Cooking Channel Fans' Favorite Weeknight Meals
It's mid-September and school's back in session. Between carpools and homework, weeknights leave little time for prepping hearty dinners these days. But quick and delicious can go hand in hand. After all, Giada's Chicken Scallopine and Mark Bittman's Pasta with Prosciutto and Lettuce both take less than 30 minutes. A quick gander was all we needed to notice that Cooking Channel fans have caught on. From Indian curries to Italian pastas, you've all been cooking up a storm, and sharing your take-aways and tweaks. With all the great recipe reviews, we're chiming in once more to share some of our favorites.
The epitome of easy and wholesome, Mark Bittman's Monkfish and Mashed Potatoes (pictured above) comes seasoned with garlic and thyme, and served over the butteriest mashed potatoes you'll ever lay your fork on.
"If I could give this a 10, I would do it in a minute!!! This was super easy and delicious. What a great way to cook and serve fish. I used Cod because I didn't have Monk Fish but it was great. Thanks!"
Pasta can seem a bit boring after a long day at work, or school, but make Gabriele and Debi's Pasta Alla Gricia, and everyone will be fiending for seconds. Then again, how could you go wrong with grated pecorino, fresh sage leaves, garlic and guanciale?
"My whole family loved this recipe. We also used bacon, as I was uncertain about cheek. It was an easy recipe, and a keeper. Thanks Debi and Gabriele. We like watching you all in the kitchen. Hope you are filming more episodes." — kelleyred in Fort Worth, TX
The quintessential weeknight meal, Giada's Chicken with Balsamic BBQ Sauce takes just over 30 minutes to make and is the perfect centerpiece for your dinner table.
"I made this with dirty rice as a side dish. Needless to say, when I poured that BBQ sauce over the rice and added some tabasco, I felt like I died and went to heaven! I topped off the chicken with cilantro and red onions." — MESHELLmaiBELLE in Chi City
Brimming with exotic Indian spices, it's no wonder Bal's No-Butter Chicken has been one of our most popular recipes from the get-go. What's really incredible is that it takes less than 30 minutes to make.
"I absolutely love this dish!! It has no butter in it, and it isn't missed. It is packed with flavor!! It is truly easy to make. I follow the recipe, then add a few changes that make it my own. I add chopped tomatoes, cilantro, and a few cardamom pods. I make it weekly, sometimes twice a week. I'm actually cooking it right now, no joke!! I'm often asked to make it for events. Definitely a keeper. Yummy!!" - Gingersnapback in Washington, DC
