Maggie Hoffman

The Dinner Plan

A Food and Arts podcast

About the show

Figuring out what to make for dinner can be exhausting. The Dinner Plan helps you start every week with fresh cooking inspiration, thanks to Maggie Hoffman and a roster of top cookbook authors. You'll get dinner ideas for every season, advice on how to make weeknight meal planning easier, smart budget cooking and grocery shopping tips, and easy dinners to make when you're short on time and energy. Guests on The Dinner Plan include experts like Molly Baz, Melissa Clark, Justine Doiron, Hetty Lui McKinnon, J. Kenji López-Alt, Hailee Catalano, and more. Guests answer questions like: What store-bought shortcuts make your weeknight dinners more flavorful? How do you meal prep or ingredient prep without getting bored? What weeknight dinner recipes would you text to a friend? Where do you find dinner ideas when you don't feel like cooking? To get each guest's cookbook recommendations, plus a free recipe of the week from that guest's latest book, subscribe to The Dinner Plan newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com—that's also where you'll find our list of 99 dinner ideas you didn't have to think of. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newest episodes

Low-Stress Thanksgiving With Food Friends

Nov 9, 2026 1 hr 9 min

Planning a Thanksgiving menu can feel overwhelming, but we're here to help! On this special episode of The Dinner Plan, host Maggie Hoffman is joined by Sonya Sanford and Kari Lauritzen, the two former private chefs who host the Food Friends podcast. Sonya and Kari walk us through each week in November so you can have a low-stress, easy Thanksgiving hosting experience this year. We talk about Thanksgiving menu essentials, favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes, how to cook a turkey, and grocery shopping strategy. (Plus, how to avoid blowing your budget on one meal!) You'll leave this episode with a clear prep plan and a lot of Thanksgiving recipe inspiration. Find recipe links and more on the newsletter: TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out our sponsors:Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.com.Erath Winery: Find Erath's Oregon wines wherever you buy wine, or at Erath.com (must be 21+)Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Just Date at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger or online at enjoyjustdate.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Postpartum Meals and Feeding New Parents With Clarissa Wei

Nov 2, 2026 53 min

Postpartum meal prep is all over the internet in the US, but in Taiwan, 65% of new moms check into a full-service postpartum hotel to recover after giving birth. When Clarissa Wei, author of Sitting the Month, had her first baby, she wanted to learn more about the postpartum meals she was offered there. “What I didn't expect,” she says, “was that I would be given these herbal broths and soups. But no one would tell me what was in it or what it was for.” Clarissa, who also wrote the acclaimed cookbook Made in Taiwan, shares this experience in her new cookbook of postpartum recipes, and she cooked right from the book when her second child was born. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, she talks us through the tradition in Chinese medicine of gradually introducing more and more warming foods into a new mom's diet, describes the easiest way to prepare traditional postpartum foods for yourself or a friend, and shares all the advice she’d give a friend who was anticipating having a baby. Get show notes + the recipes for Clarissa’s Scallion Oil Noodles and Pork and Shiitake Mushroom Congee at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out our sponsors:Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.comMaraBela: Find Marabela Alcohol-Free Sparkling Tea at MaraBelaTea.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Follow The Dinner Plan on Apple / Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adrianna Adarme’s Sweater-Weather Dinners

Oct 29, 2026 42 min

In A Cozy Kitchen Cookbook, Adrianna Adarme zeroes in on the right recipe for every mood: There are easy dinners for the midweek slump, quick family dinners for the nights you’re low on time, and pajamas-recommended weekend recipes that can simmer in the oven while you relax on the couch. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Adrianna walks us through a full meal plan for the week, including a big-batch dinner you can make on Sunday and freeze for Thursday, and quick dinner ideas for Monday when you need things to be easy. She shares her thoughts on which viral recipes that are actually worth cooking, and offers advice on stocking the freezer for lunchboxes and easy dinners for her toddler. Before you do any meal prep this weekend, listen in. Get the recipes at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out our sponsors:Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.com.Dirty Labs: Use code DINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All episodes

Low-Stress Thanksgiving With Food Friends

Nov 9, 2026 1 hr 9 min

Postpartum Meals and Feeding New Parents With Clarissa Wei

Nov 2, 2026 53 min

Adrianna Adarme’s Sweater-Weather Dinners

Oct 29, 2026 42 min

How One-Pot Pasta Found Its Way to Your Table

Oct 26, 2026 1 hr 0 min

In this episode of The Dinner Plan, cookbook author Nora Singley shares the story behind Martha Stewart's famous one-pot pasta, a pasta recipe that's been riffed on so many times you probably don't even remember the first time you saw it. Nora's new book dives deep on the method, and here, she shares the many reasons why it can actually be better to skip the separate pot of boiling water when you're making weeknight dinners. She walks us through her finely-tuned version of the popular cooking method, and explains why it works so well for carbonara, cacio e pepe, and even lasagna. Nora also shares her most-loved pantry staples, her go-to easy dinner, and the wildest story of a cooking disaster we’ve had on the show yet. Get Nora’s recipe for Creamed Spinach and Minty Trenne (Plus Rotisserie Chicken) on The DinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out our sponsors: Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.comMaraBela: Find Marabela Alcohol-Free Sparkling Tea at MaraBelaTea.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Find Nora’s book, One-Pot Pasta, wherever you buy cookbooks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fuchsia Dunlop’s Flavor Templates for Easy Weeknight Dinners

Oct 22, 2026 51 min

“A lot of my books have been very much about reflecting traditional Chinese cooking and trying to just report accurately on what I find in China,” Fuchsia Dunlop says in this episode of The Dinner Plan podcast. For her new cookbook, Five Tastes, the author of Land of Fish and Rice, The Food of Sichuan, and Every Grain of Rice, among other Chinese cookbooks, found herself reflecting on the flavor combinations she learned in culinary school in Sichuan but applying those templates to dishes and ingredients that are more common in the UK. The result: a more personal book that reflects what Fuchsia's been cooking at home lately. Fuchsia shares her go-to quick and easy dinner ideas for nights when she hasn't been shopping, and helps us think through a dinner party menu for less stressful hosting. Get Fuchsia’s recipes on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out our sponsors:CookShelf: Use code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first year at CookShelf50Hertz: Use code TINGLYDINNERPLAN for 15% off at 50hertzfoods.comLotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offerHardie Grant Books: Find Taiwanese? by Eric Sze wherever you buy cookbooks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Jeanine Donofrio Got Her Love of Cooking Back

