Main Dish Recipes

Ground chicken sloppy joes loaded with bell pepper, onion, and rice in a tangy sauce, piled on toasted buns. A lighter twist on the classic that kids devour.

This cheesy and creamy tetrazzini is easy to make. It can be made in advance, then freeze it in your freezer. Reheat it for a quick and tasty weekday dinner.

Baked chicken breasts basted with honey, lime juice, canola oil, and paprika until golden brown. A simple 4-ingredient glaze for juicy oven-roasted chicken.

Black tea smoked chicken: Sichuan-and-five-spice-rubbed thighs hot-smoked over rice, black tea, and brown sugar, then tucked into lettuce cups with peanuts, scallion, and a soy-ginger glaze. An impressive, gluten-free-friendly appetizer.

Lamb, chickpea, and vegetable couscous is a Moroccan-style braise of cubed lamb shoulder simmered with carrots, turnips, zucchini, and peppers in a cinnamon-spiced tomato broth over fluffy couscous.

Romanian mititei (mici) sausages made with ground beef and pork, garlic paste, baking soda, thyme, and basil. Skinless grilled sausages shaped by hand without casings.

Chicken mole poblano with a rich sauce of cocoa, almonds, raisins, sesame seeds, and warm spices. Browned chicken simmers in a complex blended mole and served over rice.

Hearty no-bean beef chili built on 3 pounds of stewing beef, half a cup of chili powder, masa harina for body, and a secret weapon: a dash of Peychaud's bitters and nutmeg at the finish.

Low-fat turkey stroganoff with ground turkey breast, mushrooms, paprika, and dill in a skim milk sauce. The classic Russian-style comfort dish, lightened up.

Roast pork loin rubbed with caraway, mustard, and sage, finished under a brown sugar applesauce glaze. The bone-deep Sunday dinner roast that fills the house with autumn smells.

Vegetarian tamale pie layered with spiced kidney beans, corn, tomatoes, and cornmeal polenta topped with Monterey Jack cheese. Baked until bubbly and golden.

Tender shredded chicken simmered in a garlicky tomato sauce with bell peppers and green olives, ringed by golden potato dumplings and finished with Parmesan. Hearty, homestyle, and utterly satisfying.

Lighter chicken Parmesan with breaded chicken breasts baked in marinara, topped with mozzarella and ricotta, finished with crispy breadcrumbs. Italian-American comfort with less fat.

This Jewish-style moussaka does not have meat since the kosher laws prohibit mixing meat and milk together. The result is a complete vegetarian dish with considerable dimension.

Flour-coated round steak browned and slow cooked with tomato sauce, onions, and green peppers until fork-tender. A hands-off comfort food dinner that simmers all day while you do your thing.

Microwave golden onion quiche with bacon, broccoli, and cheddar in an evaporated milk custard, topped with crispy French fried onions. A 30-minute oven-free entree.