Food & Cooking Recipes Dinner Recipes What's for Dinner? What's for Dinner This Week: Chicken and Polenta, a Not-to-Be Missed Cheater's Mac and Cheese, and More There's a lot of comforting, quick recipes on our weeknight menu. 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 Published on October 28, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Wondering what to make for dinner? Need some inspiration? Here's our list of suggestions: dinner recipes that take less than an hour of mostly hands-off time. Yes, there will be pasta (or noodles!) and, yes, it will be delicious. We'll be here every Friday with five weeknight dinners, including recipes, shopping lists, and everything you need to streamline your week ahead. The five recipes we're making for dinner this week are cozy and hearty, which is exactly what we want to eat this time of year. Usually, such comforting meals take time, but not this stellar selection of recipes that average 30 minutes from start to table. They're all recipes to bookmark and make on repeat. 16 Filling Soups That Are Hearty Enough for Dinner What to Buy The produce and fresh ingredients you need to buy for your meals this week: Download the PDF 01 of 05 Egg "Noodle," Broccolini, and Mushroom Stir-Fry This quick, protein-packed vegetarian meal is just the thing to fuel trick-or-treaters and their parents, those exhausted by handing out candy, revelers heading out to a grown-up party, or those having a quiet night in. View Recipe 02 of 05 Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts It looks and tastes like a slow-baked entrée, but tonight's dinner comes together in just 25 minutes. Precooked polenta is the base of this one-dish wonder. Chicken cutlets are bathed in store-bought marinara sauce that's amped up with olives and capers, and there's a blanket of mozzarella on top. View Recipe 03 of 05 Shrimp with Zucchini and Spicy Couscous It's spicy Wednesday and time for another 25-minute recipe! A lively one-pan dinner with canned green chiles and salsa is how we're getting over hump day this week. View Recipe 04 of 05 Cheater's Mac and Cheese Just when you thought dinner couldn't get any faster, we're here with the comfort hero meal of the week. It tastes like mac and cheese, only different and better. (Let us know if you think otherwise!) There's even a green vegetable involved—and it's on the table in just 20 minutes. View Recipe 05 of 05 Southern Fried Cabbage with Smoked Sausage Have you noticed how we like to mix it up on Fridays? This week we're celebrating everything fall with this hearty dinner that pairs kielbasa or andouille with a whole head of cabbage and Creole seasoning, with decadent results. It's a great way to end the week. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit