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Main Dishes

“Hunger is the best sauce in the world.”

— Cervantes

“What’s for dinner??”  Ah, the ages-old question, and one that can be frustrating at times!

This is a collection of my best main dishes—lunch and dinner recipes for every kind of day.  From fancy dinner parties to a 30-minute weeknight meal, and from super healthy to indulgent, these recipes will become part of your regular rotation.

Easy & Flavorful Marinated White Beans

Creamy Curried Carrot Soup

Lebanese Hushwee (Fragrant, Spiced Ground Beef with Toasted Pine Nuts)

Healthy, Spicy Fish Soup (great for liver detox, gut health protocol, etc)

The Best Pan-Seared Stovetop Salmon…& How To Cook Salmon Without Oil

Lemon Chili Basil Crispy Chickpeas with Charred Zucchini

Sweet Potato “Toast” with Guacamole & Chili-Lime Black Beans

10-Minute Spiced Chickpea Scramble

Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken Shawarma

Super Easy & Healthy “Loaded” Thai Chicken Salad

The Easiest, Juiciest Poached Chicken (& How to Shred Chicken in 10 Seconds)

“Cauliflower Cake”: A Healthy, Unique Vegetarian Dish

The Crispiest Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

Ottolenghi’s Yogurt & Pea Pasta with Feta, Basil, & Chile Pine Nuts

The Best Easy Pizza Dough (for Grilling & More)

Comforting Thai Khao Soi with Chicken

Simple, Traditional Cacio e Pepe Pasta

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto with Fresh Basil

Grilled Sourdough Bread with Whipped Ricotta & Toppings

Pesto Goat Cheese Pasta with Zucchini

Egg Casserole with Salmon, Goat Cheese, & Veggies

Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta with Veggies

The Best, Simple Burrata Caprese Salad

Authentic Ligurian Trofie Pasta by Hand (with Fresh Pesto)

Easy “No-Squeeze” Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Traditional Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Soupy Creamy Golden Rice With Crispy Spiced Chickpeas

30-Minute Mongolian Chicken

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies & Goat Cheese

Amazing & Easy Chicken Shawarma

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos

Amazing Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza

Melty, Cheesy Zucchini Baked Pasta

Salmon & Potato Hash with Fresh Herbs

Chetna’s Easy Chicken Curry

Grilled Zucchini & Corn Pizza with Marinated Feta

One-Skillet Thai Ground Turkey Curry with Rice

Winter Grain & Roasted Vegetable Salad With Balsamic Dressing

Maple-Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potato Hash

Hearty Fall Lentil, Butternut Squash, & Kale Salad

Quick Healthy Thai Chicken Cauliflower Bowl

How to Brine Chicken Breasts: A Secret to Amazing Chicken

How to Make Amazing Grilled Pizza: Techniques, Tips, & Recipe Ideas

Roasted Vegetable & Barley Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

Farro Salad with Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, & Pepitas

Feta & Sweet Potato Hash with Greens

One-Pot Yellow Cauliflower & Chickpea Curry (vegan)

Apricot Balsamic Rosemary Chicken

Roasted Vegetable & Farro Salad with Creamy Shallot Dressing

Baked Whole Wheat Penne with Summer Veggies & Beef

Garlicky Farfalle with Marinated Feta & Arugula

Creamy Oven Risotto with Spinach & Roasted Cauliflower (vegetarian)

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl with Maple Tahini Sauce

Fresh Corn Galette with Goat Cheese, Zucchini, & Thyme

Pakistani Kima

Turkish Red Lentil Soup (gluten-free)

chicken-tikka-masala-overlay

Chicken Tikka Masala (gluten-free)

Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas (gluten-free, vegan)

lemon-shallot-chicken

Lemon Shallot Chicken

beef-cabbage-stir-fry-done

“Crack” Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry

Creamy Sweet Corn & Sausage Pasta

Creamy Sweet Corn & Chicken Sausage Pasta

Chicken with Creamy Feta Sauce

Chicken with Creamy Feta Sauce

one pot kale & quinoa pilaf assembled

One-Pot Kale & Quinoa Pilaf (vegetarian)

