A Month of Easy Dinners
For the next month, this delicious, lifesaving set of dinner menus will take all the stress and scrambling out of cooking that nightly meal.
By Charlyne Mattox and Dawn Perry
Salmon With Gingery Green Beans and Bok Choy
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 30m | Total Time: 30m
Ingredients
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
1 1/4 pounds skinless salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces
kosher sat
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
3/4 pound green beans, trimmed
3/4 pound baby bok choy, halved lengthwise
4 small carrots, cut into thin strips
Sriracha or Asian chili-garlic sauce, for serving
Directions
-Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon with ½ teaspoon salt and cook until opaque throughout, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
-Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a second large skillet over medium-high heat.
-Add the scallions, garlic, and ginger and cook, tossing, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the green beans, bok choy, carrots, ¼ cup water, and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, tossing occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Serve with the salmon and drizzle with the Sriracha.
Calories per serving: 367
Related: 20 20-Minute Meals
Tomato Soup With Roast Beef, Cheddar, and Horseradish Panini
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 20m | Total Time: 45m
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the grill pan
2 large onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
8 slices sandwich bread
8 ounces thinly sliced roast beef
8 ounces sharp white Cheddar, sliced
2 cups baby arugula (1 1/2 ounces)
Directions
-Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomatoes (with their juices), broth, thyme, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Working in batches, in a blender, puree the mixture until smooth.
-Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the sour cream and horseradish. Form sandwiches with the bread, roast beef, Cheddar, arugula, and half the horseradish mixture. Heat a lightly oiled grill pan over medium heat and cook the sandwiches until the cheese is melted, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Top the soup with the remaining horseradish mixture and serve with the sandwiches.
Calories per serving: 666
Related: Delicious, Low-Cost Pasta Recipes
Pork Chops With Roasted Beets and Oranges
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 45m
Ingredients
1 pound beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
4 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
2 oranges, cut into large chunks
6 cups baby arugula (5 ounces)
4 bone-in pork chops (1 inch thick; about 2 pounds total)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Directions
-Heat oven to 450° F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the beets with 3 tablespoons of the oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Roast until beginning to soften, 13 to 15 minutes. Add the oranges to the baking sheet and roast, tossing once, until the beets and oranges are tender, 15 to 17 minutes more. Add the arugula and toss to combine.
-Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the pork with the oregano, thyme, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, 7 to 9 minutes per side. Serve with the beets and oranges.
Calories per serving: 432
Related: Six 400 Calories (or Less!) Dinners
Chicken With Potatoes, Bacon, and Cabbage
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 30m | Total Time: 30m
Ingredients
3/4 pound new potatoes, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
4 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 small shallot, minced
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 small head savoy cabbage (8 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch strips
Directions
-Heat oven to 425° F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Roast, tossing once, until golden brown and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
-Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper; cook until golden brown and cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes per side.
-In a second large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes; remove. Add the shallot, mustard, and vinegar to the drippings in the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the shallot is soft, 2 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook, tossing, until wilted, 2 to 4 minutes more. Serve with the chicken and sprinkle with the bacon.
Calories per serving 351
Tortellini With Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, and Fontina
Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 40m
Ingredients
1 small butternut squash (2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 pound button or cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed and halved if large
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
2 ounces fontina or Gruyère, grated (1/2 cup), plus more for serving
Directions
-Heat oven to 450° F. On 2 rimmed baking sheets, toss the squash and mushrooms with the sage, oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Roast, tossing once and rotating pans halfway through, until the vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
-Meanwhile, cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water; drain the tortellini and return to the pot. Add the vegetables, fontina, ¼ cup of the cooking water, and ½ teaspoon salt and toss gently to coat (add more cooking water if the pasta seems dry). Sprinkle with additional fontina.
Calories per serving 549
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