Oct 19, 2026 46 min

Jeanine Donofrio of Love and Lemons was in a cooking rut. Rushing through busy weeknight dinners made cooking so much less enjoyable, and she missed the days when she had time to linger in the kitchen. Her dinners felt boring, too. With small kids underfoot, “If I took 20 minutes longer to do something, everyone would kind of be off the rocker. And it’s just not enjoyable to cook that way," Jeanine says. In this episode, Jeanine explains how she found her way to easy dinners that are still super-flavorful. These simple recipes (and flexible flavor-boosters) are featured in her new book, Love and Lemons: Pop of Flavor. If you're overwhelmed with meal prep and not excited about the dinners you cook, this episode is for you. Get Jeanine's recipe for BBQ tofu bowls with apple ranch slaw at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out this week's sponsors:Find STAUB enameled cast iron Dutch ovens at Staub.comMcEvoy Ranch: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at McEvoyranch.comDirty Labs: Use code DINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Just Date at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger or online at enjoyjustdate.com.Chronicle Books: Find Nik Sharma's Fundamentals of Flavor wherever you buy books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Kanell: Preppy Kitchen’s Tips for Joyful Baking Every Day

Oct 15, 2026 48 min

John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen is practical about dinner; he’ll use two air fryers at once to get chicken on the table fast. But the former middle school teacher sees baking as an important outlet for his family, and a way to make even leftovers-for-dinner nights feel special. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, John shares his go-to quick dinners, the doughs he'll stash in the freezer for enjoying later, and his advice for lower-stress baking with kids. You’ll also hear smart tips for make-ahead homemade rolls and pie crusts...Thanksgiving is coming! Get John’s recipe for Buttermilk Dinner Rolls at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Get John’s book: Preppy Kitchen Everyday Baking Check out our sponsors:Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.com.CookShelf: Use code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first year at CookShelf.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Nectar & Nest: Find reusable bread bags at NectarAndNestHome.comNordic Ware: Use code DINNER10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase at Nordicware.com. (Nordic Ware note: Excludes sale items. Offer can not be combined with other promo codes, and only one promo code may be used per customer. The offer is valid for U.S. online purchases only. This promotion is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and not valid on prior purchases, special orders, or taxes. Discount is valid until 11:59 PM CST on December 31st, 2026.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Mark Bittman Actually Makes for Dinner

Oct 12, 2026 45 min

Mark Bittman's latest cookbook, How to Cook Everything Vegan, isn't meant to convince you to declare yourself a 24/7 vegan. Instead, Mark explains in this episode of The Dinner Plan with Maggie Hoffman, he's trying to inspire you to cook more plant-based meals. (And trying to help you make them delicious.) "If I say to you, we're doing How to Cook Everything Grilling, everybody goes, 'Oh, great. We know exactly what that means,'" Mark says. "But no one thinks, 'Oh, Mark is now suggesting that we grill everything.'" Bittman offers his advice on how to make cooking dinner easier, plus his ideas for unexpected ways to cook tofu, mashed potatoes, and grains. We also get a peek at the dinner he made last night, and the way he thinks about batch cooking things like rice and beans. Get Mark Bittman's recipe for Crisp Sheet Pan Exploded Whole Grains on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com ➡️ Check out our sponsors:Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.com.Equator Coffees: Use code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first order at EquatorCoffees.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Just Date at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger or online at enjoyjustdate.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Kay Chun Plans a Week of Easy Dinners

Oct 8, 2026 44 min

Kay Chun has created numerous recipes for the New York Times, and worked in the test kitchens at Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Food + Wine in addition to being a restaurant chef. She's one of my go-to trusted names when I'm looking for new dinner recipes. In this episode, Kay talks about how her youth practicing tae kwon do prepared her for life in a restaurant, and shares the way she thinks about meal planning for a busy week of dinners without too much repetition. Her new cookbook, Gather Around My Table, is full of smart techniques and ingredients that make for extra-flavorful dinners. Get Kay's meatball recipe on the newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com → Check out our sponsors:Kuhn Rikon: Use code DINNER26 for 25% off at KuhnRikon.com (does not apply to items on sale)Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.com.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Chronicle Books: East to East by Rachel Gurjar is available on Amazon and wherever you buy books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leah Victoria’s Meal Prep for Real Life

Oct 5, 2026 54 min

Meal prep systems can feel like an all-or-nothing commitment, but Leah Victoria thinks there’s a reasonable way to prep some dinner building blocks without committing to a full week of recipes that you cook on Sunday and get sick of by Wednesday. In Episode 132 of The Dinner Plan, Leah shares her flexible meal planning philosophy, ideas for what to make with shredded chicken, ways to use up leftover meatballs, and flavor boosters you can make ahead on the weekend for easy meals all week long. She picks pantry staples you'll want to have on hand for easy dinners, and explains how you can do a little meal prep while still staying flexible and open to last-minute cravings or inspiration. “I think people put a lot of pressure on themselves to make it, like, this whole production. And it really just doesn't have to be that,” Leah says. Get recipes and show notes on our newsletter: TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Get Leah Victoria’s cookbook, And That's Dinner! ➡️ Check out this week’s sponsors:Lotus Professional Series: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Lotuscooking.com.Cangshan Cutlery: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15 percent off a purchase of $100 or more until Dec 31, 2026 at CangshanCutlery.com.Dirty Labs: Use code DINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even Yotam Ottolenghi Gets Nervous Before a Dinner Party

Oct 1, 2026 1 hr 4 min

Yotam Ottolenghi’s new cookbook, Simple Too, makes weeknight dinners even easier than the original book did. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Yotam admits that he feels pressure to host the perfect dinner party, and so he’s set himself a few rules to cut down the stress of entertaining. He walks us through the whole menu he's preparing for guests tonight, and also shares his favorite no-fuss techniques for cooking vegetables, the shortcuts and simple recipes he relies on on busy weeknights, and a peek behind the scenes of the Ottolenghi test kitchen. Get the recipes on The Dinner Plan.Substack.com ➡️ Check out today’s sponsors:Find Just Date at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger or online at enjoyjustdate.com.Une Femme Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN at unefemmewines.com for 20% off. Must be 21+Find the CookShelf app on iOS and Android, and use code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first year.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Dirty Labs: Use code DINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Bradley’s Soup Season Tips

