Food & Cooking Recipes Dinner Recipes What's for Dinner? 23 Must-Make Recipes Just Right for Weeknights in December By Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 17, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Chris Simpson You're busy baking gingerbread cookies and making chocolate fudge when a thought crosses your mind: "What should I make for dinner?" The answer to that eternal question? Comfort foods that will help you stay warm as the temperatures drop, such as the Pepper-Crusted Lamb with Roasted Vegetables that's pictured here. It's simple enough to prepare any night of the week, but special enough for a holiday gathering; simply put, it's the back-pocket recipe you need during a busy month like December. Like the rest of the recipes we're sharing here, it serves at least four people and comes together in less than one hour. And, as always, Mondays are meatless. December is a jam-packed month. You're likely shopping for gifts, entertaining, attending cookie swaps, taking kids to holiday events, and so much more. Time is extra tight for meal prep during this time of year, which is why we've saved some of our fastest, least fussy weeknight dinner recipes for this collection. With holiday parties happening practically every weekend, we also have several healthy feel-good meals to balance things out during the week, like our easy Roasted-Vegetable Couscous Bowl which is cooked on a sheet pan (always a fan-favorite method!). Of course, there are plenty of classic, hearty dinner recipes in the mix, too. Our Instant Pot Turkey Chili is simple to prepare and makes great leftovers; we bet you'll love it so much that you'll also want to make it for football Sunday. Another winner is our Lemon-and-Parsley Risotto, which is the perfect foundational recipe perfect for those who have never tried their hand at risotto before (and even if you have, its simplicity is charming as always). So, what are you waiting for? Make these family-friendly dinner recipes your go-to menu for December and you'll be eating deliciously (and simply!) all month long. 01 of 23 Roasted Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples James Ransom From the seasonal fruit and vegetable pairings to the roasted pork chops, everything about this meal is perfect for cold weather. Searing the pork chops before roasting them creates a golden brown, savory crust. View Recipe 02 of 23 Chicken Bolognese with Tagliatelle Sharon Radisch Here's a flavorful sauce for pasta that comes together in 45 minutes, which is quicker than a traditional Bolognese yet just as tasty. The secret? Using both ground white and dark meat. View Recipe 03 of 23 Broccoli, Lemon, and Gouda Pizzas Yuki Sugiura This fragrant pizza is the perfect handheld dinner for Friday night. Broccoli is brightened up with thin slices of lemon and fresh rosemary, and gouda is a wonderful alternative to the usual mozzarella. View Recipe 04 of 23 Tofu-Tomatillo Stew Con Poulos Tomatillos, fresh cilantro, and jalapeño peppers bring an intense green hue to this tasty vegan stew. White hominy and extra-firm tofu complete this dinner, which is perfect for meatless Monday. View Recipe 05 of 23 Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Escarole Nico Schinco By now you know how much we love an easy sheet-pan dinner; easy to prep, hands-off cooking, and just one sheet pan to wash after dinner. Here, juicy roasted chicken thighs, crispy potatoes, and wilted escarole make a cozy, delicious meal. View Recipe 06 of 23 Rice-and-Bean Salad Bowl with Tahini Sauce Johnny Miller Grain bowls are popular for good reason. They're an easy way to serve up a variety of colorful, nutritious vegetables, legumes, and herbs. In the midst of heavy Christmas cookie consumption this healthy dinner recipe is just what you need. View Recipe 07 of 23 Salmon-Spinach Burgers Frank Frances Burger night, but make it different, delicious, and healthy, too. This recipe hits all those bases. Salmon fillet is mixed with goat cheese and baby spinach for delectably moist patties that pair wonderfully with your favorite flatbread. View Recipe 08 of 23 Instant Pot Turkey Chili Bryan Gardner A big pot of chili is filling, warm, and perfect for feeding the family when the weather is cold. Using ground turkey makes it healthier than