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Wildly Delicious Weeknight Dinners For December

Let us take care of dinner this hectic holiday season.

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creamy garlicky alfredo ditalini
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview, and Christmas is looming ahead—it's official, winter is here! December is THE month to get cozy with your meals, so bust out those instant pots, casserole dishes, and big soup pots. Join us as we deck the halls (and our dinner tables), weather all the holiday hubbub, and celebrate the past year (along with the meals with friends and loved ones that got us through it). We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this December—one for every day of the month, and then some.

We’ve included a good mix of entirely new recipes, like our creamy garlicky Alfredo ditalini, our sheet-pan miso chicken & sweet potatoes, and our pizza beans skillet, as well as some old favorites, like our gochujang white chicken chili, our za'atar sheet-pan chicken, and our unstuffed cabbage casserole. Craving some serious comfort food? We get it, December and the end of the year can bring up a lot of big feelings for us all. Try our pozole, our skillet chicken pot pie, our French onion soup, or our creamy tortellini minestrone—they’re like a warm hug in a meal.

Of course, we’re also taking inspiration from the BIG holidays in December—Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve. There’s no better time to attempt a show-stopping dinner main, like our beef Wellington, our Puerto Rican pernil, or our instant pot sweet & spicy brisket. But we also know you’ll be looking for dishes to bring to holiday potlucks and parties, as well as fast meals you can throw together on your way out the door to them. For those busy nights, make our vegan shepherd's pie, our sheet-pan quesadillas, our meatball Parm orzo, or our million-dollar mac & cheese.

Looking to end your year with bang, or want to really indulge before the New Year pressures get to you? Enjoy our best holiday cocktails, our top Christmas cookies, and our favorite winter desserts while you still can!

Chile Verde

chile verde with white rice in a white bowl
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Chile Verde is a traditional dish from Northern Mexico that can be made with several types of meat. Pork is classic, and here, you'll transform a pork shoulder into meltingly tender nuggets through a long braise. This recipe makes a big batch, perfect for serving at a winter dinner party, or for freezing for later.

Get the Chile Verde recipe.

Beef Wellington

beef wellington sliced with fresh rosemary
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

With four components—tender beef tenderloin, a savory duxelle, prosciutto, and flaky puff pastry—this is the holiday centerpiece that will wow from the very first slice. We've broken it down step-by-step so you can serve up this staple with all of the flavor and none of the stress.

Get the Beef Wellington recipe.

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Creamy Garlicky Alfredo Ditalini

creamy garlicky alfredo ditalini
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

It’s no secret the social sphere is loving one-pot pastina and ditalini, so we're jumping on board too. Nothing invigorates us more than the words pasta, creamy, and garlic, so we created this Alfredo-inspired ditalini dinner that’s a little smoky, crispy, and cheesy too.

Get the Creamy Garlicky Alfredo Ditalini recipe.

French Onion Soup

french onion soup with melted cheese and bread slices
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Rich, deeply flavorful, and downright decadent, French onion soup is the treat-yourself comfort food we’ll never tire of. Caramelized onions, a beefy broth, and the signature melty cheese and bread topping all transform what could be a simple soup into an enduring classic.

Get the French Onion Soup recipe.

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Sheet-Pan Quesadillas

tortillas filled with meat and cheese on a sheet pan
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Quesadillas are a classic late-night snack or easy dinner, so when we need to serve a crowd, we're making 'em on a sheet pan. In just around an hour, you'll have a cheesy, crowd-pleasing snack (or weeknight meal) on your hands that is sure to satisfy.

Get the Sheet-Pan Quesadillas recipe.

Sheet-Pan Miso Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

bone in chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, and shallots get smothered with miso chili sauce and baked until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized and the chicken is juicy and golden brown
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Bone-in chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, and shallots get smothered with miso-chili sauce and baked until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized and the chicken is juicy and golden brown. The whole thing is topped with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, then served with a little extra chili crisp to make sure this really packs a punch.

Get the Sheet-Pan Miso Chicken & Sweet Potatoes recipe.

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One-Pot Creamy Kimchi Shells

one pot creamy kimchi shells
Andrew bui

This tangy, rich pasta kind of feels like mac & cheese’s cool older cousin. Maybe that’s because it comes complete with 3 layers of umami flavor: kimchi, Parmesan, and gochujang. The latter is optional, but is worth having on hand for a variety of dishes, like these ultra-crunchy Korean chicken wings.

Get the One-Pot Creamy Kimchi Shells recipe.

Instant Pot Sweet & Spicy Brisket

instant pot brisket   delishcom
Parker Feierbach

If you and your family are a fan of flavor and getting creative with your Hanukkah meals, this brisket is for you. It's the perfect blend of traditional and modern, sweet and spicy. When the meat is done cooking, reserve the broth and pour a little on top when serving—it's truly flavor central.

Get the Instant Pot Sweet & Spicy Brisket recipe.

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Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs

ginger, garlic, and scallion meatballs and a spicy red curry coconut sauce
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This easy dinner combines ginger-garlic meatballs and a spicy red curry coconut milk sauce to create a flavorful dish that's both comforting and packed with bold, aromatic spices. The curry paste does double duty, adding the savory, spicy flavors of red pepper, garlic, lemongrass, and galangal to both the meatballs and the sauce.

Get the Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs recipe.

Nacho Soup

Nacho Soup Vertical
Ethan Calabrese

This winter-y soup is filled with everything that our favorite nachos have: LOTs of cheese, chicken, beans and corn. Fire-roasted tomatoes gives the broth a slightly charred and smoky flavor, but if all you've got is a can of chopped tomatoes, no worries! It'll still be great.

Get the Nacho Soup recipe.

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

skillet chicken pot pie
Park Feierbach

Nothing warms you up on a cold day quite like chicken pot pie. This shortcut version comes together surprisingly fast, despite tasting like something it would've taken your grandma all day to make. The perfect no-fuss dinner, it's on our permanent rotation all winter long.

Get the Skillet Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet

butter toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich alfredo style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and parmesan to create this 35 minute skillet dinner
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Here, butter-toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich Alfredo-style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and Parmesan to create this 35-minute skillet dinner. A pinch of lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes add much-needed brightness and heat to cut through the rich sauce.

Get the Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet recipe.

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Chicken Spaghetti

chicken, spaghetti, and red peppers covered in cheese in a casserole
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you didn't grow up with this potluck classic, think mac & cheese, but with chicken and spaghetti...trust us on this one, it just works!

Get the Chicken Spaghetti recipe.

Tourtiere

tourtiere
PHOTO; LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLIST; ERIKA JOYCE

Originally from Quebec, this savory pie is traditionally made in a “tourtiere” dish and eaten during Christmas. If you're looking for a twist on chicken pot pie to make over the holidays, this is it.

Get the Tourtiere recipe.

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Meatball Parm Orzo

tomato based orzo in a skillet topped with meatballs and cheese
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Meatball subs are simply the king of sandwiches. So why not re-create all the warmth, heartiness, and flavor of the meatball sub in a simple one-pot pasta dish? This meatball Parm orzo only uses one pot and involves barely any chopping, and it's certainly a crowd-pleaser.

Get the Meatball Parm Orzo recipe.

Pozole

pozole with pork shoulder topped with cabbage and radishes
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Filled with pork shoulder, hominy, and a fair amount of heat, pozole is the cozy comfort food that isn’t shy about its flavor. This is the stew you make when you’re looking to feed (and impress!) a crowd, or need a soup that will warm you up in the dead of winter.

Get the Pozole recipe.

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Baked Risotto With Lemon, Peas, & Parmesan

baked risotto with lemon, peas parmesan
ANDREW BUI

If you’ve never made risotto because you didn’t want to stand there stirring forever, then this recipe is for you. It packs all the satisfying flavor of a slow-stirred version into a fraction of the hands-on time. And did we mention that it all comes together in one pot?!

Get the Baked Risotto With Lemon, Peas, & Parmesan recipe.

Pizza Beans Skillet

pizza beans skillet topped with mozzarella and parmesan and basil with a scoop lifting out
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Tired, hungry, and running low on groceries? Pizza beans have your back. Featuring simple pantry staples and only 30 minutes of cooking time, this comforting one-pan dinner promises to make any weeknight feel special.

Get the Pizza Beans Skillet recipe.

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Prime Rib

prime rib sliced with rosemary
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

This large-and-in-charge cut of beef not only boasts a show-stopping display, but is unmatched in flavor. Tender, rich, and buttery, this recipe was made to be served alongside all of the essential holiday sides.

Get the Prime Rib recipe.

Tamales

tamales
ANDREW BUI

Mexican tamales aren’t just fun to eat, they’re a great solo or group project for anyone who loves to cook (particularly during the holidays!). Make it a party by involving your friends, enlist your partner or spouse for a different kind of date night, or get the whole family involved. Tamale making is a joy, and tamales are a great canvas for different kinds of fillings.

Get the Tamales recipe.

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