Sep 28, 2026 52 min

Two-time Top Chef finalist Sara Bradley loves to play with soup recipes, and in this episode of The Dinner Plan, she shares her favorite ways to dress up squash soup, tomato soup, corn soup, and cantaloupe soup. (Yes, cantaloupe soup.) Sara also shares the story of her famed cornbread salad, the flavor-boosting ingredients that she reaches for most, and the easy dinner she makes when she really needs to clean out the fridge and keep her family happy. Sara’s Book: The Kitchen I Came Home ToRECIPES OF THE WEEK:Get Sara’s Cornbread Salad and Pimento Cheese Waffles on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com Check out this week’s sponsors:Cangshan Cutlery: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15 percent off a purchase of $100 or more until Dec 31, 2026 at CangshanCutlery.com.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.MaraBela: Find Marabela Alcohol-Free Sparkling Tea at MaraBelaTea.comNordic Ware: Use code DINNER10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase at Nordicware.com. (Nordic Ware note: Excludes Sale items. Offer can not be combined with other promo codes, and only one promo code may be used per customer. The offer is valid for U.S. online purchases only. This promotion is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and not valid on prior purchases, special orders, or taxes. Discount is valid until 11:59 PM CST on December 31st, 2026.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meherwan Irani’s No. 1 Best Indian Cooking Tips in the World

Sep 24, 2026 1 hr 0 min

As a teenager, Meherwan Irani would sneak out to eat street food against his mother’s wishes. These days the chef of Chai Pani and Boti Walla shares the flavors of his childhood in India with guests at his restaurants, and cooks at home through the pages of his new cookbook, No. 1 Best Indian Cookbook in the World: At-Home Recipes from the Streets, Truck Stops, Villages, and Palaces of India. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Meherwan shares his current cooking obsession; the key lessons home cooks can learn from street vendors; the best way to julienne okra, carrots, or ginger; and how to make better saag paneer for dinner tonight. Get Meherwan’s tandoori salmon recipe on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com ➡️ Check out this week’s sponsors:MaraBela: Find Marabela Alcohol-Free Sparkling Tea at MaraBelaTea.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nik Sharma Breaks Down the Science Behind His Best Cooking Tricks

Sep 21, 2026 36 min

Nik Sharma wants home cooks to better understand food science; in this episode of The Dinner Plan, he shares some of the best cooking tips from his new book, Fundamentals of Flavor: 100 Recipes for the Science of Better Cooking, and why they work. If you’ve ever struggled with dry pork tenderloin, you’ll want to listen in before you try to make that quick dinner staple again. Hear about Nik’s favorite flavor-boosting pantry essentials, his favorite fall dinners, and the one ingredient he could have named this book after, too. RECIPES OF THE WEEK:Get Nik’s recipes for Caramelized Shallot Dip and Seared Gnocchi with Chili Garlic Shrimp at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY:To win Earlywood kitchen utensils, a Cuisinart countertop oven, a Hestan roasting pan, and so many cookbooks, enter by Wednesday, September 23, 2026 CHECK OUT THESE SPONSORS:Staub: Find iconic Staub Dutch ovens now at Staub.comDirty Labs: Use code DINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comEquator Coffees: Use code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first order at EquatorCoffees.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Kishwar Chowdhury’s Smoke, Rice, Water: Recipes and Stories from a Bengali Home at Amazon, Bookshop, or wherever you buy books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swanky, Low-Stress Entertaining With Cortney LaCorte

Sep 17, 2026 48 min

Cortney LaCorte—also known as Cheese Gal—joins The Dinner Plan this week to share her best advice on how to make a cheese plate and all the ways she makes entertaining more relaxed. That includes tips on what to cook for a dinner party, the most important thing you can do for a dinner party guest, and the cleaning detail you really can skip. What to make with Boursin? Cortney's all over that. On this episode, she also shares snack ideas for TV nights on the couch, memories of her mother's dinner parties, and her favorite recipe for a quick dinner you can make with grocery store fried chicken. 🍽️ Get Cortney's cookbook recs and recipe on our newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com 🍽️LAST CHANCE to enter our September giveaway ➡️___ Check out this week's sponsors: Massican Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Massican.com. Must be 21+McEvoy Ranch: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at McEvoyranch.comCheesy by Farideh Sadeghin is available wherever you buy books.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Olivia Tiedemann, Rich People Food Comes Down to the Right Moves

Sep 14, 2026 44 min

Olivia Tiedemann will be the first to tell you that working as a private chef isn't easy. You've gotta know what each guest likes and doesn't like, all the dietary restrictions, "who doesn't eat anchovies, who doesn't eat onions, who doesn't eat dairy. And there's 12 of them, and they're all there at one time," Olivia says. "How am I going to contort this same entree seven different ways?" But ultimately, she loves cooking for her clients, and shares everything she's learned in her new cookbook, Eat (Like) The Rich. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Olivia talks with host Maggie Hoffman about what really matters in a great meal. Expensive lobster and steak is nice, but the difference all comes down to cooking technique. She walks us through a few favorite dinner recipes from the cookbook, the right way to sear a piece of fish, the way she thinks about creating a new dish for a dinner party, and reveals the popular ingredient she actually hates. 🍳 ENTER THE GIVEAWAY and get Olivia Tiedemann's Parsnip Gnocchi recipe on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com 🍳 ___ Check out this week's sponsors: Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Une Femme Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN at unefemmewines.com for 20% off. Must be 21+ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pati Jinich Cooks the Bold Flavors of the Mexican Border

