batch cook

This is Mary's classic lasagne recipe which has been perfected over the years. For the best results leave the lasagne to stand for six hours before cooking. 

Each serving provides 861 kcal, 50g protein, 56g carbohydrates (of which 17g sugars), 47g fat (of which 23g saturates), 5.5g fibre and 1.4g salt. 

Lasagne al forno

olive oil

beef mince

onions, roughly chopped

celery, diced (optional)

garlic cloves, crushed

flour

150 milliliters/¼ pint beef stock

tbsp redcurrant jelly (optional) or 1 tsp caster sugar

tomato purée

thyme

tomatoes

butter

750 milliliters/1¼ pints hot milk

Dijon mustard

Parmesan,

salt and black pepper

lasagne

75 grams/3 ounces mature cheddar, grated

This easy Mediterranean chicken recipe is a great meal to have bubbling away on the stove for a simple supper with friends or a family-friendly mid-week meal. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

This recipe is perfect for batch cooking, cook the chicken sauce and divide it into portions and pop in the freezer, it will keep in the freezer for 2 months. You can cook the potatoes while you reheat the sauce. 

Mediterranean chicken with potatoes

chicken

onion, diced

carrot, finely diced

garlic cloves, sliced

tin tomatoes

250 milliliters/9fl oz chicken stock

herbs

potatoes,

salt and pepper

This slow-cooked beef ragù is perfect for batch-cooking and because it's cooked in the oven it's low effort. Serve three tablespoons of ragù to every 100g/3½oz serving of fresh pasta.

Ragù

steak,

brown onion, finely chopped

garlic clove, crushed

celery,

tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

350 milliliters/12fl oz Chianti red wine

tomato passata

pappadelle pasta (approximately 100 grams/3½oz fresh

Parmesan cheese,

Try this simple one-pot chicken breast tagine. It uses store cupboard basics for a satisfying meal for four, or can be batch cooked for instant dinners.

Moroccan-style chicken with couscous and yoghurt

onion,

275 milliliters/10fl oz chicken stock

sea salt and black pepper

chicken breasts

cinnamon

ginger

dried apricots or prunes (or both), chopped

tbsp clear honey

coriander,

natural yoghurt, optional, to serve

This delicious recipe for vegetarian bolognese sauce from Eat Well for Less makes enough for 2 meals. Brilliant with spaghetti or in a lasagne. 

Each serving provides 296 kcal, 13g protein, 48g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 4g fat (of which 2g saturates), 8.5g fibre and 0.3g salt.

Vegetarian bolognese

onions,

carrots, chopped

tsp fresh thyme leaves, thyme

garlic cloves, finely chopped

vegetable stock

tbsp balsamic vinegar

300 grams/10½oz dried pasta

green salad, to serve

This butternut squash mac and cheese is great for batch cooking. It’s gluten free, but use regular pasta and bread if gluten isn’t an issue for you. 

Each serving provides 474 kcal, 22g protein, 77g carbohydrate (of which 9g sugars),7g fat (of which 3g saturates), 7g fibre and 1.2g salt.

Healthier macaroni cheese

vegetable oil

gluten-free and reduced-salt vegetable stock cubes

litre/1¾ water

sweet potatoes,

200 milliliters/7fl oz semi-skimmed milk

pasta

360 grams/12½oz light extra-mature cheddar, grated

tsp fine sea salt

black pepper

gluten-free garlic bread, to serve (optional)

peas,

200 grams/7 ounces frozen or tinned sweetcorn (drained weight)

mushrooms

broccoli

cherry tomatoes, halved

spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped

A thick slice of Spanish omelette, packed with chorizo, peas and potatoes, can be enjoyed hot or cold. Keep a few slices handy in the fridge for lunches or a speedy midweek tea.

Each serving provides 421 kcal, 27g protein, 17g carbohydrates (of which 6g sugars), 26g fat (of which 9g saturates), 4g fibre and 2.2g salt.

Lunchbox chorizo frittata

tsp rapeseed oil

onion, roughly chopped

red pepper, seeds removed, chopped

200 grams/7 ounces chorizo, skin removed and roughly chopped

free-range eggs

milliliters/2fl oz milk

garlic clove, finely chopped

grams/3½oz frozen peas

parsley

You can add any veg you like to this versatile stew. Just add root vegetables and squash at the beginning, green vegetables towards the end and frozen peas or sweetcorn at the last minute. Adding baked beans adds a little sweetness, plus fibre and protein.

Each serving provides 162 kcal, 7g protein, 25g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 2.5g fat (of which 0.5g saturates), 8g fibre and 0.4g salt.

Versatile vegetable stew

onion, finely diced

carrots,

garlic cloves, finely diced

tsp sweet smoked paprika

½ tsp dried thyme

potatoes, peeled, cut into 1cm/½in dice

600 milliliters/21fl oz vegetable stock

cauliflower,

200 grams/7 ounces fine green beans, cut into 2cm/¾in pieces

beans

Make this roasted veg as a side, or a time-saving base for other recipes. You can freeze it to use at a later date and ensure the family eats well midweek

Roast cauliflower & squash

cauliflower

butternut squash

tbsp oil

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss the cauliflower and squash in oil and spread it out on a large oven tray. Roast for 25 mins, or until tender. You can serve straight away as a side dish, or leave it to cool then divide into three batches and freeze each in an airtight container for up to a month. Defrost fully before using in other recipes, listed below.

A single batch (or a third) of this recipe can be used to make one of the following dishes... Cauliflower, squash, coconut & lentil curry Cauliflower, squash & orzo gratin Cauliflower & squash fritters with mint & feta dip

Nadiya's dal makes a luxury out of everyday ingredients. The garlic, chilli and spice tarka is an absolute must.

Nadiya's dal 

250 grams/9 ounces toor dal (yellow split pigeon peas)

onions, chopped

red chilli, finely chopped (seeds removed if preferred)

½ tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp chilli powder

tsp cumin

red chillies

floury potatoes, peeled and cut into 5mm dice

tomatoes, roughly chopped

½ onion, thinly sliced

red chilli, thinly sliced

tsp panch phoran

coriander leaves

Beautifully tender and succulent, baked chicken breasts cooked this way can be served hot or eaten cold for salads and sandwiches. The key is not to overcook them. 

Baked chicken breast

chicken breast

dried chilli flakes, plus pinch dried oregano (optional)

herbs garlic granules (optional)

Cajun seasoning (optional)

paprika, thyme (optional)

Much as I love a home-cooked curry, I needed a faster way of making them. So this is my speedy curry solution: lamb bhuna with a sauce that gets blitzed in a food processor before being cooked.

Each serving provides 763 kcal, 48g protein, 48g carbohydrate (of which 5g sugars), 41g fat (of which 13g saturates), 6g fibre and 3.3g salt. 


Lamb bhuna

100 milliliters/3½fl oz olive oil

salt

garlic cloves,

root

green pepper, seeds removed, roughly chopped

red chillies,

curry powder

800 grams/1lb 12 ounces boneless diced lamb leg

grams/½oz fresh coriander, chopped

200 grams/7 ounces self-raising flour,

tbsp garlic granules

tsp caster sugar

This juicy beetroot burger is topped with hummus and avocado with a halloumi and sweet potato salad. But the burgers are great on their own for a healthy dinner, too.

Beetroot veggie burgers

red onion, finely chopped

beetroots,

courgette, grated

grams/3½oz porridge oats

tin chickpeas, drained

tbsp tahini

spring onions, thinly sliced

tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander

extra virgin olive oil,

sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm/½in-thick rounds

halloumi,

garlic cloves, thinly sliced

red chillies, thinly sliced

salad leaves

basil,

lime, juice only

tbsp extra virgin olive oil

wholewheat sourdough buns, halved

hummus

avocados, sliced

½ red cabbage, shredded

Try this smoky chipotle bean stew for a satisfying veggie dinner. Dr Rupy's recipe is great served with tortilla chips and his quick pickles, and only costs around 50p per portion to make. 

Each serving provides 404 kcal, 18g protein, 51g carbohydrate (of which 12g sugars), 13g fat (of which 5.5g saturates), 4g fibre and 1.1g salt. 

Chipotle pinto bean stew

250 grams/9 ounces dried pinto beans

olive oil,

onions, finely chopped

celery sticks, finely chopped

tbsp chipotle paste (approx. 20 grams/¾oz)

grams/1 tomato purée

tin chopped tomatoes

vegetable stock cube

200 grams/7 ounces frozen sweetcorn (or tinned sweetcorn, drained)

grams/1¾oz pickled jalapeño chillies, drained (optional)

150 milliliters/5fl oz soured cream

paprika

wholemeal flour tortilla wraps,

Try this smoky chipotle bean stew for a satisfying veggie dinner.

A basic mince recipe made in bulk for batch cooking and then used to make easy tacos. It’s also great in burritos, cottage pies and chilli.

Top 23 batch cook recipes from across the web

The most viewed batch cook recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Lasagne al forno

Mediterranean chicken with potatoes

Ragù

Moroccan-style chicken with couscou...

Vegetarian bolognese

Healthier macaroni cheese

Lunchbox chorizo frittata

Versatile vegetable stew

Roast cauliflower & squash

Nadiya's dal

Baked chicken breast

Lamb bhuna

Beetroot veggie burgers

Chipotle pinto bean stew

Midweek tacos using batch-cooked mi...

Keema with peas

Lentil and bacon soup

Easy vegetable curry

One-sheet wonder: Delicata Squash a...

Cheat’s beetroot biriyani

Spiced lamb meatball stew

Green tomato chutney

Thai Red Curry Lentils

Top 23 batch cook recipes from across the web

The most viewed batch cook recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Lasagne al forno

Mediterranean chicken with potatoes

Ragù

Moroccan-style chicken with couscou...

Vegetarian bolognese

Healthier macaroni cheese

Lunchbox chorizo frittata

Versatile vegetable stew

Roast cauliflower & squash

Nadiya's dal

Baked chicken breast

Lamb bhuna

Beetroot veggie burgers

Chipotle pinto bean stew

Midweek tacos using batch-cooked mi...

Keema with peas

Lentil and bacon soup

Easy vegetable curry

One-sheet wonder: Delicata Squash a...

Cheat’s beetroot biriyani

Spiced lamb meatball stew

Green tomato chutney

Thai Red Curry Lentils

The most viewed batch cook recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine