Looking for dishes that are just too good to pass up? The 17 options here are the ones that had everyone forgetting about the main course. From crispy to creamy, spicy to savory, these dishes have been known to steal the show and leave you wondering why you ever thought the main was the star. Let’s be honest—who needs a boring main course when you’ve got these game-changers? It’s a good thing they’re here to break the rules.
Pasta e Fagioli Soup
There’s something about Pasta e Fagioli Soup that has people rethinking what they need for a full meal. It’s hearty and filling, with the right combination of flavors that make you feel satisfied long after the meal ends. Skip the main course, and enjoy every spoonful of this savory dish. It’s a perfect option for when you want something substantial but not overwhelming.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Pesto Orzo Salad
Fresh and satisfying, Pesto Orzo Salad is the type of dish that makes you rethink the main course. It’s light, full of flavor, and keeps you coming back for another bite. People often find themselves passing on the rest of the meal to enjoy this vibrant, refreshing dish. If you’re craving something that satisfies without weighing you down, this one’s perfect.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Orzo Salad
Italian Pot Roast Pasta
With its layers of rich flavors and hearty texture, Italian Pot Roast Pasta is the perfect plate for anyone skipping the main. This dish brings everything you need to the table and does it in such a satisfying way. It’s filling but not overwhelming, making it easy to forget that a main course even exists. If you’re looking for a hearty plate, this one delivers every time.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pot Roast Pasta
Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken
There’s something about Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken that has people forgetting there’s even a main course. The combination of tender tortellini, savory broth, and leafy kale is enough to make anyone skip ahead to dessert. It’s cozy, it’s comforting, and it’s just the right dish to enjoy without thinking about what’s next. Let’s face it—this soup is the main event.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup with Kale & Chicken
Cajun Pasta with Shrimp
This is one dish that can steal the spotlight and have you saying goodbye to the main. Cajun Pasta with Shrimp offers the right amount of spice and bold flavors that make you forget there’s a main course coming. It’s a dish that grabs your attention with every bite, leaving you wanting more and more. Whether it’s the heat or the richness, it knows how to keep you full without feeling heavy.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Pasta with Shrimp
Old-Fashioned Mac and Cheese
When it comes to comfort food, nothing beats the simplicity of Old-Fashioned Mac and Cheese. It’s creamy, warm, and exactly what you want when you’re too full to care about the main course. This dish has a way of filling you up without weighing you down, leaving you too satisfied to think about anything else. You may just find yourself skipping the main to get that second scoop.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Mac and Cheese
Blackstone Tortellini with Meatballs
Blackstone Tortellini with Meatballs is the kind of comfort food that gets all the attention and leaves the main course forgotten. The combination of juicy meatballs and tender tortellini hits all the right notes, keeping you from caring about what else is on the menu. It’s filling and flavorful, the perfect alternative when you want something hearty. Who needs the main when this plate is all you want?
Get the Recipe: Blackstone Tortellini with Meatballs
Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
The kind of dish that keeps you coming back for more and forgets all about what’s on the rest of the menu. Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole is a crowd favorite for a reason. It has that perfect mix of hearty and comforting that’s perfect for skipping straight to the good part of dinner. The balance of creamy and savory has people passing on the main to enjoy another helping.
Get the Recipe: Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
Smoked Shotgun Shells
If you’re after something fun, flavorful, and filling, you’ve found it. Smoked Shotgun Shells are the dish that makes you forget what comes next. Their smoky flavor and satisfying texture have people reaching for seconds and skipping the main. It’s one of those meals that hits hard enough to fill you up without feeling heavy.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Shotgun Shells
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Forget about your regular soup routine—Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup has all the comforts without the heaviness. It’s the perfect balance of creamy and hearty that’s just enough to make you skip the main. Packed with flavors, it keeps you coming back for more with every spoonful. If you’re craving something that feels like a hug in a bowl, this dish is it. The main course? It can wait.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp
When it comes to light yet filling dishes, Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp knows how to impress. It offers a refreshing balance of flavors that satisfy without overwhelming. People have found themselves skipping the main course to enjoy its satisfying bite and texture. If you’re after something that’s as filling as it is refreshing, this dish is the way to go. Forget the main course; this one’s got you covered.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp
Baked Feta Pasta
Baked Feta Pasta is a dish that easily becomes the main attraction. The warm, creamy combination has people forgetting about anything else on the menu. Its rich flavors are enough to fill you up, so why bother with the rest of the meal? It’s simple, satisfying, and exactly what you need when you’re ready to pass on the main course. Enjoy it all on its own.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta
Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells
If you’re looking for something that fills you up without any second thoughts, this one’s for you. Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells have the kind of comfort that makes skipping the main course easy. The cheese-filled shells are satisfying in every way and bring enough flavor to stand on their own. People are often too full from these to even care about what’s next on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells
Creamy Spinach Orzo
There’s no need for a main course when you’ve got Creamy Spinach Orzo on the table. Its creamy texture and satisfying bite make it an easy choice to take over the dinner plate. Light but filling, it’s the perfect balance of comfort and flavor. People often skip the main course just to enjoy this dish again and again. You’ll find it hard to resist that extra spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Orzo
Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
People have found this dish to be the highlight of the meal, making the main course almost irrelevant. Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto are a filling and flavorful choice that can have you skipping the main course in no time. The stuffing is hearty, the pesto is fresh, and it all comes together in a satisfying way that makes you forget what you were planning to eat next. Go ahead—take another helping.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Tortellini Soup with Sausage
With just the right balance of savory and satisfying, this dish holds its own. Skip the second plate; this one’s all you need. Tortellini Soup with Sausage is the kind of dish that fills you up and leaves you satisfied enough to skip the main course altogether. The hearty sausage and tender tortellini pack a punch of flavor that makes it an easy choice for a main course alternative.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Pastitsio
A dish like Pastitsio knows how to steal the show. Layers of flavor and satisfying textures make it the go-to dish for anyone looking to skip the main course. Its rich, comforting layers have everyone forgetting there’s something else on the table. It’s no surprise that people are happy to make this their meal on its own. Just trust us—leave the main for later.
Get the Recipe: Pastitsio