Sarra Ina Garten dinner recipes cover everything from her legendary roast chicken to slow-braised beef bourguignon and buttery shrimp scampi. These 20 tested main dishes include crispy chicken, seared steaks, hearty pastas, elegant seafood, and comforting stews that work for weeknights and dinner parties alike.
1. Whole Perfect Roast Chicken
Golden roasted chicken stuffed with thyme, a halved lemon, and a whole head of garlic, surrounded by onions, carrots, and fennel. The skin is deeply crispy and the drippings turn the vegetables into caramelized, savory sides. About an hour and a half, mostly hands-off.
2. Chicken Piccata
Lightly breaded chicken breasts seared golden in olive oil, then finished in a bright pan sauce of white wine, lemon juice, capers, and butter. The sauce is tangy, buttery, and comes together right in the skillet. Done in just 20 minutes.
3. Chicken Marsala
Tender chicken breasts seared and simmered with sliced cremini mushrooms, garlic, Marsala wine, and chicken stock in a rich, savory sauce. The mushrooms turn silky and the wine reduces into something warm and deeply flavored. Ready in about 40 minutes.
4. Lemon Chicken Thighs
Crispy-skinned bone-in thighs seared and braised with garlic, oregano, lemon zest, lemon slices, white wine, and chicken stock. The skin stays golden and crackling while the meat turns fall-off-the-bone tender underneath. Takes about 45 minutes.
5. Marry Me Chicken
Seared chicken breasts simmered in a creamy sauce of garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, fresh basil, and heavy cream. The sauce is rich and savory enough to make anyone fall in love. Ready in about 35 minutes.
6. Beef Bourguignon
Slow-braised beef chuck simmered for hours with bacon, carrots, onions, garlic, a full bottle of red wine, mushrooms, and fresh thyme until fork-tender. The sauce reduces into something deeply rich, warm, and velvety. About 3 hours, but mostly unattended.
7. Steakhouse Steaks
Thick ribeye or filet mignon seared in a screaming-hot cast iron skillet with butter, smashed garlic, and thyme until a deep brown crust forms. A quick pan sauce with red wine and Dijon finishes the plate. Done in about 25 minutes.
8. Filet Mignon In Oven
Pan-seared filet mignon steaks finished in a hot oven with smashed garlic, rosemary, thyme, and a knob of butter basted over the top. The outside gets a caramelized crust while the inside stays perfectly pink and juicy. Just 20 minutes total.
9. Linguine With Shrimp Scampi
Buttery shrimp sautéed with garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, and parsley, then tossed with linguine in the garlicky pan juices. Every strand is coated in a bright, savory sauce with plump, tender shrimp. Done in 30 minutes.
10. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Homemade meatballs made with a mix of beef, turkey, and veal, Parmesan, fresh breadcrumbs, and herbs, simmered in a rich tomato sauce and piled over spaghetti. The meatballs are tender inside with golden, caramelized edges. Takes about an hour.
11. Midnight Pasta
Garlic-laced spaghetti tossed with olive oil, thinly sliced garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, parsley, and a shower of Parmesan. Simple, savory, and on the table in just 15 minutes with pantry staples. The kind of meal you crave at midnight.
12. Salmon With Melting Tomatoes
Pan-fried salmon fillets topped with cherry tomatoes, garlic, red onion, capers, and fresh basil that soften into a warm, bright sauce as they cook. The tomatoes collapse and create a tangy, savory topping without any extra effort. Done in about 25 minutes.
13. Chilean Sea Bass
Rich, buttery sea bass fillets seared in olive oil, then finished with garlic, lemon juice, white wine, and fresh parsley. The fish is flaky and almost melts on the fork. Ready in just 30 minutes.
14. Baked Shrimp Scampi
Jumbo shrimp baked with butter, garlic, shallots, white wine, rosemary, parsley, lemon zest, and a golden breadcrumb topping until bubbling and crispy. The buttery, garlicky pan juices are worth soaking up with crusty bread. Done in 30 minutes.
15. Lamb Rack
Herb-crusted racks of lamb rubbed with Dijon mustard, garlic, rosemary, and thyme, then roasted at high heat until pink and juicy inside with a fragrant, savory crust. An elegant centerpiece that only takes 35 minutes. Serve with a simple green salad.
16. Lamb Chops In Oven
Rosemary and garlic-rubbed lamb rib chops brushed with Dijon mustard, lemon zest, thyme, and olive oil, then roasted until perfectly pink inside. The high-heat method gives them a savory crust with a tender, juicy center. Ready in about 27 minutes.
17. Chicken Cacciatore
Bone-in chicken thighs braised with onion, bell peppers, garlic, white wine, crushed tomatoes, oregano, capers, and fresh thyme until the meat is tender and the sauce is thick and savory. Everything cooks in one pot. Done in about an hour.
18. Hungarian Goulash
Fork-tender beef chuck simmered with onions, garlic, sweet Hungarian paprika, caraway seeds, tomato paste, and beef stock until the sauce is thick, warm, and deeply savory. The paprika turns everything a gorgeous rusty red. About 2 hours and 45 minutes, mostly unattended.
19. Stuffed Peppers
Bell peppers filled with seasoned ground beef, cooked rice, tomato sauce, oregano, and melted cheese, then baked until the peppers are tender and the tops are golden and bubbly. A classic one-dish dinner the whole family loves. Takes about an hour.
20. Jambalaya
Spicy one-pot rice loaded with chicken thighs, Andouille sausage, shrimp, bell peppers, celery, garlic, diced tomatoes, and a kick of cayenne and paprika. The rice absorbs all the rich, smoky broth and every scoop is packed with protein. Done in about an hour and 10 minutes.
