Main Dish - Cooking Classy https://www.cookingclassy.com/recipes/main-dish/ with a sprinkle of fancy Thu, 03 Oct 2024 04:14:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 44235149 Meatball Soup https://www.cookingclassy.com/meatball-soup/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/meatball-soup/#comments Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:59:30 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=73560 Hearty beefy Meatball Soup! Made with lean ground beef, a healthy dose of vegetables and herbs, a savory tomatoey broth, and lovely little ditalini pasta. A cozy soup that's sure to satisfy!

Looking for a good side to pair with this soup? Try my homemade breadsticks, buttery garlic bread, or arugula salad.

Serving of meatball soup in a white bowl over a white plate with bread to the side.

Homemade Mini Meatball Soup

This meatball soup is a comforting soup reminiscent of spaghetti and meatballs but in homestyle, sip-able soup form! It's an excellent thing to prepare to warm up with after a long chilly day and it pairs beautifully with salad or bread.

For a meatball vegetable soup it can be modified to reduce the carbs and replace the pasta with more vegetables. There are also options to replace the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken, or use other various types of pasta (all these ideas addressed in the variations and questions below).

Just keep in mind if you plan on having extra servings you may want to consider cooking the pasta separately if you are like me and hate soggy pasta (just reduce the broth by 1 cup if doing so).

Happy fall and welcome to sweater weather and soup season!

Pot of meatball soup with ladle.

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Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Zucchini and Tomatoes https://www.cookingclassy.com/sheet-pan-gnocchi/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/sheet-pan-gnocchi/#comments Wed, 25 Sep 2024 21:41:43 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=73281 The easiest Sheet Pan Gnocchi recipe! Baked all together on one pan are tender potato gnocchi, fresh zucchini, bright tomatoes, flavorful herbs and a small mountain of parmesan for cheesy goodness! Such a quick and ultra delicious dish!

Sheet pan gnocchi with tomatoes and zucchini.

So Much to Love About Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Veggies

Welcome to your new go-to weeknight dinner staple recipe! This simple recipe is made with shelf stable gnocchi yet it doesn't even need to be cooked beforehand.

Everything is just tossed together with olive oil on one big baking sheet, then oven roasted and finished with parmesan. Dinner really doesn't get any easier than this!

It's such a fresh tasting, flavorful dinner highlighted with herby, garlicky, parmesan goodness. It's a very hands off meal with such a simple prep and you can have it ready in under 30 minutes. It's adaptable too and you can use up other vegetables you have on hand (ideas listed below).

Plus it's a dish everyone can agree on. There are just so many things to love about this gnocchi, zucchini and tomato sheet pan dinner!

Pair it with chicken, steak or salmon to round out the meal, or just keep it vegetarian and serve it with a side salad. Gnocchi tomatoes and zucchini.

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Huevos Rancheros https://www.cookingclassy.com/huevos-rancheros/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/huevos-rancheros/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2024 04:44:41 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=73374 Flavorful and hearty Huevos Rancheros - A deliciously scrumptious Mexican breakfast made with fresh ingredients, served warm and cozy, and sure to satisfy those bright spicy cravings. You'll have these devoured in minutes!

Huevos rancheros served tortillas, salsa ranchero, fried eggs, avocado, and cotija.

What are Huevos Rancheros?

Huevos Rancheros is a traditional Mexican dish made up of warmed corn tortillas, a cooked salsa (red tomato salsa or green tomatillo salsa), and fried eggs. It is pronounced way-vows-rhan-che-rohs and translates meaning rancher's eggs.

They are frequently served with refried beans or black beans on top or as a side, and you can garnish them with various toppings.

This version is easy to prepare and is fairly quick compared to other versions. That is thanks to a food processor, because we skip the option of roasting the tomatoes and veggies for speed (though there's no lack in fresh flavor), and here  the recipe calls for ground chili powder rather than managing the steps of whole dried peppers.

This Huevos Rancheros is practically perfect and such a welcome comforting way to start the day. You may even likely find you are craving it for not only breakfast but lunch or dinner too!

Make it a complete meal served with chorizo or sausage, and don't forget that side of beans.

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Chicken Fajitas https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-fajitas/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-fajitas/#comments Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:26:45 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=51875 Chicken Fajitas - This easy, restaurant quality recipe is made with deliciously seasoned chicken, a trio of fresh bell peppers and tender crisp onions all served atop warmed tortillas. It's a family favorite recipe we've used countless times over!

