MasterChef Australia star wows with surprising $16 dinner time hack: 'Simple and delicious'

He may have been put to the test on national TV, vying for the crown on MasterChef, but Aussie chef Hayden Quinn is sharing a very surprising tip for how to make an amazing meal in next to no time and for under $20. The TV host recently revealed that more affordable cuts of meat can still result in a five-star dish and (here's the best part) you don't have to spend hours prepping.

The chef treated customers to a delicious meal using a new Woolworths range, using more affordable cuts, including beef cheeks at the supermarket's pop-up restaurant. The supermarket giant recently dropped its new COOK Slow Cooked fresh range of pre-prepared meats for winter featuring 10 different products, and it turns out it's a big win in Quinn's eyes.

“One of my favourite menu items from the Woolworths Table menu is Woolworths’ COOK Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks in Red Wine Sauce,” Quinn told Yahoo Lifestyle.

“The first time I tried them, I realised how delicious they were, so I had to share this product with more Aussies!”

Having been pre-prepared, all customers need to do is pop the Beef Cheeks in the oven for 30 minutes and half an hour later they’ve got a restaurant-grade meal.

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“It’s a perfect dish for those busy winter nights that the whole family will love,” Quinn said, adding that you can serve the meat up “with almost any side, like polenta or potatoes.”

Cheap cut makes for restaurant flavour

While beef cheeks are renowned as being a uniquely tender and cheaper cut of meat, they’re the perfect cuts for slow-cooked recipes.

“For just $16 a 550g pack, they offer a restaurant quality meal at great value,” said Quinn, who started his career as a home cook.

The MasterChef contender put the dish to the test at the Woolworths Table free pop-up restaurant in Sydney in May, and will do it all over again in Brisbane in June.

The week-long events feature a family-friendly menu, designed by Quinn, to showcase Woolworths’ Own Brand products and prove that customers can make restaurant-quality meals with everyday ingredients.

“At the Woolworths Table, we serve the beef cheeks with a fresh gremolata and a mash,” the chef said. “Simple and delicious.”

While the Woolworths Table events have been sold out in both Aussie cities, the supermarket giant says it's thrilled to be able to show Aussies how they can make marvellous meals for less.

“Woolworths Table is an opportunity to show how far Own Brand products have come in terms of quality and flavour, and how these ingredients can come together to create delicious, restaurant-quality meals that are amazing value for the family at home,” Louis Eggar, Managing Director of Woolworths Food Company said.

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“We’re really passionate about our food, and there’s an amazing team of chefs and product developers who spend years developing recipes and refining and testing our products to make sure they are the absolute best quality and value for our customers.”

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