This recipe for sauteed kale Chickapea penne with bright lemon, toasted walnuts & freshly grated parmesan cheese is ready in less than 20 minutes and has all the awe-inspiring health benefits I listed above. If you want to offset those though, just enjoy the entire box of penne to yourself and drink 4 glasses of Chardonnay …
This recipe is SUPER flexible so use what ya got in your personal space. No potatoes? Use rice. No rice? Use Pasta! If procuring broccoli is a challenge, try cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, carrots, or zucchini – all roast really well. Or hell, microwave some damn peas. And if stew beef just isn’t in your grocery …
Loaded with fresh veggies, spiced protein, and spiked with dark beer, this recipe is one of the best chili recipes you will ever make. You probably have all the ingredients in your fridge already, too. And it comes together in an hour. Though I won’t lie – dishing up seconds the next day (or 3) …
The star of this entree is definitely the cheesy sauce that you will make in the pan. Many people simply rely on manufactured, jarred pasta sauces, thinking that making these from scratch is too difficult. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Making an Alfredo sauce takes very little special cooking skills. You will …
1. Spinach Stuffed Chicken Recipe => Click here for recipe This recipe for spinach stuffed chicken is a low-carb, delicious, and easy to prepare that you can try yourself. Spinach and cheese mixed with chicken in this recipe make it so good! This recipe is very easy to make and requires just a few ingredients. …
Mexican food has all the things I love: lots of cheese, fragrant herbs and spices, bright and fresh citrus flavor, and the festive vibes of a vacation in the Caribbean. The simple and traditional ingredients make it a fairly inexpensive dinner out at a cantina with friends, and even cheaper to prepare at home. With …
This Tandoori Chicken recipe is oh-so simple. It’s made using a lot of ingredients you might even have on hand right now. Let me break the ingredients of this Tandoori Chicken recipe down for you… You’ll need chicken, Greek yogurt, Tandoori chutney, green onion, and a few ‘fixins to serve. I like sliced red onion, …
This isn’t the ideal meal if you’re planning a huge hike tomorrow morning. As that poor vegan woman who tried to climb Everest found out, protein is kind of super important for that kind of physical and mental exertion. Animal-based or otherwise. But if you’re having a lovely (or lazy) night in or want something …
Caprese salad is an iconic Italian recipe for a salad that contains nothing more than tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, salt, and olive oil. This salad relies on the natural sweet and tangy tastiness of the tomatoes and all of the other ingredients are only there to accent the tomatoes’ goodness. This recipe features the colors of …
Many people who grew up eating pork chops think that this cut of meat is destined to be dry, tough, and chewy. Many people over cook pork, worried about food poisoning. While the meat might be fully cooked, if it is dry and unappealing, what is the point? What’s better is to learn to cook …
Stromboli Recipes What is Stromboli? Stromboli is an Italian dish made with pizza dough topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and other ingredients. It is then baked until the cheese melts and browns. Stromboli can be eaten hot or at room temperature. Many people enjoy it as an appetizer or main course. Ingredients for Stromboli: …
Today’s cooks ponder how to cook nutritious meals without using GMO foods or processed foods. Nowadays, cooks are all about organic foods cooked with healthy oils such as extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil. You can get organic, free-range chicken at the store to pair with (as far as we know) non-GMO broccoli for …
Those who have their own little garden will be familiar with different seasonal harvests; knowing which plants are best during which time of the year. When it comes to summer harvests, fragrant-heavy basil and rich, juicy tomatoes are big stars. These two plants love the heat and can often be grown together, but that’s not …
Ground beef is one of the most versatile meats. Whether you cook it with pasta or toss it into a salad, you have so many options to choose from. If you are stuck trying to figure out how to use all the ground beef you’ve stocked in your freezer, these are excellent options for cooking …
Figuring out what to make for dinner can be a challenge. You’ve got your tried and true recipes, but you don’t want to wear them out. When looking for new dinner dishes to try, a good rule of thumb is to start with proven ingredients, ones that always make a dish taste better. Butter and …
Are you out of ideas when your family asks you what you’re cooking for dinner? There is a reason chicken is one of the most common meats used for dinner dishes. For one, chicken is tasty. It also offers versatility, so you can create a variety of dishes even if you limit yourself to skillet …
Summer days can be full of afternoons spent at the pool, parties with friends, yard work, and long warm evenings. With all that fun going on, who wants to spend time in the kitchen, standing over a stove, preparing dinner for the family? After all, someone may have just started a campfire and smores will …
