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Do you ever just sit down to make a plan for winter recipe ideas for the week and you either think, “I have no idea what I’m gonna make,” or, “I really just want to try something new.” And then you instantly feel overwhelmed? Well, let’s destroy that meal planning overwhelm. 👌
I mean, the last thing you need is to feel frustrated with figuring out everything you’ll be making, so let’s get rid of the biggest obstacle: the main dish.
The main dish is going to set the stage for the rest of your meal planning, so I went ahead and curated a list of SUPER comforting and hearty entrees that are probably going to make your friends and family think you’re a cooking genius. 😌
Also, let’s just make it easy for you and create a clickable list of each category so that you can click around to more easily find the type of dish you want. Let me know which one you choose!
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Poultry
Chicken
Cast Iron Chicken Thighs with Cherries
The thighs are some of the best parts of a chicken (in my opinion). They’re so juicy and soak up so many great flavors when cooking. Also, they don’t take long to get on the table which makes them perfect for a dinner main. Also, look at how beautiful this dish looks with the colorful cherries and spices. So pretty!
Cooking other meals throughout the day is already stressful enough, right? So why not just let your air fryer do the rest of the work for you and make a super delicious and juicy chicken main? Also the garlic and butter and paprika make this sound so incredible and savory!
The Perfect Crispy Roast Chicken
Roasted chicken is one of the best smells you can have wafting throughout the house. I remember one summer evening just roasting some chicken in the oven, looking over at my husband as it started to cook and going, “Does it smell like Christmas to you?”
Just something about it brought back memories from childhood and the food we’d eat during the holidays.
Also, the fresh thyme and rosemary and garlic, and olive oil make this sound so so good!
I absolutely LOVE cornish game hens! They’re super easy to cook which means less time in the kitchen, Also, they kind of feel a bit fancy. Like I honestly don’t know if it’s just the size or that it looks like something from a movie where the head of an English country estate would have made for them, but they do look a bit more high-class. 😉
Instant Pot Whole Chicken Rotisserie Style
I kind of love the rotisserie chicken you get from the store, so making it homemade (and with better ingredients), is a plus for me.
Also with rosemary and garlic and butter and olive oil, I can’t imagine this dish not being a hit!
Again, more cornish game hens. But I couldn’t help it! These look SO pretty and delicious; I think they’re worth a try for your dinner. 😉
Also, with wild rice and garlic and rosemary and butter, this has to be so juicy and delicious, and the smells coming from the kitchen are probably incredible!
Turkey
Mexican Turkey Recipe (Pavo Navideño)
This Mexican turkey recipe looks SUPER flavorful and juicy and we all know how hard it is to make sure our turkey doesn’t end up dry. So I’d say this winter recipe is worth a try.
Also, check out the ingredients, the spice combinations look SO good! I would devour this in a second. ❤️
Look at all those spices cooked into the skin. You have no idea how fast I’d tear into that turkey if I had that on my table.
And on top of that, with butter, sage, and garlic, it looks so juicy and savory! Such a good idea for a dinner main!
Simple and colorful roasted turkey, I think this would make the perfect centerpiece for your main dish.
And with an ingredient list that includes butter and sage and orange and basil, I can’t imagine this not tasting super good!
Slow Roasted Turkey Leg (With Gravey)
Look at the garlic and all the delicious roasted veggies. And can you just imagine picking up that turkey leg and devouring it? Perfect main.👍
Oh, and the smells that would be coming from the kitchen! I can only imagine!
Roasted Bone-In Turkey Breast with Herb Butter
Turkey with herb butter… I think any main with herb butter would be worthy for dinner, don’t you think?
And I love the fact that the ingredients include butter and white wine and garlic and sage. I can’t imagine how delicious this tastes!
Oven Roasted Turkey Tenderloin
This honestly looks like something you’d get at a nice restaurant and would look stunning on your table. Definitely a great way to make a turkey!
Also, with rosemary and thyme, and butter, it looks so flavorful and delicious. If I had this for dinner, I would be going back for seconds and thirds.
Partridge
Roast Partridge with Red Current Sauce
Ok, I really want to make this one. Again, I honestly feel like this is something I would see in a movie where the owner of an English country home has his cooks prepare for him. And can you just imagine this plate being in the middle of your table? It would look (and smell) so incredible!
Duck
I LOVE duck! It’s so juicy and delicious and a great alternative to turkey or chicken. Also you kind of just feel like you’re eating at a nice restaurant for dinner.
Also, the glaze sounds SO savory and delicious; it’s perfect for a duck recipe!
Red Meat
Pork
I love bakes and this one topped with cheese looks perfect. Also, it’s a nice and different way to have ham be your main dish.
Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham Recipe
Brown sugar glaze… I’m pretty sure that’s the best way to have one of the best hams ever. I mean, can you just imagine carrying that into the dining room with everyone seated at the table? It’s perfect.
