Main Dish Recipes

By definition most North American people would consider that the main dish of a meal contains meat, and they might often refer to it as the “meat course.” But even in a vegetarian meal the main dish may just be the heaviest or most complex offering in an entire meal. Either way, North Americans might also refer to the main dish as the entrée of the meal. In parts of Europe, the entrée might refer to a starter course.

Main Dish Recipes

►Home- All Recipes ►Main Dishes ►Hot Chicken Salad ►Mom’s Meatloaf ►Beef Stew ►Quesadillas ►Chicken in Cream Sauce ►Braised Pork with Watermelon ►Chicken with Goat Cheese ►Chicken Adobo ►Chicken Pot Pie ►Pork with Coconut Sauce ►Puff Pastry Pizza ►Spiced Chickpeas with Roasted Butternut Squash ►Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce ►Green Curry Pork Tenderloin ►Chicken Parmesan ►Home Made Meatballs ►Pasta Carbonara ►Lasagna ►Pancakes! ►Pasta Alla Maddy ►Tomato Pasta Sauce ►Pasta in Garlic and Oil ►Marinara Sauce ►Mushroom Pasta Sauce ►Coconut Chili Sauce ►Empanadas ►Barbecued Ribs ►Barbecued Pulled Pork ►Beef Chili with Beans ►Chili with Black- Eyed Peas ►Taco Seasoning ►Pork Carnitas Tacos ►Broccoli Quiche ►Roast Turkey or Chicken ►A Complete Holiday Dinner ►Honey Baked Ham ►Shepherd’s Pie ►Leave a Comment ►Get Recipes by Email

So what is a main dish? The main dish is frequently the largest dish on the table and is served in larger portions than the appetizer, salad or side dishes. It is the foundation or main focus of a meal and so it can have the most impressive look or presentation than any other dish being served. When choosing a main dish, it is important to consider the preferences of all of your guests. For example, if any of your guests do not like seafood I would not serve seafood as the main course of that meal so that guest will not feel slighted or ignored. Other guest preferences to consider would be vegetarianism, veganism, those with nut or other food allergies, etc. An entire meal should be considered when you are building side dishes around a main dish. For instance, when I make my Hot Chicken Salad , I know that my main dish will be a creamy casserole. So for that meal I will not make my Green Bean Casserole because I know that also is a creamy casserole. I would choose instead a side dish which had complementary colors and texture, not creamy, like my Roasted Vegetables. As the centerpiece of the meal, the main dish is an opportunity for the cook to really show off! Choose the most beautiful or flashy dish you can make so it will serve as the star of the show. Many of my Asian dishes can be served as an impressive main dish, like my Thai Red Curry Recipe. When is the main dish served? Again in North America, the main dish is usually served after an appetizer, soup or salad but before dessert. Most European menus will offer the main dish before a salad course. Some main dishes can be served as a one dish meal, like my tacos. For a vegetarian main dish, try my Thai Stir Fry Greens. All of the main dish recipes on this page have been tested by me personally and I use them all the time. You can view any of my main dish recipes on the menu bar at the left side of this page.

Roast Chicken or Turkey

Mom’s Meat Loaf

Chicken in Brandy & Cream

Chicken Parmesan

Honey Baked Ham

Hot Chicken Salad

Tandoori Chicken

Barbequed Ribs

Pasta Carbonara