It’s Friday night – the school week is done, work is (hopefully) finished, and the weekend has arrived. But if you’re anything like us, by this point in the week, the last thing you want to do is tackle a mountain of pots or prep a complicated meal.
So here’s a simple, satisfying, and budget-friendly dinner idea that’s perfect for a Friday night with the family – using ingredients you can grab from local shops or have ready in your cupboard.
One-Tray Cheesy Nacho Bake
A quick, crowd-pleasing dinner that doubles as a snacky, pick-and-share treat. It’s like a pub night at home – minus the queue at the bar.
You’ll need:
- 1 bag of tortilla chips (plain or lightly salted)
- 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
- 1 tin of kidney beans (or baked beans if that’s what you’ve got!)
- 1 packet of beef mince or plant-based alternative
- 1 onion (optional)
- Grated cheddar or a mix of cheeses
- Sour cream, guacamole, or salsa to serve (optional but delicious)
How to make it:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan).
- Brown the mince in a pan with diced onion. Add the tomatoes and beans, season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin or paprika if you have it.
- In a large ovenproof dish, layer tortilla chips and spoon over the hot mince mixture.
- Top generously with cheese and pop it in the oven for 10–15 minutes until bubbling and golden.
- Serve with dips and a green salad, or just let everyone tuck in straight from the dish. No judgement here!
Shopping in Kempsey?
Grab your bits from Kempsey Spar, Post Office store, or head into St Peter’s Tesco just a short drive away. Support local if you can – and if you’re lucky enough to have fresh veggies or herbs from your own garden, even better!
Bonus Tip for the Grown-Ups
Pair it with a chilled bottle of cider from Bewdley Brewery or a local ale from Tesco St. Peters (they do off-sales!). Or pop a couple of glasses of squash for the kids and call it a mini fiesta.
Keep dinner fun, easy, and relaxed – it’s Friday, after all.
Enjoy your evening, Kempsey. Let us know your favourite easy meals and we’ll feature them in a future post!