“Carnitas” , directly translated from Spanish, means “little meats.” Carnitas is a Mexican pork dish that features shredded pork cooked a long time until the meat is very tender. The meat is cooked in a sauce with classical Mexican seasonings and citrusy juices. Often, cuts of pork like pork shoulder and pork butt are chosen …
When you have a family, it can be annoying to try to cook dinner. This kid loves mushrooms, but his sister gags at the thought of them. Your son may eat anything spicy, but your wife doesn’t care for hot things at all. You may love piling veggies on everything, but the kids turn up …
Fresh is the main word that most people will use to describe this recipe. The flavor of the pesto is what makes the dish. Eating basil is like eating summer sunshine, and pesto is basically a mixture of pureed basil and olive oil. We used canned tomatoes for this recipe just for convenience. However, if …
If you have never heard of gozleme, you are definitely not alone. While Turkish food is delicious, many people have never eaten some of the wonderful recipes that Turkish people prefer. Gozleme is a kind of stuffed turnover. Generally, layers of pastry are stuffed with veggies, meat, and lots of spices. The pastry is wrapped …
Everyone needs a collection of recipes that are low prep and easy to clean up. This recipe for Sheet Pan Chicken Pitas is one such recipe. While you do have to marinate the chicken for about half an hour, most of the time that this recipe takes is sitting and waiting for the chicken to …
Enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, and fajitas–there are so many options when you decide to eat Mexican food that it can be hard to know the differences. If you are curious about the differences between these popular Mexican dishes, read on. Does your family love going to the local Mexican restaurant to enjoy special dishes like enchiladas, …
Cajun cooking has a reputation for bringing hearty meals to the table that are inexpensive and still tasty. However, there is more to Cajun culture and food than just red beans and rice and Jambalaya. The Cajun culture has roots that go back to the 18th century in Eastern Canada. Wonderfully simple and featuring the …
Cuban sandwiches are often forgotten in favor of sub sandwiches, but that does not mean we should accept that. Cuban sandwiches are delicious, especially when they are made with homemade bread. If you are ready to try out some Cuban sandwiches for yourself, these are some of the dishes you should try out. 1. Start …
Ground beef is a popular meat choice for dinner. This meat option is versatile, tasty, and can be made into a variety of cuisine styles. It is also one of the more inexpensive types of beef that you can buy. Whether you want tacos, spaghetti, soup, or something else, ground beef can make it happen …
In past generations, pork chops were a kind of meat that you served when you wanted a tender, juicy piece of meat to cook for dinner. Pigs were bred to have plenty of fat marbled through the muscle to provide moisture and tenderness when you fried a pork chop. However, as Americans became more conscious …
The crockpot, or more common term slow cooker, has to be one of the best food preparation inventions ever. It lets me make everything all in one pot throughout the day while I am doing other things. I do not even have to be home. How great is that? Not only that, but the food …
Knowing how to make stir-fry that you enjoy, there’s the key, gives you a simple, healthy food option that requires just a few ingredients and steps to complete. The following recipes have the same Asian theme; however, they vary slightly regarding the ingredients, preparation, and cooking methods. A Chicken Stir Fry recipe with excellent instructions …
Although there are many recipes for other meats, chicken is one of the most versatile proteins we add to our recipe list. It comprises dark and light-colored meat and is low in fat. We can cook chicken in various ways, and country cooks from every part of the world have a favorite recipe. Mine is …
If we can’t cook anything else, the one thing you’re guaranteed to not spoil is sausage and spaghetti. After all, there are so many variations to preparing them we’ve all created a recipe or two without noticing. Now it doesn’t have to be an Italian dish, especially since pasta is made in so many places …
Cottage Pie is a classic Irish recipe. Some people may read the recipe and think, “Hey, isn’t this the same as Shepherd’s Pie?” The recipes are quite similar. However, the biggest difference between the two casseroles is that traditional Shepherd’s Pie is made with ground lamb or mutton, and Cottage Pie is made from ground …
Tacos are a perennial kid favorite dinner, but for the adults in the family, they can get just a bit old. Fortunately, the flavors and textures of tacos can be served in a variety of menu items. To change up Taco Tuesday, you can serve burritos, fajitas, or enchiladas. Most kids like these things just …
The funniest day in sociology was when we learned about how important beans and rice are in our everyday life. Along with learning about food as part of world cultures, we also discovered having a sociology degree meant earning an income meager enough to make you live off of rice and beans. Much to their …
Pan frying is a meat cooking technique that many people may be unfamiliar with, especially since modern cooks prefer methods of cooking chicken that are lower in fat. Yet, our grandmothers were very familiar with pan frying and used it often for chicken, pork chops, and other breaded meat. With this method, a thin layer …
