16 Beat-the-Clock Stews

How does celebrity chef Tyler Florence juggle a booming empire and family life? With fast, flavorful recipes like this tasty seafood stew.

Recipe: Halibut, Clams, and Pancetta with Escarole

This dish, using canned hominy, takes a fraction of the time needed for regular posole. Serve with warm corn tortillas.

Recipe: Spicy Chicken Posole with Avocado and Lime

Chinese five-spice powder infuses this colorful stew with a warm, anise-y note.

Recipe: Chinese-style Beef, Sweet Potato, and Bok Choy Stew

This hearty, less-is-more stew riffs on rustic Italian flavors. Serve with crusty bread and a green salad.

Recipe: Escarole and Cannellini Bean Stew

Think of this as a fresher, green-herb-laced version of the French classic. Serve with a crusty baguette for dunking.

Recipe: White Wine Coq Au Vin

Wild rice gives this stew earthiness and is appealingly chewy (save time by buying it precooked). Serve with cornbread or polenta.

Recipe: Wild Rice, Butternut Squash, and Cannellini Stew

The addition of chipotle purée imparts a rich, 'tastes like it's been simmering for hours' flavor in this dish, which actually comes together in just about 30 minutes.

Recipe: Black Bean Chili

Light coconut milk in this stew works as a healthy alternative to the full-fat kind, and prepared Thai red curry paste, found in most supermarkets, makes it a snap to put together.

Recipe: Thai Red Curry Fish Stew

Boned, skinned chicken thighs are just as convenient as breasts, and they have an added advantage: Their succulent texture and robust flavor stand up well to braising.

Add the flavors of Italian salsa verde--bright parsley, tart lemon, piquant capers, and green olives--for a fresh, fast twist on cold-weather cooking.

Recipe: Chicken Stew with Olives and Lemon

This dish provides a meal's worth of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables (plus a lot of fiber), so all you need on the side is a crisp green salad.

Recipe: Spicy Lentil Stew with Peppers and Onions

Any mix of seafood works well in this chewy-tender stew, which pairs beautifully atop nutritious quinoa.

Recipe: Spicy Seafood Stew

Spicy sausage, sweet potato, and saffron lend an exotic touch to this otherwise simple chowder.

Recipe: Halibut and Sweet Potato Chowder

This fragrant, buttery stew is hearty enough to work as a vegetarian main dish. Serve with a green salad and naan (Indian flatbread) or fresh pita.

Recipe: Split Pea-Squash Stew with Basil and Serrano

This Italian-style stew features vegetables from Spring's bounty, but replace fresh peas and artichokes with frozen and it's a simple dish to prepare year-round.

Recipe: Rustic Spring Vegetable Stew

This filling meal comes together fast, thanks in part to the ease of using canned beans, which are already soft and ready to go.

Recipe: Warm Tomato and White Bean Stew

Coconut milk smoothes out the assertive Chinese five-spice blend in this quick chicken dish.

Recipe: Singapore Chicken Stew