Comfort food season is still in full swing, but if you’re like us, you’re tired of the usual suspects by now. (Spaghetti and meatballs, French onion soup, mac and cheese—you get the picture.) So, we rounded up seven unconventional dinners that offer the same coziness as their predecessors, but with a few simple, delicious twists. We’re talking fruit-forward grilled cheese sandwiches, vegan hot dogs and a seafood chowder that does not call for clams.
Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (February 20 – 26)
•
Published Feb 16, 2023
South_agency/Getty Images
Shopping List
Produce
Two 3-inch pieces ginger
1 pint baby bella mushrooms
2 ounces Lacinato kale
11 garlic cloves
2 lemons
7 ounces broccoli florets
1 small yellow onion
1 head cabbage
1 large white onion
1 red onion
3 bunches scallions
1 bunch basil or parsley
1 bunch mint
1 bunch cilantro
1 large bunch carrots
Meat
1 pound salmon
1 pound lean ground beef or lamb
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Dairy
2 tablespoons full-fat plain Greek yogurt
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
6 ounces provolone cheese
12 ounces Camembert cheese
1 stick unsalted butter
Grains
9 ounces bucatini (or pasta of your choice)
Steamed white or brown rice, for serving
Naan, for serving
Hot dog buns, for serving
8 slices challah bread
Canned and Packaged Goods
16 ounces unsweetened soy or almond milk
8 ounces chicken broth (or water)
3 ounces frozen peas
3 ounces nutritional yeast (or Parmesan cheese)
Hazelnuts or pine nuts
One 14-ounce can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
1 pound pecans
Vegan mayonnaise
Vegan honey mustard salad dressing
Relish, for serving
1½ pounds pizza dough
12 ounces tomato sauce
2 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
9 ounces pitted marinated olives
2 pounds dried sour cherries
One 750-milliliter bottle Manischewitz cherry wine
8 ounces shelled pistachios
8 ounces dried ramen noodles
Pantry Ingredients: extra-virgin olive oil, miso paste, soy sauce (or coconut or liquid aminos), kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, white rice vinegar or mirin, chipotle chili powder, yellow curry powder, ground cinnamon, raw agave syrup, A.1. sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, liquid smoke, grapeseed oil, yellow mustard, chili powder, salt-free multi-spice seasoning, red wine vinegar, sugar, black rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, crispy chili oil
Monday: Instant Pot Miso Salmon Chowder
Tuesday: Creamy Green Kale, Broccoli and Pea Pasta
Pasta is a no-brainer when you’re craving something easy and comforting, but it doesn’t need to be brimming with cheese and heavy cream to hit the spot. Take this herbaceous, veggie-forward gem, which calls for nutritional yeast instead of Parm.
Wednesday: Baked Coconut-Curry Meatballs
Save the red sauce for Friday’s meal and give your usual meatballs a spice-packed update. These—which are baked for minimal fuss—are drenched in a warming, coconut-based sauce that’s much more exciting than jarred marinara.
Thursday: Tabitha Brown’s Chili Carrot Dogs
Friday: Baking Sheet Pizza with Olives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Minimal mess, maximum flavor—that’s our weeknight mantra. While we’re sure you’ve made a pie with store-bought pizza dough before, we like to spring for unconventional toppings (like provolone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and marinated olives) to keep things interesting.
Saturday: Cherry Cheeseball Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Crunchy, elegant and ever so gooey, this handheld is one for the books. If you’re not up for making the sour cherry marmalade from scratch (you can prepare it ahead to save time), use jarred cherry preserves or jam in its place.
Sunday: Deb Perelman’s Ginger Garlic Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is one of the most quintessential comfort foods of all time…but it’s not the most exciting. Enter this spicy, savory riff on the dish, made with fresh ginger, sliced scallions, chile crisp and ramen noodles. Did we mention it’ll only take you 45 minutes from start to finish?
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
