December Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Cranberry Crinkle TartPHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you want to impress your family and friends with a showstopping dessert this holiday season, look no further than this cranberry crinkle tart. Golden layers of crispy phyllo pastry are soaked with sweet orange custard, filled with cranberry sauce, and brushed with a glistening simple syrup for a stunning dessert centerpiece that’s as beautiful as it is delightful to eat.

Get the Cranberry Crinkle Tart recipe.

Spicy Cranberry Chicken Wings spicy, sticky cranberry wings with mustard dipping sauce PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Say it with us…Spicy. Cranberry. Wings. Garlic powder- and smoked paprika-dusted chicken wings get tossed in a chili powder-spiked cranberry sauce and baked until they reach caramelized, tangy, sweet, and spicy perfection.

Get the Spicy Cranberry Chicken Wings recipe.

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Cranberry Collins cranberry gin cocktail in a tall glass with rosemary and cranberries PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Our Cranberry Collins is herbaceous, tangy, and effervescent, making it the ideal companion to turkey and all your favorite sides. This refreshing cocktail blends crisp gin, zesty lemon, tart cranberry juice, and aromatic thyme, topped with bubbly club soda for a lively finish.

Get the Cranberry Collins recipe.

Turkey Snack MixPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If the entirety of Thanksgiving dinner could be translated into a snack mix, this might be it. Think Chex Mix with amplified additions: garlic, paprika, brown sugar, and a poultry mix of spices, such as dried thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Get the Turkey Snack Mix recipe.

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Pull-Apart Stuffing Bread pull apart stuffing bread topped with herbs PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

With all of the elements of stuffing plus the added flaky and butter benefits of biscuits, this pull-apart stuffing bread just might start a tug-of-war situation at your table when you grab for a slice. Best of all, it utilizes a few widely available store-bought products, making assembly a breeze.

Get the Pull-Apart Stuffing Bread recipe.

Creamy Garlicky Alfredo DitaliniPHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

It’s no secret that the social sphere is loving one-pot pastina and ditalini, so we’re jumping on board too. Nothing invigorates us more than the words pasta, creamy, and garlic, so we created this Alfredo-inspired ditalini dinner that’s a little smoky, crispy, and cheesy too.

Get the Creamy Garlicky Alfredo Ditalini recipe.

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Cranberry Sauce Spritz cranberry spritz cocktail with a cranberry and orange garnish PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

For this recipe, I combined whole berry cranberry sauce with gin, cranberry juice, prosecco, and club soda, then garnished with an orange peel and freshly grated nutmeg to create the perfect combination of tart and sweet.

Get the Cranberry Sauce Spritz recipe.

Leftover Stuffed Sweet PotatoesPHOTO CREDIT: FRANCESCA ZANI

Most people say leftovers are the best of Thanksgiving, and I totally agree. After a classic turkey day meal of roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, you get to conjure up a creative vision for those leftovers. These stuffed sweet potatoes are just that.

Get the Leftover Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

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Sheet-Pan Miso Chicken & Sweet Potatoes bone in chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, and shallots get smothered with miso chili sauce and baked until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized and the chicken is juicy and golden brown PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCERCranberry Walnut Cheese Log cheese log coated in chopped walnuts and dried cranberries PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Salty, crunchy, and sometimes sweet, this pre-dinner treat is easy and infinitely adaptable for any season and occasion. Here, dried sweetened cranberries, walnuts, and fresh thyme conjure a holiday feeling, while a little honey complements the sweet-tart fruit.

Get the Cranberry Walnut Cheese Log recipe.

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Tater Tot StuffingPHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you grew up loving the classic tater tot casserole, this tater tot stuffing is begging for a place on your holiday table. Tater tot “croutons” are tossed with sausage crumbles and herby onions and celery for a fresh twist on standard Thanksgiving stuffing that’s simultaneously nostalgic and brand new.

Get the Tater Tot Stuffing recipe.

Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs ginger, garlic, and scallion meatballs and a spicy red curry coconut sauce PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This easy dinner combines ginger-garlic meatballs and a spicy red curry coconut milk sauce to create a flavorful dish that’s both comforting and packed with bold, aromatic spices. The curry paste does double duty, adding the savory, spicy flavors of red pepper, garlic, lemongrass, and galangal to both the meatballs and the sauce.

Get the Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs recipe.

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Split Decision Pie half pumpkin and half pecan pie PHOTO CREDIT: MAKINZE GOREHigh-Protein Cottage Cheese Cheesecake Brownies brownies with a cottage cheese cheesecake swirl PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

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Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet butter toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich alfredo style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and parmesan to create this 35 minute skillet dinner PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Here, butter-toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich Alfredo-style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and Parmesan to create this 35-minute skillet dinner. A pinch of lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes add much-needed brightness and heat to cut through the rich sauce.

Get the Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet recipe.

Boursin Mac & Cheese mac and cheese with boursin PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This four-ingredient, 20-minute Boursin mac is one that everyone can get behind. I admit that there is a time and place for a roux-based, gooey baked cheese with crispy toppings, but I’ll also admit that this is the best mac and cheese I’ve ever made and by far the simplest.

Get the Boursin Mac & Cheese recipe.

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Upside Down Brie Bites food my muse upsidedown brie bites NADIA AIDI

If you’re looking for an easy, impressive app for this holiday season, you’ve got to make these brie bites. The flavor combination just makes sense—flaky puff pastry paired with nutty, buttery brie and drizzled with honey—and the method is so fun.

Get the Upside Down Brie Bites recipe.

Meatball Parm Orzo tomato based orzo in a skillet topped with meatballs and cheese PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Meatball subs are simply the king of sandwiches. So why not re-create all the warmth, heartiness, and flavor of the meatball sub in a simple one-pot pasta dish? This meatball Parm orzo only uses one pot and involves barely any chopping, and it’s certainly a crowd-pleaser.

Get the Meatball Parm Orzo recipe.

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Whipped Brie whipped brie topped with honey and fruit preserves PHOTO CREDIT: MAKINZE GORE

All it takes is a few minutes in your food processor to aerate your brie and turn it into something smooth, spreadable, and somehow even creamier. This classy appetizer is our new go-to for holiday potlucks, movie nights, and dinner parties

Get the Whipped Brie recipe.

Sheet-Pan Quesadillas tortillas filled with meat and cheese on a sheet pan PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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