you've got a cheeseburger bowl! Also great to hit your protein!"
Condiments And Donut Desserts
Design Lead Eric is all about adding an extra kick. "Condiments always add flair to any dish (lazy or not). My current faves are crunchy chilli oil and chilli honey," he says.
He's also got that post-dinner sweet treat sorted. "Warm up cinnamon donuts in a pan with a scoop of ice cream," he says. "The cinnamon and sugar caramelise and create a crispy outer layer."
Sometimes the best dinners really are the ones you can pull straight out of the freezer. For quick and easy feeds and treat night bites, try the new Bird’s Eye Garlic Bread Chips in the Golden Crunch range—but be quick, they’re only here for a limited time.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Bird’s Eye and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image Credit: Urban List.