Recipes: Five weeknight dishes for 2026

By Emily Weinstein, The New York Times

New year, new me? I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions or Dry January routines, though I do lightly aspire to go to bed earlier, drink less wine and eat more vegetables in 2026. I very much want to just stay home and cook a lot this month, incidentally a great way to be healthier and more present in your daily life.

If you need recipes for healthy meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner, anything — you’re in the right place. I’ve got five dinners for you below.

1. One-Pan Spicy Chicken Thighs and Mushrooms

A fried pepper condiment of puréed bell peppers and onions known in Yorùbá as ọbẹ ata dín dín is common across West Africa as a base for stewed greens and meat. This sauce is an expression of balance in a pot, often packed with fresh, dried, fermented and hot ingredients, each rich and distinct in flavor. Here, mushrooms and chicken thighs are the lucky recipients of this mother sau...