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

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated October 22, 2020
Justin Walker

We're serving up so much more than turkey this month—butternut squash, hearty pasta, and flavorful stir-fries are all stellar family-friendly meals. In less than one hour, these quick and delicious dinner recipes will go from stove to table.

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Credit: Justin Walker

When November rolls around, there's only one meal on everyone's minds: Thanksgiving dinner! While nailing the perfect roast turkey recipe is important, there are still 21 other weeknights to prepare meals for during the month. We're here to help you whip up family-friendly dishes worthy of a spot on the table—ahead, we're sharing an array of delicious dinner ideas perfect for busy November weeknights.

As always, we have meatless options for your Monday night dinner; you'll find a variety of vegetarian and vegan options that highlight seasonal ingredients like butternut and acorn squash, vegetable stir-fries, and cozy (meat-free!) chili recipes. After all, who doesn't want something warm and comforting on a cool autumn evening? In addition to being able to feed a family of four and make a dinner that comes together in under one hour, we also make an effort to share recipes that are a little different than what you're probably used to making yet still totally delicious. Try this one-pan skillet dinner with cod, a hearty but mild-tasting white fish that even the pickiest of kiddos are sure to devour, with grains and vegetables.

Since your refrigerator will probably be packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and a giant turkey during the week of Thanksgiving, keep dinner simple and light. Our recipes for that week are based on using convenient pantry staples such as pasta and whole grains. Plus, there's one very special recipe that uses turkey leftovers—and no, it's not a sandwich!

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Swiss Chard and Almond Pasta

Credit: Chris Simpson
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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.

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Vegetable and Black-Bean Fried Rice

Credit: Con Poulos
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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.

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Sumac-Dusted Salmon with Broccolini

Credit: Kate Sears
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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.

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Pork, Mushroom, and Artichoke Fricassee

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

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Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts

Credit: Kate Sears
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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.

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Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Sage

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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.

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Ham Chowder

Credit: Gieves Anderson
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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.

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Bangers and Mash

Credit: Martyna Szczesna
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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.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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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.

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Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp

Credit: Kate Sears
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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.

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Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Credit: Sidney Bensimon
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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.

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Pasta e Fagioli Pasta

Credit: Kate Sears
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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.

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Thai Grilled-Chicken Baguettes

Credit: Lennart Weibull
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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.

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Crispy Sweet Potato Cemitas

Credit: Con Poulos
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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.

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Ma Halima's Beef Suqaar

Credit: Khadija M. Farah & Jennifer May
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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.

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Pasta with Mushrooms, Dill, and Crème Fraiche

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

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Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Marbella

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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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.

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Gingery Pork-and-Broccoli Stir-Fry

Credit: Marcus Nilsson
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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.

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Lemon-Herb Turkey with Bay Butter

Credit: Paola + Murray
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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.

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Leftover Turkey Curry

Credit: Julia Gartland
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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.

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Vegetarian Enchiladas Suizas

Credit: Con Poulos
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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.

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By Kelly Vaughan