Weeknights can be tough dinner nights. Weeknights when you try to squeeze the gym in after work? Even tougher. 

We are talking Italian cuisine all week, here at The Kitchn, but we admit that it's been a little pasta-heavy so far. So let's turn our attention to the other two starchy dishes that Italians have perfected, and that we love exceedingly: Polenta and risotto. More

During September we are focusing on Quick Weeknight Meals, ways to nourish yourself and others during the busy autumn season. But we're also breaking that down into a few favorite regions of cuisine, starting with that of Italy. We'll be talking Italian food and quick, easy meals of pasta and other Italian-inspired dishes all week long! So, to kick it off, tell us: What's your favorite pasta recipe? More

Looking for a quick yet elegant dinner recipe for the weekend? Why not try fish? Or scallops? Here's a look back at the quick seafood recipes from last month's Quick Weeknight Meals contest. There's a dozen recipes here: salmon three ways, seared scallops, and more. More

Pasta! Where would quick weeknight meals be without pasta? Here, in a tribute to pasta's marvelous qualities as a comforting, delicious supper, are all the Quick Weeknight Meals entries that included it, somehow. There are 15 of them! More

Chicken is such an easy, quick addition to a meal. Well-raised chicken can be had for not very much money, and a little chicken adds a lot of healthy protein to a weeknight dinner. So we weren't surprised that quite a few of our entries from the Quick Weeknight Meals contest included chicken! Here's a look back at some great chicken recipes, including a spicy noodle salad, a pasta with olives and tomatoes, and three different versions of chicken wrapped in prosciutto (or bacon)! More

Eggs are inexpensive, delicious, and quick to prepare. So we weren't surprised that there was quite a clutch of recipes from the Quick Weeknight Meals contest that depended on eggs! Here's a look back at all the eggy goodness. More

Two of the winning recipes from September's Quick Weeknight Meals contest included polenta! This creamy, satisfying dinner staple is one of our favorite things. Here are the four polenta recipes from the contest; have you made any of them yet? More

We did a quick internal survey among The Kitchn team, just to see which of all the many Quick Weeknight Meals entries stood out the most. Here are our own picks, bookmarked now for a weeknight meal very soon! More

Drumroll please! Here, after a month of delicious and tantalizing recipes, are the three fast, delicious weeknight meal recipes that (narrowly) won out with the most votes. We have to admit that we're pretty jazzed that the winning recipe is not only vegetarian but gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan — and utterly delicious! More