Want to make the best fajitas ever? Then be sure to serve with my homemade flour tortillas if time allows (prep while the chicken marinates). Easily worth the extra bit of effort!

Three chicken fajitas in flour tortillas shown with various toppings.

Easy Homemade Chicken Fajitas

Chicken fajitas are most commonly made with chicken breasts but chicken thighs are the best, and this is my tested and perfected recipe I'm so happy to share with you!

Chicken is soaked in a seasoned, lime and oil based marinade then pan seared in a hot cast iron skillet to achieve a flavorful charred exterior with crisped edges, and juicy, tender interior.

After which fresh multi-color bell peppers, and boldly flavored onions and garlic are sautéed to a perfect tender crisp texture in the same piping hot skillet.

Then to assemble fajitas chicken is sliced, and mounded over flour tortillas along with those flavorful veggies.

It's a restaurant favorite, classic Tex-Mex recipe you'll never want to lose!

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Spinach Artichoke Chicken https://www.cookingclassy.com/skillet-chicken-creamy-spinach-artichoke-sauce/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/skillet-chicken-creamy-spinach-artichoke-sauce/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2024 07:03:51 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=24908 This spinach artichoke chicken is pan-seared and nestled into a creamy sauce brimming with briny artichokes, spinach, and lots of melty cheese. It’s an easy chicken dinner that’s ready in one pan in 30 minutes.

Can’t get enough of these flavors? Try my creamy spinach artichoke tortellini and this spinach artichoke pizza. You might also love this grilled cheese!

Creamy spinach artichoke chicken served on an oval platter.

Creamy spinach artichoke chicken has all the flavors of spinach artichoke dip, wrapped up in a delicious and easy chicken dinner. Juicy pan-seared chicken breasts are nestled in a mouthwatering cream sauce with heaps of cheese, briny artichokes, and savory spinach. It’s a quick comfort food dinner that you’ll be craving until the next time you make it. The cherry on top? Everything cooks in the same pan, so clean-up is extra easy. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

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Creamy Pesto Pasta https://www.cookingclassy.com/creamy-pesto-pasta/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/creamy-pesto-pasta/#comments Mon, 29 Jul 2024 04:23:18 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=72524 Creamy Pesto Pasta - Mini al dente pasta is coated in a luxurious sauce that's speckled generously with minced fresh basil, infused with garlic and parmesan, and it's completely easy to make. It's like a fusion of creamy Alfredo sauce mingled with fresh pesto pasta and it's undeniably delicious!

Creamy pesto pasta in a large white serving bowl with a red cloth and fresh basil to the side.

Crave-Worthy Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce

While the recipe itself doesn't have a typical pesto sauce in it, it brings the elements of pesto compiled together in a cooked pasta dish plus an addition of a gloriously creamy sauce.

I love a good pesto with a rich olive oil, but just think of a pesto made with silky cream instead. Once you taste this be wondering why you hadn't made it this way before.

You only need a few ingredients to make this freshly flavorful dish. Plan on a simple prep, and if you want to upgrade it with a protein to make it heartier feel free to add one right into the pasta or pair alongside it.

Creamy pesto pasta served with seared chicken breasts and asparagus as a serving suggestion.

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Cherry Tomato Pasta https://www.cookingclassy.com/cherry-tomato-pasta/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/cherry-tomato-pasta/#comments Sat, 20 Jul 2024 06:01:06 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=72590 Bright and fresh Cherry Tomato Pasta! Made with an abundance of sweet cherry tomatoes, highly aromatic fresh basil, rich silky olive oil, and a just enough bold garlic and parmesan cheese. This is without a doubt one of the best ways to use up those seasonally prime, mini summer tomatoes!

Cherry tomato pasta on a white oval scalloped serving platter.

Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce

This Italian tomato sauce is unbelievably easy to make, so easy in fact you you don't even have to start by cutting tomatoes they are just added whole. A quick simmer on the stove will have the skins bursting and they'll simmer down to a thick sauce.

The sauce is ready in 15 minutes and you can have the pasta cooking while the sauce is simmering for a super fast meal. For a quick cooking pasta try it with cheese filled tortellini!

You'll find this to be a vegetarian dish that's sure to please everyone especially if you opt to crown individual servings with those creamy finishing touches. That includes either moisture rich fresh mozzarella (mini pearls are great), dollops of milky ricotta, or torn portions of cream filled burrata.

