Lazy Asian-Inspired Dinners Using Supermarket Sauces

Let’s be real – not every night is a “make everything from scratch” kind of night.

These six lazy Asian-inspired dinners are all about big flavour with minimal effort, using store-bought sauces, simple ingredients, and weeknight-friendly shortcuts. Perfect for busy weeknights, leftovers, or when you just can’t be bothered fussing in the kitchen.

What I Mean by “Lazy Asian-Inspired”

• Using store-bought sauces for maximum flavour
• Minimal chopping and prep
• Quick cooking methods like stir-fry, tray bake, or one-pan meals

Even shortcuts can taste amazing – I promise!

Best Supermarket Sauces to Keep in Your Fridge

Keeping a few key Asian-style sauces on hand makes lazy weeknight dinners incredibly easy. These staples add instant flavour without lots of extra prep.

• Hoisin sauce – Thick, sweet and savoury. Perfect for stir-fries, marinades and sticky glazes, especially with chicken or pork.

• Teriyaki sauce – Sweet and salty with a glossy finish. Great for beef bowls, chicken stir-fries and noodles.

• Thai curry pastes – Fragrant and full of flavour. A spoonful with coconut milk makes a fast, weeknight-friendly curry. Try from green, red, yellow or panang.

• Oyster sauce – Rich and savoury with plenty of umami. Excellent for stir-fries, fried rice and vegetables — a little goes a long way.

• Sweet chilli sauce – Sweet with a mild kick. Works well as a glaze, quick stir-fry base or tray bake sauce.

• Kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) – Thick and slightly caramelised. Adds depth and sweetness to noodles, fried rice and marinades.

⭐️ QUICK TIP: Even when using bottled sauces, adding fresh garlic, ginger, chilli or a squeeze of lime can really lift the final dish.

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Six Lazy Asian-Inspired Dinner Ideas

1. Hoisin Honey Chicken Stir-Fry

Time: 20 mins | Serves: 3–4

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 500g chicken stir-fry strips
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen stir-fry style vegetables
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• Cooked jasmine rice to serve

Instructions

1. Heat sesame oil in a large pan or wok.
2. Add chicken, cook until browned.
3. Toss in vegetables, stir-fry 3–4 mins.
4. Add hoisin, honey, soy sauce. Stir to coat.
5. Serve over rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

2. Quick Thai Red Curry

Time: 15 mins | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
• 400ml coconut milk
• 500g chicken stir-fry strips (or tofu)
• 1 1/2 cup mixed veg
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce or soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Cooked rice to serve

Instructions

1. Heat curry paste in a little oil in a pan until fragrant.
2. Add coconut milk, stir, then add chicken (or tofu).
3. Simmer 6-8 mins or until just cooked through.
4. Add vegetables, cook 3–4 minutes more.
5. Season with fish sauce and brown sugar, serve over rice, top with some coriander and fresh chilli.

3. Teriyaki Beef Bowls

Time: 15 mins | Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 500g beef strips
• 1 1/2 cups stir-fry style vegetables
• 1/4 cup store-bought bottled teriyaki sauce
• 1-2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 fried egg per bowl (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat sesame oil in a pan, sear beef until almost cooked.
2. Add vegetables, stir-fry 2–3 mins.
3. Pour in teriyaki and oyster sauce, toss to coat.
4. Serve over rice, top with fried egg if desired. Garnish with sesame seeds.

4. Lazy Chicken Satay Noodles

Time: 10 mins | Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

• 4 x 80g packets Fried Mi Goreng Satay Flavoured Noodles
• 1 1/2 cups store-bought finely shredded coleslaw
• 1 cup leftover shredded roast chicken
• 1 tablespoon kecap manis
• Chopped coriander and sliced red chilli
• Store bought fried shallots

Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to packet instructions.
2. Meanwhile, empty the flavour/sauce sachets into two bowls and mix.
3. Add a 2 tablespoons of the cooking liquid from the noodles into each bowl.
4. Drain noodles then divide amongst bowls. Add coleslaw and chicken (if using) and toss to coat in sauce.
5. Drizzle with kecap manis and garnish with coriander, chilli and fried shallots.

Alt text for image: “Easy 2 minute satay noodles with veggies, eggs and chicken”

5. Sweet Chilli Chicken & Vegetable Bake

Time: 40 mins | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 6 chicken thigh fillets
• 1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce
• 2 tablespoons kecap manis
• 2 teaspoons crushed garlic
• 2-3 cups Asian style green vegetables (bok choy, green beans, broccolini)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Toss chicken with 1 tablespoon oil, sweet chilli, kecap mains and garlic. Spread onto a lined baking tray.
3. Bake 25-30 minutes, basting often or until chicken is sticky and golden.
4. Add vegetables to pan, tossing gently in the juices. Bake for a further 5-8 minutes or until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.
5. Serve with cooked brown or white rice.

6. Sticky Asian Meatballs

Time: 25 mins | Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 500g chicken, beef or pork mince
• 1 teaspoon grated garlic
• 1 teaspoon bottled crushed ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• Rice or noodles to serve

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Mix mince, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of the hoisin sauce. Roll into meatballs.
3. Bake 15 minutes, then toss in remaining hoisin and bake a further 5 minutes.
4. Serve over rice or noodles.

Tips for Making Lazy Asian Dinners Taste Amazing

• Add fresh garlic, ginger, or chilli to store-bought sauces to elevate them
• Finish with lime juice or rice vinegar for brightness
• Balance sweet and salty for best flavour
• Drizzle a few drops of sesame oil at the end for aroma

These lazy Asian-inspired dinners prove you can have big flavour without hours in the kitchen.

If you try any of these recipes, let me know how you go in the comment section below! And for more stress-free weeknight dinners, check out my other 30 minutes or less recipes