Main Dish Recipes

Chili is such a versatile dish that can be used up with so many ways and all turn out delicious and economical.

Crawfish au gratin baked in a rich double-cheddar sauce with sauteed bell pepper, celery, and onion. A bubbly, cheesy Cajun casserole that's pure Louisiana comfort food.

Hungarian potatoes simmer eggplant, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and tender potatoes in a paprika-spiked tomato sauce. A hearty meatless one-pot main with deep, smoky-sweet flavor.

You can serve this dish hot or cold. We prefer the crab balls hot, when their exterior is crisp and the meat hot and moist. They also go better with the vinegar dip when hot. If you prefer to serve them cold or at room temperature, delete the dip, or substitute something like mustard and catsup.

Crawfish aubergine with crispy breaded eggplant topped by crawfish tails in a Parmesan cream sauce spiked with Tabasco. Where Cajun meets Italian on one glorious plate.

Rustic whole wheat pasta loaded with deeply caramelized onions, wilted kale, melted anchovies, and crunchy garlicky breadcrumbs. Simple Italian-inspired comfort in under 45 minutes.

Cold or warm noodles tossed in a Chinese tahini sauce with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste, and fresh ginger. Nutty, spicy, and ready fast.

Seafood paella simmers quick-cooking brown rice with saffron, sweet red peppers, and garlic, then finishes with shrimp, green peas, and steamed-open mussels. A faster, one-pan take on the Spanish classic.

Ham and potato casserole with a homemade cream sauce, diced ham, sliced potatoes, and cheddar cheese on top. A comforting one-dish dinner baked in 45 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Flank steak stuffed with smokey Chipotle peppers and Fontina cheese.

Crock pot balsamic chicken, spice-rubbed thighs slow-cooked in balsamic vinegar and garlic until fall-apart tender. A tangy-sweet, dump-and-go dinner with almost no hands-on time.

Individual oyster casseroles baked in sherry-cream sauce with tomato soup, green peppers, and a hint of mace. Bubbly, elegant, and ready in an hour.

Chili shrimp stir-fry: wok-fired shrimp in a glossy Thai chili paste sauce with ginger, garlic, scallions, sherry, and a sesame oil finish. A 30-minute restaurant-style dish done cleaner than takeout.

Kluski z makiem is a traditional Polish Christmas Eve noodle dish tossed with poppy seed filling, butter, raisins, lemon zest, and vanilla. A sweet, comforting holiday classic.

Redfish with Mousquetaire Sauce flavored with mustard and lemon juice, once popular in New Orleans.

Frozen lobster tails butterflied and microwave-steamed, then drizzled with a citrus butter made from lemon juice, orange zest, ginger, and paprika. A date-night seafood dinner ready in 40 minutes.