The days are getting shorter, the weather is turning colder and our schedules are endlessly filling. It’s time to employ our favorite cure-all: comfort food. This week, treat yourself to seven dinners that will inspire all the warm-and-fuzzy feelings you crave. Think Swedish meatballs, mac and cheese, soul-soothing chicken and dumplings and more cozy classics.
Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (October 16 – 22)
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Published Oct 12, 2023
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Shopping List
Produce
4 yellow onions
2 heads garlic
1 medium butternut squash
2 sweet onions
Assorted vegetables for serving, such as mini sweet peppers, broccolini, Brussels sprouts, endive and fingerling potatoes
20 ounces mushrooms (one kind or a mixture, such as cremini, shiitake and oyster)
1 medium shallot
3 celery stalks
2 medium carrots
1 red onion
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch thyme
1 bunch rosemary
1 bunch chives
1 bunch dill
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch scallions
Meat
1 pound ground beef
2 large eggs
8 ounces thick-cut bacon
2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Dairy
3 sticks unsalted butter
36 ounces whole milk
4 ounces heavy cream
8 ounces shredded white cheddar cheese
16 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
6 ounces buttermilk
8 ounces Gruyère cheese
Sour cream, for serving
Grains
1 pound dry, bite-size pasta, such as elbow macaroni or shells
8 ounces polenta
8 slices sourdough bread
20 small corn tortillas
Canned and Packaged Goods
3 ounces plain breadcrumbs
12 ounces beef broth
One 14-ounce can coconut milk
16 sheets frozen phyllo dough
40 ounces chicken broth
One 14-ounce can black beans
One 14-ounce can corn
One 4-ounce can green chiles
One 28-ounce can enchilada sauce
Taco seasoning
Pantry Ingredients: extra-virgin olive oil, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, ground allspice, ground nutmeg, all-purpose flour, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, baking powder
Monday: Swedish Meatballs
IKEA has nothing on these tender, warm-spiced meatballs, which just so happen to be ten times more delicious served over 20-minute mashed potatoes. Not only does the recipe feed six people in one fell swoop, but it’ll also only take you 40 minutes from start to finish.
Tuesday: Dairy-Free Butternut Squash ‘Fondue’
Believe it or not, you won’t miss the dairy in this communal classic. Butternut squash and coconut milk stand in for cheese, resulting in a “fondue” that’s equal parts decadent and seasonal. Add bread to the potatoes and veggies to make the dish more filling.
Wednesday: Mac and Cheese with Crispy Parmesan-Phyllo Crust
As if creamy, dreamy two-cheese mac wasn’t enticing enough, this baked pasta is crowned with Parmesan-encrusted phyllo rosettes, which offer crunch to every forkful. Serve with dressed greens or roasted Brussels sprouts.
Thursday: Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon
Friday: Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Your handy pressure cooker makes this comfort essential a breeze to prepare. The tender biscuits are infused with chives and buttermilk for maximum flavor and tang, but feel free to substitute store-bought biscuit dough to save time on prep.
Saturday: French Onion Grilled Cheese
Sunday: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Leave dinner to your Crockpot to handle while you do more important things (like watch Halloween movies on the couch). All you need to do is layer enchilada sauce, tortillas and all the fixings (beans! corn! chicken! chiles!), then let the appliance work its magic.
