Sarah Butler: Feed the whole gang with these fabulous, fast family favourites

Looking for quick, delicious meals the whole family will enjoy?
These two recipes are perfect for busy weeknights when time is short but appetites are big!
First up is our Harissa Chicken Pasta—a creamy, comforting dish ready in just 25 minutes.
Juicy chicken, sautéed veggies, and pasta come together in a bold, smoky harissa sauce with a little heat and lots of flavour.
Topped with melty parmesan and fresh basil, it's a guaranteed midweek winner that reheats beautifully for lunch the next day.
For a weekend treat or a fun fake-away night, try the Homemade Spice Bag.
This crowd-pleaser is loaded with crispy chicken goujons, golden chips, and colourful peppers, all tossed in a punchy spice mix.
Kids will love helping in the kitchen—whether it's stirring the batter or shaking the final mix—and you'll love knowing exactly what's going into dinner.
Both dishes are easy to prepare with ingredients you most likely already have at home.
Whether you're feeding picky eaters or spice lovers, these recipes can be adapted to suit eveyone's tastes.
Fast, flavourful, and family-approved—these meals are sure to become regulars on your dinner table!
Harissa Chicken Pasta
recipe by:Sarah Butler
A quick and flavour-packed dinner that's ready in just 25 minutes. An ideal midweek meal it's easy, satisfying, and full of bold, smoky flavour.
Servings
4
Preparation Time 
10 mins
Cooking Time 
15 mins
Total Time 
25 mins
Course 
Main
Ingredients 4 chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
40g butter
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
3-4 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp harissa sauce
1 tsp tomato purée
100ml pasta water (reserved from cooking)
1 tbsp crème fraîche
100g grated parmesan
Handful of chopped basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
200g pasta (any type)
Method
Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Reserve 100ml of the pasta water before draining.
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 20g butter in a large pan over medium heat.
Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then pan-fry until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
In the same pan, add the remaining oil and butter. Cook the onion, pepper, tomatoes, and garlic for 2–3 minutes until softened.
Stir in the harissa sauce and tomato purée.
Pour in the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Stir in the crème fraîche and parmesan until melted and smooth.
Add the cooked pasta and shredded chicken to the pan. Toss everything together until well-coated.
Stir through the chopped basil. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Sarah's secret
This dish reheats really well so make extra for lunch the following day.
Homemade Spice Bag
recipe by:Sarah Butler
If your family loves a good take-away treat, this Homemade Spice Bag is the perfect way to bring that magic to your own kitchen - packed with golden crispy chips, tender chicken goujons, and colourful stir-fried veggies.
Servings
4
Preparation Time 
15 mins
Cooking Time 
20 mins
Total Time 
35 mins
Course 
Main
Ingredients 3 chicken breasts, cut into strips (goujons)
4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into thick chips
600ml sunflower oil (for deep frying)
1 red pepper, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 white onion, sliced
For the spice bag seasoning:
2 tbsp Chinese five spice
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp Aromat (or substitute with a pinch of extra salt and MSG if preferred)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sugar
For the batter:
200g plain flour
100ml buttermilk
100ml sparkling water
1 tsp baking powder
Method
Combine all spice mix ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, buttermilk, sparkling water, and baking powder until smooth.
Heat 1 tbsp of sunflower oil in a pan over medium heat.
Stir-fry the sliced peppers and onion for 2–3 minutes until just softened. Set aside.
Boil the cut potatoes in salted water for 8 minutes.
Drain and pat dry thoroughly with kitchen paper.
Heat the oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to 180°C. (Tip: Drop in a piece of bread—if it sizzles and rises quickly, the oil is ready.) Carefully fry the dry chips until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
Lightly coat the chicken strips in flour.
Dip into the batter, then gently lower into the hot oil.
Fry in batches for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chips, chicken, peppers, and onion.
Sprinkle the spice mix over the ingredients and toss everything until well coated.
Sarah's secret
Make a second spice mix and put it away, ready for another day to save time!

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Irish Examiner

20 hours ago

• Irish Examiner

Sarah Butler: Feed the whole gang with these fabulous, fast family favourites

Looking for quick, delicious meals the whole family will enjoy? These two recipes are perfect for busy weeknights when time is short but appetites are big! First up is our Harissa Chicken Pasta—a creamy, comforting dish ready in just 25 minutes. Juicy chicken, sautéed veggies, and pasta come together in a bold, smoky harissa sauce with a little heat and lots of flavour. Topped with melty parmesan and fresh basil, it's a guaranteed midweek winner that reheats beautifully for lunch the next day. For a weekend treat or a fun fake-away night, try the Homemade Spice Bag. This crowd-pleaser is loaded with crispy chicken goujons, golden chips, and colourful peppers, all tossed in a punchy spice mix. Kids will love helping in the kitchen—whether it's stirring the batter or shaking the final mix—and you'll love knowing exactly what's going into dinner. Both dishes are easy to prepare with ingredients you most likely already have at home. Whether you're feeding picky eaters or spice lovers, these recipes can be adapted to suit eveyone's tastes. Fast, flavourful, and family-approved—these meals are sure to become regulars on your dinner table! Harissa Chicken Pasta recipe by:Sarah Butler A quick and flavour-packed dinner that's ready in just 25 minutes. An ideal midweek meal it's easy, satisfying, and full of bold, smoky flavour. Servings 4 Preparation Time  10 mins Cooking Time  15 mins Total Time  25 mins Course  Main Ingredients 4 chicken breasts 2 tbsp olive oil 40g butter 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 3-4 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp harissa sauce 1 tsp tomato purée 100ml pasta water (reserved from cooking) 1 tbsp crème fraîche 100g grated parmesan Handful of chopped basil Salt and pepper, to taste 200g pasta (any type) Method Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Reserve 100ml of the pasta water before draining. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 20g butter in a large pan over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then pan-fry until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, add the remaining oil and butter. Cook the onion, pepper, tomatoes, and garlic for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the harissa sauce and tomato purée. Pour in the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Stir in the crème fraîche and parmesan until melted and smooth. Add the cooked pasta and shredded chicken to the pan. Toss everything together until well-coated. Stir through the chopped basil. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot and enjoy! Sarah's secret This dish reheats really well so make extra for lunch the following day. Homemade Spice Bag recipe by:Sarah Butler If your family loves a good take-away treat, this Homemade Spice Bag is the perfect way to bring that magic to your own kitchen - packed with golden crispy chips, tender chicken goujons, and colourful stir-fried veggies. Servings 4 Preparation Time  15 mins Cooking Time  20 mins Total Time  35 mins Course  Main Ingredients 3 chicken breasts, cut into strips (goujons) 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into thick chips 600ml sunflower oil (for deep frying) 1 red pepper, sliced 1 green pepper, sliced 1 white onion, sliced For the spice bag seasoning: 2 tbsp Chinese five spice 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp ginger powder 1 tsp Aromat (or substitute with a pinch of extra salt and MSG if preferred) 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp sugar For the batter: 200g plain flour 100ml buttermilk 100ml sparkling water 1 tsp baking powder Method Combine all spice mix ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, buttermilk, sparkling water, and baking powder until smooth. Heat 1 tbsp of sunflower oil in a pan over medium heat. Stir-fry the sliced peppers and onion for 2–3 minutes until just softened. Set aside. Boil the cut potatoes in salted water for 8 minutes. Drain and pat dry thoroughly with kitchen paper. Heat the oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to 180°C. (Tip: Drop in a piece of bread—if it sizzles and rises quickly, the oil is ready.) Carefully fry the dry chips until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Lightly coat the chicken strips in flour. Dip into the batter, then gently lower into the hot oil. Fry in batches for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chips, chicken, peppers, and onion. Sprinkle the spice mix over the ingredients and toss everything until well coated. Sarah's secret Make a second spice mix and put it away, ready for another day to save time!

