When it comes to hearty dinners, these 15 meaty mains are guaranteed to have everyone licking their plates. Each dish is packed with robust flavors and pleasing textures, making them perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or a casual weeknight dinner, these recipes are sure to impress. Prepare to see some very happy eaters with these meaty mains.
Char Siu
Step right up to the dish that’ll make you the envy of the potluck with its glistening, sweet glaze. Say hello to Char Siu, with pork so tender and flavorful, you’ll want to write love songs about it. It’s the perfect companion for rice, noodles, or let’s be honest, it can go solo because it’s just that good. And since it’s finger-licking good, go ahead and make it a finger food night!
Get the Recipe: Char Siu
Beef Bulgogi Bowls
Okay, so who decided to put a Korean BBQ party in a bowl? Genius! Beef Bulgogi Bowls are the main event, marrying sweet and savory in a rice bowl that knows how to have a good time. Pile on your favorite toppings, and you’ve got yourself a customizable flavor festival that’ll have you guarding your bowl like it’s the last one on Earth.
Get the Recipe: Beef Bulgogi Bowls
Char Siu Bao
Need a pick-me-up that feels like a warm hug from your favorite grandma? Char Siu Bao to the rescue, bringing you pillowy steamed buns stuffed with savory-sweet pork that’ll have you floating on cloud nine. These little bundles of joy are the perfect snack to savor bite by bite. And as Grandma always says, “one more won’t hurt!”
Get the Recipe: Char Siu Bao
Thai Fried Rice
Remember that time your meal was a flavor explosion waiting to happen? That’s Thai Fried Rice. It’s where eggs, meat, and veggies come together in a zesty rice throw-down, daring you to find a more exciting dish. Custom-made for your cravings, every bite is like winning a flavor lottery.
Get the Recipe: Thai Fried Rice
Pollo Pibil
Next stop, flavor town, where Pollo Pibil is the mayor. This dish is all about slow-cooked chicken getting cozy with a flavor, spice-infused marinade that’ll have you feeling the fiesta vibes. Wrap up this yummy fest in a warm tortilla and watch your ordinary dinner transform into a Mexican street fair. And when everyone’s chanting for more, you’re the hero who brought the feast.
Get the Recipe: Pollo Pibal
Thai Larb
If you’re in the mood to tango with a dish that combines spicy with a zing of freshness, step up to Thai Larbsville. Here, ground meat gets a fragrant herb makeover in a dish that’s living on the flavor edge. It’s the culinary equivalent of a high-five to your mouth, daring you to call a plain old salad exciting again.
Get the Recipe: Thai Larb
Instant Pot Country Ribs
Let’s all take a moment to appreciate Instant Pot Country Ribs, the dish that’s making our smoky, barbecue dreams come true without the grill guard duty. These ribs come out laughably tender and are ready for a sauce bath – because they’re all about that saucy life. Welcome to rib paradise, where the only effort required is lifting your fork.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Country Ribs
Thai Turkey Meatballs
Who says meatballs are just for spaghetti? Not Thai Turkey Meatballs! These little globes of greatness are kicking bland’s butt with a spicy Thai spin that’ll make your taste receptors do a happy dance. Perfect for spicing up your meal prep game, without playing calorie catch-up, they’re proof that meatballs can—and should—be fun!
Get the Recipe: Thai Turkey Meatballs
Pork Belly Banh Mi
When the ordinary sandwich just won’t cut it, Pork Belly Banh Mi struts in, loaded with crispy pork, tangy veggies, and a baguette that’s crustier than your grandpa’s old jokes. It’s an over-the-top taste adventure you won’t need a passport for, just a hearty appetite. And trust me, it’s the kind of sandwich that will leave your regular PB&J green with envy.
Get the Recipe: Pork Belly Banh Mi
Gochujang Chicken
Here’s the deal, when you’re about to turn the flavor dial up to eleven, you go straight for the Gochujang Chicken. Marinated in a spicy, savory, and sweet Korean sauce, this chicken knows how to throw a culinary party. It doesn’t matter if it’s grilled, baked, or fried – this bird’s got a kick that plays nice with everything.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Chicken
Crispy Beef
Crispy Beef is that friend who shows up unexpectedly and suddenly the party starts. This dish’s got beef strips fried to a crunch-tastic perfection that’s begging to be devoured. Tossed in a sauce that’s sweet, spicy, and everything nice, it’s your answer to the crunch-time cravings.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Beef
Green Chili Chicken Soup
Sometimes all you need is a big ol’ bowl of Green Chili Chicken Soup to tell you everything’s going to be alright. It’s like the trusty sidekick of the soup world, brimming with tender chicken, feisty green chilies, and a secret spice combo that’s like a warm blanket on a cold day. Each slurp says, “This is the pep talk your soul was craving.”
Get the Recipe: Green Chili Chicken Soup
Pork Fried Rice
Welcome to the no-fuss, all-flavor world of Pork Fried Rice, where leftovers turn into your next culinary masterpiece. A magical mix of pork, veggies, and rice makes this dish a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of meal that always lands on its feet. It’s the weeknight warrior that says, “Who needs a plan when you’ve got me?”
Get the Recipe: Pork Fried Rice
Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter
If Steak had a VIP section, Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter would be the bouncer deciding who’s cool enough to get in. Juicy grilled flank steak gets all dressed up with a dollop of spicy chile butter, ready to make your palates sing. It’s the simple things that make life grand, and this steak is practically shouting it from the rooftops.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter
Beef Birria
When you’ve got a hankering for something that’ll stick to your ribs and slap a smile on your face, look no further. With Beef Birria, you’ve hit the jackpot of juicy, slow-cooked beef that’s been hanging out with a posse of bold spices. Get those tortillas ready to roll because this is one saucy affair you’ll want to wrap your hands around. Let’s just say, that by the end of the meal, your plate might be cleaner than it was before you started.
Get the Recipe: Beef Birria