If you’re stewing about what to serve your dinner guests this month, consider centering the meal around a hearty soup, stew, or chili. Most of our recipes for these “comfort foods” come together quicker than you might imagine. What’s more, you can make them ahead of time and then simply heat them up before serving, so you’ll get to spend more time with your guests. Here are a few great recipe ideas, plus some perfect pairings chosen by our My Food and Family Experts.

Don’t Stew about Timing

Traditional beef stew takes over an hour to prepare, but our Quick & Creamy Chicken Stew comes together in less than half that amount of time. Our time-saving trick? We use a microwave to quick-cook the potatoes before adding them to the stew.

Think Outside of the Crock

If you like chili, try our fun twist on this spicy dish: Chipotle-Quinoa Chili. Every bowlful is loaded with traditional chili ingredients—including onions, beans, corn, tomatoes, chili seasonings, and KRAFT Shredded Three Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA.

Serve a “Side” of Soup

If you’re making a more traditional dinner, consider replacing that side of steamed broccoli with our No Cream Creamy Broccoli Soup. In addition to the usual florets, it’s loaded with carrots, celery, and onions for extra flavor and nutrients. And it gets its creaminess from milk and KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, so it’s lower in fat than the traditional cream-based version.

Mix Things Up

Homemade muffins pair well with soups, stews, and chilis. Starting with a boxed cornbread mix makes our Cheesy Chili-Cornbread Muffins quick and easy to make. Simply add green chiles and KRAFT 2% Milk cheese for an extra flavor kick. Short on time? Break out crunchy whole grain crackers. They come in a variety of flavors to complement any type of soup perfectly.

Toss Together a Special Salad

In about 10 minutes, you can serve up a leafy side dish that will win rave reviews. Our Mixed Greens & Pear Salad—topped with cinnamon-coated pecans, dried cranberries, pears, and KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese—resembles the chef’s “signature salad” found on many restaurant menus today.