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Wildly Delicious Weeknight Dinners For January

Comfort food is the BEST way ward off any winter blues, trust us.

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cheesesteaks filled with chicken, cheese, and peppers
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Is it just us, or after all the holiday hustle and bustle in December, does January kinda feel like… a total bummer? It’s COLD out, it gets dark crazy early, and yet life must go on and dinner’s gotta get on the table. Join us this January as we make as much comfort food as possible, attempt to form some better habits (this is THE year those New Year's resolutions are gonna stick, we swear), and dream of spring (only 2 months to go!). We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this January—one for every day of the month, and then some.

We’ve included a good mix of newly updated recipes, like our broccoli cheese casserole, our Tennessee onions, and our chicken cheesesteaks, as well as some staid older favorites, like our prosciutto chicken pasta, our potato lasagna, and our pizza rigatoni pie. We also know many of you might be embarking on some New Year's resolutions, so we’ve included a number of our favorite low-carb, vegan, and vegetable-forward recipes here too. Take a peek at our vegetable curry, our creamy tomato vegan pasta, our chicken Alfredo spaghetti squash, or our cabbage Parmesan for inspiration—you never know, maybe you’ll enjoy them so much, you’ll stick with it all year long.

We’re also taking some inspiration from where you might be at mentally and emotionally this month and filling this list with comfort foods and meal prep-able recipes that'll take the guess work out of dinner. We don’t know about you, but sometimes it's the flavors we know SO well that bring us comfort, so we’ve included our pierogi casserole, our French onion gnocchi soup, and our Reuben casserole. Best part? You don't have to venture out into the cold to enjoy them. Ditto our sheet-pan chicken fajitas, our hummus bowls with spiced lamb, or our taco stuffed sweet potatoes—make up a batch that'll last you all week and you can dream about hibernating till the weekend.

1

Sesame Tofu & Broccoli

crispy baked tofu tossed with a sweet and savory chili spiked sesame sauce and crisp tender broccoli
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.

2

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

broccoli cheese casserole topped with panko breadcrumbs
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

While the combination of broccoli and cheese is a classic for a reason, this is not your Grandma’s casserole. With crunchy, fresh broccoli, a creamy garlic and shallot béchamel sauce, and a crunchy panko topping, this is sure to make you want to eat your veggies.

Get the Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe.

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3

French Onion Chicken Meatballs

chicken meatballs in a skillet with onions and melty cheese
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We’ll be honest: we’re a little obsessed with French onion soup. The melty cheese, jammy caramelized onions, and rich broth is a flavor combination we just can’t get enough of. To turn the flavors of this favorite into a substantial meal (or hearty appetizer), we added chicken meatballs and even more cheese in this skillet recipe.

Get the French Onion Chicken Meatballs recipe.

4

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

taco stuffed sweet potatoes
Parker feierbach

You can stuff sweet potatoes with pretty much anything. We took these into Tex-Mex territory with a combo of ground turkey, onion, carrots, tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Roast and assemble the sweet potato boats ahead, and just top with sour cream and hot sauce when ready to eat.

Get the Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

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5

Chicken Cheesesteaks

cheesesteaks filled with chicken, cheese, and peppers
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Don't get us wrong, we love the steak in a classic Philly cheesesteak, but...we heart chicken even more, so we created a semi-lighter version by sautéing thinly sliced chicken breast alongside onions and peppers. Don't worry, the whole thing still gets covered with cheese—provolone, not Cheez Whiz!

Get the Chicken Cheesesteaks recipe.

6

Hummus Bowl With Spiced Lamb

hummus bowl topped with spiced lamb, homemade pickled vegetables, and herbs
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

For this recipe, creamy hummus is topped with spiced ground lamb, onions, and fresh herbs. It's served with whole wheat pita for scooping, and pickled veggies to cut through the richness and add a bright pop of flavor. Throw it together for a veggie-packed, quick dinner or lunch—this recipe works any time of day.

Get the Hummus Bowl With Spiced Lamb recipe.

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7

Pizzadillas

quesadillas that look like pizzas
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This isn't just a quesadilla filled with mozz and pepperoni. It's topped with the works and looks JUST like an actual pizza. Plus, it's so easy to make, and even easier to customize.

Get the Pizzadillas recipe.

8

Cottage Cheese Alfredo

creamy high protein cottage cheese alfredo with spinach and fettuccine
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Dreaming of a big bowl of your favorite creamy pasta with less fat and more protein but with all of the flavor and texture you’re looking for in a good Alfredo? We've got you! Add meat, à la classic chicken Alfredo, or keep it simple—it's guaranteed to impress no matter what.

