18 maximum recipes

Double cheese mac and cheese using cheese tortellini in a creamy processed cheese sauce. Cheese-stuffed pasta in cheese sauce means maximum cheese in every bite.

Authentic tandoori chicken marinated overnight in spiced yogurt with garam masala, ginger, garlic, and turmeric. Charcoal-grilled with deep slashes for maximum smoke and flavor.

Cold spiced shrimp poached in ginger, dry sherry, scallions, and Szechwan peppercorns. Chilled in the cooking stock for maximum flavor absorption.

Baked chicken legs with a lemon-herb seasoning roasted until golden, then smothered in mushroom gravy and baked again until fork-tender. A two-stage roasting method for maximum flavor.

One-pan Italian oven dinner with chicken, Italian sausage, bell peppers, and tomatoes roasted with garlic and olive oil. Minimal prep, maximum flavor from the oven.

Classic crab cakes with lump crab, Dijon, mayo, and fresh scallions, pan-fried in butter until golden. Minimal filler, maximum crab, the Chesapeake-style version everyone wants.

Five-ingredient baked Parmesan chicken topped with melted mozzarella and served with salsa. Minimal prep, maximum flavor, and on the table in 30 minutes.

Diaper dump porridge is a gross-out Halloween dumpling soup made with refrigerator biscuits sculpted into questionable shapes and floated in chicken broth. Three ingredients, maximum kid shock value.

Marinated flank steak with soy sauce, vermouth, garlic, and Tabasco. Broiled under high heat for just minutes and carved rare on the diagonal for maximum tenderness.

Roasted turkey with fresh sage leaves tucked under the skin and rosemary, stuffed with aromatic vegetables. A low-fat, herb-forward holiday bird with minimal seasoning and maximum flavor.

New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp baked in a buttery Worcestershire-and-herb sauce, peel-on for maximum flavor. The classic Pascal's Manale-inspired dish that's all about sopping the buttery sauce with crusty bread.

Tequila-marinated chicken wings grilled with chili powder, cayenne, and lime juice. Marinated overnight for maximum flavor, then basted on the grill. Serve with salsa or cheese dip.

Simple baked trout in white wine with herbs and garlic. Minimal prep, maximum flavor. Whole trout bakes in 30 minutes for an elegant, light dinner for four.

Classic turkey giblet gravy made from pan drippings, turkey stock, and chopped giblets. A simple roux-based gravy built right in the roasting pan for maximum flavor.

Marinated flank steak grilled over hot coals after a 4-hour soak in a ketchup, Worcestershire, brown sugar, and garlic marinade. Sliced thin against the grain for maximum tenderness.

A dead-simple one-pan chicken bake with green beans, diced potatoes, and melted butter mixed with Italian dressing seasoning. Minimal prep, maximum weeknight dinner payoff for the whole family.