Sep 10, 2026 51 min

You may know Pati Jinich from her long-running series, Pati’s Mexican Table, or her previous cookbooks, but this fall you’ll be seeing a lot more of her, including her new docuseries, Panamericana, and her new cookbook, Foods of La Frontera. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Pati chats with host Maggie Hoffman about the surprising dishes she tried while traveling along the Mexican-American border, and the way her time on the road has changed how she cooks at home. Pati shares favorite Mexican recipes from a wide range of border regions: lobster burritos, vegetarian pozole, surprising salsas, and easy tacos recipes you’ll want to cook this week. 🌶️ ENTER THE GIVEAWAY and Get Pati Jinich's chipotle chicken taco recipe on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com 🌶️ ____ Check out this week's sponsors: Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Listen to Food Friends on Apple podcasts or any podcast listening app. More Mexican cooking episodes you might like: Rick Martinez’s new salsa book will transform your weeknight cookingClaudette Zepeda’s Secret Ingredients for Bigger, Bolder FlavorCrispy Zucchini Tacos With Andrea Aliseda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carla Lalli Makes Dinner the Best Part of a Bad Day

Sep 7, 2026 1 hr 0 min

When Carla Lalli separated from her ex and moved part-time into a sublet after decades of marriage, the first thing she did was make dinner. “I cooked because it gives me a sense of comfort,” Carla says in this week’s episode of The Dinner Plan. “It makes me feel like I’m in power, and it’s soothing, and it is a way to shut off other noise.” Carla shares the meals she made as she got in touch with her own cravings again and what freedom and flexibility she found cooking for one or cooking for two instead of four, and also gets into what she thinks a cookbook written by a human can offer in the age of AI. Carla’s new cookbook, Food Is a Feeling, is the rare cookbook that doesn’t start from the assumption that “every day is happy and perfect.” Instead, she says, “actually sometimes it's a really bad day, and that the best thing in your day might be this great thing that you make for dinner.” 📚📚📚 Get Carla's cookbook recommendations + the recipe for Carla's Chovy-Forward Fazool on our newsletter: TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com __________ Check out this week's sponsors: Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com.Michele's Granola: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off your order at MichelesGranola.comRow 7: Get 10% off Row 7’s chef-prepared tinned vegetables using code DINNERPLAN10 at Row7Seeds.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The High-Protein Vegetarian Dinners Grace Elkus Makes on Repeat

Aug 31, 2026 49 min

The high-protein vegetarian recipes in Grace Elkus's new cookbook, Protein-Packed Vegetarian, are exactly the kind of dinners I crave, packed with flavor and easy to make, even on a busy weeknight. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, I talk to Grace about her must-have kitchen gear, how to cook tofu so it actually gets crispy, and what to do if you just haven't come around to the idea of cottage cheese. I've been making the easy dinners from Grace's book over and over already, and I think you'll love them too. Get Grace's recipes for sheet-pan veggie parm and unstuffed eggplant parmesan shells on our newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com _____ Check out today's sponsors: MaraBela: Find Marabela Alcohol-Free Sparkling Tea at MaraBelaTea.comTrimona Yogurt: Find Trimona's A2A2 Bulgarian-style yogurt at TrimonaFoods.com and stores near you. Michele's Granola: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off your order at MichelesGranola.comDirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.com.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh Thai Cooking With Pim Techamuanvivit

Aug 24, 2026 53 min

I've been looking forward to chef Pim Techamuanvivit's Thai cookbook for years. It's an essential guide to cooking Thai food, including fresh curry pastes, grilled dishes, curries, soups, and laab. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, I talk to Pim about how she learned all the Thai recipes she'd missed from home, why it matters that you seek out Thai ingredients to cook these recipes, and everything she'd put on a September dinner party menu, whether the guests eat meat or are vegetarian. You'll hear about Pim's favorite cookbooks and her advice for dealing with cooking burnout, too. Get Pim's recipe for Kin Khao's chicken wings on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ___ Check out this week's sponsors: Thaan Charcoal: Get a free starter kit including Thai-style charcoal, fan, and fire starters with the Thaan Grill when you use code DINNERPLAN at thaancharcoal.com/dinnerplanListen to Food Friends on Apple podcasts or any podcast listening app.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grocery Prices Are Wild. The 99% Cooking Club Can Help.

Aug 20, 2026 54 min

Steel Russell started The 99% Cooking Club after walking out of the grocery store with a single bag of food that cost $150. He focuses on tips for making easy, cheap meals taste complex and flavorful, and shares recipes for family dinners that stretch your grocery budget. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, we talk through the best budget-friendly ingredients to buy right now, and how to think about meal planning when you're trying to save money. We’re all in this together, Steel reminds us. "I wanted to be able to show people how to make good food for cheap, but I also wanted to find a way to give people a place that they can come to and not feel isolated," he says. "I think we need to be reminded that, you know, my neighbor is going through the same thing I'm going through right now. On the other side of my house, they're going through the same thing I’m going through right now, but we don’t talk about it." Steel gets into the backstory that inspires this work. Trigger warning: addiction. ___ Check out this week’s sponsors: Find Ajinomoto at your local grocery store, and stocked in bulk at your nearest Costco.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.MaraBela: Find Marabela Alcohol-Free Sparkling Tea at MaraBelaTea.comStraus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex MacLaren’s 10-Day Grocery Strategy

Aug 17, 2026 44 min

When you ask cookbook author Alex MacLaren how to save money on groceries, her answer is simple: don't go to the store for as long as possible. The author of We Use What We Have is known for making family dinners on a budget, thanks to smart substitutions and a lot of flexibility. Sometimes, you just gotta let things run out. In this episode, Alex explains why she doesn't think about meal plans until after she's already shopped, how she gets her kids to eat leftovers even when they claim to hate leftovers, and how she stretches a small amount of meat into a full meal. If back-to-school dinners are feeling overwhelming for you right now, you'll want to listen for Alex's easy dinner ideas and practical advice for cooking for kids. Get Alex MacLaren's recipe for honey garlic slow-cooker ribs on our newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com ➡️ ____ Discounts for you from this week's sponsors: Dirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.com.Michele's Granola: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off your order at MichelesGranola.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find CookShelf on iOS and Android, and use the code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pierce Abernathy’s Peak Summer Dinners

