A metal skillet filled with easy skillet lasagna and garnished with basil leaves.Weeknight Winners®A whole roast chicken on a platter with a bowl.ChickenA sliced grilled steak with coffee spice rub and a carving knife lying beside itBeefA finished croque monsieur casserole in a white baking dish with a spoon resting inside.CasserolesTwo white plates topped with lemon basil pasta with lemon slices on the side and a gold fork resting on the side of each plate.PastaA marble slab with 4 vegetarian sloppy Joe sliders.HealthyA white oval serving plate filled with slow cooker coq au vin and a gold fork resting on the side of the plate.Slow CookerInstant Pot Thanksgiving turkey on a platter garnished with figs, oranges, grapes, and sage, beside a carving set.Instant PotA sliced steak chimichurri with a gravy boat filled with chimichurri on the side.Grilling

Easy Weeknight Favorites

More Weeknight Winners

Egg Salad Without Mayo

Don’t let those leftover Easter eggs go to waste. This easy egg salad with caramelized onions is so lovely, you won’t even notice that there’s no mayo.

45 mins

Parmesan-Crusted Grilled Cheese with Jalapeños

Why put cheese only inside your grilled cheese sandwich? This beauty is filled with Cheddar and coated with Parmesan, which means you get a creamy, melty interior, and a crispy exterior. Basically, a perfect grilled cheese.

25 mins

Budget-Friendly Recipes

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Main Dish FAQs

Choosing an entree can be tricky, particularly when you’re catering to various diets. These are the most common questions readers ask when looking for a main dish recipe.

Do main dishes have to contain meat?

No, not at all. Vegetarian main dishes can be as simple as pasta tossed in Italian tomato sauce or a serving of hearty vegetarian chili. If you’re experimenting with adding more meatless meals to your repertoire, check out our selection of vegetarian recipes for inspiration.

What are some main dishes that can be made ahead of time?

Soups, stews, and braises are excellent choices for making ahead of time, as their flavor tends to improve after resting overnight.

Can you suggest some popular potluck main dishes?

For a potluck, choose main dishes that travel well and can be kept warm. Slow cooker mains, such as pulled pork, BBQ meatballs, or beef chili are great choices because they can be transported and kept warm in the slow cooker. Casserole recipes are also popular, particularly our classic King Ranch chicken.

How should I store my leftovers?

Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours after cooking. Keep your food in airtight containers in the fridge and consume it within 4 days or freeze it for longer storage.

Jamie Oliver’s Sausage Pappardelle

A metal skillet filled with sausage pappardelle with grated Parmesan on top.
: David Leite

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

more chicken dinners

Batter-Fried Chicken

Proof that it doesn’t take buttermilk or an insufferably long overnight brine to make insanely tender, crazily crisp, gosh darn perfect fried chicken.

1 hr 30 mins

Breaded Oven Fried Chicken Thighs

These crumb-coated thighs come together with no fuss and can easily be adapted to whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand.

35 mins

All Mains

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

These juicy bites of sirloin, smothered in garlic and herb butter, will satisfy any steakhouse craving for a fraction of the price.

25 mins

Seared Skirt Steak with Salsa

Hungry for something flavorful and good-for-you? This seared skirt steak is jam-packed with everything you need.

50 mins

Batter-Fried Chicken

Proof that it doesn't take buttermilk or an insufferably long overnight brine to make insanely tender, crazily crisp, gosh darn perfect fried chicken.

1 hr 30 mins

Spaghetti Carbonara

This spaghetti carbonara recipe tosses pasta with eggs, cheese, guanciale, pancetta or bacon, and pepper to form a creamy sauce. Quick and easy.

25 mins

Egg Salad Without Mayo

Don't let those leftover Easter eggs go to waste. This easy egg salad with caramelized onions is so lovely, you won't even notice that there's no mayo.

45 mins

Homemade Corned Beef

Homemade corned beef is crazy easy to make. And it's not just for St. Patrick's Day. Although the holiday simply isn't the same without it.

5 d 3 hrs

Pasta with Butter and Parmesan

Whether you're five or fifty-five, sometimes nothing is more satiating than a plate of spaghetti with butter and cheese.

20 mins

Steak au Poivre (Julia Child’s Recipe)

Julia Child updated the French classic with mixed peppercorns and allspice to lend a little intrigue. A surprisingly quick yet altogether swoon-worthy weeknight dinner.

25 mins

Breaded Oven Fried Chicken Thighs

These crumb-coated thighs come together with no fuss and can easily be adapted to whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand.

35 mins

Meatball Stroganoff

This updated version of the classic, made with mini meatballs and creamy mushroom sauce, is so rich and comforting that you may never go back to the original.

1 hr

Homemade Pastrami

Pastrami. We consider it the other corned beef. We also consider it darn easy to make it yourself.

5 d 7 hrs

Roasted Bone Marrow

Though traditionally a first course, bone marrow is sufficient enough to be both first course and last course. And maybe each course in between.

12 hrs 30 mins

Julia Child’s Coq au Vin

Coq au vin, aka chicken soused in wine, is a French classic that exists in countless incarnations. This rich, soulful riff is from Julia Child.

1 hr 30 mins

Veal Piccata

"Everyone loved it, including the kiddos." "Quick and easy." "Perfect." "As good as any restaurant piccata I've ever had." That's what folks are saying about this recipe.

35 mins