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Layers of duck, two kinds of sausage, a hearty ragout, and beans make this the comfort meal to end all comfort meals. It’s an occasion to break out the biggest pot you own. Our classic cassoulet recipe takes no shortcuts and requires a little planning, but every step is totally doable, even if you’re not a pro.

Size matters. This isn't the time for a mammoth Oven Stuffer, nor do we want some petite poussin—a 3½–4-lb. bird has the proportions we're after. When the breasts are roasted to perfection, all that dark meat is on-the-nose-done too.

Why wouldn't you throw some veggies around your bird while it roasts? You've got a hot pan that's about to be full of sizzling schmaltz just begging to bathe a mosaic of squash and onions with tons of chicken-y flavor.

No overnight salting, brining, air-drying, temperature changes, or complicated trussing, just a simple roasted chicken.

The small bits of cauliflower gives the chowder broth a nice clean thickness.

Nothing compares to cast iron. Whether you're using a standard skillet or an enameled baking dish, the material's heat-retention qualities can't be matched by any tempered glass or even stainless-steel vessels.

If you want to stuff the roast as pictured, ask your butcher for a butterflied leg, not tied. Double the ingredients for the rub recipe and smear half onto lamb, then roll and tie it, and smear with the rest of the rub before roasting.

We love the easy walnut sauce that goes with this pork tenderloin. Make it up to a week ahead to go alongside another fast weeknight meal; just store in a jar and chill.

Be sure to get heavy color on the bread and sausage. Thank us later.

The only nonnegotiables for roast chicken recipes are a) being generous with the kosher salt inside and out and b) letting the chicken sit out for at least an hour, which gives the seasoning time to work its way deep into the meat, meaning every bite is delicious through and through.

Partially freeze the short ribs before you slice to get really thin cuts.

Saying these are better than our nonna’s would be a bad idea, but she’ll never know if we just think it…

Braising bone-in chicken in your dish helps build flavor and sauce depth.

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the dinner gods’ gift to home cooks everywhere. Each one is its own perfect portion of crispy skin and juicy meat that’s pretty impossible to overcook. Just make sure you cook them thoroughly on the skin side first to render out as much of the fat as possible and ensure maximum crispiness.

Never cooked cucumbers before? This recipe should convince you to give the method a try, especially when they’re quickly tossed in a hot pan and kept crisp, as they are here.

Our favorite and best method of making pasta—the same one the pros use in restaurants—is one in which the pasta finishes cooking in a glossy sauce made by emulsifying cheese into the pasta cooking liquid. It’s so easy and good it might change your life (or if not your entire life, then definitely your weeknight pasta game).

Because the fat is flavoring the waffles, look for high-quality, smoked deli bacon. 

The most substantial lunch bowl of your life.

Did you think a juicy, savory, filling gyro was only something you could find at a Greek restaurant? Think again. Our version has everything you love about the classic—crispy lamb, creamy yogurt, and crunchy vegetables—and serves it up fast using only 10 ingredients. And, if you’re not a lamb person, you can easily make this recipe with ground pork or beef.

You’ll get all the traditional flavors of the classic takeout dish by using a marinade made up of oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, and soy sauce, but the steak and broccoli are grilled for a fresh summertime variation.

The mezcal and fish sauce in these fajitas make for a surprisingly good combination. You’ll get a smoky, earthy flavor from the mezcal, while the fish sauce adds a little funk and saltiness. If you prefer, use any kind of chopped up chicken or pork in place of the skirt steak.

Harissa, a spicy North African paste of chiles, garlic, and spices, is available in many large grocery stores and Middle Eastern markets—some brands come in tubes, others are sold in jars. If you can’t find it, though, substitute by mixing together your favorite hot sauce, tomato paste, a pinch or two of ground cumin, and a drizzle of olive oil. Keep playing with the ratios until you have a medium-spicy paste.

This recipe makes just enough salsa verde to coat one bag of chips, but it's so tasty and versatile that we always make a double batch. If you can, choose a heftier chip that will hold up when stirred into the sauce.

This is a perfect recipe to make when you have bought too many tomatoes at the market and they are starting to show their age.