the traditional beef version, and using the Instant Pot makes it faster. View Recipe 09 of 23 Lemon-and-Parsley Risotto Sidney Bensimon Want to become a better home cook? Master an essential dish, such as this simple risotto recipe made with lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. It's the perfect dish for a cool Monday evening. View Recipe 10 of 23 Spicy Shrimp Fajitas with Grilled Pineapple Pico Armando Rafael It's taco Tuesday! Filled with chipotle shrimp, grilled pineapple, and avocado slices, this tropical dinner is welcome on a cold December night. View Recipe 11 of 23 Pork-Meatball Skillet Bake Justin Walker A one-skillet dinner not only makes for easy clean-up, but simple prep and presentation, too. Pork meatballs are hand-rolled, then baked with peppers, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and crusty Italian bread. View Recipe 12 of 23 Beef and Broccoli with Black-Bean Garlic Sauce Yuki Sugiura For an easy, breezy weeknight meal (this one comes together in just 30 minutes), make this beef and broccoli stir-fry. We love using skirt steak, it's an inexpensive cut that's easy to cook and super flavorful. View Recipe 13 of 23 Chicken Schnitzel with Dill and Sesame David Malosh When you feel like fried chicken but don't have the time, turn to this crunchy, irresistible chicken dinner made with boneless, skinless chicken-breast halves or chicken cutlets. The meat is coated in seasoned panko and cooks quickly on the stovetop. View Recipe 14 of 23 Vegetable and Black-Bean Fried Rice Con Poulos Rice and beans are an old favorite. Here, they're amped up with cremini mushrooms, bell pepper, scallions, and hot sauce for a spectacular meatless meal. View Recipe 15 of 23 Sausages with Acorn Squash and Onions Johnny Miller After just 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes in the oven, you'll get to enjoy a hearty, crowd-pleasing dinner. Who wouldn't love sweet Italian sausages with slices of acorn squash and red onion, finished with Asiago cheese and dried cherries? We like to serve this entrée over polenta or rice. View Recipe 16 of 23 Stracciatella Soup with Kale and Lemon Lennart Weibull Rich and comforting, this soup starts with store-bought chicken broth. The kale cooks in the broth, the egg whites are added, and then the yolks and Parmesan or Pecorino cheese are whisked in along with nutmeg and lemon juice. View Recipe 17 of 23 Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts Kate Sears We're keeping it easy—and delicious—tonight with this hearty yet quick meal that starts with chicken cutlets, store-bought polenta, and jarred marinara sauce. View Recipe 18 of 23 One-Pot Seafood Orzo Risotto Marcus Nilsson In honor of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, traditionally celebrated by Italians on Christmas Eve, we're serving this seafood risotto. Squid, halibut, small clams, and shrimp combine with orzo in this easy-to-make yet celebratory entrée. View Recipe 19 of 23 Roasted-Vegetable Couscous Bowl Justin Walker A vegetarian sheet-pan dinner with couscous, cauliflower, carrots, chickpeas, and feta is just what you need for dinner after all those holiday feasts. View Recipe 20 of 23 Crispy Baked Chicken Flautas Justin Walker Need something crispy and tempting but also easy to make for dinner tonight? These baked chicken flautas feature ground chicken and plenty of ooey, gooey cheese. What's not to like? View Recipe 21 of 23 Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Yunhee Kim This five-ingredient dinner is a genius crowd pleaser that turns a favorite side dish—caramelized Brussels sprouts and bacon—into the main course. View Recipe 22 of 23 Eggplant, Pistachio, and Pomegranate Pizza Roland Bello Everything about this vegetarian pizza says holiday. From the contrasting green pistachios and red pomegranate arils, it's a delicious and fun meal to serve between Christmas and New Year's. View Recipe 23 of 23 Fish Stew with Herbed Toasts James Ransom If you're having a quiet dinner in on New Year's Eve, this simple stew made with your favorite white fish is a fabulous option. The best part is it that comes together in just half an hour, so there's plenty of time for dinner and celebrations before the ball drops. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit