Chef John's Main Dishes

I'm really excited to show you this recipe, not only because it's one of the best beef stews ever, but also because after we enjoy this in stew form, we're doing a follow-up video using this to make some of the most incredible tacos you've ever had. If you like beef stew, and you're a fan of chili, you're going to go nuts over this. Serve with lime wedges as-is, or with warm flour tortillas, chili oil, salsa, or diced avocado next to some Spanish rice and a nice green salad.

Because I was careful not to work too much flour into these gnocchi, they didn't come out super dense, dry, and doughy. They stayed nice, moist, and tender. The key here is making them nice and small. The earthy, subtle sweetness from the potato works so well with the bacon, the little touch of rosemary, and butter, making these a great appetizer, side dish, or main.

Whether you make this meatless or not, or you serve it as a main course or a holiday side dish, you'll love this loaded butternut squash dish. It's extremely flavorful as well as rich and decadent, but not overly so. Buttery, nutty Gruyere cheese works so well with butternut squash, and a bit of Dijon mustard balances the sweetness and richness of this dish. Pair it with a salad to give a temperature and texture contrast.

Canned salmon is a great, inexpensive source of proteins and omegas, and you may have stocked up on a few cans but not known what to do with them. This tasty shelter-in-place salmon loaf is so good for you! While salmon right out of the can may not be the most appealing thing to look at, this salmon loaf is so delicious that we can surely forgive some of its visual shortcomings. Remember, looks are less important than personality (and taste!) and this easy salmon loaf is proof of that. Serve with your favorite tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or hot, white cream sauce.

Everyone knows that firefighters make the best chili--many using a recipe very similar to this--and the only way I know how to make that chili even better is by topping it with a cheesy cornbread crust. The cornbread crust is relatively sweet, which of course pairs perfectly with that spicy, meaty, savory chili.

Here's a super easy, super simple method for making stuffed pasta using wonton wrappers. If you'd rather call these crab wontons or crab dumplings (or even cheater tortellini!), go ahead. No matter what you call them, this is definitely something you want in your bag of culinary tricks. They're loaded with crab and the tortellini shape does a great job of catching and holding on to all the delicious sauce.

I don't have the energy or courage to cater for a living but, if I did, this Greek lemon chicken and potatoes would be one of my go-to entrees, and not just for big, fat weddings. It's a proven crowd-pleaser, simple to make, and easy on the wallet.

Pork shank isn't as rich as veal, but I like it better in osso buco. Still, if you want veal you can use it here too.

I love lamb, and once in a while I enjoy it in small, spherical portions.

You'll need a large, heavy-duty roasting pan (or a couple of smaller ones) and a very hot oven for this delicious dish. The long oven time makes everything beautifully caramelized and the chicken fork tender.

Home cooks will find deep-dish pizza, with its unique buttery cornmeal crust, more forgiving than its New York counterpart. No need to worry about having the hottest oven or too many toppings - just make sure your sauce is very thick and flavorful! I garnished mine with parsley and more Parmesan cheese.