This is a must try summer recipe that's brimming with freshness and sure to satisfy those pasta cravings!

Cherry tomato pasta serving shown in a ceramic bowl with dollops of ricotta and grated parmesan on top.

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Sloppy Joes https://www.cookingclassy.com/sloppy-joes/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/sloppy-joes/#comments Sat, 13 Jul 2024 18:46:00 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/08/sloppy-joes/ Homemade Sloppy Joes! Brimming with hearty browned beef, lots of veggies and a rich, lightly sweet, lightly smokey tomato based sauce. This recipe is fast, flavorful and sure to satisfy those old time cravings!

Want to make them next level delicious? Serve them on homemade hamburger buns, you can even butter and toast them!

Sloppy Joes on a homemade hamburger bun. Served with potato chips, pickles and coleslaw to the side.

Easy Sloppy Joes with the Best Sloppy Joes Sauce!

Who doesn't love a classic sloppy joe sandwich? So many of us grew up eating these in the 90's, made with that canned sauce of course that isn't anything near as good as this homemade version.

This easy sloppy joes sauce from scratch don't take much more effort than a store-bought Manwhich sauce and it's easily worth the few extra steps! Made from scratch is always better.

These beefy sandwiches are saucy, messy, and just so simply satisfying. You'll always find them piled high and spilling over because it's impossible for any bun to fully retain all that tasty goodness.

They definitely may not be the fanciest most appealing dish, but they are just good for the soul comfort food.

And I think it's fitting to say these are always one of the highlights of summer. Bakery fresh (or homemade) burger buns sandwiching a rich, meaty, tomato-y filling, with a nice balance sweet and smoky and a welcomed background flavor of seasoning throughout them.

Pair them with all your favorite summer sides, and an ice cold drink of course to polish it off. This is how you do real people food.

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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:25:52 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=28980 Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a delicious blend of two incredible side dishes, pasta salad meets a traditional green salad. It's brimming with vibrant flavor, has a satisfying blend of textures, and it's sure to be a hit at your next summer get together!

Chicken caesar pasta salad shown in a brown wooden serving bowl over a red cloth on a white marble surface.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is made with tender penne pasta, lightly charred grilled chicken breasts, crisp romaine lettuce, sweet grape tomatoes, crunchy croutons, rich parmesan and it's all covered in a creamy, lemony caesar salad dressing.

It's a dish so filling and delicious that is could easily pasta for the main entree of a meal.

Plus it's easy to make and there's even a few shortcuts if you want to save some time, such as using rotisserie chicken, store-bought croutons, and even a store-bought caesar dressing (though I'd add some fresh lemon to it).

Or if you love to impress and go all out like I did here, which will create the very best pasta salad, then make the croutons from scratch, go for the grilled chicken option, and make the simple dressing fresh. This pasta salad is a dream and I think you'll absolutely love it!Grilled chicken caesar salad shown from overhead in a wooden bowl with romaine lettuce and wooden serving spoons to the side.

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Sausage and Peppers https://www.cookingclassy.com/sausage-and-peppers/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/sausage-and-peppers/#comments Fri, 28 Jun 2024 03:37:36 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=72259 Italian Sausage Peppers and Onions is a hearty and rich dish made with seasoned Italian sausages, vibrant bell peppers and onions, and it's all simmered in a zesty tomato and herb flecked sauce.

It's delicious filling for sandwiches or doubles as a topping over potatoes, rice or pasta.

Sliced Italian sausage, peppers and onions in a skillet. Shown with hoagies to the side as a serving suggestion.

Homestyle Sausage with Peppers and Onions

Sausage and peppers is a simple Italian style dish that's packed with bright fresh ingredients an abundance of comforting, satisfying flavor. It's an enjoyable lunch or dinner entree that is easy to make and it's fun to serve a variety of ways.

It begins with rich sausages that are beautifully browned, then they simmer briefly nestled with the sautéed peppers and onions, while the sauce simmers down and lightly thickens for a nice base. To finish the sausages are sliced into bite size coins and it's all coated with a fair sprinkle of parmesan, because why not? It adds that last touch of perfectly enhancing flavor.

There's so much crave-able goodness in every bite. Truly you'll want to use bakery fresh hoagies only (no stale hoagies buns from the shelf) for something this delicious!

Watch the Video!

[wprm-recipe-video]

 

Sausage and peppers shown served in small hoagie buns.

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