Easy Meals to Make For Others

Hi everyone! It’s time to link up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne and Sarah for the June edition of ‘Share Our Lives’. Today we are sharing some easy meals to make for others. I love food — talking about food, dreaming about food and of course, eating all the food! So sharing some easy meal ideas we can whip up for me I mean others, is going to be fun and helpful.

I’ve made a list of meals I love to make for friends and family. But they’re not just for gatherings. Many of these dishes are perfect to take to someone who is feeling under the weather, celebrating a new addition to the family or is going through a rough patch and could use a little pick me up. After all, food isn’t just about fueling our bodies; it’s about nourishing the soul too!

Easy Meals to Make For Others

Meals For a Crowd

Our family gets together for what we affectionately call ‘Cousin Connect’ dinner on the first Saturday of every month. We take turns hosting, and the host is responsible for preparing the mains. So, when it’s my turn, I go for dishes that are firstly, very easy to make, can be made ahead of time, hearty and satisfying as well as crowd-pleasing! With 13 of us in total, we sure know how to eat like a crowd!

For starters, one of my go-to dishes is lasagna. Yum, you can’t go wrong with a big tray of lasagna—layers of lasagna noodles and a rich tomato-based sauce, creamy ricotta, and lots of melty, cheesy goodness! It’s such a timeless classic and best of all, you can make it ahead of time.

I also love that I can customise it. Lasagna doesn’t always have to be made with beef! You can make it with chicken or turkey mince or make a vegetarian version loaded with lots of roasted vegetables.

Another easy meal I like to make for our family get-togethers is a big bowl of pasta.

Fall-apart roasted pork leg is a meal that goes a long way. You can enjoy it with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes, or rice. And if you happen to have leftovers, you can use the tender pork to fill bread rolls and top them with tangy coleslaw. It’s a great versatile meal to make for others!

Mediterranean chicken is also a big winner and incredibly easy to make.

Greek-style chicken, featuring chicken thigh cutlets marinated in Greek yogurt, garlic, oregano, lemon, and salt and pepper. So good!

For sides, a big colourful healthy salad is always a hit with everyone!

A few of my crowd-pleasing meals seem to be either Italian or Greek-inspired! Maybe because these cultures are champions at hosting big fun family gatherings.

Sweets

Brownies are always popular and a perfect addition to any list of easy meals to make for others. They are rich, fudgy and chocolatey and in my opinion, they are so much more delicious than chocolate cake! Brownies are a great dessert option or you can make a batch to give as a gift. I use this packet mix and jazz up the brownies by adding extra chocolate chips or walnuts for extra crunch.

Peanut Butter M&M cookies are perfect for sharing over a cup of coffee or tea with a friend.

Italian trifles are also great for any occasion and make a tempting dessert to take to a dinner party, potluck, or any gathering.

Hearty Meals

Hearty meals such as beef stew, chicken casseroles, stroganoff, butter chicken, and chilli con carne are not only easy to make and delicious but also perfect for sharing. They reheat well, making them convenient for anyone who could use a helping hand. Plus, they’re so tasty, that they’re bound to brighten up anyone’s day!

Soup

Chicken soup for the sick, pumpkin soup for the soul and minestrone for the hungry!

Fun Meals

Whenever I think of a fun Friday night meal, I immediately think – pizza! I love using pita bread because it’s a delicious and easy base for everyone’s favourite toppings.

Burgers are also fun as well as filling!

The Big Breakfast

Weekends are perfect for big family breakfasts. I don’t eat breakfast during the working week because I’m never hungry before 10 am. After 10, I want to eat everything! So, some weekends, I’ll make a big breakfast for the family that includes scrambled eggs, bacon, chipolatas, tomato, mushrooms, and hash browns.

Pancakes with maple syrup are also a favourite!

My crunchy granola is a big hit with my family and makes a great food gift. You can put it in a nice jar and add a ribbon for a fun, thoughtful touch!