Spend less time over the stove and more time bundled up this winter when you make these easy recipes. Each dish comes together in just 30 minutes or less, and they’re packed with hearty winter produce like carrots, broccoli, leafy greens and cauliflower for a satisfying and delicious meal. Plus, EatingWell readers have visited these meals repeatedly and ranked them with four- and five-star reviews. Recipes like our One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo and Lemon-Roasted Salmon with Green Herb Sauce make for a fan-favorite dinner you’re sure to love.
Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
This spaghetti-squash-for-pasta swap slashes both carbs and calories by 75% for a delicious, creamy casserole you can feel good about eating. It’s worth roasting the squash versus cooking it in the microwave if you have the time: the flavor gets sweeter and more intense.
One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This creamy orzo with white beans and sun-dried tomatoes is the ultimate weeknight winner, ready in just 30 minutes! This comforting dish combines tender orzo, protein-packed white beans and tangy sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy garlic-and-herb cheese sauce. This one-pot meal is both quick and satisfying, perfect for those busy evenings when you want something hearty without the hassle.
Creamy Garlic-Parmesan Butter Beans
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Craig Huff, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
These creamy garlic-Parmesan butter beans are a quick and comforting plant-based dinner. Velvety butter beans are simmered in broth with plenty of garlic and Parmesan cheese, creating a rich and flavorful stew-like dinner. Served with crusty bread for dipping, it’s the perfect cozy meal to whip up on a busy evening—hearty, warm and utterly delicious.
Lemon-Roasted Salmon with Green Herb Sauce
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This roasted lemon salmon is a bright and easy dinner with plenty of fresh flavors. The star of the dish is the vibrant green herb sauce, made with fresh parsley and dill; it adds a burst of freshness that complements the fish beautifully. It’s a quick, healthy meal that feels elegant enough for entertaining but simple enough for a weeknight dinner when you pair it with a salad.
Baked Brie, Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Creamy, melted Brie creates a velvety sauce that fills in the ridges of fusilli pasta, ensuring the sauce clings to every bite, while Parmesan cheese adds nutty, savory depth. Sun-dried tomatoes bring a tangy sweetness that balances the richness. Add a hint of heat with a little crushed red pepper, plus wilted spinach for earthy notes and nutrients, and you’ve got a balanced dish that feels both hearty and refined.
Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This sick-day chicken noodle soup, packed with tender chicken, warm broth and soft noodles, is designed to soothe and nourish when you’re feeling under the weather. The combination of tender chicken breast, ginger and garlic boosts flavor, while the warm broth helps clear congestion and keep you hydrated.
Broccoli Melts
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
These broccoli-cheese melts combine crisp-tender broccoli with a layer of melted cheese inside two crispy pieces of bread for a sandwich that’s rich and creamy. These 20-minute cheese melts are the ultimate comfort food—satisfying and packed with that cheesy goodness everyone loves.
Crispy Orange Cauliflower
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Craig Ruff, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This crispy orange cauliflower is a plant-based twist on the classic Chinese American dish, orange chicken. It features cauliflower florets coated in a light, crispy batter, fried until crispy and then tossed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce. Enjoy it as an appetizer or serve it over steamed brown rice with stir-fried tofu and veggies for a vibrant, wholesome meal.
Crispy Tempeh Steaks with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
This plant-based twist on Marry Me Chicken uses tempeh instead of chicken, providing a gut-friendly fiber boost. Choose “original” tempeh to make sure your “steaks” are free from added flavorings.
Broccoli-Pesto Pasta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner idea. The flavorful oil they’re packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce.
General Tso’s Cauliflower
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
This plant-based version of General Tso’s chicken is the perfect weeknight meal, swapping chicken for cauliflower with a boost of vibrant green color and gut-healthy fiber coming from edamame. Serve it over brown rice or whole-wheat noodles to sop up any leftover sauce.
Garlic-Butter Mushroom Steaks
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jasmine Smith, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
Garlic-butter mushroom steaks are a savory and delicious plant-based dish perfect for mushroom lovers and steak enthusiasts alike. We pair juicy portobello mushroom “steaks” with a buttery garlic sauce flavored with rosemary, for a mouthwatering combination that’s sure to impress. Swap out the rosemary for another woody herb like sage or thyme for a different twist.
Marry Me Chicken & Spaghetti
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This “marry me” chicken pasta adds spaghetti and spinach to the beloved flavor combination and will have you saying “I do” in no time. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty here, with the flavorful oil they’re packed in being used to sauté the onion and chicken while the tomatoes go into the cream sauce.
Spiced Cauliflower & Whipped Ricotta Pitas
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Spiced cauliflower bites sit atop a bright and nutty walnut spread layered with creamy whipped ricotta in this delicious open-face sandwich. The cauliflower bites are seasoned with shawarma seasoning, a complex Middle Eastern spice blend that can include cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric and more.
Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes & Broccolini
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Chicken thighs and sweet potato get crispy in the oven while broccolini roasts alongside in a foil packet for even cooking and easy cleanup.
Sheet-Pan Beef & Cabbage Noodles
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This stir-fry comes together in only 20 minutes on one baking sheet under the broiler. The trick to a perfect sheet-pan stir-fry is making sure your ingredients are spread out well on the pan so everything cooks evenly.
Chickpeas alla Vodka
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This dish is the ultra-quick, fiber-packed dinner you’ve been waiting for! Chickpeas are swimming in a creamy vodka sauce that gets enhancements from sautéed garlic, onion and vibrant green baby kale. Crispy, toasted whole-wheat bread is perfect for dipping. You can customize this dish easily by using chard or spinach in place of kale.
Udon Noodle Soup with Buttery Tomato Broth
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
The scents of cinnamon and star anise add big flavors to this quick soup. Butter adds body and a silky texture. Fresh udon noodles take only a few minutes to cook, but dry udon noodles work well here too. There’s no need to strain the broth to remove the spices. You can simply remove the spices with a slotted spoon when you pour the broth over the noodles, if desired.
Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese
This rich, yet healthy, chili comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don’t have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This creamy soup captures the essence of spinach-artichoke dip perfectly. A touch of lemon juice adds a refreshing zing. Mop up every last bit with a hearty slice of whole-grain country bread or garnish the soup with crushed pita chips for extra crunch.
Sheet-Pan Gnocchi with Broccoli & White Beans
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This effortless dish comes together on two baking sheets for easy preparation and a fast cleanup. A blend of lemon and broccoli mixes with tender gnocchi and rich cannellini beans, all brought together with a generous drizzle of olive oil. For an added protein boost, toss in some shrimp or flaked cooked salmon.
Creamy Balsamic Chicken & Mushroom Skillet
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
The sauce in this creamy balsamic chicken and mushroom skillet strikes the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The shallots, garlic and thyme add aroma and flavor to the dish. Thin-cut chicken cutlets are key for getting dinner on the table quickly.
Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccoli
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd. It’s ideal for making use of any leftover chicken and rice you have on hand. If you’re short on leftovers, a rotisserie chicken paired with a package of microwaveable brown rice is a good substitute.
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Brussels Sprouts & Artichokes
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
The creamy white wine-garlic sauce helps blend artichokes and shaved Brussels sprouts together with nutty whole-wheat pasta in this quick dinner. If you opt for pre-packaged shaved sprouts, note that they might be on the thicker side, requiring a few extra minutes of cooking time.
Creamy Mushroom Soup with Sherry
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This quick creamy mushroom soup is loaded with earthy wild mushrooms enhanced by the flavor of dry sherry. To keep prep to a minimum, look for sliced wild mushrooms in packages, or slice your own using whatever combination you prefer.
