3,986 main dish recipes

Pesto chicken pizza swaps red sauce for a thick swipe of basil pesto, then loads on grilled marinated chicken, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, and bubbling mozzarella. Pizza-night upgrade in 40 minutes.

Indian toor daal pureed smooth, then finished with a tempered tadka of cumin seeds and asafetida in hot oil. Comforting, vegan, and everyday home cooking at its most honest.

Slow-cooker smoked ham simmered in port wine and broth with plump golden raisins. An easy hands-off holiday main with rich, fruity depth.

Beef Panang is a quick Thai curry with beef simmered in creamy coconut milk, red curry paste, and fish sauce, ready in 25 minutes. A weeknight curry with bold heat and sweet balance.

Spicy Thai cold pasta salad with red and green bell peppers, scallions, and toasted black sesame seeds in a hot sesame oil, brown rice vinegar, and mirin dressing. A fast vegetarian potluck salad served chilled.

Peanut noodles toss fresh Chinese flour noodles with a quick peanut butter, chili-garlic paste, and fish sauce sauce. Six ingredients, 20 minutes, proper Southeast Asian flavor.

Steamed shrimp cooked shell-on in a spiced broth with celery, peppers, scallion, and a kick of cayenne. Serve the peel-and-eat shrimp with the cooking liquid for dunking garlic bread. Messy, casual, and fun.

Green chicken chilaquiles casserole: shredded chicken in tangy tomatillo salsa and cream, layered with softened corn tortillas and three Mexican cheeses, then baked bubbling and golden.

Halal-style pot stickers filled with beef and lamb, napa cabbage, scallion, and a hint of orange zest, then pan-fried and steamed for crisp bottoms and tender tops. Pleated, juicy dumplings with a dipping sauce.

Brookfield's meatloaf with Monterey Jack cheese, sourdough bread soaked in milk, and a bold mix of steak sauce, Worcestershire, and Tabasco topped with chili sauce.

San Antonio chile verde with simmered chicken breast, green chiles, tomatoes, and cumin. A Tex-Mex stew brightened with cilantro and a surprising splash of soy sauce for depth.

Triple cheese burgers: stuffed beef patties with cottage cheese and Parmesan inside, simmered in tomato sauce and topped with melted cheese. Retro skillet dinner.

Oven baked herb chicken brushes boneless breasts with a buttery cheese-and-garlic dressing-mix glaze and a squeeze of lemon, then bakes them tender and golden. An easy, pantry-friendly weeknight dinner.

Chicken with porcini mushrooms braised in dry white wine and tomatoes for an earthy Italian-inspired skillet dinner finished with Parmesan.

Roast beef sandwiches simmered in a garlic-lime tomato sauce with green chiles, cumin, and cilantro on whole-wheat rolls. A zippy Southwestern-style leftover makeover ready in 25 minutes.

French country chicken: pounded chicken breasts sautéed and topped with a light shallot and mushroom pan sauce built with white wine, chicken broth, and fresh rosemary. Ready in under 30 minutes, no cream.