20 Weeknight Dinners Made Better with a Splash of Wine
Want to make your weeknight dinners feel a little more gourmet—without the stress? These 20 easy recipes use a splash of wine to add depth, richness, and irresistible flavor to your everyday meals. Whether it’s a velvety red wine sauce or a bright white wine simmer, each dish is proof that wine isn’t just for drinking—it’s a secret weapon in the kitchen. Get ready to cook like a pro and elevate your dinner game with minimal effort.
Lamb Shoulder Chops in Tomato and Wine Sauce
Lamb shoulder chops or blade chops are seared before being cooked in a delicious and boldly flavoured red wine, garlic and tomato sauce.
Roast Duck with Duck Fat Potatoes
Whole roast duck, the perfect indulgent Sunday lunch & this recipe comes with glorious potatoes that are almost confit & a red wine gravy. This recipe is the perfect alternative Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner for a couple leaving modest leftovers. Alternatively, you could scoff the lot, we do!
Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon
Stew Beef is cooked in red wine alongside bacon, carrots, mushrooms, and onions, for a deep, umami-rich meal. We are cooking this French classic in an Instant Pot to cut the cook time for this recipe in half!
Cozy Short Rib Bolognese Sauce
This short rib bolognese sauce is my favorite winter-time comfort food. Rich shredded beef short ribs slow cooking in a robust red wine tomato sauce full of aromatics, fresh herbs, and bold flavors all day long. It’s the perfect recipe for this time of year. Serve it up with pappardelle pasta for date night or family style during the holiday season!
Easy Creamy Chicken Marsala
Tender, juicy chicken breasts in a rich marsala wine and mushroom sauce make this easy Chicken Marsala recipe just as good for entertaining as it is for a weeknight dinner! It’s delicious served over pasta or creamy mashed potatoes!
Shrimp Scampi in the Instant Pot
The ever elegant restaurant entree that you love to order just became so much easier to make at home! This recipe for Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi cooks in– get this– 3 minutes! This is a one pot meal that you’ll love to serve up, either for a quick meal for yourself or to impress at a dinner party!
French Onion Soup
This classic French soup starts with butter and delicious, slowly cooked caramelized onions. The onions are then covered with a rich beef stock and seasoned with a splash of white wine. French Onion Soup is a creamy bowl of comfort food. It may be a labor of love to make, but it is worth every delicious bite!
Filet Steak in Cast Iron Skillet with Cream Sauce
This recipe is made with thick, 7 oz filet steaks that are cooked in a cast iron skillet, then served with a cream sauce. This recipe is inspired by Eswatini’s national dish, but can be enjoyed anywhere!
Red Wine Spaghetti
Red Wine Spaghetti is pasta cooked in red wine so it soaks up the pretty color and the natural sweetness and flavor of the wine. It’s a super easy dinner recipe yet impressive enough for a special meal.
Ravioli with Mushroom Sauce
You’ll love this rich, creamy and comforting ravioli with mushroom sauce. It’s ready in under 30 minutes and is perfect for a weeknight dinner while also being special enough for date night at home. Made with mushrooms, your favourite ravioli, heavy cream, white wine and parmesan cheese.
Red Wine Gravy
When it comes to gravy, everyone has their own opinions and the variations that they are partial to. This Red Wine Gravy will give your favorite a run for its money.
Crab Ravioli with Saffron Sauce
Crab ravioli stuffed with delicious & delicate white meat & ricotta cheese served with a simple butter, white wine, saffron & dill sauce.
Beef Rouladen from Germany
This classic German dinner is made of steak stuffed with pickles, bacon, mustard, and onions and then served in a delightful gravy. Make this classic German comfort food to really experience German cuisine.
Mushroom Truffle Risotto
Make the best no-stir Mushroom Truffle Risotto in under 40 minutes. Loaded with flavor from mushrooms, white truffle oil and white wine it’s a great dinner party dish that’s sure to impress. Just don’t tell them how easy it was to make!
Creamy Chicken Pasta
On your table in just 30 minutes – this Creamy Chicken Pasta is a winner every time! Packed full of fall flavors like red wine, mushrooms and thyme, it’s a perfect Saturday night dinner – that you will love to have in your lunchbox come Monday. And sure to become your new favorite pasta dish!
Brussels Mussels
Mussels are a delectable favorite in Belgian cuisine. These Brussel Mussels are steamed in a mixture of wine and cream that gives them an incredible flavor. If you want an easy recipe that will make you look like a master chef, this mussel recipe is the way to go!
Scallop pasta with garlic and white wine
Sometimes the best meals are some of the simplest, and this scallop pasta with garlic and white wine is definitely one of those. A quick, easy yet delicious dinner equally good for a special occasion or a busy night.
Sausage & White Bean Cassoulet
Baked sausages in an herbed navy bean sauce stewed with onion, garlic, tomatoes, thyme and oregano. This easy dinner recipe is a great way to break up the monotony of weeknight meals.
Italian Stuffed Flank Steak
This Italian Stuffed Flank Steak is also known as a Rollè, it is the perfect family, company or special occasion dinner idea. An easy baked meat dish, stuffed with rocket/arugula, mortadella or prosciutto. Absolutely delicious and makes a stunning presentation.
Easy Sauerbraten Recipe
This authentic German Sauerbraten recipe makes the most tender and juicy roast beef and a wonderful sweet and sour gravy. Beef is richly marinated for a few days in a mixture of red wine, vinegar, and a mix of flavorful herbs and warm spices. Then, the meat is braised until succulent and tender—it’s so irresistible!
