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  5. What's for Dinner? 22 Recipes Just Right for Busy November Weeknights
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What's for Dinner? 22 Recipes Just Right for Busy November Weeknights

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By Victoria Spencer Updated October 12, 2021
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broccoli-and-chickpea parmesan
Credit: Johnny Miller

Yes, we're serving turkey this month but that's certainly not all! Here, you'll find dinners made with butternut squash, broccoli, and other favorite fall vegetables as well as hearty pastas, chili, and flavorful stir-fries. All these weeknight meals are made in less than an hour and are just right for those chilly November evenings.

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broccoli soup
Credit: Johnny Miller

When November comes around, there's one (big) meal on everyone's minds: Thanksgiving dinner! Sure, nailing the perfect roast turkey recipe is important, but there are still 22 other weeknights to prepare a nighttime meal for this month. We understand that time is tight and things might be even busier than usual as you prep for Turkey Day, so we're here to help you with delicious, easy dinner ideas just right for November evenings.

As always, we have meatless options for Monday night; you'll find a variety of vegetarian and vegan meals that highlight seasonal ingredients like butternut squash and broccoli (give the Creamy Broccoli and White Bean Soup shown here a spin!). We've also got vegetable stir-fries, pastas, and a cozy (meat-free!) chili recipe, because who doesn't want something warm and comforting on a cool autumn evening?

When we suggest weeknight dinner ideas, we select recipes that serve four and come together in under an hour (but many take much less time than that and those that have a longer total prep time usually are largely hands off, the stove does the work). We also aim to mix it up a little, suggesting some dishes that are a little different than to what you're used to making yet still totally delicious. 

Since your refrigerator will probably be packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and a turkey during the week of Thanksgiving, plan to keep dinners simple then. Our recipes for those nights are based on 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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Broccoli-and-Chickpea Parmesan

broccoli-and-chickpea parmesan
Credit: Johnny Miller
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We're serving up a comforting vegetarian dinner on this first Meatless Monday of the month and it's so easy to make. The elemental combination of chickpeas, marinara sauce, and mozzarella is topped with wedges of roasted broccoli and a crunchy mix of Parmesan-and-panko. The entire meal is cooked in an ovenproof skillet, making cleanup a cinch.   

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Pork, Mushroom, and Artichoke Fricassee

pork mushroom 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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Swiss-Chard and Feta Pasta

swiss chard and feta pasta
Credit: Christopher Testani
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This 30-minute pasta stars creamy, salty feta melted into the sauce and folded in with the wilted chard. A touch of orange juice and dried currants add sweetness while capers and anchovies give the dish a briny Mediterranean flavor.

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Sumac-Dusted Salmon with Broccolini

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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"Steak and Egg" Skillet Pizza

"Steak and Egg" Skillet Pizza
Credit: Justin Walker
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A fun, filling dinner for the end of the week, that's this "pizza" that's anything but your regular tomato-and-cheese pie. It starts with store-bought pizza dough but veers from the usual slice with an irresistible and hearty topping of ground beef (or lamb) and eggs that cook on top of the pie. Using a skillet gives the dough a crisp, chewy crust similar to what a traditional pizza oven would do. Serve with a big green salad or your favorite roasted vegetables. A glass of wine would be nice, too!

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Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Sage

orecchiette with butternut squash
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There are just seven ingredients in this streamlined dinner, and ease is what everyone needs during the busy month of November. Diced squash and fresh sage leaves shine with orecchiette pasta, and creamy ricotta is the finishing touch. It's a perfect weeknight dish when you want a taste of autumn.

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Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp

Thai-Curry Shrimp Linguine
Credit: Kate Sears
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Thanks to store-bought helpers like pre-peeled shrimp, prepped pineapple, and apricot jam, this tangy stir-fry takes just twenty minutes to make. Be sure to start the accompanying rice before you begin the shrimp!

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Bangers and Mash

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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 selecting good bangers and serving them with a rich gravy made with red wine, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and sliced onions.

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Sheet Pan Vegetable Hash with Eggs

Sheet Pan Vegetable Hash with Eggs
Credit: Chris Simpson
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The prize for most colorful meal of the week goes to this one-pan winner dinner, which swaps potato for finely chopped cauliflower and broccoli. In short, this simple plant-based bake as nutritious as it is delicious.

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Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts

Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts
Credit: Kate Sears
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Sliced pre-cooked polenta and chicken cutlets are prepared in a skillet before being topped with olives, capers, and marinara sauce for this easy weeknight recipe.

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Spicy Vegetarian Chili

quick vegetarian chili
Credit: Sidney Bensimon
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Make this meatless chili for a hearty dinner on a cool night. It gets its might from a combination of black and kidney beans. Garnish with a variety of colorful, flavorful toppings—try jalapeños, sliced avocado, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream.

