Super-Easy Meals Your Dinner Guests Will Rave About
Deceptively easy, these company-worthy dinner ideas come to the table in 45 minutes or less
Elaine Johnson
Annabelle Breakey
1 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)
Fresh herbs and a handful of seasonings are all you need to create the memorable, spicy-tart flavors in this creamy Southeast Asian dish.
Recipe: Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)
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Iain Bagwell
2 of 17 Iain Bagwell
Grilled Chicken Pita Salad
Give chicken breasts a little char, then slice and toss with salty feta and kalamata olives, fresh tomatoes and asparagus, crunchy pita chips, and a tangy lemon-fresh oregano vinaigrette.
Recipe: Grilled Chicken Pita Salad
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Annabelle Breakey
3 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Almond-Crusted Chicken
A Sunset reader gave good-old chicken fingers the deluxe treatment by coating them in a little soy sauce and cornstarch and plenty of almonds, then shallow-frying them until crunchy.
Recipe: Almond-Crusted Chicken
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Annabelle Breakey
4 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Korean Kimchi Burgers
We loaded these burgers with exciting flavors, from the garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in the patties to the chili mayo and fresh napa cabbage “kimchi” relish that goes on top. If you’re in a hurry, feel free to sub in a jar of store-bought kimchi for the relish.
Recipe: Korean Kimchi Burgers
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Erin Kunkel
5 of 17 Erin Kunkel
Rib-Eye Steaks with Pistachio Butter and Asparagus
If you want to eat well, and simply, start with great ingredients. Few recipes make the point better than fat, juicy asparagus and beautifully marbled steak turned on the grill for a little smoky flavor, then dolloped generously with a roasted nut butter.
Recipe: Rib-Eye Steaks with Pistachio Butter and Asparagus
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Annabelle Breakey
6 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Chorizo-Beef Nachos
For a meal-worthy (and splurge-worthy) version of the Mexican appetizer, top chips with a meaty salsa sauce, seasoned black beans, and plenty of cheese. Bake until the cheese is nice and melty; then add shredded lettuce and a flavorful homemade guac.
Recipe: Chorizo-Beef Nachos
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Annabelle Breakey
7 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
California-Style Bibimbap
This healthy vegetarian rice-bowl meal features wilted kale, fried eggs, and avocado, jazzed up with a generous drizzle of soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce.
Recipe: California-Style Bibimbap
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Iain Bagwell
8 of 17 Iain Bagwell
Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach
Here’s a recipe for the short list. With ingredients that come mostly from the pantry, it’s healthy, inexpensive, and vegetarian, and the exciting mix of spices never fails to please.
Recipe: Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach
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Annabelle Breakey
9 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Speedy Huevos Rancheros
Talk about a comfort-food supper: Fried eggs and tortillas meet creamy refried beans with a shower of salty cheese, zesty green onions, and Mexican oregano.
Recipe: Speedy Huevos Rancheros
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Annabelle Breakey
10 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Spinach Mushroom Pasta
A generous hand with mushrooms makes this vegetarian dish both filling and “meaty.” Cream cheese and a little milk cooked with the mushrooms help create a clingy, velvety sauce without the need for a separate pan.
Recipe: Spinach Mushroom Pasta
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Erin Kunkel
11 of 17 Erin Kunkel
Kasha with Kale and Pancetta
With the rise in gluten-free diets, earthy, nutty-tasting kasha—a.k.a. hulled and roasted buckwheat groats—is available in lots of mainstream grocery stores. We like the whole grain tossed with browned pancetta, kale, and lemon zest, and then topped with a fried egg.
Recipe: Kasha with Kale and Pancetta
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Iain Bagwell
12 of 17 Iain Bagwell
Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears
Split pork chops make meaty pockets for blue cheese rolled in hazelnuts. Give them a quick sear; then bake them with pears and fresh thyme.
Recipe: Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears
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James Baigrie
13 of 17 James Baigrie
Pork Chops with Mustard, Rosemary, and Capers
Cookbook author Joanne Weir creates a quick and satisfying sauce for browned pork chops by reducing chicken broth with briny capers and mustard.
Recipe: Pork Chops with Mustard, Rosemary, and Capers
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Annabelle Breakey
14 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Indian-Spiced Lamb Kebabs
Two seasoning blends—curry powder and garam masala—add plenty of complexity to the meat and vegetables without the need to measure out a dozen spices.
Recipe: Indian-Spiced Lamb Kebabs
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Annabelle Breakey
15 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Shrimp, Ancho Chile, and Pasta Soup (Sopa Seca de Camarones y Fideos)
This Mexican noodle soup starts with vermicelli that’s browned in oil, then simmered with chiles and broth until tender. We added shrimp and avocado to make it filling as well as delicious.
Recipe: Shrimp, Ancho Chile, and Pasta Soup (Sopa Seca de Camarones y Fideos)
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Annabelle Breakey
16 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Broiled Salmon and Asparagus with Crème Fra?che
Sheet-pan suppers like this one have been all the rage for good reason: Because everything cooks together, the juices mingle, making the ingredients more flavorful--and clean-up is minimal.
Recipe: Broiled Salmon and Asparagus with Crème Fra?che
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Annabelle Breakey
17 of 17 Annabelle Breakey
Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté
If you keep a jar of mango relish in your pantry or fridge and a bag of shrimp in the freezer, a special last-minute dinner can come together in a hurry.
Recipe: Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté
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