7 WEEKNIGHT DINNERS THAT START WITH YOUR COSTACK SPICE RACK

There are two kinds of weeknight cooks. The kind who stares into the fridge at 6:30pm with the hollow expression of someone who has truly given up on life, and the kind who already knows that whatever is in there, she can make it taste incredible in under 40 minutes. The difference between those two women is almost always the spice rack. Here are seven dinners I come back to every single week, all of them built on the Costack range at costack.uk. New look on the jars this month, same exact flavour, and these recipes depend on that.

Monday: Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Costack Chicken & Turkey Seasoning

This is my Monday saviour and I will not apologize for how simple it is. Take bone-in chicken thighs, coat generously with Costack Chicken and Turkey Seasoning, drizzle with oil, and roast at 200°C for 35-40 minutes. That's it. The blend is specifically formulated for poultry, it has depth that builds in the oven rather than burning off, so by the time the skin is crisp, the whole dish tastes properly cooked, not just seasoned.

Serve with whatever vegetables you have, I throw them in the same tray for the last 20 minutes. Roasted peppers, courgettes, red onion. One tray, one seasoning, one washing up.

✦ PRO TIP: Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning so it actually crisps. Wet skin = steamed, not roasted.

Tuesday: Jollof-Inspired Rice in 25 Minutes

The Costack Jollof Rice Seasoning is specifically built to give you that smoky, deeply savoury jollof flavour without spending Sunday afternoon over a pot. Fry onion and tomato paste for 5 minutes, add the seasoning, then your rinsed rice, and enough water or stock to cook through. Medium heat, lid on, 20 minutes. What comes out tastes like a dish that took considerably more effort than it did.

I sometimes add a tin of chopped tomatoes and a Scotch bonnet for more body. Leftovers reheat brilliantly, arguably better the next day.

✦ PRO TIP: Toast the seasoning with the onions for 60 seconds before adding liquid. That short step transforms the depth of the finished dish.

Wednesday: Quick Pan-Fried Fish with Costack Fish Seasoning

Midweek I want protein that cooks in under 10 minutes. Costack Fish Seasoning was built for exactly this. It's more delicate than the meat-focused blends, lighter, with citrus-forward notes that work with white fish without overpowering it. Pat fillets dry, season both sides, cook in a hot pan with a little oil for 3-4 minutes per side. Done.

The trick I rely on: add a knob of butter and a squeeze of lemon in the last 30 seconds of cooking and baste the fish twice. It sounds fancier than it is but the flavour difference is significant.

Thursday: One-Pot Meat Stew the Whole Family Eats

Brown some diced beef, lamb, or chicken in batches, then build your sauce, onions, tomatoes, Costack Meat Seasoning, stock, and any vegetables that need using up. Low and slow for 45-60 minutes if you have it; or pressure cook for 20. The Meat Seasoning earns its name, the blend is built to hold up through long cooking, developing rather than fading. You can also use it as a dry rub for grilled meat, which is relevant as we head into warmer evenings.

✦ PRO TIP: Deglaze the pan after browning your meat with a splash of water or stock, scraping up all the bits. That's where most of the flavour lives.

Friday: Fried Rice That Tastes Like a Takeaway (But Better)

Day-old cooked rice, whatever leftover vegetables and proteins you have, a couple of eggs, and Costack Fried Rice Seasoning. Hot wok or large frying pan, high heat, keep everything moving. The seasoning does the heavy lifting, it's specifically formulated to give fried rice that characteristic umami depth rather than just tasting of seasoned white rice. This is genuinely one of my most-cooked weeknight meals, partly because it uses up leftovers and partly because it's ready in 12 minutes.

Saturday: Adobo-Marinated Grilled Vegetables (or Chicken)

Now that the evenings are lighter and we are all remembering that grills and griddle pans exist, the Costack Adobo Seasoning with Pepper deserves it's moment. Adobo-style seasoning originated in Latin America and the Philippines as a preservation and marinade technique, bold, savoury, with a peppery heat that chars beautifully on high heat. Use it on chicken, on halloumi, on thick slices of courgette and aubergine. Mix with a little olive oil and lemon juice, marinate for even 20 minutes, then grill or griddle. The new Costack packaging makes this jar especially easy to spot on your shelf when you're in a rush.

✦ PRO TIP: Let marinated chicken rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before grilling. Cold meat hitting a hot grill doesn't cook evenly.

Sunday: Slow-Cooked Anything with Costack Complete Seasoning

Sunday is the day I actually cook with intention. And for that, I always come back to the Costack Complete Seasoning, the jar that earns it's permanent countertop place because it genuinely works on everything. A whole roast chicken, a slow-cooked lamb shoulder, a big pot of beans, whatever Sunday demands, this blend supports it. It's the most versatile in the range, designed to be the foundation seasoning you reach for when you haven't decided what you're making yet. At the price, it's also extraordinary value.

Browse the full Costack range at www.costack.uk, 20 bold blends for every cooking moment. Free UK shipping on orders over £40.

Frequently Asked Questions About Weeknight Cooking with Costack

Can I use Costack seasonings as marinades as well as dry rubs?

Absolutely, mix any Costack seasoning with oil, citrus juice, or yoghurt to create a wet marinade. The Complete Seasoning and Meat Seasoning work especially well this way.

How much Costack seasoning should I use per portion of food?

Start with 1 teaspoon per portion for most dishes and adjust to taste. Some blends, like the Jollof Rice Seasoning, are more concentrated and may need slightly less.

Are Costack seasonings suitable for vegetarian and vegan cooking?

Yes, the Universal Vegetable Seasoning is specifically designed for plant-based cooking, and most other blends work well on vegetables, legumes, and plant proteins.

Where can I buy Costack seasonings in the UK?

Order directly at costack.uk with free UK delivery on orders over £40. Check the Locate Us page for stockist information.

Can I use multiple Costack seasonings in the same dish?

Yes, layering is encouraged. Many cooks use the Complete Seasoning as a base and then add a specialist blend like Fish Seasoning or Chicken & Turkey Seasoning on top for extra depth.

Do the new Costack jars contain the same amount of product as before?

Yes, the new packaging refresh is purely visual. Quantities, ingredients, and prices are unchanged.