Tray-bakes are a gift for busy folk. Minimal preparation, a warming, scrumptious meal and limited cleaning required on the other side: yep, we've got your winter sorted. So, dust off your trusty baking tray and enjoy the wonders of warm winter meals!
Winner winner, chicken dinner
French doesn't have to mean complex, and this is a great example. Toss everything in your baking tray and a great winter meal is on its way.
Can the Internet settle this issue? Source: Benito Martin
It's hard to believe that something that looks, and tastes, so good can take only 10 minutes to prepare. Coat the chicken and haloumi with the herbs, place in a tray, drizzle some lemon and olive oil, bake and done. No, seriously. That's it!
Source: Alan Benson
Coated with delicious Indian spices, this bake will fill you up and warm you up! 15 minutes prep makes it the perfect dish to put together after a long day.
Source: Sharyn Cairns
Got 5 minutes? You've got yourself a dinner! This one couldn't be easier to prepare, just shake everything up in a container the night before, leave in the fridge, and tomorrow's meal just needs to be whacked in the oven!
Source: Feast Magazine
Don't worry, that last one can be left out if you're on that side of the debate! This one really goes to show that a few simple ingredients can do wonderful things. Taking just 15 minutes out of your day, it's the perfect weeknight fix.
Source: Bentio Martin
Baked chicken is a winter staple. Keeping the seasoning simple yet delicious, the smell will get you wishing you'd started cooking it earlier!
Baked Spanish paprika chicken with tomatoes Source: Brett Stevens
More chicken bakes
Ricotta-stuffed chicken with tomato and basil
Mix it up
So easy, yet so impressive. This is definitely one to pop on the table and serve this one straight from the pan.
Source: Alan Benson
If the colour of this one is impressing you, wait until you smell and taste it. What's better, for all that this dish packs, it'll only set you back 20 minutes. Winter nights don't sound too bad now, do they?!
Flamenco eggs (huevos a la flamenco) Source: BBC Books / James Murphy
Yes, gnocchi. On a list of easy meals. But this is a bit different, Roman gnocchi is much easier than the more common type from further north. Very easy to put together, just send it oven-bound when the hunger kicks in.
Source: Emiko Davies
Quite possibly the ultimate comfort food, this easy bake has stood a long test of time. Serve hot from the oven and you'll be feeling warm in no time.
Source: Michele Curtis
Keep on casserole-ing'
Chicken casserole Vallée d'Auge
Pasta fare
Swapping the white sauce for sour cream makes this mac 'n' cheese just as tasty (if not more so) and easier to prepare. No food scraps tonight!
Speck and sour cream macaroni cheese Source: Alan Benson
A hearty bake with soft pumpkin and that unmistakable taste of pine nuts. Perfect for a chilly winters night in.
Source: Linda Xiao
More pasta
Ricotta and spinach pasta bake
Don't forget dessert
19. Classic baked custard with macerated prunes
Leave room for dessert without having to leave hours of your time. Get the prunes ready the day before (easily done) and thank yourself the next night.
Source: Alan Benson
Simple and bursting with flavour, this is the perfect sweet way to warm up. Just because it's a weeknight, doesn't mean you can't enjoy your dessert!
Recipe from Deliciously Ella by Ella Woodword. Hodder & Stoughton Publishers 2015. Photograph © Clare Winfield. Source: Clare Winfield
Baked rhubarb is the unofficial mascot of winter desserts. Taking only 25 minutes of your weeknight time, this dish will warm you up on the coolest of cool nights.
Source: Alan Benson