Made similarly to a meatball or meatloaf, Polish Hamburgers feature various seasonings to take these meat patties to a more interesting place. Particularly, the inclusion of dill gives the flavors of these Polish Hamburgers an unusual, distinctive, tangy twist. Rich and filling with tasty, tender hamburger patties and the umami flavor of sauteed mushrooms smothered …
Chicken and rice are two things that seem to pair very well together. These two foods have fairly mild flavors which make them the perfect ingredients to experiment with various flavors and textures. Chicken and rice can go with Asian cuisine, like in stir-fry. It can also be a plain basic dish as in a …
This recipe is a great make ahead meal to cook on the weekend for weekday lunches. If you do this, be sure to store the rice, chicken and cucumber salad separately from one another. Otherwise, the salad will make the other ingredients slimy. Keep these in the refrigerator in tightly covered containers for up to …
Made from wheat flour and water, most people associate pasta with the European nation of Italy. However, the earliest creators of pasta were actually the Chinese. Archeologists have found evidence of pasta making from the Shang Dynasty which occurred between 1700-1100 BC. And while Marco Polo claimed that he brought pasta back in 1295 from …
What could go better with tomatoes and basil than cheese and pasta? This amazing combination is something that the Italians got right. Our recipe for Creamy Basil Tomato Pasta uses both. Additionally, our recipe makes things pretty easy for you by using frozen ravioli. You can choose whether you want cheese stuffed ravioli or meat …
An all-American side dish, baked beans originated with the Native Americans who lived in the New England area of the United States. The native people grew beans every summer, let them dry for winter storage, and later cooked the beans topped with maple syrup. New England colonists learned this cooking method from the Native Americans …
Making pizza dough is one of my latest baking obsessions. I have gone through four pounds of this super fancy Italian flour, and I’m trying a new kind already. I want to spend less money, so the idea of making my own pizza pans out financially. They sell hand stretched mozzarella here locally, for only …
There’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the origin of the Sloppy Joe sandwich. But if there’s one thing that remains true, it’s that we need to thank whoever invented this. Sloppy Joes are an American staple. If you’re not making them, you’re buying them, and many restaurants across the country have them …
Everyone probably has a bag of frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts in the freezer or refrigerator. This kind of chicken is popular because it cooks quickly, is a good source of protein, is low in fat, and is relatively inexpensive. That is the good news about boneless skinless chicken breasts. The bad news is that …
How many times have you come around to the dinner table only to want something comforting, warm, and complete in a single casserole dish? Welcome to the world of casserole cravings. We have the recipes you need to meet these with these ground beef casserole recipes as part of our weekly recipe roundup. Save yourself …
While Chicken Parmesan was not created in Italy, it has its foundation there. Growing up in an Italian household, I am no stranger to Chicken Parmesan. What is there not to love when combining chicken and cheese as a base for a dish. There are many variations of this dish; some many have not considered. …
If you’ve got chicken in the fridge or freezer, you may be looking for new and interesting ways to prepare it. If you and your family love Mexican-inspired meals, salsa chicken is the perfect dinner entree. It’s low-carb, high-protein, and features all the flavors you love in chicken tacos. Here are a few chicken salsa …
Shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie as some call it) could be the very definition of comfort food. It’s the type of dish that when you eat, would transport you to your very best memories with your grandma, who made it especially for you, and you have nothing else to worry about except when the next …
A good single-dish meal needs to have enough bulk to be filling and enough flavor to not be boring. Lasagna hits all of those marks, so you should take the time to learn the basics of making one. This lasagna recipe roundup includes versions that are close to the traditional form and variations that are …
This recipe for Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet is loaded with vegetables, and it features the favorite veggies that are typically included in Mexican fare. If you have a hard time getting veggies into your kids, they will probably not even notice the vegetables in this recipe. Our recipe for Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet …
All Dinners | Beef | Chicken | Pork | Pasta | Rice | Potatoes | Casseroles |
It’s the question asked in every household around the world every single day, “What’s for dinner?” If you’re like most families, the question is often up in the air until someone goes and looks through the fridge or pantry to see what’s available. If you’re more of a planner, perhaps you meal prepped or have a schedule of what’s going on with your groceries.