Smother Pork Shoulder Blade Steak with Mushrooms and Onions
Creamy herby smothered pork chops; these look so juicy and delicious. Also, they’d be a quick main compared to cooking an entire turkey in the oven. If I had this, I would be dishing up multiple servings!
Lamb
I seriously love middle eastern dishes like this and if you’re feeling a bit adventurous and want to try something new for dinner, then why not? Can’t you just imagine how amazing that lamb and the juice-soaked rice taste?
All the juices and baked garlic and fall-of-the-bone lamb look like an incredible dish for your menu. And I think all of your guests (including yourself) would be going back for second and third and fourth helpings!
Another fun way to have lamb for dinner. If you’re wanting to try something different this winter, then I’d say this is an awesome idea. And I bet all those spices will make your home smell incredible.
Beef
Prime rib is such an incredibly juicy and delicious main and a crowd-pleaser. Honestly hard to go wrong with this one for dinner.
Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
If I had pot roast like this growing up, I think it would have become one of my favorite dishes. And this looks like a great recipe that might just become one of your classic winter mains. 😉
Another beef dish classic that’s perfect for a main. I feel like this is one of the best things you can make because it pairs with SO many different side dishes. And not to mention this recipe looks SO juicy!
Fish
This Mexican dish looks like an incredibly comforting main for a winter dinner. I can just imagine dishing up a steaming bowl, sitting down, and taking the first hot bite. Definitely on my list of recipes to try!
Gosh, it looks so flavorful! 😭
I love panko for crust and breading and I can just imagine how delicious and savory this cod tastes. Also, it looks like it has the perfect crunch and is spiced to perfection. If you want to make fish for your main, then this one is a great winter recipe idea!
If I hear the words garlic butter, then it’s an immediate yes from me. This trout looks perfectly baked, spiced, and juicy, so if you’re going to have fish, then this is a great option for your main.
Pasta
Is lasagna ever not a good idea? I mean look at how cheesy and perfect this recipe looks. Can’t you just imagine dishing up a steaming plate of it, sitting down and eating it up?
Vegan & Vegetarian
Roasted Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas – Vegan
Curry + roasted butternut squash + chickpeas has to be one of the most comforting dish ideas out there! I can just imagine sitting down and grabbing a heaping spoon full on a cold day. Also, the smell of this wafting. throughout the house has to be incredible!
Stuffed Acorn Squash – Vegan
I LOVE acorn squash! It’s so buttery and delicious, smells incredible, and has a great texture. Also, how have I never thought of stuffing them? They’re perfect for it, and it sounds so delicious! A great idea for a vegan dinner main!
Nut Roast – Vegan
I think vegan roasts sound like a filling and flavorful option for a main dish. With spices like paprika, sage, and thyme, along with ingredients such as olive oil, red lentils, and breadcrumbs, it honestly sounds so savory and good!
Chickpea & Sage Stuffed Butternut Squash – Vegan
This roasted butternut squash looks so good I’m going to cry! 😭 Also sage and chickpeas?! This honestly looks like a culinary masterpiece because I could see myself having this at a Michelin star restaurant. Go, make this right now!
Vegetarian Roast (Nut Roast with Cranberries)
This winter recipe looks so delicious! I can just imagine the savory flavors of the sage, butter, and porcini mushrooms, as well as the tartness of the cranberries. Also, the colors are perfect for a dinner spread. And if you put this on your menu, let me and the original creator of this recipe know! I wanna see photos! 🙂
Mushroom & Leek Pie – Vegetarian
The filling looks so creamy and delicious! With thyme and butter and garlic, along with a crispy and flakey crust, it makes a worthy dinner center piece.
Stuffed Butternut Squash – Vegetarian
I love butternut squash so much, so I couldn’t resist adding this to the list! Besides the fact that it looks incredibly delicious, the garlic, parmesan cheese, and olive oil make this sound like a comforting, savory rich main for dinner. And not to mention the delicious smells coming from the kitchen! Definitely a great option!
Pro Tip: Normal parmesan cheese at the store is great, but if you want something that’s a bit more authentic, then make sure you’re getting Parmigiano Reggiano. This will actually be made in Italy and if you want to make sure it’s the real deal, then look for a label that says how many months it’s been aged. Normally it will say in small or big writing, “12 Months” or “24 Months.” It tastes so good and I don’t think you’ll regret it. 😉
If you want to buy it online, then you might want to get this one. I’ve bought it 3 times already and it’s always in great condition and tastes delicious! Plus, you’ll get a lot of servings out of it. Or, you can simply go to your grocery store and see if your cheese section has it. 🙂
Bonus – A Simple 3-Ingredient Sauce to Try
If you’re making ham, (or have another main dish this could work with), then I thought I’d share this super easy glaze recipe! It sounds so good!
Chasing Foxes was started in 2016 as a way for Grace and her husband, Silas, to start traveling. However, they started to realize that they had a passion for improving themselves, and wanted to help others level up their lives as well. So whether it's with cooking, travel, or staying healthy, they want to help you better your life bit by bit, as they do the same.