Best September Dinner Recipes - Dining and Cooking

Copycat P.F. Chang’s Crispy Honey Shrimp crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet honey sauce PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Our homemade version of P.F. Chang’s Crispy Honey Shrimp starts with tender shrimp, battered and fried to golden perfection. From there, they’re coated in a honey-forward sauce that’s just the right balance of zesty and sweet, clinging to every crispy crevice for an irresistible bite every time.

Get the Copycat P.F. Chang’s Crispy Honey Shrimp recipe.

Marry Me Gnocchi fresh garlic, sundried tomatoes, thyme, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese tossed with pillowy soft and quick cooking gnocchi, then topped with a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra spicy kick PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This is a true 30-minute meal. Like our other Marry Me dishes, this saucy one-pan dinner features a base of fresh garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, heavy cream, and Parmesan tossed with pillowy-soft and quick-cooking gnocchi, then topped with a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra spicy kick.

Get the Marry Me Gnocchi recipe.

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Gyros Smash Tacos gyros smash tacos topped with tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes, and french fries PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This 4-in-1 mash-up is the perfect way to get all of your cravings handled at once. These gyros smash tacos feature crispy pan-fried tortillas stacked with gyro-spiced ground chicken, juicy diced tomatoes, crunchy red onion and cucumber, a hearty dollop of tzatziki, and a handful of crispy golden French fries.

Get the Gyros Smash Tacos recipe.

Sesame Chicken fried chicken tossed in a classic sesame sauce PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

To create this takeout dupe, pieces of chicken get breaded and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, then tossed in a glazy, sticky sauce, and topped with a shower of toasted sesame seeds and sliced scallions. We love crispy fried chicken, so when we say that the easy sauce is the real star of the show here, we mean it.

Get the Sesame Chicken recipe.

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Carnitas Tamale Pie carnitas tamale pie topped with sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced scallions, and chopped cilantro PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Just like our OG tamale pie and our chicken tamale pie, this recipe puts the cornbread underneath the topping (rather than on top). This method provides a sturdy bottom that helps the tamale pie cut and lift like a slice of loaded pizza, leaving the shredded pork surface open for extra toppings like fresh tomatoes and scallions.

Get the Carnitas Tamale Pie recipe.

Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp fried shrimp tossed in sauce and garnished with green onions PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Bang bang shrimp will forever be one of my favorite appetizers. Crispy shrimp are the perfect vehicles for the sweet, sour, and spicy sauce that smothers their crispy outer coating, making it soft and crunchy all at once. This air fryer version simplifies the process and makes these poppable bites almost too easy to enjoy.

Get the Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp recipe.

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Za’atar Sheet-Pan Chicken za'atar sheet pan chicken PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONChopped Cheese a bodega classic with seared adobo seasoned ground beef and chopped onions, gooey american cheese, and lettuce, tomato, mayo on a soft hero roll PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Nothing holds a candle to the iconic chopped cheese sandwich. It’s the bodega classic with seared adobo-seasoned ground beef and chopped onions, gooey American cheese, and lettuce-tomato-mayo on a soft hero roll. Now you can make this easy, cheesy sandwich without booking a flight to the Big Apple.

Get the Chopped Cheese recipe.

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Succotash-Inspired Gnocchi succotash gnocchi PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Instead of using beans (the other traditional ingredient in succotash), we swapped in perfectly chewy gnocchi that gets nicely golden brown and toasty in the pan. This is the perfect thing to bring to an end of summer potluck or to whip together for an early fall cookout.

Get the Succotash-Inspired Gnocchi recipe.

Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi With Italian Sausage gnocchi with a creamy pumpkin sauce and italian sausage PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: LAURA REGE

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Arroz Con Pollo chicken thighs and legs in a tomato based rice PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice in Spanish) is the perfect weeknight dinner savior. It’s an easy one-pot meal that doesn’t taste like one (seriously, you just might be eating the rice straight out of the pan). The best part? It makes for incredible leftovers, so you can enjoy it all week long.

Get the Arroz Con Pollo recipe.

Ratatouille chopped up vegetables in a tomato based sauce PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

While you might immediately think of the 2007 animated film Ratatouille, did you know that the namesake French dish is actually pretty easy to make? Though the film makes the cooking of a traditional ratatouille recipe look incredibly high-stakes, we promise it’s a meal that’s simple to make on any odd weeknight this September.

Get the Ratatouille recipe.

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Cider Glazed Chicken Thighs cider glazed chicken thighs with apples and sweet potatoes PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONShepherd’s Pie Potato Skins a saucy, red wine spiked ground beef and vegetable mixture gets loaded into hollowed out russet potatoes, topped with parmesan mashed potatoes, and baked until golden brown PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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Creamy Spinach-Pesto Pasta green pasta named and styled after charli xcx's brat album cover PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCERRoasted Butternut Squash PastaPHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG

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Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers juicy, charred shrimp, bright lemon zest, briny capers, and white wine butter sauce PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNEChile Verde chile verde with white rice in a white bowl PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

If you’re cooking this for family dinner (and you should!), the leftovers freeze well. Serve spooned over brown rice or tucked into tortillas. You could also use this as a nacho topping (shred the pork first) or poach eggs directly in leftover sauce (a flavor twist on shakshuka!).

Get the Chile Verde recipe.

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Grilled Beer Brats grilled bratwurst braised with beer in a pan with caramelized onions and bell peppers PHOTO: ANDREW BUIRitz Cracker Chicken Casserole chicken casserole topped with ritz crackers in a red dish PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

When the weather gets cold, your dinner-making mojo is low, or when comfort food is just what’s on the menu, you need a casserole. And if that casserole is easy, creamy, chicken-y, and cheesy, like this one is? With a crunchy topping? Your oven should already be preheating.

Get the Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole recipe.

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fresh garlic, sundried tomatoes, thyme, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese tossed with pillowy soft and quick cooking gnocchi, then topped with a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra spicy kick

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