27 Wine & Dine Dinners That Pair Perfectly With A Bottle Of Red

Red wine needs food that can stand next to it without getting lost. These dinners have strong flavors and enough depth to match what is in your glass. You’re not pairing wine with a side salad or plain chicken here. The food should actually bring something to the table. If you are opening a bottle, the meal should matter just as much. These recipes make sure it does.

Moroccan Lamb Lentil Stew

Lamb, lentils, and chickpeas simmer with Moroccan spices for a bold and earthy stew. It’s great for chilly nights and made even better with a glass of something red and dry.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Lamb Lentil Stew

Lamb Bolognese

Swap out beef for lamb in this bold version of Bolognese. With garlic, tomatoes, red wine, and herbs, it’s everything you want in a rich pasta dish. Serve with tagliatelle and let the sauce speak for itself.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Bolognese

Chicken Sorrentino

Breaded chicken layered with eggplant, prosciutto, and cheese, all baked in tomato sauce. It’s a little over-the-top in the best way. Perfect when you’re hungry and want a dinner that can keep up with your wine.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Sorrentino

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Rigatoni, sun-dried tomato cream sauce, parmesan, and spinach—quick, meatless, and big on flavor. It comes together fast and still holds up next to a red, making it perfect for a midweek dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Farro Risotto

Farro and white beans simmered in broth for a thick, hearty risotto-style dish. It’s got depth, it’s cozy, and it doesn’t need much else besides a fork and a full glass of wine.
Get the Recipe: Farro Risotto

Cottage Cheese Alfredo

This version of Alfredo keeps it creamy with cottage cheese, but still feels rich and satisfying. Toss it with pasta for a quick meal that’s a little lighter but still ready to team up with your red.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Alfredo

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Soft sweet potato gnocchi tossed in a quick, meaty Bolognese sauce. It’s hearty, it’s bold, and it’s perfect for nights when your wine needs a dinner that can match it bite for bite.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Tagliatelle Bolognese

This is a no-shortcuts kind of Bolognese. It’s packed with ground beef, pork, and pancetta that’s been slowly simmered in broth until the sauce is thick and bold. Toss it with tagliatelle and you’ve got the kind of dinner that begs for a bottle of red.
Get the Recipe: Tagliatelle Bolognese

Rack of Lamb

This rack of lamb may sound like a big deal, but it’s shockingly simple to pull off. Quick sear, oven roast, done. Dijon, garlic, and herbs do all the heavy lifting. It’s great for date night or when you’re just in the mood to make something that feels a little more put together. Red wine mandatory.
Get the Recipe: Rack of Lamb

Tuscan Salmon

This salmon goes from pan to plate in 25 minutes, and it’s got everything going for it—creamy garlic sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and just the right amount of Parmesan. It’s an easy win for those nights when you want a solid dinner without a lot of effort. Yes, you can drink red with salmon—this one proves it.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Salmon

Cottage Cheese Marry Me Chicken

This version keeps it classic—chicken simmered in a creamy garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and herbs—but swaps in cottage cheese to lighten things up without losing flavor. It’s rich, it’s bold, and it’s practically made for red wine. The name says it all.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Marry Me Chicken

Easy Dutch Oven Pot Roast

This one practically cooks itself. A quick sear, a little broth, a few vegetables, then into the oven it goes until the meat’s falling apart. It’s hearty without trying too hard, and it’s exactly the kind of meal that’s great with a big red and a slow evening.
Get the Recipe: Easy Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Grilled Flat Iron Steak

Flat iron steak is one of those cuts that never lets you down. A little salt, a hot grill, and you’re halfway there. It cooks fast, stays juicy, and holds up to anything you throw next to it—especially a big glass of red.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flat Iron Steak

Incredible Chicken Piccata Pasta

Think creamy pasta meets lemony chicken—with capers for a punch and a bit of richness to tie it all together. It’s fast, it’s simple, and it brings enough boldness to hold its own next to a bottle of red.
Get the Recipe: Incredible Chicken Piccata Pasta

Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

This one checks all the boxes: juicy seared chicken, fresh tomatoes, garlic, pasta, and a splash of balsamic. It’s easy enough for a weeknight and good enough to break out a bottle of wine for no reason at all.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

Slow Cooker Beef Braciole

Flank steak gets stuffed, rolled, browned, and left to soak in marinara all day until it’s fall-apart tender. It sounds fancy, but the slow cooker does most of the work. Slice it up, pour the wine, and pretend you spent all day in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Braciole

One Skillet Spanish Pesto Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs, bold pesto, and a quick pan sear—all done in one skillet. It’s fast, flavorful, and makes you look like you know what you’re doing. This one has enough character to keep up with whatever bottle you’ve got open.
Get the Recipe: One Skillet Spanish Pesto Chicken Thighs

Braised Lamb Shoulder Chops

These lamb shoulder chops go low and slow in a rich sauce until they’re fall-apart tender. Whether you serve them over mashed potatoes or noodles, they bring serious flavor. Perfect when you want to open a bold red and let dinner feel like an event.
Get the Recipe: Braised Lamb Shoulder Chops

German Rabbit Stew Hasenpfeffer

A classic German dish that brings rabbit, red wine, and a hit of pepper together in a deep, flavorful stew. The marinade does the heavy lifting here, and the end result is cozy and bold. Definitely red wine territory.
Get the Recipe: German Rabbit Stew Hasenpfeffer

Short Rib Ravioli with Creamy Mushroom Ragù

This one goes all-in—homemade ravioli stuffed with short ribs, topped with a creamy mushroom sauce that’s rich enough to keep things interesting. Break this out when you’re in the mood to make dinner feel like a night out. Red wine isn’t optional.
Get the Recipe: Short Rib Ravioli with Creamy Mushroom Ragù

Ground Beef Stroganoff

A no-nonsense comfort food classic. Ground beef, mushrooms, sour cream, and noodles come together fast for a dish that’s rich, creamy, and completely worth the minimal effort. Grab a red and call it dinner.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stroganoff

Chicken Vesuvio

Chicken thighs and potatoes soak in a buttery garlic white wine sauce, finished with peas. It’s hearty, full of flavor, and comes together in one pan. Perfect for weeknights that deserve something better than takeout.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Vesuvio

One-Pan Baked Tortellini

Tortellini, sauce, cheese—one pan, no drama. This is the kind of meal you throw together when you’re short on time but still want something great with your wine. It’s fast, cheesy, and always hits.
Get the Recipe: One-Pan Baked Tortellini

Layered Italian Mushroom Rice

Layers of rice, mushrooms, veggies, and cheese baked into a hearty dish that feels fancier than it actually is. Great side or main, depending on your mood. Either way, it’s solid red wine material.
Get the Recipe: Layered Italian Mushroom Rice

One Pot Creamy Sausage Gnocchi

Gnocchi, sausage, and a creamy sauce come together in under 30 minutes—all in one pot. It’s bold, filling, and seriously easy. Add a salad and a bottle of red, and you’ve got yourself a night.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Creamy Sausage Gnocchi

Instant Pot Cavatini

Pasta, beef, and sauce cooked together under pressure for a meal that tastes like it took way longer than it did. It’s comforting, saucy, and perfect when you want dinner fast but still worth your wine.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cavatini

Stuffed Shells with Sausage

Jumbo pasta shells loaded with spinach ricotta and covered in sausage marinara. It’s a crowd-pleaser and the kind of meal that makes sense when you’re opening a bottle and feeding people who actually like to eat.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Sausage