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A plate with a cooked lemon butter salmon fillet garnished with chives, roasted baby potatoes, green beans, and a lemon slice. A fork is flaking the salmon.

Latest

A bowl of yellow vegetarian pumpkin curry with chunks of squash, zucchini, pecans, and rice, served with a spoon and flatbread on the side.

Fall

A plate of golden-brown corn fritters garnished with chives, the crispy corn fritters arranged in a cluster on a white plate.

Sides

A bowl of classic Coq au Vin with tender chicken, carrots, mushrooms, and onions nestled on creamy mashed potatoes. Two wooden-handled utensils rest invitingly in the bowl.

Dinner

Most Popular Dinner Recipes

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A hearty steak salad featuring sliced steak atop a mixed salad with arugula, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese, served with a fork on the plate.

20

Best Steak Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette

A skillet featuring Coq au Vin-style chicken drumsticks with bacon, mushrooms, onions, and herbs in a rich sauce.

1 15

Julia Child’s Coq au Vin

A plate showcasing baked pork chops seasoned to perfection, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes crowned with butter and a side of vibrant green peas. A fork rests invitingly on the plate.

23

Juicy Baked Pork Chops (easy recipe that always turns out tender)

A bowl of flavorful lentil curry topped with white rice, garnished with fresh cilantro, and served alongside a warm piece of naan bread.

1

Coconut Lentil Curry

Hi! I’m Kristen.

I’m so glad you found your way here. Since 2011, I’ve been sharing easy, big-flavored recipes that are made for real life, like saucy skillet chicken, crisp and creamy salads, and seafood dinners that feel special without much effort. Everything is tested in my kitchen until it’s just right, so dinner feels fun instead of stressful.

PS. If you enjoy a cocktail with dinner, come visit my other site, Find Your Cocktail.

A bowl of chicken and dumplings stew with vegetables and a spoon, overlaid with the text dinners to eat in october..

If you’re wondering what to make for dinner in October, here are 10 recipes to make this month. These are the ones I love to make when the weather starts to feel chilly.

See the recipes!

Quick Dinner Recipes with Big Flavor

When you’re crunched for time, these are the recipes to reach for. They are all made in 40 minutes or less so you can get a meal on the table faster than ordering takeout.

Browse all quick recipes

A bowl of creamy shrimp chowder garnished with bacon, fresh herbs, and lime slices, with extra bacon on a plate nearby—perfect for fans of creamy chowder.

40

Creamy Corn and Shrimp Chowder (with bacon!)

A plate with a cooked salmon fillet garnished with chives, green beans, and roasted baby potatoes, served with lemon wedges. A small bowl of lemon slices is in the background.

17

Lemon Butter Salmon with Garlic and Chives

A plate of Moules Frites features cooked mussels garnished with sliced shallots, served alongside crispy French fries and a small dish of dipping sauce—a classic delight from Belgian cuisine.

25

Moules Frites with Quick Aioli

A bowl of shrimp pasta mixed with penne and herbs, topped with a lemon wedge and a fork resting inside, features a light lemony pasta sauce for a fresh, zesty finish.

25

Lemony Ricotta Pasta Sauce with Shrimp

Chicken Recipes

Browse all chicken recipes

Creamy Garlic Chicken on a dinner plate with mashed potatoes and green beans

35

Creamy Garlic Chicken Breast

Chicken and Mushrooms recipe being cooked in a frying pan

40

Pan Fried Chicken and Mushrooms

Looking down on a plate of Thai chicken marinated in Thai Chicken Marinade

35

Thai Chicken Marinade

Hot honey being drizzled over crispy chicken.

1 5

Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Thighs (Oven Fried)

Pork Recipes

Browse all pork recipes

Baked Pork Tenderloin on a dinner plate with green beans

30

Juiciest Baked Pork Tenderloin

A thin pork chop on a dinner plate with mashed potatoes and peas.

16

How to Cook Thin Pork Chops (with delicious honey garlic butter)

Hands holding a BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

5 10

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

a close up of mushroom onion gravy being spooned over pork chops

25

Smothered Pork Chops with Mushroom Onion Gravy

Pasta Recipes

Browse all pasta recipes

Baked Ziti with sausage on the dinner table

1

Cheesy Baked Ziti with Sausage and Pesto

Penne Alla Vodka on a dinner plate

30

Penne alla Vodka (restaurant-quality in 30 minutes!)

A white bowl filled with creamy Boursin Cheese Pasta, mixed with spinach and topped with ground black pepper.

20

Creamiest Boursin Cheese Pasta (stovetop recipe)

Slices of this Easy Lasagna Recipe in a a baking dish

1 40

Easy Lasagna with Ricotta

Soup Recipes

See all soup recipes

A bowl of Potato Soup with toppings on the dinner table.

40

Extra Creamy Potato Soup with Bacon and Crispy Tater Tots

Pumpkin soup make from canned pumpkin in a bowl

35

Canned Pumpkin Soup with Crispy Pumpkin Seeds and Bacon

a bowl of mexican quinoa soup with a spoon.

35

Mexican Quinoa Soup

Thai Inspired Chicken Meatball Soup in a bowl with rice noodles.

45

Thai Inspired Chicken Meatball Soup

Salad Recipes

Browse all salad recipes

A wooden serving spoon in a serving bowl of Mexican Bean Salad.

45

Mexican Bean Salad with an Incredible Honey Cumin Dressing

Beet and Goat Cheese Salad on a serving platter

40

Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

A glass bowl filled with romaine lettuce, croutons, grated cheese, and easy Caesar dressing, with salad tongs resting inside.

5

Easy Caesar Dressing (5-minute recipe!)

a big salad bowl filled with spring mix salad tossed in lemon honey vinaigrette

10

Spring Mix Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

Dinner Sides

Browse all side dish recipes

Potato Rolls in a baking dish

2 40

Garlic Butter Potato Rolls

Brown Sugar Carrots in a serving bowl

45

Brown Sugar Carrots with Buttered Pecans

Green Beans with Almonds on a serving plate.

20

Green Beans with Buttery Almonds

A close up of Crispy Roasted Potatoes in a serving bowl

1

Crispy Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes (baking soda parboil method)

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Chicken lazone in a pan with a wooden spoon,

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