From Weeknight to Wow: 15 Main Dish Masterpieces

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Brace yourself: these main dish masterpieces recipes are coming in hot and ready to knock dinner right out of the park. Whether it’s Crockpot Marry Me Chicken that practically proposes to your taste buds, Lasagna (Traditional Italian Recipe) that’s got nonna-level approval, or Smoked Salmon Cakes bringing big brunch energy to dinner, you’re in for a ride. Need cozy? The Best Meatloaf We’ve Ever Made and Crock Pot Pot Roast are basically hugs on a plate. Feeling fancy? Chicken Roulade is here to flex. One thing’s for sure—leftovers are going to be very popular!

Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

Two plates of fettuccine topped with creamy chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs, with grated cheese on the side.
Image Credit: Cheerful Cook

Crockpot Marry Me Chicken simmers into creamy, dreamy perfection that’ll have you proposing to your dinner before the first bite.

To learn more: Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

Lasagna (Traditional Italian Recipe)

A hearty slice of lasagna layered with meat and cheese, garnished with a fresh basil leaf on a decorative plate.
Image Credit: Christina’s Cucina

Lasagna (Traditional Italian Recipe) stacks layers of rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and pasta into the kind of masterpiece Nonna would proudly claim.

To learn more: Lasagna (Traditional Italian Recipe)

Smoked Salmon Cakes

A golden-brown fish cake topped with creamy sauce, garnished with dill, served with a lemon wedge on a white plate.
Image Credit: Kitchen Divas

Smoked Salmon Cakes blend smoky richness with a crispy golden crust, serving up fancy vibes without the fuss.

To learn more: Smoked Salmon Cakes

Paccheri Pasta

A white bowl filled with cheesy, meat-filled pasta shells in marinara sauce, garnished with herbs and sprinkled with cheese.
Image Credit: Xoxo Bella

Paccheri Pasta shows off with its oversized tubes, perfect for catching every drop of sauce—because bigger pasta means bigger flavor, obviously.

To learn more: Paccheri Pasta

Best Meatloaf We’ve Ever Made

Two slices of meatloaf topped with glossy ketchup, served on a plate with fresh green salad in the background.
Image Credit: Inspired Taste

Best Meatloaf We’ve Ever Made isn’t just talk—it’s juicy, flavorful, and the kind of dinner that makes you forget meatloaf ever had a bad rep.

To learn more: Best Meatloaf We’ve Ever Made

Greek Chicken and Roasted Potatoes

Golden-brown roasted chicken garnished with herbs, surrounded by roasted baby potatoes and onions on a white platter.
Image Credit: Cheerful Cook

Greek Chicken and Roasted Potatoes brings zesty, herby goodness straight from the Mediterranean—crispy potatoes and juicy chicken never had it so good.

To learn more: Greek Chicken and Roasted Potatoes

Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy

Meatballs coated in brown gravy, garnished with chopped parsley, served on a white plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy serve up cozy, savory bites swimming in rich, dreamy sauce—basically a hug from Scandinavia on your plate.

To learn more: Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy

Smoked Eye of Round

Sliced roast beef with a seasoned crust, arranged on a white platter garnished with fresh herbs, showcasing its juicy interior.
Image Credit: Kitchen Divas

Smoked Eye of Round turns a humble cut into a smoky, tender showstopper that tastes like you spent hours mastering the grill—because you did.

To learn more: Smoked Eye of Round

Honey Ginger Chicken

A bowl of rice topped with glazed chicken pieces and green onions, alongside ginger and chopsticks.
Image Credit: Xoxo Bella

Honey Ginger Chicken hits that sweet-meets-zingy balance just right, making every bite sticky, savory, and totally addictive.

To learn more: Honey Ginger Chicken

Our Favorite Baked Ziti

A wooden spoon lifting a cheesy, baked pasta dish, with gooey cheese stretching between the spoon and the casserole dish.
Image Credit: Inspired Taste

Our Favorite Baked Ziti loads up on gooey cheese, rich sauce, and pasta baked to bubbly perfection—basically comfort food that never lets you down.

To learn more: Our Favorite Baked Ziti

Crock Pot Pot Roast

A plate of tender, shredded beef covered in gravy, served alongside crispy roasted potatoes.
Image Credit: Lil’ Luna

Crock Pot Pot Roast slow-cooks its way to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, filling your kitchen with the kind of savory aroma that makes you wish dinner was already here.

To learn more: Crock Pot Pot Roast

Chicken Roulade

A close-up of sliced chicken rolls stuffed with creamy filling, roasted red peppers, and herbs, garnished with fresh parsley.
Image Credit: Cheerful Cook

Chicken Roulade takes tender chicken and rolls it up with savory fillings, creating a dish that looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to whip up.

To learn more: Chicken Roulade

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

A bowl of hearty beef stew with tender beef chunks, carrots, potatoes, and herbs, garnished with green parsley.
Image Credit: Xoxo Bella

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew lets you throw everything in and walk away, while it simmers into a rich, hearty meal that’s ready when you are.

To learn more: Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

A bowl of shredded chicken glazed in sauce, topped with green onions, served over fluffy white rice.
Image Credit: Lil’ Luna

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken delivers tender, juicy chicken in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce that practically cooks itself—dinner, done.

To learn more: Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

Chicken Plov Recipe – A Comforting One-Pot Chicken and Rice Pilaf

A red pot filled with flavorful chicken and rice, garnished with green herbs, resting on a woven placemat.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Chicken Plov Recipe – A Comforting One-Pot Chicken and Rice Pilaf combines tender chicken, fragrant spices, and fluffy rice into the ultimate cozy, one-pot meal.

To learn more: Chicken Plov Recipe – A Comforting One-Pot Chicken and Rice Pilaf

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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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