Drunken Cheesy Bread

Drunken Cheesy Bread

Massaman Curry with Chicken

Chicken Massaman Curry

Fontina Pasta with Brussels Sprouts & Sage Breadcrumbs

Baked Fontina Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Brussels Sprouts, & Sage Breadcrumbs

Chicken Pasta with Grilled Baby Eggplant & Goat Cheese done

Rigatoni with Grilled Fairytale Eggplant, Tomato, Herbs, & Chicken

Healthy Lemon Almond Chicken Salad

Healthy Lemon Almond Chicken Salad

Grilled Honey Balsamic Chicken cut

Honey & Balsamic Grilled Chicken

Chicken Nachos

Easy Chicken Nachos

Risotto Primavera

Risotto Primavera

Whole30 Avocado Sonoma Chicken Salad done

Whole30 Approved Avocado Sonoma Chicken Salad

Slow Cooker Caramelized Chicken

Slow Cooker Caramelized Chicken

Pasta with Spinach, Tomato, & Feta

Pasta with Tomato, Spinach, & Feta

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Stove-Top Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Balsamic Chicken & Brussels Sprouts done

Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

Chicken Pot Pie with Drop Biscuit Crust 3

Chicken Pot Pie with Drop Biscuit Crust

French Onion Pasta

French Onion Pasta (vegetarian)

Butternut Squash Leek & Parmesan Pasta done

Butternut Squash, Leek, & Parmesan Pasta

Pan Caramelized Salmon

Pan-Caramelized Salmon

easy pad thai

Easy Pad Thai

Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken & Veggies

Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken & Veggies

Heirloom Tomato Risotto finished

Heirloom Tomato Risotto

Pasta with Fresh Sweet Corn Pesto

Pasta with Fresh Sweet Corn Pesto

30-Minute Mongolian Beef

30-Minute Mongolian Beef

Traditional Spanish Tortilla done

Traditional Spanish Tortilla

Herbed Goat Cheese & Spring Pea Tart

Herbed Goat Cheese Tart with Spring Peas

Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata done

Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata

Dynamite Grilled Chicken

Roasted Salmon with Shallots & Tomatoes finished

Roasted Salmon with Tomatoes & Shallots

Kale & Walnut Pesto with Whole Wheat Pasta

Kale & Walnut Pesto with Whole Wheat Pasta

Creamy Sweet Potato Pasta with Crispy Kale done

Creamy Sweet Potato Pasta with Crispy Kale

Rosemary & Garlic Roasted Salmon

Garlic & Rosemary Roasted Salmon

Coq au Riesling with Mashed Potatoes

Coq au Riesling

My Chili

My Own Special Chili

Hungarian Mushroom Soup from Souper Jenny

Souper Jenny’s Hungarian Mushroom Soup

Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash, Kale, & Sausage

Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash, Kale, & Chicken Sausage

shepherds pie with carrot goat cheese mash in pan

Carrot, Parsnip, & Goat Cheese Mash Shepherd’s Pie

Mom's Awesome Lasagna

Mom’s Famous Lasagna

Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash & Citrus Honey Dressing

Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash & Citrus Honey Dressing

Butternut Squash & Sage Lasagna

Butternut Squash & Sage Lasagna

Super Easy Sesame Chicken

Baked Pasta with Broccolini Kale & Chicken Sausage

Baked Pasta with Sausage, Broccolini, & Kale

Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon

Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon

Roasted Veggie Mac & Cheese

Whole Wheat Roasted Veggie Mac & Cheese

Crockpot Beer Chicken

Easy Crockpot Beer Chicken

Beet Leek & Feta Fritatta

Frittata with Beets, Leeks, & Feta (vegetarian)

Creamy Charred Corn & Leek Fettuccine close

Creamy Charred Corn & Leek Fettuccine (vegetarian)