Get the Cottage Cheese Alfredo recipe.

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9

Pizza Rigatoni Pie

pizza rigatoni pie
Ethan calabrese

We pizza'd rigatoni...and we'll never turn back. What can we say? Our love for pizza knows no limits. Hot tip: if you really want to make sure that the ricotta mixture fills EVERY LAST BIT of each tube of pasta, you can pipe it instead.

Get the Pizza Rigatoni Pie recipe.

10

Coq Au Vin

coq au vin
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Coq au vin (or rooster with wine) is a classic French dish that isn't as complicated as it sounds. In it, chicken is braised in wine and finished off with butter for the most perfectly silky sauce. Channel your inner Julia Child, and make this anytime you want to impress at your dinner party or date night this January.

Get the Coq Au Vin recipe.

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11

Cheesy Potato Lasagna

cheesy potato lasagna recipe
Parker feierbach

If you're trying to sneak more gluten-free dinners into your weeknight roundup, you MUST try this cheesy potato lasagna. We doctored store-bought marinara sauce with ground beef to make it super hearty, and of course we didn't skimp out on the cheese. 😈

Get the Cheesy Potato Lasagna recipe.

12

Egg Roll Bowls

ground pork, cabbage and carrot in a bowl
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

When we’re craving crispy egg rolls but need a more filling, but still healthy option, we turn to these egg roll bowls. These unwrapped bowls are the perfect solution when you want all the flavors of the take-out snack, but are in need of something to keep you full for hours to come.

Get the Egg Roll Bowls recipe.

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13

Creamy Tomato Vegan Pasta

creamy tomato vegan pasta
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This is THE vegan pasta you make for lifelong dairy lovers. Rich and creamy, with deep tomato flavor, it’s sure to have everyone digging back into the pot for another serving.

Get the Creamy Tomato Vegan Pasta recipe.

14

Sheet-Pan Bibimbap

sheet pan bibimbap
Lucy schaeffer

Though traditionally each individual item would be cooked separately, then placed on a fluffy bowl of white rice, by using a sheet tray, we're eliminating half that work. We arranged mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, and marinated beef on a sheet tray, but you could sub in more or less of pretty much anything you want!

Get the Sheet-Pan Bibimbap recipe.

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15

Green Chili White Bean Enchiladas

green chili white bean enchiladas topped with cheese, cilantro, and jalapenos in a black casserole pan
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Looking for a cozy casserole to spice up your weeknight vegetarian repertoire? Make these white bean enchiladas. Stuffed with creamy green chili white beans and topped with melty cheese, these simple but hearty enchiladas will become your new comfort food favorite.

Get the Green Chili White Bean Enchiladas recipe.

16

Prosciutto-Chicken Pasta

chicken prosciutto pasta
Ethan Calabrese

This pasta dish will transport your tastebuds right to Italy. If you've never tried crispy prosciutto, just wait—you might never return to plain bacon in your pasta again! This pasta dish will transport your tastebuds right to Italy.

Get the Prosciutto-Chicken Pasta recipe.

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17

Arroz Con Pollo

chicken thighs and legs in a tomato based rice
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Arroz con pollo is the perfect weeknight dinner savior. It’s an easy one-pot meal that doesn’t taste like one (seriously, you just might be eating the rice straight out of the pan). The best part? It makes for incredible leftovers, so you can enjoy it all week long.

Get the Arroz Con Pollo recipe.

18

BBQ Pulled Mushrooms

bbq tossed mushrooms
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Chewy, sticky, and satisfyingly meaty without any of the meat, this recipe is so hearty we believe it could convince even the biggest of mushroom haters that these veggie heroes aren't so bad after all. They come together in less than an hour too!

Get the BBQ Pulled Mushrooms recipe.

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19

Tennessee Onions

onions sliced in half topped with cheese
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

We're not crying, you’re crying. Sure, our eyes might be stinging from peeling and slicing this many onions, but we're also claiming these tears as happy tears, because a simple, versatile dish with this much cheese can only be happy, right? In the world of basic onion boils, this is the upgrade you need.

Get the Tennessee Onions recipe.

20

Cilantro Lime Chicken

cilantro lime chicken horizontal
PARKER FEIERBACH

Cilantro and lime is a classic duo that we can't get enough of, particularly in winter when everything's feeling drab. This flavor combo is sure to wake your taste buds up! If you're also a major fan, check out our cilantro lime shrimp lettuce wraps. You won't be disappointed.

Get the Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe.

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