What's for Dinner? 22 Recipes That Are Perfect for Busy November Weeknights

Keep things light, healthy, and easy on the first Monday of the month. In preparation for the main feast, this pasta dish is vegetarian and low-maintenance.

Make use of pantry staples like canned black beans and hot sauce, as well as leftover white rice, in this 30-minute family-friendly meal. It gets a boost of color—and even more nutrients—from red bell pepper, sliced cremini mushrooms, and cilantro.

This healthy entrée comes together in just 25 minutes. Lemony sumac powder is a staple in Middle Eastern cooking and its tart flavor pairs so well with seafood, like the salmon filets here.

One-pan dinners for the win! Pork tenderloin, sliced mixed mushrooms, and quartered artichoke hearts braise in a creamy mustard sauce for maximum flavor.

Sliced pre-cooked polenta and chicken cutlets are cooked in a skillet then topped with olives, capers, and marinara sauce in this easy weeknight recipe.

There are just seven ingredients in this streamlined dinner, and ease is what everyone needs during the month of November. Diced squash and fresh sage leaves shine with orecchiette, which translates to "little ears." It's a perfect weeknight pasta dish when you want a taste of autumn.

As the temperature drops dramatically this season, cozy up with a warm bowl of chowder. Instead of the usual seafood, we loaded this version with shredded deli ham for a hearty scoop.

A British favorite, this dish is classic comfort food. The key to super flavorful bangers (pork sausage) and mash (potatoes) is serving them with a rich gravy made with red wine, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and sliced onions.

Craving a ham and cheese sandwich but looking for something more special for dinner? Prepare this classic Swiss chicken dish: To make it, sliced ham and cheese get layered between a butterflied chicken breast, then pan-fried until crispy. Serve warm with a crisp salad on the side.

Have you always wanted to try making a takeout favorite at home? This is the perfect easy recipe to start with—large shrimp are sautéed with bell pepper, pineapple, apricot jam, and white vinegar, then served over rice.

Make this meatless chili for a hearty dinner to keep you warm as the temperature cools down. It gets all of its might from black and kidney beans. Garnish with a variety of colorful, flavorful toppings—try jalapeño peppers, sliced avocado, and a dollop of sour cream.

Inspired by the classic pasta and bean soup, this 25-minute pasta dish is totally genius. The short pasta of your choosing is tossed with red onion, escarole, tomato paste, and chickpeas.

Sandwiches for supper? Absolutely! These open-faced, Thai-inspired sandwiches layer chicken cutlets, chopped cocktail peanuts, Masaman-curry paste, sliced celery, and fresh fragrant herbs atop a crusty baguette.

Love sweet potato fries? Then you'll love these crispy sweet potato burgers, which are vegetarian and packed with protein thanks to the refried beans.

In no time at all, you can create this delicious meat-and-vegetable stir-fry that's inspired by a traditional Somalian dish. Ground cumin and turmeric bring warmth and a little bit of heat.

Meaty mushrooms add plenty of substance to this vegetarian main, and fresh dill brightens spicy horseradish. Give it a twirl!

Maybe you haven't seen this dish since the 1980s, but it certainly deserves a comeback. Cooking bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on the pressure cooker setting keeps them juicy and tender.

Bored of eating chicken or vegetable stir-fry? Mix it up (literally!) with thinly sliced pork tenderloin, plus other vegetables like broccoli, onions, and water chestnuts. Finish with a spicy, thickened sauce.

It's turkey day! Celebrate the holiday with this bright and earthy roast made with plenty of bay leaves plus rosemary and lemon. Serve the bird on a platter over branches of bay leaves to add color and infuse the meat with even more flavor.

In our opinion, leftover turkey is never a bad thing. Instead of layering it on a sandwich with all the fixins', create a delicious curry stew that you can enjoy for days to come.

One-skillet and under one hour? That sounds like the makings of the perfect meatless Monday meal. Corn tortillas are topped with sliced poblano peppers, red onion, zucchini, green salsa, and plenty of ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese in this family-friendly recipe.