1. Food

Discuss in my forum

Top 10 Main Dish Recipes

Quick, Easy, and Delicious!

By , About.com Guide

Let's face it, once you've decided on the main dish for dinner, the rest of the menu usually falls into place. It's figuring out the centerpiece that's the trick! So I've decided to collect my Top 10 favorite main dish recipes for you to enjoy. These recipes are all quick and easy, or they're make-ahead. They're perfect for dinner for a family or just the two of you.

1. Creamy Tomato Pasta

Creamy Tomato PastaLinda Larsen

I've been seeing references to using cream cheese in just about everything. I use it in my favorite Lasagna recipe and in sandwich spreads. So I thought I'd add it to a tomato pasta sauce. Wow, my new favorite tomato sauce was born!

2. Italian Sausage Pie

Italian Sausage PieLinda Larsen

This gorgeous pie is so delicious, with the best combination of flavors and textures. You can make the filling ahead of time, then just assemble and bake when you want to eat. This is one of my favorite recipes.

3. Parmesan Chicken

Parmesan ChickenLinda Larsen
Well, this one is just a classic. The combination of mustard and apple juice adds great flavor and helps tenderize the chicken a bit. Your kids will love it!

4. Perfect Pot Roast

Perfect Pot RoastLinda Larsen
The name says it all.

5. Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

Crockpot Chicken and DumplingsLinda Larsen
When is the last time you had dumplings? This easy and old-fashioned recipe is full of flavor. Just be sure to keep the lid on while the dumplings are cooking, so they cook through and are nice and fluffy.

6. Ginger Pear Chicken

You know how much I love meat with fruit. This recipe combines tender and melting chicken with one of the best fruits of fall: pears. And the ginger adds a nice snap of flavor.

7. Microwave Meatloaf

Making meatloaf in your microwave, besides being alliterative, is quick and easy. Be sure that you check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer - it should be 160 degrees F, and will rise to 165 degrees F upon standing. All microwaves cook differently, especially those of different power, so you have to adjust the timing accordingly.

8. Crockpot Pork Roast Dinner

This is truly a meal in one. You could add a green salad if you'd like, but you don't really need it. Because I love bread, I'd add some crisp breadsticks or some grilled garlic bread. Finish the meal with a bakery cake.

9. Apple Pork Chops

Brown sugar and apples; sounds like dessert, doesn't it? But it's a fabulous combination when paired with pork chops. This super-quick recipe uses just four ingredients.

10. German Chicken

Sauerkraut, Polish sausage, and bacon add fabulous flavor to chicken in this easy recipe. Yum - I think I'll make this tonight!

©2013 About.com. All rights reserved.