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  5. 27 Sunday Dinners for Beginners

27 Sunday Dinners for Beginners

A portrait of Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD May 31, 2020
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Easy Spicy Salmon Cakes

These Sunday dinner recipes are perfect for beginner cooks. These dinners require just 20 minutes or less of active cooking time. You'll be rewarded with a satisfying and delicious meal that feels effortless to make. Recipes like Easy Spicy Salmon Cakes and Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta are filling, tasty and a great introduction to cooking healthy dinners.

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Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Chicken Cutlets with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce
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Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner recipe. The flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

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Crispy Panko-Parmesan Baked Shrimp

panko parmesan shrimp in white staub casserol dish
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This easy baked shrimp dish is crispy, lemony, garlicky, buttery and simply delicious! Toasting the panko before topping the shrimp makes for a super-crispy topping. Serve these flavorful shrimp with over angel-hair pasta and add a green salad or a side of vegetables for a quick dinner that's simple enough for weeknights but fancy enough to serve to company. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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Easy Spicy Salmon Cakes

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Looking to add some interest to an easy dinner recipe? Five-spice may be your new best friend. What is five-spice powder? A mixture of these five spices: cinnamon, clove, fennel, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. (There are regional recipes in China that include more spices, including white pepper, nutmeg and orange peel.) It adds a distinct warm flavor to these healthy salmon cakes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

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If you've ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Source: EatingWell.com, September 2019

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Air-Fryer Pork Chops

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These crispy breaded air-fryer pork chops don't require a lot of oil to create a deep-fried crispy crust. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or alongside roasted veggies. Want to double the recipe? Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook the pork chops in batches, but that's easy to do. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & Potatoes

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Yukon Golds are great here because they get crispy on the outside but completely creamy on the inside. A brush stroke or two of balsamic glaze provides a rich color and a sweet finish to the roasted salmon. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2020

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Black Beans & Corn with Poached Eggs

black bean corn poached egg
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This sweet and spicy black bean and corn recipe features queso fresco, a Mexican cheese that is salty, crumbly, and perfectly meltable. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020

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Pesto Chicken Bake

pesto chicken bake
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This pesto chicken bake is easy to make as well as delicious! The chicken stays moist while the cheese on top gets bubbly and crispy. The pesto, mozzarella and tomato combination is a home run every time. Serve the chicken over pasta or your favorite grain. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2020

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Panko- & Parmesan-Crusted Baked Scallops

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These easy baked scallops have a delightful balance of crunchy, golden-brown topping and tender, sweet scallops. They feel decadent like scallops should, thanks to the tasty lemon-butter sauce. Look for uniform scallops; if they're particularly large, you might need to bake them for more than 10 minutes. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

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Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Salad

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Cutting the steak immediately after cooking breaks all the rules on meat cookery, but in this recipe we do it intentionally in order to capture the juices and incorporate them into the dressing. Serve this grilled flank steak recipe with crusty bread to soak up the deliciousness. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2020

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Skillet Buffalo Chicken

Skillet Buffalo Chicken
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If you like Buffalo wings, you'll love this quick skillet Buffalo chicken recipe. Chicken cutlets are sautéed, then smothered in a creamy-spicy sauce. A side-salad garnish of carrots, celery and blue cheese pulls it all together. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry

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This tofu veggie stir-fry is quick and easy, making it a great go-to weeknight meal. Baked tofu has a firm, toothsome texture that crisps well in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a more robust flavor. Serve over brown rice. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2019

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Lemon Garlic Scallops

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Lemon brightens up sweet scallops in this simple, light dinner. Serve the scallops alongside sautéed spinach with a piece of toasted whole-grain bread to sop up the buttery sauce. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach & Feta Penne Pasta

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In this quick 20-minute dinner recipe, tender penne pasta is combined with garlic, roasted red peppers and spinach and topped with crumbled feta cheese for a fast and easy Mediterranean-inspired meal. This recipe was graciously shared by EatingWell reader Dottie Carpenter, who states, "Recipes are no good if they're not shared!" Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Mahi-Mahi Fish Tacos

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In this mahi-mahi fish taco recipe, chili-coated fish gets a lovely crust from the hot pan. The creaminess of the avocado sauce complements the crisp crunch of the jicama, and it's all pulled together in 20 minutes. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Spinach & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Spinach & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
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Serve these saucy, ultra-quick chicken cutlets over your favorite pasta. This easy dinner recipe is sure to become a new weeknight favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Pepperoni Pizza Portobello Mushrooms

<p>Ooey-gooey cheese, pepperoni, bell pepper and onion top portobello mushroom caps in this low-carb version of classic pizza. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020</p>
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Ooey-gooey cheese, pepperoni, bell pepper and onion top portobello mushroom caps in this low-carb version of classic pizza. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Roasted Salmon Caprese

roast salmon with tomatoes and mozzarella on a white plate pictured on a blue background
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This oven-ready recipe is snap to prep. Salmon fillets and cherry tomatoes roast side by side on one pan, then are drizzled with balsamic glaze to pull it all together. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Salt & Vinegar Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

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A strong vinegar, like malt or sherry, gives this baked chicken recipe a pucker factor reminiscent of salt-and-vinegar chips. Everything cooks on one pan, making this chicken sheet-pan dinner perfect for weeknights when you want big results for little effort (so, pretty much every weeknight!). Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Crispy Gnocchi Pasta with Tomatoes & Leeks

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These gnocchi are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside because you sauté them in hot oil. Plus, they leave a little fond (crispy brown bits) in the pan that adds toasty flavor to the tomato and leek sauce, which is cooked in the same pan. Since this easy gnocchi recipe calls for store-bought shelf-stable gnocchi, it's quick to prepare--just 20 minutes, start to finish. Opt for whole-wheat gnocchi to get 2 extra grams of fiber per serving compared to white. This easy and healthy dinner is easy to customize too: see Tips for variations with shrimp, pesto instead of butter, and pork chops instead of gnocchi. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust

Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust
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You'll recognize the classic Chinese flavor pairing of sesame, soy and white pepper on these sweet and sour pork chops. White pepper is more mild and earthy than black pepper, but either will work here. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020

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Kale & Roasted Sweet Potato Hash

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This one-pan hash makes an easy fall dinner or a simple dish for a healthy brunch. You can even poach the eggs ahead of time--slip them into steaming-hot water to rewarm them just before serving. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2020

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20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce

20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce
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Serve these quick chicken cutlets with creamy pesto sauce over your favorite pasta or zucchini noodles. This easy dinner recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta Pasta

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We opt for fresh spinach pasta here--it cooks quickly and adds a pop of color. Cooking lima beans in pancetta drippings infuses them with flavor. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad

salmon with quinoa salad on a white plate
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This zesty quinoa salad is delicious all on its own, with some serious Mediterranean flair. Make a double batch for lunches later in the week. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020

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Antipasto Baked Smothered Chicken

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We like the touch of heat that pepperoncini give to this briny chicken, but if you really want to turn up the spiciness, swap them for hot cherry peppers. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020

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Sheet-Pan Caprese Pizza

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This light and flavorful caprese pizza is ready when the tomatoes are just heated through and the mozzarella cheese is slightly melted. If you want a little more on this pizza, it'd be delicious with a few slices of prosciutto. Chef tip: let your dough come up to room temperature before you stretch it--it'll make it much easier to work with. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

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    1 of 27 Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
    2 of 27 Crispy Panko-Parmesan Baked Shrimp
    3 of 27 Easy Spicy Salmon Cakes
    4 of 27 Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta
    5 of 27 Air-Fryer Pork Chops
    6 of 27 Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & Potatoes
    7 of 27 Black Beans & Corn with Poached Eggs
    8 of 27 Pesto Chicken Bake
    9 of 27 Panko- & Parmesan-Crusted Baked Scallops
    10 of 27 Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Salad
    11 of 27 Skillet Buffalo Chicken
    12 of 27 Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry
    13 of 27 Lemon Garlic Scallops
    14 of 27 Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach & Feta Penne Pasta
    15 of 27 Mahi-Mahi Fish Tacos
    16 of 27 Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Spinach & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
    17 of 27 Pepperoni Pizza Portobello Mushrooms
    18 of 27 Roasted Salmon Caprese
    19 of 27 Salt & Vinegar Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
    20 of 27 Crispy Gnocchi Pasta with Tomatoes & Leeks
    21 of 27 Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust
    22 of 27 Kale & Roasted Sweet Potato Hash
    23 of 27 20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce
    24 of 27 Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta Pasta
    25 of 27 Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad
    26 of 27 Antipasto Baked Smothered Chicken
    27 of 27 Sheet-Pan Caprese Pizza

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