Lindsay Guscott

From patty melts to noodles, ground meat is the unsung hero of weeknight cooking for a reason.

This easy recipe is a riff on a Chinese dish from Shaanxi province. While it’s typically served with hand-pulled noodles, dried knife-cut ones—often found in Asian grocery stores—are also delicious.

This soup is for anyone who can’t decide between classic chicken noodle and Italian wedding soup. Ground meat speeds up the process without compromising on flavour.

Serve lettuce wraps family-style, and let everyone customize to their liking. If you’re not avoiding meat, this recipe also works just as well with ground pork.

We gave the classic patty melt a spicy spin. Not only do the harissa onions add a ton of flavour, they also help cut through the fat with a punch of acidity.

Don’t throw out ramen seasoning packets! There are plenty of ways to put those little flavour bombs to use without noodles.

Whether you’re hosting game night or just clearing out the fridge, there is no better canvas than a plate of nachos.

Not only are these vegan nachos seriously delicious, but they also come together in a flash, making them a no-brainer choice for weeknight dinners.—Lindsay Guscott