Aug 13, 2026 44 min

Pierce Abernathy is my go-to source for summer vegetable inspiration, and he's exactly the recipe developer I turn to when I want to make the most of summer corn and tomatoes in every dinner I cook before the season ends. But Pierce's new cookbook, Every Leaf, Every Stem, goes beyond the pretty produce that gets all the attention and aims to help you fall in love with celeriac and rutabaga, mushrooms and squash. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, we talk about the best way to cook corn, Pierce's dream low-stress end of summer dinner party menu, and the way he'd meal plan for a week of eating more vegetables every day. Get Pierce's recipe for the ultimate tomato toast with corn compound butter on The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. _____ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Find CookShelf on iOS and Android, and use the code DINNERPLAN for 25% off your first year.Dirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.com.Massican Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Massican.com. Must be 21+Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caroline Chambers Needs Even Quicker Dinners Now

Aug 10, 2026 59 min

Caroline Chambers knows how to make easy dinners easier, and the mother of four needs quick weeknight recipes now more than ever. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Caroline shares a bit of her behind-the-scenes chaos and her strategy for meal prep that won’t leave you bored. She says everything that’s going on has made her an even better recipe developer, because her mindset is "if you’re putting any effort into it, it better freaking be good! Or else just get pizza!" Caroline's new book, What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast, is full of quick dinner ideas that you can fit into busy back-to-school season. Get a preview recipe over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com.Row 7: Get 10% off Row 7’s chef-prepared tinned vegetables using code DINNERPLAN10 at Row7Seeds.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Massican Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at Massican.com. Must be 21+ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Omi Hopper Cooked Through the Hardest Year of Her Life to Get Here

Aug 3, 2026 45 min

Next Level Chef contestant Omi Hopper has published a new cookbook full of essential Puerto Rican recipes—the ones that feel like a welcome home to the folks who follow her on Instagram and TikTok. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, she shares her story. She was working as a makeup artist when her husband was laid off; she worried about how they'd pay for groceries. Find out how she ended up cooking on TV and writing her own cookbook, Cooking con Omi, plus learn what she cooks for parties and how she stays creative in the kitchen. For Omi's recipe for stewed beans, head to our newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Une Femme Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN for 20% off at UneFemmeWines.com. Must be 21+Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Check out Food Friends on Substack, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Serena Wolf’s Easy Summer Dinner Ideas

Jul 27, 2026 57 min

Serena Wolf hosts a big pool party every year, and in this episode of The Dinner Plan, she's sharing her go-to bbq menu and the mac and cheese trick that always impresses her guests. Her new book, You Do You, is full of easy dinner recipes, all including advice on simple ingredient swaps. She offers meal planning advice that's really helpful, too. Quick summer dinners shouldn't be stressful, and Serena's tips will make you feel more confident in the kitchen, whether you're hosting a dinner party with friends or figuring out what to make with melon or nectarines for dinner at home tonight. Get recipes and cookbook links from Serena on The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com ➡️ __________ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Find Ajinomoto at your local grocery store, and stocked in bulk at your nearest Costco.Une Femme Wines: Use code DINNERPLAN at unefemmewines.com for 20% off. Must be 21+Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream: Find Bubbies at Sprouts, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Albertsons, and other grocers nationwide.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recipes for College Cooks and First Apartments from Claire Thomson

Jul 20, 2026 48 min

Getting your kid ready to go to college includes a lot of tangible stuff, like dorm setup. But they might also be cooking dinner for the very first time in their first apartment or a university-housing kitchen, and chef Claire Thomson has all the advice they need for that. Her new book, Dear Grace, is full of quick dinner recipes and meal planning advice for new cooks, including ways to cook on a budget—even when you're feeding friends after a night out. In this episode, Claire shares some of the most important cooking advice she'd give to first-time cook: how to make the most of cheap pantry staples, how to lean on your freezer for dinner ideas, and the most important part of meal planning: how to adjust a batch-cooked meal to eat other versions throughout the week. Get Claire's recipes for Creamy Tomato Pasta With Sausage and her Roast Sweet Potatoes With Black Beans and Spiced Pumpkin Seeds at our weekly newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. While you're there, enter The Dinner Plan's Big Summer Giveaway by July 29, 2026. _____ Thanks to today's sponsors: Trimona Yogurt: Find Trimona's A2A2 Bulgarian-style yogurt at TrimonaFoods.com and stores near you. McEvoy Ranch: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at McEvoyranch.comBubbies Mochi Ice Cream: Find Bubbies at Sprouts, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Albertsons, and other grocers nationwide.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuscan Summer Cooking: Giulia Scarpaleggia’s Vegetable Playbook

Jul 13, 2026 49 min

This episode highlights so many Italian vegetable recipes: ideas for cooking eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and all the other produce that's at its peak right now. Your expert guide: Tuscan cooking teacher and cookbook author Giulia Scarpaleggia, whose most recent book is Vegetables the Italian Way. Tune in to learn why you should salt your eggplant even though modern versions aren't as bitter, what to make with tomatoes that aren't fantastic, and the most important steps to making pesto. Recipes and links, plus our big summer giveaway: TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com –––––– Thanks to this week's sponsors: Find Massican Wines at your local wine shop or Massican.com (21+ only)Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relaxed Summer Entertaining With Mélanie Masarin

Jul 6, 2026 41 min

Mélanie Masarin wants you to feel less stressed out about hosting. She says that her rule with friends is: “If I’m home, you can come over.” Her pantry is stocked with tinned fish and olives, and other little snacks to serve—but her ideal setup for a dinner party is prep-ahead recipes like ratatouille that can be served at room temperature. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Mélanie shares a behind-the-scenes look at her new cookbook, Riviera, and her advice for making homemade aioli to eat with crunchy vegetables. This episode is full of seasonal recipes that are more about assembly than actual cooking. Get the aioli recipe and the ratatouille recipe on this week's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ______ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Row 7: Get 10% off Row 7’s chef-prepared tinned vegetables using code DINNERPLAN10 at Row7Seeds.comFind Lido: Recipes and Stories from Italy’s Beach Clubs wherever you buy books.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Listen to Bitefully with Claudia Sandoval on your favorite podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

King Arthur Baking’s Secrets for Better Pizza at Home

Jun 29, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Want to make better pizza at home but not sure how to start? Today's guest, David Tamarkin of King Arthur Baking Co., is the co-author of The Book of Pizza. This episode of The Dinner Plan podcast is packed with advice, sharing how to hack your oven for better pizza crust, how to choose toppings depending on the style of pizza you're making, and how to fit pizza-making into a weekday schedule. Why is your pizza soggy? David has the answer to that, too. Get the recipe for King Arthur's Weeknight Detroit Pizza at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com. Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Need another pizza book for your collection? Tara Jensen's Pizza Practice is available on Amazon, Bookshop, or wherever you buy books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going Camping? Here’s What to Cook

Jun 25, 2026 49 min

Camping food doesn't have to mean freeze-dried meals you reconstitute with water. On this week's episode of The Dinner Plan, Emma Frisch, the author of Feast by Firelight, shares cooking inspiration for your next outdoor adventure, and tips for camping trip meal planning, the best way to pack your cooler, and thinking ahead so you don't end up cooking dinner in the dark. Get Emma's pork chop and corn salsa recipe this week at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ______ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream: Find Bubbies at Sprouts, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Albertsons, and other grocers nationwide.Trimona Yogurt: Find Trimona's A2A2 Bulgarian-style yogurt at TrimonaFoods.com and stores near you. LaBelle Patrimoine: Find LaBelle Patrimoine spatchcocked chickens in select Whole Foods Markets now. Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Easy Meal Prep, the Japanese Way

Jun 22, 2026 57 min

A traditional Japanese meal highlights a range of flavors and cooking methods, but that doesn't have to mean a ton of weeknight cooking. The key, according to cookbook authors Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat, is a common version of meal prep that's highlighted in their new book, Japanese Comfort Cooking. So many sozai—those side dishes that go with your rice—can be made in advance to serve over the course of a few days. In this conversation, Tadashi and Harris share a few favorite recipes that work especially well for meal prep, as well as a handful of quick Japanese recipes that they recommend you add to your meal-planning repertoire. Get their cookbook recommendation links and a preview of the book over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ––––––– Thanks to this week's sponsor: Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer on cookware and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best Cookbooks of 2026 (So Far) With Matt Rodbard

Jun 17, 2026 50 min

It's early to name the best cookbooks of 2026, but spring was so impressive and jam-packed that The Dinner Plan team joined up with Matt Rodbard of This Is TASTE, another favorite food podcast, to produce this special episode highlighting the best cookbooks from the first half of the year, along with a preview of some of the really exciting new cookbooks that will be published this fall. Get links to the cookbooks mentioned here, plus a special limited-time discount on paid subscriptions to The Dinner Plan at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ______ Thanks to this week's sponsors: McEvoy Ranch: Use code DINNERPLAN for 10% off at McEvoyranch.comBubbies Mochi Ice Cream: Find Bubbies at Sprouts, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Albertsons, and other grocers nationwide.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Salads for Every Season With Alexandra Stacey of French Family Food

Jun 15, 2026 50 min

You've probably seen Alexandra Stacey's Instagram account, @frenchfamilyfood, but now she has a whole cookbook of salad recipes that make the most of whatever produce is in season. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, host Maggie Hoffman talks with Alexandra about the French salads Alex grew up with, the way she devises new dressings for different types of salads, and the worst salad she ever had. When it's too warm out to turn on the stove to make hot food, this new cookbook is going to be your go-to for meal planning. TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com: recipes + a chance to win Salads for All Seasons ___ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream: Find Bubbies at Sprouts, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Albertsons, and other grocers nationwide.Made In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.TCHO Chocolate: If you’re a chef, baker, or maker in the sweets business, request a chocolate sample at TCHOpro.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgina Hayden’s Best Tricks for Modern Mediterranean Cooking

Jun 8, 2026 45 min

Georgina Hayden has written cookbooks that highlight traditional Mediterranean recipes, but her latest, MEDesque, is a little looser, full of weeknight dinner ideas inspired by various ingredients and dishes that are beloved in the region. "I've interviewed priests and grannies" about traditional Greek and Cypriot cooking, Georgina says, "But with this one, I've just had a bit more fun and been a bit playful with it." In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Georgina explains how she simplifies Greek classics like spanakopita and moussaka, offers advice for cooking and meal planning when you're feeling burnout, and shares all the pantry staples she's added to her kitchen to get flavorful food on the table easily. To get Georgina's antipasti pasta salad recipe and links to the cookbooks she recommends, check us out over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to this week's sponsors: TCHO Chocolate: If you’re a chef, baker, or maker in the sweets business, request a chocolate sample at TCHOpro.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claudette Zepeda’s Secret Ingredients for Bigger, Bolder Flavor

Jun 1, 2026 42 min

If you looked in chef Claudette Zepeda's fridge, you’ll likely find the sauce she needs to turn a Costco rotisserie chicken into quick weeknight enchiladas for her kids, but there are a few more key flavor boosters, which she tells us all about in this episode of The Dinner Plan. Claudette shares some of the techniques and iconic Mexican dishes highlighted in her new cookbook, Cooking the Borderlands, plus the story of her attempt to recreate the original Caesar salad to the exacting requirements of the family that owns Caesar's Restaurant in Tijuana, where the dish originated. This episode is a must-listen for lovers of Mexican food. Head over to TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com for a free recipe preview and a chance to win a copy of the cookbook. ___ Thanks to this week’s sponsors: TCHO Chocolate: If you’re a chef, baker, or maker in the sweets business, request a chocolate sample at TCHOpro.comMade In Cookware: Visit madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Straus Family Creamery: Find Straus organic ice cream at Whole Foods nationwide or at strausfamilycreamery.com. Masienda: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off ingredients and cookware at Masienda.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Move Your Meal Prep to the Grill With Noah Galuten

