What's for Dinner? 21 Cozy Weeknight Recipes to Make in February

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated January 22, 2020
Credit: Christopher Simpson

From vegetarian tacos to a spiced take on classic beef stew, here's what we're cooking all month long.

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Credit: Christopher Simpson

In many parts of the country, February often brings in some of the most frigid temperatures and the biggest snowfalls of the year. That's why we want to cozy up with warm and comforting dinner recipes all month long. To help you craft your own menu for the month, we're sharing a selection of family-friendly meals that go from pantry to plate in under one hour. And, as always, Monday dinners are meatless.

There's plenty of comfort food to indulge in, such as our Test Kitchen's Favorite Mac and Cheese. One big pot of this will keep the whole family warm—and there may even be leftovers for lunch! Looking for a pasta dish that's a little more nutritious? Our recipe for Swiss-Chard and Feta Pasta lets the winter green take center stage, while tangy Greek feta, dried currants, and toasted pine nuts build texture and flavor.

If you're trying to keep your healthy New Year's resolution going, Sea Bass with Kale and Cannellini Beans is a delicious, protein-packed meal that feels worthy of a special occasion. But with just 35 minutes needed to prepare this recipe from start to finish, you can make it any day of the week. Just as impressive is our Creamy Mustard Chicken with Couscous, pictured here. You don't need a passport or a culinary degree to prepare this French bistro-inspired main course.

Even in the midst of a snowfall or busy weeknight, our quick dinner recipes are sure to appeal to your entire family and inspire your palate.

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Swiss-Chard and Feta Pasta

Credit: Christopher Testani
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Perhaps the best part of this dish is its unexpected use of calamarata, a thick ring-shaped pasta; or maybe it's the dish's use of dark, leafy Swiss chard or the tangy crumbled feta that's swapped in for traditional Italian cheeses. Actually, it's all good.

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Saffron Risotto with Shrimp and Peas

Credit: Sidney Bensimon
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With its gloriously golden hue and floral flavor, saffron takes creamy risotto to the next level. Shrimp and peas (we're using frozen) make the perfect combo in a dish that will warm you up mid-week.

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Broiled Spicy Pork and Pineapple

Credit: Joseph De Leo
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Sweet pineapple is a succulent complement to pork loin chops; the pork is broiled for a few minutes then removed while pineapple and scallions continue to cook. Pile the mixture atop steamed rice and build even more flavor with sauce made from fresh ginger and lime juice.

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North African Beef-and-Carrot Stew with Mint

Credit: Romulo Yanes
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Aromatic and satisfying, this recipe adds cinnamon and cayenne pepper to classic beef stew. Serve it over couscous for the most comforting 35-minute meal ever.

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Shrimp and Sausage with Cheesy Grits

Credit: Jenny Huang
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Top stone-ground grits with seared andouille sausage, shrimp, and fried eggs in this hearty weeknight dinner. Hot sauce and lemon juice add lots of additional flavor to this 50-minute recipe.

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Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup

Credit: Yuki Sugiura Photography
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Some nights, soup just hits the spot. This nourishing and nutrient-rich green soup will encourage you to keep your healthy eating resolution going. Feel free to serve with something a little bit heartier, such as these Alpine Cheese Toasts.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite Mac and Cheese

Credit: Armando Rafael
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Our go-to recipe will teach you how to master this stovetop family-favorite for dinner tonight—and any night of the week. A trio of American, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese balance sharp, salty flavor with an ooey-gooey texture.

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Curried Steak with Scallion Rice and Peas

Credit: Ren Fuller
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Tender, juicy, and budget-friendly flank steak is the perfect cut to serve atop white rice with sugar snap peas. The flavor of the meat is enhanced by Massaman curry paste, which is a warm, spicy blend of garlic, cardamom, chiles, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves that lights up everything in this one-bowl dinner.

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Instant Pot Chicken Curry

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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If you received an Instant Pot for the holidays, now's the time to put it to good use. The key to fabulous curry is all in the spice. This recipe is packed with cumin, coriander, Spanish paprika, chili powder, and cinnamon.

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Smoked-Salmon Flatbread with Pickled Beet

Credit: Jenny Huang
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Scatter smoked salmon on a sesame-bagel-inspired flatbread in this weeknight dinner recipe that comes together in exactly one hour. This recipe calls for pizza dough, which you can make ahead or buy from your favorite pizzeria.

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Butternut-and-Boursin Shells

Credit: Yunhee Kim
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Soft and creamy Boursin cheese is the star of this vegetarian pasta dish that also features butternut squash, baby arugula, and toasted hazelnuts.

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Baked Chicken Veracruz

Credit: Julia Gartland
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There are three words that sum up the wonder of chicken thighs: fatty, flavorful, and forgiving. Here, we've paired them with red potatoes, canned fire-roasted tomatoes, and green olives for a fabulous Mexican-inspired meal.

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Shrimp and Clams a la Plancha

Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Even if you can't dine al fresco, you can certainly enjoy this Spanish-inspired shellfish dish at home. From the homemade romesco sauce to the garlicky beans, there's big-time flavor all throughout that's not to be missed.

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Roasted Cod with Potatoes and Olives

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This fabulous, balanced dinner is also a sheet pan supper. First, the potatoes are roasted with rosemary, then the fish fillets, tomatoes, and olives are added and everything cooks for 15 to 20 more minutes.

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Bacon-Kimchi Pancakes

Credit: Jenny Huang
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To rouse a sleepy supper rotation, whip up these savory pancakes with sliced bacon, kimchi, and scallions. The simple batter is made with flour, sesame oil, light brown sugar, and soy sauce.

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Mostly Greens Frittata

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Don't discount frittatas as dinner food. This one is packed with spinach and Swiss chard for a vegetarian meal the whole family will request again and again.

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Creamy Lemon-Barley Soup

Credit: Louise Hagger
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Heartier and creamier than traditional chicken noodle soup, this nourishing bowl contains satisfying ingredients like whole-grain barley, protein-rich chicken breasts, watercress, and leeks.

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Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon

Credit: Yunhee Kim
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We're not calling this carbonara—in fact, it might be better. Fatty, marvelous bacon adds a savory flavor to this spaghetti dish with Brussels sprouts.

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Chow Mein

Credit: Martyna Szczesna
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Hong Kong chow mein noodles—which you can find in the grocery store or a local Asian supermarket—are the base for the vegetable-packed dinner that you'll have on the table in just 25 minutes.

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Steak-and-Egg Tacos

Credit: Jenny Huang
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Turn the most important meal of the day into evening news. Tuck chile-rubbed steak and eggs into blistered tortillas in this breakfast-inspired dinner.

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By Kelly Vaughan