Soy Glazed Grilled Salmon

Sesame-Soy Grilled Salmon

One-Pot Farro with Tomatoes & Basil

One-Pot Farro with Tomatoes (vegetarian)

fresh herb grilled chicken finished3

Grilled Chicken with Fresh Herbs

Spinach Chicken Pine Nut Pasta

Pasta with Garlic Spinach, Chicken, & Goat Cheese

maple citrus salmon grilled

Maple & Citrus Grilled Salmon

cavatappi goat cheese zucchini finished2

Cavatappi with Goat Cheese, Tomatoes, Kale, & Grilled Zucchini (vegetarian)

bbq chardonnay chicken finished

Barbecue Chardonnay Chicken

chicken barley corn salad finished2

Grilled Chicken with Barley Corn Tomato Salad & Tomato Vinaigrette

grilled balsamic chicken finished

Grilled Balsamic Chicken

chicken avocado enchiladas finished closeup

Chicken & Avocado Enchiladas with Creamy Avocado Sauce

chicken quinoa veggie bake finished

Black Bean, Chicken, & Spinach Quinoa Casserole

easy no cook pasta pasta finished2

Easy Pasta with No-Cook Sauce (vegetarian)

basted eggs with brussels sprouts

Basted Eggs with Shredded Caramelized Brussels Sprouts (vegetarian)

trottole peppers goat cheese finished2

Pasta with Roasted Peppers, Chicken Sausage & Goat Cheese

kale quinoa salad finished

Kale & Quinoa Salad with Feta & Pecans (vegetarian)

creamy chicken mushroom pasta finished

Creamy Chicken Pasta with Mushrooms

pasta con pesto finished

Giovanna’s Pasta con Pesto (vegetarian)

gorgonzola caramelized onion penne finished

Pasta with Gorgonzola, Caramelized Onions, Chicken, & Brussels Sprouts

sweet potato red pepper frittata assembled

Roasted Sweet Potato, Red Pepper, & Kale Frittata with Goat Cheese (vegetarian)

balsamic beef finished

Balsamic Beef

rosemary chicken lasagna finished

Rosemary Chicken Lasagna

truffle grilled cheese1

Grilled Cheese with Truffle Cheese & Rosemary Bread (vegetarian)

walnut pasta 2 finished

Traditional Tuscan Pasta with Walnut Sauce – Version 2 (vegetarian)

sweet savory quinoa finished

Sweet & Savory Chicken Quinoa

broccoli corn chowder finished2

Souper Jenny’s Broccoli Corn Chowder

Pinterest’s Famous “Man-Pleasing Chicken”

stuffed peppers finished4

Stuffed Red Peppers

cauliflower aged cheddar soup finished3

Roasted Cauliflower & Aged White Cheddar Soup (vegetarian)

lime curry chicken finished closeup

Lime Curry Chicken

meat & beans finished closeup

Mexican Meat & Beans

sweet potato frittata finished

Frittata with Baby Spinach, Goat Cheese, & Sweet Potato Hash Crust (vegetarian)

herbed turkey risotto finished

Herbed Risotto with Turkey & Caramelized Onions

sweet potato soup finished2

Roasted Sweet Potato & Apple Soup with Sage (vegetarian)

Mom’s Baked Potato Soup (vegetarian)

Goat Cheese Tomato Soup (vegetarian)

Pasta with Walnut Sauce & Rocket – Version 1 (vegetarian)

Leftover Pasta Frittata (vegetarian)

Quinoa Mac & Cheese (vegetarian)

Easy Beer Mac & Cheese (vegetarian)

Thai Peanut Crockpot Chicken

Pasta with Roasted Garlic, Spinach, Tomatoes, & Ricotta (vegetarian)

Pasta with Asparagus, Lemon, Goat Cheese, & Kale (vegetarian)

Black Bean, Veggie, & Rice Skillet (vegetarian)

Baked Ziti with Summer Veggies & Chicken Sausage

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chicken

Kale Mac & Cheese (vegetarian)

White Wine & Lemon Chicken

Homemade Spinach & Ricotta Wonton Ravioli (vegetarian)

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Cauliflower Leek Risotto (vegetarian)

Frittata with Summer Squash, Tomatoes, & Scallions (vegetarian)

Cherry Tomato, Spring Onion, & Goat Cheese Tart (vegetarian)

Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes & Ricotta (vegetarian)

Aunt Tina’s Awesome Chicken Salad

Easy Chicken-Fried Chicken

Pasta with Sausage, Cabbage, & Kale

Pasta with Mixed Greens & Goat Cheese (vegetarian)

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About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

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Recent IG Adventures!

While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in o While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in one last winter cocktail...here's some Sage Advice! It's a winter-y version of a whiskey sour bringing both cinnamon and sage, and then skirting the line of daiquiri with the substitution of lime juice for the traditional lemon. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#cocktailrecipe #bourbon #bourboncocktails #whiskeysour
Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cooki Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cookies 🍫 These TRIPLE dark chocolate cookies (with a hint of whiskey & balance with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt) are rich indulgence without being sickly sweet. They're also soooo easy...no special tools, no dough chilling. Delish cookies in under 30 minutes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the full recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#chocoholic #chocolatecookies #darkchocolate #cookierecipe
A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? SOLD. And it is so fast & easy that it can barely be called a "recipe"...these cumin roasted broccoli bits in the air fryer (though you can use an oven instead) are crazy fast, healthy, & delicious!

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to see the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#airfryer #broccoli #easysidedish #airfryerrecipes
I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient browni I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient brownies on REPEAT for a couple months now. And knowing that they only take a few minutes to make has been a bit dangerous on random Tuesday nights when my sweet tooth strikes! 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that they're naturally gluten- & grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and (optionally) no sweetener added? 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 

#healthydessert #healthybrownies #glutenfreerecipes #vegandessert
This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic ideal for a cake. I DREAM of this cake. A soft, moist, dense buttery vanilla cake batter is studded with tart fresh cranberries, with a tiny crunch of raw sugar on top. A perfect dessert or snack for pretty much any occasion...including with a cup of tea on a random Tuesday afternoon...

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! 
--> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cranberrycake #cranberries #cranberryrecipe #bestdessert
These super easy marinated white beans are packed These super easy marinated white beans are packed with flavor & only take a few minutes to make! Even better?? They're best when made ahead of time (in 5 minutes!) and left for a day or two in the fridge for the flavors to really meld & intensify. 

This has become a go-to plant-based recipe, but I often throw some grilled salmon or chicken on top for a full meal. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the recipe!
#veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #whitebeans #plantbasedrecipes
A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it is to make your own kombucha at home...you can have an entire gallon for less than the cost of one bottle at the store! 

I can't even keep a bamboo plant alive, yet have managed to keep the same "scoby" starter healthy & active for well over a decade. 

Here are easy step-by-step instructions for making your own kombucha at home, & the tools you'll need to do so! Tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) & click on this photo to see the whole post.
#homemadekombucha #kombuchabrewing #healthyguthappylife #scoby
I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying to be more 🍜 But this Turkish corba (a spiced red lentil soup) has always been one of my exceptions.  It's CRAZY easy to make, full of veggies and the protein from the lentils, and just feels like a warm hug in a bowl!  A great vegetarian dinner idea, perfect on any detox protocol, and just a great cozy recipe for the winter months.

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe!
#corba #redlentils #souprecipe #drcabraldetox
Today, we FANCY. But also lazy. When I first saw a Today, we FANCY. But also lazy. When I first saw a recipe for the "lazy person's kouign amann", I was intrigued...and it definitely lives up to the hype! The texture isn't quite the same as the much more time-consuming and complex authentic French pastry it's hacking, but it's darn close and absolutely delicious. 

To see the recipe, tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#kouignamann #frenchpastries #bakingfromscratch #frenchbaking
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Popular Posts

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Recent Posts

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  • Weekday Indulgence: Easy Triple Dark Chocolate Coo…
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