In an effort to have a more diverse menu, I’ve developed a schedule so that I can try a wild variety of meals and have that question answered at least a week in advance. That, of course, comes after years of being tired of looking aimlessly in the cabinets and having to go to the store a few times a week.
To help pass on the tools to have a more reticent schedule, here are some dinner dishes that will provide you with some inspiration! To be better organized, I’m going to separate them into popular types of cuisine.
There are plenty of videos online where people from around the world try American snacks or American versions of cultural dishes. It never goes well. If our food doesn’t taste like real food, it’s a far cry from what the dish is supposed to taste like. It’s kind of embarrassing, as an American.
However, there is one takeaway we can get from those videos and it’s about catering to American tastes. We’re guilty of over-cheesing Mexican food, under spicing Indian food, and breaking our Italian noodles before putting them in the pot. That’s similar to saying we like extra cheese, not too spicy, and easier to grab items.
So, it makes sense that the most American food is hotdogs. There’s more to us, though, than fast and easy food. With that being said, here are some good dishes that America can be associated with.
Just hearing the name makes me want to grab a sweater. Clam chowder has become synonymous with New England and chilly days. The mix of clam, potato, cream, herbs, and more has become a staple of the coastal region. Many have taken that idea and spread it across the US with their own versions of the now-famous favorite.
Growing up in the south, I can almost taste the thick, buttery biscuits smothered in sausage gravy as I write about it. This became a massive favorite of southerners during the depression. Flour can go a long way and using the grease from the sausage can make your gravy last longer. The gravy is almost sort of brown when mixed with freshly fried sausage. Then, pouring it over those biscuits is basically asking for a nap. Thanks to the carb overload, this is not the dish you’d have before a busy day at work.
I say Texas and not just BBQ because the USA does not have a monopoly on BBQ. To be fair, there are plenty of BBQ varieties within our borders. Two of the most well-known are probably Texas and Kansas City. I’ve had both. I grew up in a place where our BBQ restaurant was probably most similar in flavor to Texas barbecue. So, there’s likely a regional bias. However, the few times I’ve had Kansas City BBQ, there is too much of one flavor that makes it not sit well.
However, if you think Texas doesn’t have the best, you haven’t tried Texas BBQ. The secret might be the smokiness mixed with a sweet twang. It’s the best and everyone should try the beef brisket before they die.
African Americans have had a long tradition of making scrumptious dishes that are put together with love and planning. Soul food has the gift of bringing everyone together. The story starts when Africans were taken from their homelands and forced into slavery once they arrived in America.
They brought recipes over in their hearts and made an effort to keep those ties alive through cooking with what ingredients they had access to. What developed are dishes rich in greens, proteins, and delectable carbs.
Grits are an ingredient that stumps many people. When made incorrectly, they can be bland and grainy. When made right, they will be a delight. The soul mix with shrimp and a litany of flavors takes grits to new heights. You can also expect to bite into garlic, Cajun seasoning, green onions, and bacon.
If you’ve never experienced out-of-the-box macaroni and cheese, you are surely missing out. There’s much more vibrancy to the homemade kind that you might not ever go back to store-bought. The noodles used here are fat elbow noodles and a variety of cheese that melts like butter over them. You can even use the oven and turn it into a casserole with breadcrumbs on top.
This is a process. Like grits, if they aren’t cooked right they will come out bitter and grainy. Collards that are cooked for a long time on a low setting makes for the most tender greens. While they’re softening, it’s common to have ham that cooks right along with the collards. The pork provides a heartiness to the sauce, as do the garlic, onion, pepper, and vinegar.
Since Mexico once extended up through what is now the United States, it’s not surprising that their food has resonated with us. Texan soldiers in the 1800s continuously came in contact with the spicy flavors and carried that love with them back home. The cuisine got onto the world stage in Chicago of all places. It was in 1893 during the Colombian Exposition that people from far and wide got to try some new foods that packed a punch.
For this dish, you typically expect a few together. They are long corn tortillas stuffed with a mix of things like meat, cilantro, and onions. The enchilada is seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and garlic. The spice level can be up to preference but you will want to dip the tortillas in a red space so the flavor can soak through. Top with cheese and sour cream.