May 23, 2026 53 min

Meal prep is much easier when you're grilling, and Noah Galuten's new cookbook, Grill Time!, will inspire you way beyond boring containers of plain grilled chicken. Noah offers fun ways to season grilled vegetables, smart salad inspiration, and the trick for turkey burgers that never dry out (and don't fall apart either). In this conversation with The Dinner Plan host Maggie Hoffman, Noah shares lots of advice, including how to grill sausages without making them burst, how to grill chicken breast that's evenly cooked, and how to think about grilling over the weekend for easy weeknight meals in the days ahead. If you've been feeling meal planning burnout, this episode will help you get inspired. Get two free recipes from the book (and a chance to win a copy of Grill Time!) over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to today's sponsors: Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find The Flavor of Fire from Chronicle Books wherever you buy cookbooks. Tastemade Cooking: Go to tastemade.com/dinnerplan and use promo code DINNERPLAN for 40% off an annual membership. Be sure to redeem promo code online before downloading the app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What It’s Actually Like at America’s Top Culinary School, With Brigid Washington

May 18, 2026 52 min

If you’ve been watching Next Gen Chef on Netflix, you’re probably curious about what it's really like to go to school at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Brigid Washington’s new memoir, Salt, Sweat & Steam, is set at the same culinary school as the Netflix show. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Brigid recounts her kitchen triumphs and failures—and what she learned from things not always going right. For an easy dinner recipe from Brigid, head to this week’s newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. _____ Thanks to today's sponsors: Rouxbe Online Culinary School: Get 30% off your first course with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com/dinnerplanDirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Chef Hillary Sterling Found Her Kitchen Spark Again

May 11, 2026 49 min

In her new cookbook, Ammazza!, chef Hillary Sterling writes that “a scathing NewYork Times review left me with so much self-doubt that I stopped creating new dishes for fear of judgment and failure.” In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Hillary talks with host Maggie Hoffman about how she lost her confidence and creative drive in the kitchen, and how she found her cooking creativity again. If you’ve ever struggled to come up with dinner ideas night after night, this episode is for you; Hillary shares her go-to easy spring dinners, her favorite cookbooks from a vast collection, and her no-boredom family-friendly meal prep method. For pasta recipes from Hillary and a chance to win the book, head over to The Dinner Plan’s newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. __ Thanks to today's sponsors: Rouxbe Online Culinary School: Get 30% off your first course with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com/dinnerplanMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.TCHO Chocolate: If you’re a chef, baker, or maker in the sweets business, request a chocolate sample at TCHOpro.comFind Cake Picnic from Chronicle Books wherever you buy cookbooks.Society Insurance: Find your agent at SocietyInsurance.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Özlem Warren’s Weeknight Shortcuts for Turkish Classics

May 8, 2026 41 min

If you love Turkish food, you probably already know about cookbook author Özlem Warren. Her newest book, Istanbul, offers a chance to taste the kinds of dishes you'd find in different sorts of eateries around the city. “One of the reasons that I wrote Istanbul was the fact that, it really is not just kebabs and this and that, that you might just see superficially, perhaps in a touristy areas. You really need to dig deep. Go to different neighborhoods to check out delicious regional specialties.” In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Özlem shares her weeknight shortcuts for Turkish recipes, and paints a picture of her favorite dishes from Istanbul's grilling restaurants, all-day cafés, and more. If you've been wanting to add some Turkish recipes to your repertoire, this new book is a great place to start. Get a preview over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com—and enter our spring giveaway by May 13. ___ Thanks to today's sponsors: Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Not from Concentrate wherever you listen to podcasts and at CatherineSmart.Substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Anna Stockwell Makes Hosting a Whole Weekend Feel Like No Big Deal

May 4, 2026 48 min

Anna Stockwell literally wrote the book on how to host dinner parties—it's called For the Table and it's great. So it's no surprise that she has great hosting advice to share in this episode of The Dinner Plan, including how to juggle a full weekend of meals when you have houseguests visiting. She also shares tips for enhancing easy dinners, simple desserts, and evenings with friends with one key ingredient: butter. In the process of writing The Butter Book, Anna learned tons of butter history, plus which brand of butter is worth the price (and how to get the most out of it), tips on how to make browned butter (don't use that cast-iron skillet!), how to make molded butter shapes, butter boards, and butter mountains for a party, and how to make the world's best buttered pasta for kids or adults. Get the recipe on this week's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. And don't forget to enter our big spring giveaway! ___ Thanks to today's sponsors: Dirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Not from Concentrate wherever you listen to podcasts and at CatherineSmart.Substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Alana Kysar Swaps Pork for Produce in Hawaii’s Favorite Dishes

Apr 27, 2026 43 min

Alana Kysar has always needed to be flexible in the kitchen: In Hawaii, most ingredients are shipped from thousands of miles away, and sometimes you simply can't get what you were hoping for. But her new book, Aloha Veggies, goes even further, celebrating Hawaiian flavors but without ahi, shrimp, spam, or beef. In the 100th episode of The Dinner Plan podcast, Alana shares how she figured out vegetarian versions of her favorite Hawaiian foods—and the dish that finally convinced her skeptical mother that the project was a good idea. Get a preview with two of Alana's recipes on this week's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to today's sponsors: Dirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29-Minute Dinner Shortcuts From Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Apr 23, 2026 42 min

Isa Chandra Moskowitz has been writing about vegan cooking for decades now, and so many vegans and vegetarians have learned to cook and bake from her many cookbooks. In this week's episode of The Dinner Plan, Isa shares a peek into her new book, which focuses on truly quick vegan dinners—meatless and dairy-free weeknight dinner ideas that work even when you only have 30 minutes. Isa explains how to choose a plant based protein, how to make the ultimate hearty vegan sandwich, and all the ways she's learned to speed things up in the kitchen over the course of her research and recipe development for this cookbook. For a peek at The 29-Minute Vegan including two free recipes, head to TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ___ Thanks to today's sponsors: Rouxbe Online Culinary School: Get 30% off your first course with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com/dinnerplanDirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Trinity Mouzon Wofford Makes Weeknights Easy, Without a Meal Plan

Apr 20, 2026 54 min

Trinity Mouzon Wofford doesn’t want to be locked into meal planning. Her advice: get into the routine of putting together a base layer of component cooking, transforming raw ingredients into something that's easily assembled into a salad, a soup, a rice bowl, or a pasta. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Trinity urges home cooks to relax into the process of doing some things by hand on a slow day, so our quicker meals can build on that foundation. What kinds of dinners does she assemble? Trinity answers that, and shares her go-to summer entertaining menu, her method for cooking more flavorful beans, and the best soup she's ever had in her life. Get the free recipe of the week—Trinity’s easy broccoli pasta recipe from Eating At Home—on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ___ Thanks to today's sponsors: Dirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Tanya Bush’s Will This Make You Happy wherever you buy cookbooks.Watch I Changed My Mind with Dan Souza of America's Test Kitchen on Netflix or listen on your favorite podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Use Up That Vegetable Box With Joe Woodhouse

