31 Quick Dinners for Your January Meal Plan

I love to experiment with food. We’re able to buy sweet onions grown on Maui, so I stir-fry them with chicken and carrots for a tasty teriyaki meal. —Kelly Brenneman, Riverdale, California

Back when I was a girl, I couldn’t wait until I was grown up and could start cooking for my own family! Now that I am, I really enjoy using pork. The tender meat and the rich mustard sauce in this recipe are delectable together. —Irma Pomeroy, Enfield, Connecticut

I like to make this smooth, creamy soup when company comes to visit. Its zippy flavor is full of southwestern flair. My family enjoys dipping slices of homemade bread in this chowder to soak up every bite! —Susan Garoutte, Georgetown, Texas

“My family always comes back for seconds when this nicely seasoned skillet supper is on the table,” reports Bonnie Morrow of Spencerport, New York. And it’s nicely priced at 72 cents a serving.

When I need a speedy skillet supper, this pepper steak comes to my rescue. The tender meat is slightly sweet, with a hint of brown sugar and molasses. —Monica Williams, Burleson, Texas

Thyme gives this simple chicken dish its unique flavor. I lightened up the original recipe by using reduced-fat sour cream, but you’d never guess based on its rich, creamy flavor. —Harriet Johnson, Champlin, Minnesota

If your kids like sloppy joes, they’ll love this pizza. I came up with the six-ingredient recipe that’s easy to assemble. —Brenda Rohlman, Kingman, Kansas

Teens like assembling these creative kabobs almost as much as they like devouring them. The whole family is sure to love the sensational Southwestern flavor of this twist on beef shish kabobs. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois

A delicate butter and brown sugar glaze is a tasty topping for these broiled pork chops.

There’s nothing like fresh salmon, and my mom bakes it just right so it nearly melts in your mouth. The sour cream dill sauce is subtly seasoned with horseradish so that it doesn’t overpower the delicate salmon flavor. —Susan Emery, Everett, Washington

This only takes a few minutes, but this beef noodle soup recipe tastes like it simmered all day. —Margery Bryan, Moses Lake, Washington

In the mood for turkey, but don’t have time to prepare a whole bird? Here’s the perfect solution! These savory turkey slices and easy-to-prepare herb glaze offer the cozy goodness of a feast without the hassle. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

This filling sandwich looks fancy but is really simple to make. Each slice is packed with ground beef, broccoli and cheese. Served with a green salad, this beefy sandwich makes a terrific lunch or dinner.—Penny Lapp, North Royalton, Ohio

My neighbor and I discovered these delicious low-fat burritos a few years ago. On nights my husband or I have a meeting, we can have a satisfying supper on the table in minutes. —Angela Studebaker, Goshen, Indiana

My husband and I thought the original skillet dish lacked pizzazz, so we created this tastier version. I’ve had teenage nieces and nephews request the recipe after their first bite. —Joyce Whipps, West Des Moines, Iowa

After a tiring but beautiful day of fishing, this is a fast and delicious way to serve our famous Key West pink shrimp. It’s always a big hit with guests.

Sue Call of Beech Grove, Indiana serves this comforting soup on chilly stay-at-home evenings. Nutmeg seasons the light creamy broth that’s chock-full of tender broccoli florets and diced potatoes.

A co-worker gave me this recipe, but I didn’t try it until recently. What a mistake it was to wait! It’s easier than dipping, coating and frying—and the flavor is outstanding. Once you’ve tried this tender fish, you’ll never go back to fried. —Heidi Kirsch, Waterloo, Iowa

I like to spice up my meat dishes with peppers, and this Basque piperade—adapted from a Spanish recipe—is a family favorite. —Hyacinth Rizzo, Buffalo, New York

This recipe is quick, easy and satisfying. With its beef and corn combo, it’s cozy cuisine at its best! —Erin Schneider, St. Peters, Missouri

MY mother-in-law gave me this recipe 25 years ago. It’s been a staple in my meal planning ever since because it’s easy and takes little time to prepare. I usually serve it with green beans or another vegetable and a salad. -Marjorie Kriegh, Nampa, Idaho

Hurry-Up-Ham ‘n’ Noodles is a rich-tasting entree created by Lucille Howell of Portland, Oregon. “This basic hearty dish is ready to serve in almost the time it takes cook the noodles,” she says. “It is super for a luncheon or anytime I’m in a hurry.”

I came up with this recipe when unexpected guests stopped by and I didn’t have enough chili to go around. The spur-of-the-moment main dish is now a family favorite. —Cindy Cuykendall, Skaneateles, New York

I top crescent roll crust with deli beef, mozzarella cheese and sauteed veggies. The quick combination offers the terrific taste of the traditional sandwich in a fun new way. —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts

Now that my husband and I are trying to lose weight, I find it a challenge to come up with healthy dishes that are flavorful, quick and appealing to us and our young daughter. This one fits the bill on all counts. —Beverly McLain, Endicott, New York

My family just loves this meal-in-one, including my husband, who is truly a meat-and-potatoes guy. The dish uses inexpensive ingredients to offer big flavor in a small amount of time. —Heather Blum, Coleman, Wisconsin

This meal-in-one dish is a different way to use pierogi. The tart apple slices make an unexpectedly delicious addition on your plate. —Greta Igl, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Made with canned salmon, these patties are good hot or cold. I usually serve them on buns with slices of ripe tomato, sweet red onion, and red and green bell pepper. —Barbara Coston of Little Rock, Arkansas

My husband and I really enjoy seafood, so I don’t skimp on shrimp in this mildly seasoned stew. We also adore the broccoli, tomatoes and pasta. —Lisa Stinger, Hamilton, New Jersey

This hearty chowder is one of our favorite vegetarian dishes. Loaded with beans, noodles and bright herbs, it’s so comforting on a chilly day. —Vivian Haen, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

My daughter created this soup when she needed to use up some leftover pork. You can use more water for a thinner soup or less water for a noodle dish. It’s good with mushroom flavored ramen noodles, too. —Eleanor Niska, Twin Falls, Idaho