RTÉ News​

05-06-2025

• RTÉ News​

Sarah Butler on finding simple dishes that make life easier

As an ambassador for SuperValu's The Difference is Real campaign, Sarah Butler spoke to RTÉ Lifestyle to shine a light on the value of home cooking and finding the right recipes for your family. One of six children, and hailing from a long line of butchers, Sarah Butler says she had a childhood filled with delicious food. "I always loved to cook," she told RTÉ Lifestyle. "My parents were both very good cooks and bakers. Dad was a fourth-generation butcher, so he was very much into his meat, and we had a B&B growing up, so mam was always cooking meals." Not only that, but her grandmother, who lived next door, was a constant feature of the kitchen - baking and cooking on a near-constant basis. Despite this inherited love for food, though, the Mayo woman pursued a career in digital media and only tried her hand at cooking professionally when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived on Irish shores. Working in digital design for over 19 years, Butler specialised in creating bespoke wedding stationery, but when social distancing put a stop to ceremonies, she found her creative spark in the kitchen. "I started to show stuff online and it just blew up," she laughs. "I'm sitting here four years later and thinking, how did this happen?". Now a best-selling author and food influencer, she's built a loyal community of over 240,000 followers by sharing easy, delicious recipes and everyday kitchen tips that help families cook with confidence. The trick, she says, is to keep things simple: "Some people have to learn from scratch, and they're afraid of food, and afraid of cooking, and they just haven't the confidence." Recipes that always go down a treat with her followers are those that are filling, cost-efficient, and have the ability to sneak healthy ingredients into their children's diets. "I do a hidden veggie pasta sauce that can be used as a soup or a pizza base or a sauce," she explains. Homemade chicken goujons and sausage rolls are another hit, and Butler says they're much better than buying the frozen alternative. "They're actually really easy to make," she promises. "It's just stuff that the whole family will eat. When you've got three kids and 20 minutes until the dinner needs to be on the table, you just want to make something that is wholesome and that everyone will eat." Speaking of children, Butler says that although her teenagers remain completely unimpressed that she's on the telly, they do seem to have picked up some of her cooking prowess. "They're picking stuff up unbeknownst to me," she laughs. "They're not racing into the kitchen to make cakes, they just eat them, but they're both well able to cook. That's the most important thing to me, that they're able to go out into the world and make things with simple ingredients." The big winners in Butler's own kitchen are simple additions that deliver an extra kick of flavour to classic dishes: "If you're cooking a ham, throw in an orange and cloves, a spoon of sugar and a Bay leaf," she suggests. As well as being a big believer in meal prep, and planning dinners around what's already in the fridge, Butler's biggest tip is to take an extra few seconds to taste what's in the pot before serving it up. "We're always rushing," she muses. "We don't test our food anymore because we're on our phones or we're eating in the car. Just try and slow down and enjoy the process. Close your eyes and take a taste of that soup as you're making it." If in doubt, try adding a little seasoning to your meals, whether it be a touch of salt and pepper or a dash of paprika and garlic. Most important of all, though, Sarah stresses, is to go easy on yourself. "The bar is so high, everybody is so bloody perfect online now, you know? I do my batch cooking on a Sunday, and then I get an Indian takeaway," she laughs. "I've made a load of food, but I don't have to cook that night - and it's great." "Don't be hard on yourself," she continues. "Start small and grow that confidence."

The Irish Sun

04-06-2025

• The Irish Sun

Soap star hits back as she's mum-shamed for ‘making sure her kids are bullied' over racy pics