For years as a teenager, I looked forward to going to my favorite restaurant and getting fajitas on my birthday. It was a tiny location run by a couple who moved from Mexico to my hometown with the goal of sharing their food with America. I can remember vividly the sizzling of the mini skillet with the beef still cooking on it as it came around the corner to my table. Also in the skillet were onions and peppers, which I would put in the tortilla with the beef strips, refried beans, rice, sour cream, tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce.
Have a glass of milk nearby, this one can get spicy. It is, after all, a stuffed pepper. Inside that pepper is often beef or chicken and cheese. Once stuffed, the pepper is rolled in flour and fried until golden brown.
Carbs have never tasted so good. One thing we’re blessed to have is a melting pot of cultures. Italian food has long delighted the senses of many, whether you’ve had a chance to eat pasta on the rooftop of a villa in Italy or not.
Around since the 1300s, lasagna was once the food of special events and holidays. It was especially beloved due to the cheesy dish being introduced during the darkest days of the bubonic plague. Now, we eat it whenever we can because it’s a hearty meal. Lasagna will cause you to change into comfier clothes.
The favorite Italian dish is also quite easy as it’s all about layering. There’s tomato sauce, ground beef, Italian seasoning, noodles and three types of cheeses in a repeated pattern. Cut into a square when served.
For less tomato, here’s a protein-heavy dish with a creamier sauce. Here, we have a thin-cut chicken breast that’s lightly breaded and pan-fried. Then, everything is sauteed together in lemon butter sauce with capers, mushrooms, and pancetta. Served over fettucini.
This is another savory dinner item that will have you full for the rest of the evening. You start with veal sauteed in marsala wine sauce. Add in the mushrooms and onions, then serve with vermicelli.
Alright, we’re getting a bit healthier here. Mediterranean is so much so on the lighter side that an entire diet is named after the cuisine. Of course, that’s not every entree, but superfoods and vegetables are a big part of how the flavors are put together to make something special.
Who needs the carbs when you have a stick that works better than a bun? Kebabs are loved all over the Mediterranean and Middle East. On a skewer is a combination of meat and vegetables that are roasted until they are soft and singed on the edges. Traditionally, you can expect lamb with peppers and onions.
This is the type of platter where you can grab a piece of naan and scoop it up before shoving it in your mouth. Since it’s a rice dish, it digests slower and keeps you unable to walk for a while. It’s worth it, though. To make this, have short and long-grained rice ready. Mix in the grilled chicken and ground beef to start and then add onions, pine nuts, and season with cinnamon.
I’ve mentioned layering as a delicious way to get more of the best stuff and this is the Mediterranean version of that. Instead of layering with noodles, though, moussaka is eggplant, lamb, and tomatoes. It’s all baked together like a casserole. I feel fortunate to have had this many times and it just never gets old.
As we move into Asia, our pallettes are going to be so grateful for a new range of ingredients that will kick it up a notch. That’s really the beauty of trying new things, getting to go around the world without leaving the dinner table.
The first Chinese restaurants in the states debuted in San Francisco around 1849. Since then, several dishes have been attributed to China but aren’t actually from there, such as General Tso’s chicken or egg rolls.
One of the tastiest dishes is also a lot of fun. Dim sum is often served in steamy baskets. When you take off the lid, you get to see several dumplings. Only the freshest ingredients are hidden inside these steaming piles of goodness. They take a long time to put together, but you feel better physically after eating one. I’m not getting specific about what’s inside of dim sum because there are over 100 kinds. Try a new one each time you have dim sum so you can find your favorite flavor.
Speaking of dumplings, wontons are small dumplings used in soup. There’s less inside and the outside layer itself is more delicate. Usually boiled with broth, inside is shrimp or even pork. There might even be little bits of veggies wrapped up together with the meat as well.
This soup goes well by itself or in addition to a heartier entree.
This Chinese dish was invented by a woman who was cooking for a group of laborers. The food was spoiling too quickly. So she figured out how to make Chow Mein noodles, which lasted longer. If you’ve ever enjoyed takeout, you know these reheat better than other types of noodles.
Chow Mein isn’t only noodles, however. A complete dish will include meat, onions, and celery. There might be even more ingredients but not by too many. These aromatics complement the noodles, not take them over.