31 Quick Dinners for Your December Meal Plan
Updated: Nov. 09, 2023
Getting dinner on the table has never been easier thanks to these quick dinner recipes! Check out this meal plan that includes 31 main and side dishes that are ready in 30 minutes or less.
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Day 1: Turkey Biscuit Skillet
My mother always made this while I was growing up. Now I make it for my husband and kids. I cut the biscuits into smaller pieces so they will brown nicely on top. I also sometimes add mushrooms to this recipe because my family likes them so much. —Keri Boffeli, Monticello, Iowa
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Day 2: Easy Sweet and Spicy Chicken
Tangy pineapple and peppers, tender chicken and sweet marmalade make a delicious combo. The chili powder and picante sauce add zip. —Cassandra Corridon, Frederick, Maryland
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Day 3: Chickpea Tortilla Soup
This vegan tortilla soup recipe is healthy, filling and family-friendly! We love how hearty and flavorful it is. We like to play around with the different toppings we add each time it's served. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
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Day 4: Smoky Spanish Chicken
After enjoying a similar dish at a Spanish tapas restaurant, my husband and I were eager to make our own version of this saucy chicken at home. If I want to make it extra healthy, I remove the skin from the chicken after browning. —Ryan Haley, San Diego, California
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Day 5: Bavarian Apple-Sausage Hash
This awesome recipe reflects my German roots. In the cooler months, nothing is as comforting as a hearty hash. Serve this versatile recipe as a side dish at a holiday meal or as a brunch entree over cheddar grits or topped with a fried egg. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, CO
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Day 6: Po'Boy Tacos
I intended to make tostadas, but I misread a couple of ingredients and had to use what I had on hand. I put my own twist on a po'boy recipe and ended up with something even better. —Cynthia Nelson, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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Day 7: Chicken Pesto Meatballs
These tender, pesto-stuffed meatballs get gobbled up in our house. They're short on ingredients, but packed with flavor. I always make a double batch, freezing the other half for a busy night. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa
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Day 8: Beef Barley Skillet
This versatile dish goes together fast since it's made with quick-cooking barley. You can make it with ground turkey or chicken and any color bell pepper that you have on hand. —Irene Tetreault, South Hadley, Massachusetts
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Day 9: Salmon with Tomato-Goat Cheese Couscous
Rich with goat cheese and tomato, this recipe works for a weeknight supper or an elegant company dinner—and can be easily adjusted to serve more people. —Toni Roberts, La Canada, California
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Day 10: Sausage and Swiss Chard Pasta
I whipped up lunch with fresh produce from the farmers market and the result was amazing. —Kate Stiltner, Rockford, Michigan
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Chicken & Spanish Cauliflower "Rice"
I learned about the paleo diet from some friends who now have tons of energy and are super fit. Since then, I’ve changed my eating habits, too. Everyone from my dad to my little nephew loves this chicken in Spanish cauliflower rice. —Megan Schmoldt, Westminster, Colorado
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Day 12: Sausage-Topped White Pizza
I love cooking, and I learned from Nana and Mom. Pizza is easily one of my favorite dishes to prepare. I switched up this recipe to make it my own. —Tracy Brown, River Edge, New Jersey
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Day 13: Cheesy Fiesta Beef Casserole
Over the years I’ve tweaked this recipe to end up with a delicious, quick weeknight meal. Feel free to spice it up with jalapenos if you prefer a little heat. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Day 14: Gnocchi with Spinach and Chicken Sausage
Dinner is easy when I can use ingredients typically found in my fridge and pantry. —Laura Miller, Lake Ann, Michigan
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Day 15: Turkey Sandwich with Raspberry-Mustard Spread
My hearty sandwich has different yet complementary flavors and textures. It's filled with flavor and nutrients, without all the unhealthy fats, sodium and added sugar that many other sandwiches have. And it’s absolutely delicious! —Sarah Savage, Buena Vista, Virginia
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Day 16: Garlic Tilapia with Mushroom Risotto
Boxed risotto makes it quick; mushrooms, shallots and cheese make it tasty. Serve the risotto alongside seasoned fish for a weeknight supper in a hurry. —Lynn Moretti, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
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Day 18: Fig-Glazed Pork Tenderloin
I like to experiment with unique flavors and try to make the food look photo-worthy, too. But for my husband, the dish just has to taste good. Here's a supper that made us both happy. —Jean Gottfried, Upper Sandusky, Ohio
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Day 19: Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken
My chicken bundles are simple, clean and comforting. Serve them with wild rice and green beans for one of our favorite meals. —Jim Knepper, Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania
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Day 20: Chorizo Spaghetti Squash Skillet
Get your noodle fix minus the pasta with this spicy one-dish meal. It's a fill-you-up dinner that's low in calories—which makes it a weeknight winner in my book! —Sherrill Oake, Springfield, Massachusetts
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Day 21: Spicy Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet
I created this easy skillet dish to use up the boil-in-a-bag rice in my cabinet. The result packs a lot of flavor. —Sonali Ruder, New York, New York
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Day 22: Ground Beef Veggie Stew
This is a wonderful, hearty stew to help use up all the late-summer veggies in your garden. I like that it's filling enough to make a meal, and it's good for you too! —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
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Day 23: Quick Moroccan Shrimp Skillet
When my niece was attending West Point, she was sent to Morocco for five months. I threw her a going-away party complete with Moroccan decorations, costumes and cuisine, including this saucy shrimp dish. Whenever I make it now, I think of her and smile. —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania
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Day 24: Hash Brown-Topped Steak
My husband and I enjoy cooking together. One night we were craving grilled steak and cheese-stuffed baked potatoes but were feeling a little impatient. Here's the quicker meal-in-one idea we invented. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana
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Day 25: Spiced Salmon
This delicious, moist fish is very quick and easy to prepare. It gets a little sweetness from brown sugar, but overall the seasonings are mild and give this dish broad appeal. It's a wonderful way to enjoy healthy salmon.—Donna Reynolds, Innisfail, Alberta
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Day 26: Pork Chops 'n' Pierogies
The Polish dumplings are traditionally served as a meal, with applesauce or sour cream. This meal in one is a different way to use pierogi. —Greta Igl, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
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Day 27: Turkey a La King
This is a smart way to use up leftover turkey. You might want to make a double batch! —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
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Day 28: Easy Stuffed Poblanos
My partner adores these saucy stuffed peppers—and I love how quickly they come together. Top with low-fat sour cream and your favorite salsa. —Jean Erhardt, Portland, Oregon
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Day 29: Italian Sausage Veggie Skillet
We love Italian sausage sandwiches, but because the bread isn't diet-friendly for me, I created this recipe to satisfy my craving. If you like some heat, use hot peppers in place of the sweet peppers. —Tina Howells, Salem, Ohio
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Day 30: Jalapeno-Swiss Turkey Burgers
These easy turkey burgers are extra juicy and loaded with flavor. I think the spicy jalapenos give it just the right level of heat, but feel free to adjust the amount to amp it up or tone it down. —Wanda Allende, Orlando, Florida
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