2,217 main dish recipes

Iowa chops stuffed with brandy-soaked apricots, pecans, currants, orange zest, and fennel. Seared, baked, and finished with flambeed brandy for a tableside showstopper.

Grilled swordfish kebabs in a zesty lime-cilantro and pineapple marinade, skewered with cherry tomatoes, peppers and red onion. Meaty swordfish holds up on the grill for an easy summer dinner.

Crunchy curried chicken salad: cooked chicken and rice tossed with mandarin oranges, celery, and peanuts in a light yogurt-curry-honey dressing. A sweet-savory, mayo-free make-ahead salad.

Thai-style chicken and sesame noodles: marinated chicken tossed with spaghetti, carrot and cilantro in a sweet-spicy peanut sauce. A fast, semi-homemade noodle bowl, great warm or cold.

Tortilla torte: tortillas layered with mashed pinto beans, picante green chile sauce, Monterey Jack and olives, baked and cut in wedges. A light vegetarian Mexican stack served over greens.

Chocolate and chestnut layer cake with a tender olive oil and white wine sponge, a smooth sweetened chestnut cream filling, and glossy dark chocolate ganache. An elegant autumn and holiday dessert.

Grilled chicken breasts with a curried peach and Vidalia onion relish spiked with cayenne, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Make the relish up to 5 days ahead.

Hearty venison stew loaded with potatoes, carrots, corn, green beans, and wax beans in a thick, seasoned broth. A big-batch hunter's stew that feeds a crowd.

Slow cooker beef chuck strips smothered in a tangy barbecue-molasses sauce with bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Dump it in, walk away, and come back to dinner.

Provencal fish stew with haddock, fennel, thyme, and bay leaf in a tomato-white wine broth. Served over garlic croutons, 40 minutes from the first sear to the ladle.

Chinese grilled short ribs butterflied into a single accordion strip and marinated in peanut butter, curry, sesame oil, soy, and rice wine. Smoky, tender, unusual.

Pinto beans simmer with quinoa and butternut squash in this hearty vegetarian stew where Spanish paprika and tomatoes build a robust base that's pure cold-weather comfort in a bowl.

Tofu and broccoli stir-fry in a gingery sherry-soy sauce with crunchy bean sprouts, served over rice. A fast, vegan weeknight dinner that comes together in one wok, gluten-free with tamari.

Quick sweet and sour chicken with frozen breaded chicken, mixed vegetables, rice, and bottled sweet and sour sauce. A 15-minute weeknight dinner using pantry shortcuts.

Curried shellfish pot pie with lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, and toasted almonds in a sherry-cream curry sauce under golden puff pastry.

Pasta with ricotta-walnut sauce blended from ricotta, yogurt, walnuts, garlic, and Parmesan with fresh herbs. A creamy, no-cook pasta sauce lighter than traditional Alfredo.