Apr 13, 2026 55 min

If you get a weekly vegetable box or CSA box—or you just go a bit wild buying vegetables at the market—this episode of The Dinner Plan is for you. Host Maggie Hoffman interviews Joe Woodhouse, the author of Weeknight Vegetarian, a cookbook that's full of appealing vegetable recipes. In this conversation, Joe shares his weekend meal prep routine for getting vegetarian dinners on the table throughout the week, his must-have condiments and sauces, and tips for avoiding wasting food, as well as cookbook favorites and rethinking how making dinner feels. Get two recipes from Weeknight Vegetarian at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com, plus a chance to win a copy of the book for your kitchen. — Thanks to today's sponsors: Rouxbe Online Culinary School: Get 30% off your first course with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com/dinnerplanDirty Labs: Use code THEDINNERPLAN to get 15% off your first order at DirtyLabs.comMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Watch I Changed My Mind with Dan Souza of America's Test Kitchen on Netflix or listen wherever you get podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hands-Off Moroccan Recipes With Nargisse Benkabbou

Apr 9, 2026 42 min

London-based chef Nargisse Benkabbou has contributed a lot of quick weeknight recipes to NYT Cooking, but in this conversation with The Dinner Plan's host Maggie Hoffman, the author of Madaq shares her preference for big batch dinners that cook low and slow. These hands-off meals don't require more prep time, but the flavors deepen in the oven or on the stove, and each dish can be used multiple ways throughout the week. Nargisse shares her perspective on meal planning, her most treasured condiments and marinades, and the links she'd send a friend looking for dinner ideas. Get two modern Moroccan recipes from Nargisse Benkabbou in The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to today's sponsors: Find Soomaaliya by Ifrah F. Ahmed wherever you buy books.Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Tune into The Joy of Cooking Podcast wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tacos, Tostadas, and Tamales at Home With Jorge Gaviria and Fermín Núñez

Apr 6, 2026 43 min

Jorge Gaviria and Fermín Núñez's new book, Vitamina T, highlights recipes for homemade versions of beloved Mexican street foods like tortas, tamales, tacos, and more. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Jorge and Fermín share stories behind their favorite recipes—and their tricks for making even your simplest, easiest dinners at home more delicious. They also offer advice for using up everything in your fridge and avoiding food waste. Peek at some recipes from the cookbook (and get a chance to win a copy) over at The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ____ Thanks to today's partners: Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Get tickets for Cookbook Week at CookbookWeek.com.Tune into The Joy of Cooking Podcast wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Sheldon Simeon’s Potluck Rules

Mar 30, 2026 38 min

Top Chef alum Sheldon Simeon has a new cookbook out, called Ohana Style, that's all about cooking family dinners. But sometimes feeding your people is a bigger affair, and Sheldon has opinions about the best things to bring to a potluck. On this episode of The Dinner Plan podcast, Sheldon Simeon chats with host Maggie Hoffman and shares his strategy for potluck leftovers, his advice for prepping food for hot weather gatherings, and a few cookbooks he turns to for inspiration. Get Sheldon's shoyu chicken recipe and a chance to win the book on this week's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ___ Thanks to today's sponsors: Tastemade Cooking: Use code DINNERPLAN for 40% off an annual membership at Tastemade.com/dinnerplanMade In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Find Brami protein pasta at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, or EnjoyBrami.comSociety Insurance: Find your local agent at SocietyInsurance.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reilly Meehan Shares What Private Chefs Really Cook

Mar 26, 2026 43 min

Reilly Meehan really knows his stuff in the kitchen, which means his private chef videos on social media are especially compelling. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Reilly shares his path from the competition cooking circuit to the life of a private chef cooking dinners for clients, what he actually cooks for their weeknight dinners, and insights on how you can add a little flourish to your daily meals. He has lots of advice for what to cook using pantry staples like quinoa, beans, and farro, tips on getting more flavor into your easy dinners, and advice for meal planning during a busy week, plus a favorite high-protein dinner. Reilly's new book, A Little Bit Extra, offers lots of fun cooking techniques that'll come in handy at your next dinner party. Get a recipe preview at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com. ___ Thanks to today's sponsors: Rouxbe Online Culinary School: Get 30% off your first course with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com/dinnerplanFind Brami protein pasta at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, or EnjoyBrami.comFind Stone & Skillet English Muffins in the bakery section at Publix, or other retailers nationwide.Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Tastemade Cooking: Use code DINNERPLAN for 40% off an annual membership at Tastemade.com/dinnerplan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn to Love Leftovers With Christine Flynn

Mar 23, 2026 46 min

Chef Christine Flynn has cooked in restaurants in Nantucket, Toronto, and Beaune, but these days, she's trying to feed a family great food on a budget. Her new book, Easy Does It, offers chef-inflected weeknight dinners, impressive sides, salads, and sauces. It's also particularly smart about leftovers. "I think when people get leftover fatigue," Christine says, that's because they're simply reheating last night's dinner. "And, you know, nobody wants to eat the same thing like five times in a row. No, thank you. But I think the cool thing about leftovers," she notes, "is if you sort of reimagine them, sometimes the leftovers are better than the original dish." Learn how Christine thinks about meal planning and avoiding waste in this week's interview, and head over to The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com for a peek at one of Christine's new recipes that's really great in a taco the next day. ____ Thanks to this week's sponsors: Tastemade Cooking: Go to tastemade.com/dinnerplan and use promo code DINNERPLAN for 40% off an annual membership. Be sure to redeem promo code online before downloading the app.Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.Nice Cans: Get 20% off Nice Cans sardines by using code DINNERPLAN20 at JustNiceCans.comFind The Joy of Cooking podcast wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Podcast details

Created by: Maggie Hoffman
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 9, 2026
Episodes: 142
Release period: Several times a week
Avg. episode length: 50 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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