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Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms with Egg Noodles

creamy chicken and mushrooms with egg noodles
Credit: Johnny Miller
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A creamy, comforting, and filling one-pan meal you can make in 45 minutes, this is a recipe you'll have on repeat this fall and beyond. It's as simple as searing the chicken breasts, then cooking the mushrooms and shallots, stirring in mustard, broth, egg noodles, and finally adding cream cheese, which quickly creates a rich sauce. 

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Pasta-e-Fagioli Pasta

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. You can use any short pasta you love most, but we suggest reaching for whatever's already in your kitchen cabinet. Once the pasta is cook, it gets tossed with red onion, escarole, tomato paste, chickpeas, and pasta water (reserved from cooking that gemelli or cavatappi). Plenty of Parmesan makes for an extra flavorful finish.

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Ma Halima's Beef Suqaar

ma halimas beef suqaar in a cast iron skillet
Credit: Khadija M. Farah & Jennifer May
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This delicious ground meat-and-vegetable stir-fry is Minnesota-based home cook Ma Halima's recipe for a traditional Somalian dish. It comes together in just about 30 minutes, and the ground cumin and turmeric bring warmth and a little bit of heat.

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Crispy Sweet Potato Cemitas

crispy sweet potato cemitas
Credit: Con Poulos
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If you love sweet potato fries (and who doesn't?), then you'll love these crispy sweet potato burgers. The vegetarian patties are actually slices of sweet potato that are coated in a mixture of sour cream and chipotles, then panko for crunch. They're baked, not fried, and served in sandwiches spread with refried beans and shredded cabbage.

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Pasta with Mushrooms, Dill, and Crème Fraiche

Mushroom-and-Dill Pasta with Creme 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

instant pot chicken thighs
Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Maybe you haven't seen this dish since the 1980s, but you know it deserves a comeback, especially in this easier-than-ever multi-cooker version. Cooking bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on the pressure cooker setting keeps them juicy and tender.

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Picadillo-Style Chili

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Credit: Yuki Sugiura
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What do you make for dinner the night before Thanksgiving? If you haven't already pulled something out of the freezer to reheat for dinner (and create space for bags of ice!), and you aren't ordering takeout, give this 30-minute ground beef dish a try. It's sweetly spiced rather than hot and spicy, which makes it delightfully different. Plus, it's easy to make, which is important when your mind is on stuffing and sides for tomorrow.

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Lemon-Herb Turkey with Bay Butter

lemon-herb turkey with bay butter
Credit: Paola + Murray
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If you're looking for a different turkey recipe this year, we humbly suggest this bright and earthy roast that's flavored bay, rosemary, and lemon. Serve the bird on a platter over branches of bay leaves for a dramatic presentation.

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Leftover Turkey Curry

leftover turkey curry
Credit: Julia Gartland
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In our opinion, leftover turkey is never a bad thing. Rather than layering it on a sandwich with all the fixings, we suggest you create a delicious curry stew.

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Vegetarian Enchiladas Suizas

vegetarian enchiladas suizas in a skillet
Credit: Con Poulos
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In addition to being colorful and delicious, this tasty dinner come together in one skillet and requires less than an hour of your time. If that doesn't sound like a perfect meatless Monday meal, we don't know what does. Corn tortillas are topped with sliced poblano peppers, red onion, green salsa, and plenty of ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese in this family-friendly recipe.

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Shrimp with Zucchini and Spicy Couscous

shrimp with zucchini and spicy couscous
Credit: Johnny Miller
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A 25-minute dinner that's all made in one pan, there's a lot to like about this shrimp entrée. If you're totally over turkey leftovers, this recipe is worth trying instead. It relies on pantry and freezer favorites like frozen shrimp, couscous, and canned mild green chiles.

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    1 of 23
    2 of 23 Broccoli-and-Chickpea Parmesan
    3 of 23 Pork, Mushroom, and Artichoke Fricassee
    4 of 23 Swiss-Chard and Feta Pasta
    5 of 23 Sumac-Dusted Salmon with Broccolini
    6 of 23 "Steak and Egg" Skillet Pizza
    7 of 23 Orecchiette with Butternut Squash and Sage
    8 of 23 Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp
    9 of 23 Bangers and Mash
    10 of 23 Sheet Pan Vegetable Hash with Eggs
    11 of 23 Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts
    12 of 23 Spicy Vegetarian Chili
    13 of 23 Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms with Egg Noodles
    14 of 23 Pasta-e-Fagioli Pasta
    15 of 23 Ma Halima's Beef Suqaar
    16 of 23 Crispy Sweet Potato Cemitas
    17 of 23 Pasta with Mushrooms, Dill, and Crème Fraiche
    18 of 23 Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Marbella
    19 of 23 Picadillo-Style Chili
    20 of 23 Lemon-Herb Turkey with Bay Butter
    21 of 23 Leftover Turkey Curry
    22 of 23 Vegetarian Enchiladas Suizas
    23 of 23 Shrimp with Zucchini and Spicy Couscous

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    What's for Dinner? 22 Recipes Just Right for Busy November Weeknights
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