SARAH Jayne Dunn has hit back after being mum-shamed for 'making sure her kids are bullied' over her racy pics. The former soap star, who played Mandy Richardson on Hollyoaks from 1996 to 2021, famously left the show after 7 Sarah Jayne Dunn has hit back after being mum-shamed over her racy pics Credit: Instagram 7 Sarah posted a a get-ready-with-me video Credit: Instagram They ordered her to quit adult subscription site OnlyFans, where she was flogging risque shots, or be axed. While she's been making big money on the platform, having claimed to have taken home £700,000 in 2022, Sarah has found herself the target of cruel trolling. Taking to Instagram to confront her latest bully, she sarcastically responded to their nasty comment. The follower had written: "Yeah why not just make sure your kids get bullied because of your content just so you can get a little validation from people you don't know, good idea." read more on SARAH Jayne Dunn But Sarah - who shares son Stanley, nine, with her husband Jonathan Smith - made sure to clap back with humour, pretending to read a positive one in a get-ready-with-me video. With the aforementioned jibe shown on the screen, she instead read: "Thanks for your inspiring content. Your son is really lucky to have a mom like you that loves him so much. Please show us some more of your outfits." Sarah then enthused: "Of course I will! What a kind, kind comment. Thank you. I will happily show you another outfit," before proceding to talk her fans through what she had been wearing. At the end, she concluded: "Thanks again for that really, really lovely, positive comment." Most read in Soaps The actress quit the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks said it doesn't allow cast members to be active on certain 18+ websites because of the show's responsibility to its young audience. Axed Hollyoaks star reveals she's now a pole dancing teacher as she shows off her moves in thong and high heels Speaking about posting on OnlyFans before, Sarah said it was "about taking back control, about empowerment and confidence and having full power over my choices". More recently, Sarah revealed her new job after quitting the soap, and will be teaching her first ever pole class. Sharing images of herself pole dancing, the actress penned: 'I'm excited and terrified in equal measure… because very soon, I'll be stepping into a whole new challenge- teaching my first beginners' pole class! 'Pole has been a huge part of my life for over two years now. I first found it just after lockdown, a little before turning 41, when I was looking for something fun, but challenging. 'From the very first spin, I was hooked . What started as a way to move and push myself has become so much more- strength, confidence, and a whole new community of incredible, supportive people who lift each other up (literally!).' 7 She shares son Stanley, nine, with her husband Jonathan Smith Credit: Instagram 7 Sarah has been making six figures on OnlyFans Credit: Instagram 7 She has been posting images of herself pole dancing recently Credit: instagram Sarah continued: 'I've recently started 1:1 training with a new pole coach, and I can already feel myself improving in ways I never expected. 'Pole is as tough as it is beautiful, what looks effortless takes an insane amount of strength, control, and resilience. But that's what I love about it. Every move mastered feels like a little victory, and there's always a new challenge to take on. 'Now, I'm about to take the next step, sharing everything I've learned with others. My beginner's classes will be for absolute newbies or anyone wanting to go back to basics! 'I'll be teaching at the same studio where my journey began too which is exciting Sarah showed off her toned physique in the carousel of images, as she promoted her new pole class. She worte a sparkly leotard and had her hair in a colourful plait as she revealed her pole skills for her fans. One person commented: 'These photos are mind boggling Someone else penned: 'Wow you look incredible Sarah, I remember when you first started, amazing how far you've come. So pleased for you, all the best for your next chapter.' And another added: 'You will be wonderful we just know it. Our gorgeous girl who can achieve anything she puts her mind to.' It's not the first time that Sarah has shown off her sensational figure in a skimpy pole dancing outfit. The star has been praised for her toned body after completely transforming her physique. She looked ageless as she shared a series of photographs after working out and doing some intense pole dancing. "My knees have almost recovered," Sarah penned in the caption of her sizzling set of snaps, revealing that she suffered some pain after her intense work out sessions. She went on to add: "If you missed my stories last month, I had the BEST workshop with @dapnelux, is was a HUGE challenge- those moves were FAST, especially tying them all together to music!" Sarah added: "I left feeling tired but inspired to sign up for more workshops this year with this wonderful community of supportive women. "I've got much further to go before I'm anywhere near as slick as Daphne (although she has been at it much longer than me!) but what an inspiration!" One fan remarked: "You look absolutely amazing. Your body shape has changed so much. Great job." A second said: "I can't believe how much your physic has changed! Looking fab!" 7 The former soap star played the role of Mandy Richardson from 1996 to 2001 Credit: Lime Pictures 7 Sarah famously left Hollyoaks after she was issued an ultimatum by furious soap bosses Credit: Getty