Sometimes the chaos of life calls for an all-day cooking project — an artfully arranged ombré gratin, a braided challah or a big pot of Sunday sauce — something to busy your hands and settle your spirit. But most days, what you need is an easy meal: a dish that is simply prepared, if not simple in flavor, and that won’t let you down. This year, as inflation pushed food costs to new highs, the ingredients also couldn’t cost a lot. These are just the kind of recipes New York Times Cooking readers clicked on most in 2022. With the exception of a few special project dishes — we’re looking at you, Thanksgiving! — they are all easy, economical and exciting recipes to live your messy, beautiful life by.
1. Sticky Coconut Chicken and Rice
This comforting one-pot chicken dish features fragrant coconut rice infused with aromatic ginger, garlic and scallion, and studded with toasty cashews. The cashews soften as the rice steams, adding subtle nuttiness to the dish. Chicken thighs absorb the coconut milk as they cook, which keeps the meat tender and juicy. Fresh chopped cilantro brightens the dish, while hot sauce adds nice heat and tang to balance the creamy, rich and slightly sweet rice.
By Kay Chun
Yield: 4 servings
Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, each thigh cut into 2 equal-size pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil, such as safflower or canola
2 teaspoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 cups short-grain white rice, rinsed until water runs clear
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped (1/2-inch pieces)
1/2 cup roasted cashews, coarsely chopped
3 scallions, green and white parts, thinly sliced (1/2 packed cup)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro
Hot sauce, for serving
Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Rub chicken with 1 tablespoon of oil, and season with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
2. In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Working in two batches, brown chicken, turning halfway, until no longer pink, around 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the ginger and the garlic to the empty pot, and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add rice and stir until evenly coated in the oil. Add broth, coconut milk, bell pepper, cashews, scallions and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir to lift up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Arrange chicken on top, add any accumulated juices from the plate and bring to a boil over high.
4. Cover and bake until all of the liquid is absorbed, rice is tender and chicken is cooked through, 25 minutes. Scatter cilantro over the chicken and rice, then divide among bowls. Serve with hot sauce.
2. Thanksgiving Stuffing
This deeply savory, buttery sage stuffing builds layers of flavor with each step. First, whole sage leaves fry in melted butter for a pretty garnish that offers pleasurable crispy bits. The butter ends up browned, nutty and infused with the herb’s woodsy aroma, and helps chopped sage, fennel seeds, poultry seasoning and cayenne bloom for a fragrant blend that tastes like sausage. Milk in place of watery boxed stock means there’s a base of richness that only dairy can provide. The combination of white bread and cornbread results in a classic but amped-up Thanksgiving stuffing with textural integrity and a hint of sweetness to boot.
By Eric Kim
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients:
8 ounces crusty white bread, such as country loaf or sourdough, cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 6 cups)
8 ounces store-bought or homemade cornbread, cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
10 fresh sage leaves, plus 1/3 cup coarsely chopped sage (3/4 ounce)
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon salt-free poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
Salt and black pepper
2 celery stalks, finely diced
2 cups whole milk, plus more as needed
Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread all the bread cubes on a large sheet pan and bake until brittle, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on the pan. (The cooled bread can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.) Raise the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip a wadded-up paper towel into the melted butter and grease a 1 1/2- to 2-quart shallow baking dish or pan with it. Unwad the paper towel and line a plate with it. Add the whole sage leaves to the butter and cook, stirring occasionally, until the speckled milk solids at the bottom of the pan start to brown and the sage leaves become crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the sage to the paper towel-lined plate.
3. Add the chopped sage, fennel seeds, poultry seasoning and cayenne to the browned butter and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Add the onion and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the celery and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Stir in the milk and heat until steaming. Taste and add salt and pepper; the milk should be assertively seasoned.
4. Transfer the toasted bread cubes to a large bowl. Pour the hot milk mixture over the bread and gently toss with two spoons until the bread is thoroughly soaked; add more milk if needed. Spread the stuffing in the buttered baking dish and cover with foil. Bake until warmed through, 10 to 15 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is crispy and a little darker in color, about 10 minutes. Scatter with the fried sage leaves and serve.
3. Greek Chicken With Cucumber-Feta Salad
This meal has the flavors of a Greek combination plate with chicken souvlaki, Greek salad and tzatziki, but it is streamlined for the home cook. Boneless chicken thighs are coated with herby, garlicky yogurt, then seared until tender inside and crusty and browned outside. Extra yogurt dresses cucumbers and tomatoes that have had a chance to drain with salt so they taste their most vivid. Feta and olives add briny bites to the creamy, crunchy salad, but feel free to incorporate other elements of Greek salad or tzatziki, like romaine lettuce, bell peppers, mint or dill, toasted walnuts or thinly sliced red onion. Eat with lemon potatoes or toasted pita.
By Ali Slagle
Yield: 4 servings
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
3 garlic cloves, finely grated
Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
Black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano or mint
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, patted dry
1 1/2 pounds cucumbers (preferably Japanese, Persian or mini, seedless cucumbers)
1 pound ripe tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
4 ounces feta, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
Preparation:
1. In a large bowl, stir together the yogurt and garlic; season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer 1/2 cup of the yogurt to a medium bowl and reserve for Step 5.
