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Main Dish Recipes

Browse easy main dish recipes perfect for weeknight dinners, family meals, and comforting homemade cooking. From chicken dinners, beef recipes, pasta dishes, casseroles, soups, skillet meals, and protein-packed favorites to cozy comfort food classics, this collection is full of approachable recipes made for real life.

Whether you need a quick weeknight dinner, a hearty family meal, or a crowd-pleasing comfort-food favorite, these main dish recipes bring big flavor without complicated cooking.

Reader Favorites: One-Pan Skillet Lasagna, One-Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice, Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo, Ground Beef Stroganoff

  • bowl of creamy bolognese tossed with pappardelle pasta and garnished with basil leaves
    Creamy Bolognese Sauce
  • peanut noodles with cilantro and chopsticks
    Thai Peanut Noodles
  • French onion meatballs served over a bed of butter egg noodles
    French Onion Meatballs
  • salmon coconut curry in a large cast iron skillet
    Thai Red Curry Salmon
  • Creamy chicken stew with dumplings
    Chicken Stew With Biscuits
  • soy ginger salmon served with roasted bok choy, garnished with cilantro, green onion, and sesame seeds
    Soy Ginger Salmon
  • Instant Pot Carnitas tacos
    Instant Pot Carnitas
  • This is a picture of braised pork shoulder in a dutch oven with the cooked apple slices. There is fresh sage, thyme, and parsley on the side.
    Braised Pork Shoulder
  • instant pot taco chicken with jalapenos, radish, cheese, lettuce, lime, salsa, avocado garnishes
    Instant Pot Taco Chicken
  • chicken caesar salad wraps on a serving plate with a bottle of pellegrino, extra dressing, and garnishes
    Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
  • this is a picture of instant pot pot roast served over the top of cooked carrots and potatoes with a light beef gravy and garnished with parsley and flaky sea salt
    Instant Pot Beef Roast
  • crispy chicken thigh in a bed of rice
    One-Pot Chicken and Rice
  • this is a picture of a roasted prime rib on a white serving platter with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs as a garnish
    Roasted Prime Rib
  • this is a picture of a sushi bowl with pickled onions and radish, salmon, avocado and a green onion garnish with a side of spicy sriracho mayo
    Salmon Sushi Bowls
  • chicken burritio bowls with avocado lime dressing and garnished with tomatoes, cilantro, black beans, and chilis
    Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls
  • this is a picture of a ground beef taco bowl with avocado slices, cotija cheese, and pico de gallo in a large gray bowl
    Taco Bowls
  • bacon-wrapped meatloaf feature image
    Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf
  • This is a bowl of shrimp and okra gumbo.
    Easy Shrimp and Okra Gumbo
  • This is a picture of a plate of Ravioli Lasagna, garnished with fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese.
    Lazy Ravioli Lasagna
  • plate of instant pot mustard cream with orzo with parmesan wedge and serving platter nearby
    Creamy Chicken Orzo
  • ground beef stroganoff in a large braiser, garnished with chives and thyme
    Homemade Hamburger Helper Stroganoff
  • Asian spring roll bowls with noodles
    Spring Roll Bowls
  • hamburger steak
    Hamburger Steak With Gravy
  • smoked st. louis style ribs for a backyard bbq menu
    Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs
  • Pot Roast French Onion
    French Onion Pot Roast
  • chicken gyro bowls with avocado, cucumber, tzatziki and fresh herbs
    Chicken Gyro Bowls
  • Simple creamy Indian butter chicken, a comfort food classic
    Creamy Butter Chicken
  • chicken and potatoes featured image
    Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
  • sheet pan pork tenderloin with roasted tomatoes, asparagus, and chimichurri
    Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin
  • sheet pan shrimp fajitas
    Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
  • a roasted pork tenderloin sandwich, cut in half, with avocado, bacon, veggies on a plate with a side of dill pickle potato chips - for back to school recipe roundup
    Roasted Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
  • close up of roasted chicken with caramelized lemon, garlic, and onion
    Crispy Roasted Chicken
  • Easy chicken skillet with cauliflower, shallot, and a creamy sauce
    Cast Iron Chicken Skillet
  • Korean Beef Bowl
    Korean Beef and Rice Bowls
  • pork banh mi featured image
    Pork Bánh Mì
  • smash tacos feature
    Smash Burger Tacos
  • Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
    Instant Pot Italian Beef
  • Steak Sandwich Baguette
    Steak Sandwich Recipe
  • shrimp tacos feature
    Baja Shrimp Tacos With Crunchy Slaw
  • Salisbury Steak Meatballs With Mushroom Gravy, a comfort food recipe
    Salisbury Steak Meatballs
  • pulled pork tacos featured image
    Asian Pulled Pork Tacos With Crunchy Slaw
  • This is a picture of slow cooker Mexican Beef with tortillas, chips, avocado halves, salsa, shredded cheese, and lime wedges on the side.
    Slow Cooker Mexican Beef

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Rufus in black dress outdoors

Hey, I'm Rufus!

I’m Ruth aka Rufus, your resident pot stirrer and comfort-food enthusiast.

More about me...

A Little Something Sweet

  • This is a picture of a baking dish of cinnamon rolls with one roll removed and sitting on a small white plate
    Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • banana muffins with chocolate chips
    Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Lemon bundt cake with a lemon glaze, garnished with raspberries, black berries, and lemon slices and zest
    Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake
  • cookies and cream cookies
    Cookies and Cream Cookies

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plate of instant pot mustard cream with orzo with parmesan wedge and serving platter nearby