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5 Easy Dinners We Cook Again And Again

No multi-step recipes or long ingredient lists -- just smart ideas for getting supper on the table on a typical crazy weeknight.
By Lynn Andriani
The Unexpected (And Genius) Way To Make A Burger
F&W/Stephanie Foley
Sweet or hot Italian sausage may be a summertime cookout staple, but it also deserves kudos for how easily it transforms into flavorful patties. Since the meat is already seasoned, all you have to do is remove the casings, form the pork into burgers, brush with oil and cook in a frying pan or grill pan until browned and crusty, about five minutes per side. While you're doing that, sauté a bag of baby spinach with garlic in olive oil for a fresh-tasting topping. Toasted ciabatta rolls will soak up the juices.

Get the recipe: Italian-Sausage Burgers with Garlicky Spinach
A Cheater Homemade Pizza You'll Be Proud Of
Con Poulos
We're all about repurposing leftovers, but one use that had escaped us -- until now -- is pizza. Pita, pizza dough or wheat tortillas all work for the crust; top whichever you choose with whatever extras you have. A container of tomato sauce? Just add mozzarella and red chili flakes. Roasted vegetables? Layer shaved cheese, such as Pecorino Romano, over the pizza base. Any kind of cooked greens, from kale to spinach? Throw on some sliced Spanish chorizo and crumbled blue cheese.

Get the recipe: Gigi "Skizza" with Arugula Pesto, Ricotta and Chicken
A Salad Where The Dressing Does Double Duty
Gentl
Lemon juice, mustard, cumin, honey and olive oil: This zippy mixture can brighten up whatever veggies you like -- and it also works as an excellent marinade for chicken, as this smart recipe shows. After you've cooked the meat (whether on the stovetop, oven or grill), add some of the reserved dressing to the vegetables and toss everything together for a healthy entrée salad.

Get the recipe: Grilled Chicken, Spinach and Cashew Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
The 15-Minute Shrimp
Signe Birck
Spanish wine bars aren't just known for their Riojas; most also serve simple, uncomplicated food, such as an omelet or a platter of sliced ham and cheese. This garlicky shrimp belongs in that category; it starts with sautéed garlic and shallots, then you add in grape tomatoes, shrimp and white wine. The tomatoes morph into a bright and tangy sauce that tastes like it's been simmering for hours, but is actually ready in minutes.

Get the recipe: Garlicky Shrimp with Tomatoes and White Wine
A One-Pot Asian Supper
Johnny Miller
Lettuce wraps are a great way to eat Asian stir-fries without having to prepare a separate accompaniment, such as noodles or rice. Just brown the meat with the seasonings, wash and dry some Bibb or butter lettuce leaves (their cup-like shape is ideal) while it sizzles, then let everyone pile spoonfuls of the filling into their edible bowls. This particular dish uses a few powerhouses to bump up the flavor, including ginger, garlic, soy and hoisin sauces. Plus, they store well, so you don't have to run to the store to buy new each time you want to make this delicious meal.

Get the recipe: Gingery Beef Lettuce Wraps

Before You Go

6 Ridiculously Delicious One-Pot Chicken Dinners To Try
The I-Haven't-Gone-Food-Shopping-In-A-Week Dinner(01 of06)
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Keep a package of chicken thighs in your freezer, a lemon in your fridge and some basics in the pantry, and this practically effortless supper will always be an option. Each of the ingredients in this dish (there are also olives and capers), along with the citrus juice, helps make the chicken tender and mingles with the meat's juices to create a delicious sauce.

Get the recipe: Chicken with Olives and Capers (credit:© Alexandra Grablewski)
A Winning French Dish With A Twist(02 of06)
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The ingredients in a rustic cassoulet vary, but chicken isn't all that common. Yet it's surprisingly perfect: The mild flavor doesn't overpower the sausage, white beans and herbs, but instead adds body and extra oomph without a ton of additional prep work (or cost!).

Get the recipe: Chicken, Sausage and Bean Cassoulet (credit:ACP Magazines Limited)
An Asian Dish Where Every Bite Is Fabulous(03 of06)
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Chicken legs and thighs are terrific in stir-fries, since the dark meat tends to soak up the delicious sauce (here, it's chili-soy-garlic) so well. This recipe also has a fantastic contrast of textures, from tender chicken to crunchy peanuts to celery, which seems to fall somewhere in the perfect middle.

Get the recipe: Chicken Stir-Fry with Celery and Peanuts (credit:John Kernick)
A Way To Play Tetris While Making Dinner(04 of06)
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An 8x8 brownie pan is surprisingly ideal for cooking chicken drumsticks, since their elongated shape allows you to arrange them in a zigzag pattern that can accommodate plenty, while still leaving room for the skin to brown and crisp. Underneath the meat lie chopped carrots, turnips and red potatoes; the vegetables absorb the meat's flavor, as well as the honey-balsamic dressing that gives this dish a deliciously sweet undertone.

Get the recipe: Honey-Glazed Chicken with Root Vegetables (credit:Kathy Strahs)
The Roast With A Bit Of Spice(05 of06)
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Don't be scared off by the list of ingredients in this dish -- the only things that require chopping are scallions. Once you've done that, just put everything -- including chicken pieces and pork chorizo or chicken sausage -- in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. An hour or so later, you'll have succulent chicken and sausage, tender vegetables and a pan sauce that gets a little kick from the sausage's spices and is terrific with crusty bread.

Get the recipe: Roast Chicken with Green Beans and Artichokes (credit:Gentl & Hyers)
A Throw-It-All-In-One-Pan Favorite(06 of06)
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Even if you've got a go-to roast chicken, this recipe is a great reminder that the addition of one new ingredient can bring a brand new flavor to a familiar dish. In this case, you toss a few basics—carrots, potatoes, onion, lemon—with olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme; roast until golden, then nestle chicken-breast halves in the pan. When they're cooked, you boil the pan drippings and -- here's the twist -- stir in a bit of paprika. The resulting sauce is smoky, with a touch of pleasant sweetness.

Get the recipe: Pan-Roasted Paprika Chicken (credit:Alison Gootee/Studio D)
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