The way we picture family dinners around the table isn’t always how they end up. What we picture: A calm, nice time to laugh and talk about our day together. What actually happens: At least one kid complains about the meal, a sibling fight breaks out about who got more dessert and parents end up feeling resentful that they spent so much time cooking.

Enter easy, low-prep meals. A complete sanity-saver, so you have more time to connect with your kiddos in a positive way, and zero frustration about time spent in the kitchen (because you’ll barely be in there at all).

These simple weeknight meals are here to rescue you from all your dinner dilemmas.

The three-ingredient dinner

Potatoes are always a family favourite, and with a zingy, tangy, and slightly hot spice mix like National Chaat Masala, and some chickpeas, you can turn them into a flavourful meal that takes less than 20 minutes to make and guarantees some feel-good family time around the table.

The easiest-ever curry night

Fry up an onion and some veg, add some some lentils and National Shahi Daal Recipe Mix and prepare for the simplest spicy and flavourful lentil curry you’ve ever made. Add some naan bread for the pickiest eaters at the table and you have yourself a family meal without a fight.

Just-right veggies and rice

When in doubt, make a pot of rice, add some flavourful National Vegetable Bombay Biryani Recipe Mix and mix in some veggies too. The result: Fluffy and flavourful layers of vegetables and rice. Serve with yogurt and mint to elevate and make a simple meal you won’t soon forget.

A deep-fried side dish

Deep-fried dumplings with a yogurt dip? Sign us up! This delicious, flavourful snack is super kid-friendly (hello, yogurt dip!) All you need is National Dahi Bara Batter Mix, oil and yogurt and you’ll have fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dumplings, coated in a simple creamy yogurt, and topped with a classic chutney.

Kid-friendly fritters

If you have a picky eater, you’ll love that these fritters (made with lentil flour) give them a chance to try something new. National ChattPata Pakora Batter mix makes it easy to whip them up (and if your kids don’t eat them, you definitely will!)

Desserts

A berry-licious custard

Finish your family meal with a dessert that takes no time at all to whip up. Combine milk, sugar and National Strawberry Custard Powder for a strawberry-flavoured sweet treat that everyone in the family will love.

Pistachio pudding

It’s time to up your pudding game with a fun new flavour. Grab your favourite dairy or plant-based milk and some National Pista Kheer Mix and you’ll be treated to the tastiest pistachio pudding you’ve ever had.

Whichever of these recipes you choose, you’ll be glad you spent less time in the kitchen and more time with the ones you love. And after you try just one, you’re going to want to try them all.