2. Coat the chicken: To the large bowl, add the oregano and stir to combine. Season the chicken all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the chicken to the large bowl and turn to coat; set aside.
3. Start the salad: Smash the cucumbers with the side of your knife until craggy and split. Rip into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces and transfer to a colander placed in the sink. Slice or chop the tomatoes into bite-size pieces. Add to the cucumbers along with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. (It may seem like a lot of salt, but most will drain away.) Toss to combine and leave to drain.
4. In a large nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium. Scrape excess marinade off the chicken, then cook the chicken in batches, adding oil to the pan if necessary, until it’s well browned and releases from the pan, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and cook until cooked through, another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to plates to rest. (For grilling info, see Tip.)
5. To the medium bowl of yogurt, add the feta and mash with a fork until a chunky paste forms. Shake the cucumbers and tomatoes to get rid of any excess moisture. Add to the feta yogurt along with the olives and stir until coated. The balance is dependent on your produce and feta, so season to taste with salt and pepper until flavors are vivid. Eat alongside the chicken.
TIP: To grill the chicken: Heat a grill to medium and clean and grease the grates. Grill the chicken over direct heat until it's well browned and releases from the grates, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and cook until cooked through, another 5 to 7 minutes. (For a gas grill, close the lid between flips.)
4. Brothy Thai Curry With Silken Tofu and Herbs
A jarred red curry paste is the central flavor of this wonderfully restorative and nourishing broth. Coconut milk lends a subtle creaminess, and the cherry tomatoes become bright little jammy bursts. You can use fresh tomatoes when in season, but canned tomatoes do just as well. Ladle the piping hot broth over seasoned tofu pieces and fresh herbs: The delicate silken tofu used here will absorb big flavors from the surrounding liquid.
By Yewande Komolafe
Yield: 6 servings
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
2 (14-ounce) packages silken tofu, drained
2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed
2 shallots, peeled and minced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, scrubbed and grated
3 tablespoons red curry paste
1 (14-ounce) can cherry tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes
1 quart vegetable stock
1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
Salt
1/4 cup soy sauce
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups mixed fresh herbs, such as cilantro, basil and dill
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 lime, cut into wedges, for squeezing
Preparation:
1. Pat the tofu blocks dry with a clean kitchen or paper towel. Cut each block into 3 slices.
2. Heat a medium Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high. Add the oil and shallots, and stir until softened, 2 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and curry paste, stir, and cook until fragrant and the paste turns deep red, 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the tomato juices thicken slightly, 4 minutes.
3. Pour in the vegetable stock, stir, increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer to slightly reduce the liquid, 10 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk, season to taste with salt and remove from the heat.
4. While the broth is simmering, divide the soft tofu into 6 bowls. Break each slice into 4 or 5 pieces. Season each bowl of tofu with 2 teaspoons of soy sauce and a few cracks of black pepper, and top with about 1/4 cup of the fresh herb mix.
5. Ladle the hot broth and tomatoes over the bowls of silken tofu. Top with sliced scallions and serve hot, with lime wedges for squeezing.
5. Tajín Grilled Chicken
Tajín is a Mexican seasoning made from dried, ground red chiles, sea salt and dehydrated lime juice. It is great sprinkled over fresh cut fruit like mango and pineapple, or rimmed on an ice cold margarita. But it is also an easy way to add chile and lime to your favorite grilled meats, rubs or sauces. In this dish, the lime in the Tajín balances out the sweetness from the agave syrup, while the red chiles complement the smoky flavor of the chipotles. Serve the chicken as is or on toasted hamburger buns with a schmear of mayonnaise, chopped grilled scallions, cilantro leaves and sliced pickled jalapeños. This Tajín sauce also would pair well with grilled bass, cod or salmon, or with shrimp skewers.
By Rick A. Martínez
Yield: 4 servings
Total time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
Vegetable oil, for the grill
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
Sea salt (or kosher salt)
1/2 cup light agave syrup or honey
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
3 chipotle chiles in adobo, finely chopped, plus 1/4 cup adobo sauce
6 garlic cloves, finely grated
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Tajín Clásico
8 scallions, root ends trimmed
1/2 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems
Preparation:
1. Prepare a grill for medium-high, direct heat; clean the grates well, then brush them with vegetable oil. Alternatively, heat a grill pan on medium-high and brush the pan with oil.
2. Arrange the chicken on a sheet tray and generously season both sides with salt. Whisk together the agave syrup, orange juice, orange zest, chipotles, adobo, garlic, olive oil and Tajín in a medium bowl.
3. Brush both sides of the chicken with the Tajín sauce. Grill the chicken, turning and basting often with the Tajín sauce, until cooked through, charred but brick red and glazed, 7 to 9 minutes. Grill the scallions, turning occasionally, until lightly charred on all sides, about 5 minutes.
4. Serve the chicken with the grilled scallions, topped with cilantro.
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