A Dozen Good Reasons to Cook at Home Tonight, No Reservations Needed

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Heading home to make dinner because let’s be real—why go out when you can whip up a meal that actually knows what you like to eat? Whether you’re craving Buttermilk Fried Chicken with a crispy, golden crust, or a hearty Steak Bowl to satisfy those protein cravings, your kitchen has got you covered. Maybe you’re in the mood for Firecracker Salmon to spice things up, or if comfort’s calling, Country Fried Steak and Sausage and Peppers are ready to answer. Dinner at home just became the best decision you’ve made all week!

Chicken Cutlets with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce

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A pan filled with creamy Tuscan chicken showing browned chicken breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and a rich creamy sauce. A spoon rests in the pan, ready to serve the dish. The background is a white marble surface.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Chicken Cutlets with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce is a dream come true for busy cooks—super easy, packed with concentrated tomato flavor, and made with just a few ingredients in one pan. It’s the perfect weeknight warrior’s dish!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cutlets with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

A wooden tray filled with crispy fried chicken pieces and golden French fries, accompanied by a bowl of red dipping sauce on the side, garnished with green herbs.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Buttermilk Fried Chicken isn’t just crispy—it’s the fried chicken that sets the bar. Marinated in tangy buttermilk for juicy, flavorful meat, and coated in a perfectly spiced, crisp crust, this is the fried chicken that makes all others seem like wannabes. Why go for anything less when you can have the best?
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Country Fried Steak

Close-up of a plate featuring crispy fried chicken covered in creamy white gravy. The chicken is garnished with small green herbs, adding a touch of color. The dish is presented on a rustic, brown plate.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Country-Fried Steak, or Chicken-Fried Steak if you’re in the South, is a crispy, golden cube steak smothered in a rich, creamy sawmill gravy that’ll have you going back for seconds (or thirds). It’s a hearty, lip-smackin’ classic that’s comfort food at its finest!
Get the Recipe: Country Fried Steak

Firecracker Salmon

Three glazed salmon fillets in a cast iron skillet, garnished with herbs. The fillets are topped with a shiny sauce. A fork and knife rest on the table nearby, with a small bunch of fresh greens beside the pan.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

Firecracker Salmon features a fiery, flavorful sauce that’s ready in under 20 minutes. With perfectly flaky, crispy fish, this dinner packs a punch without keeping you in the kitchen all night!
Get the Recipe: Firecracker Salmon

Sheet Pan Pork Chops

A baking sheet filled with roasted potato halves, three seasoned pork chops, and cooked green beans. The potatoes are golden brown, and the pork chops appear juicy, garnished with herbs. The green beans are vibrant and tender.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Sheet Pan Pork Chops bring together juicy, tender pork, crispy potatoes, and vibrant green beans, all roasted in one pan with a kick of zesty seasoning. It’s a no-fuss, flavor-packed dinner that practically cooks itself!
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pork Chops

Sausage and Peppers

Three grilled sausages topped with melted cheese, bell peppers, and onions in toasted buns. Served with a side of mustard on a metal tray, alongside additional sliced peppers for garnish. Served with
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

Sausage and Peppers with Onions comes together in a flash on the stove, delivering a bold and flavorful dinner that’s sure to please everyone at the table. Simple, delicious, and ready in no time!
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Peppers

Steak Bowl

A bowl filled with diced steak, white rice, red kidney beans, corn, red onion, microgreens, chopped red peppers, sour cream, and caper berries. Garnished with cilantro. A golden spoon and small dishes are beside the bowl on a white surface.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

Quick and Easy Steak Bowls are ready in less than 15 minutes, offering a healthy, protein-packed dinner that’s as satisfying as it is speedy. Perfect for when you need something delicious in a flash!
Get the Recipe: Steak Bowl

Pork Tenderloin with Figs and Balsamic Glaze

Plate with slices of pork tenderloin drizzled with dark sauce, accompanied by broccoli, figs, and mashed potatoes. The dish is garnished with herbs and arranged on a light-colored table setting.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin is paired with fresh figs and a rich balsamic glaze, making it a simple yet elegant dish that’s perfect for weeknights or any occasion that calls for a little extra flair. Deliciously easy and impressively flavorful!
Get the Recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Figs and Balsamic Glaze

Greek Chicken Orzo

Grilled herb-marinated chicken on a plate with orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese cubes, red onion, black olives, artichoke hearts, and parsley garnish.
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

Greek Chicken Orzo is packed with Mediterranean flavors and comes together in just 35 minutes—one pan, zero stress, and a dinner that’s both quick and full of punchy flavor! Perfect for a weeknight win.
Get the Recipe: Greek Chicken Orzo

Pork Chops with Apples & Sage

A skillet containing cooked pork chops topped with sliced peaches and herbs. The dish is garnished with fresh sage leaves, and a white cloth is placed beside the skillet on a marble surface.
Photo credit: Downshiftology

Juicy, Pork Chops with Apples & Sage brined in apple cider and cooked with fresh apples and sage bring the perfect balance of savory and sweet to your dinner table. It’s a meal that’s sure to please with every bite!
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops with Apples & Sage

Easy Cajun Shrimp

A dish of seasoned and cooked shrimp garnished with chopped herbs. The shrimp are orange and lightly browned, indicating they are well-cooked. A spoon rests among the shrimp in the pan.
Photo credit: Downshiftology

Cajun Shrimp is a quick and easy dinner that’s packed with bold flavors, all thanks to my homemade Cajun seasoning. It’s a fiery, flavorful dish that’ll spice up your weeknight in no time!
Get the Recipe: Easy Cajun Shrimp

Greek Chicken

Two seasoned chicken breasts in a baking dish with sliced red onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, and pieces of feta cheese. The dish is garnished with herbs and surrounded by lemon slices, all drizzled with olive oil.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Greek Chicken Breast is loaded with olives, tomatoes, feta, and a mouthwatering sauce, making it the perfect healthy and flavorful dinner to brighten up any weeknight. Simple yet packed with bold flavors!
Get the Recipe: Greek Chicken

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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