Recipes That Pair Perfectly With Red Wine

When you want to have a drink with a delicious meal, what first comes to mind? Well, it depends on what you're eating, for one. But if you're planning a hearty meal, you probably think of red wine first. While all red wines are different, they tend to be stronger and more flavorful than white wines. That means they pair perfectly with beef, pork, and other cuts of red meat as well as a variety of tomato-based dishes. That's because their strong flavor is complemented by heavier, fattier meals that already pack in so much savory goodness.

If you have a nice bottle of red you've been saving, you're in luck. That's because here at Mashed, we've collected some of our favorite recipes that pair well with red wine and put them all in one place. This should make it easy for you to pick out something that doesn't just taste good but that also makes every sip of wine feel like a real treat.

What are you waiting for? Check out these delicious recipes, and put some of them on your menu for the upcoming week. And don't forget to pick up the wine!

Soy-braised oxtail

You might expect the first recipe on this list to be a beef dish, but we decided to start off with something a bit more unusual and adventurous: oxtail. If you want to expand your culinary boundaries, you're probably going to fall in love with this soy-braised oxtail. Be warned that this isn't the easiest recipe out there, and you're going to have to spend some time getting it right. If you need help getting through the process, you can always open that bottle of wine early when you're still in the kitchen preparing the meal. When it's all done, you'll see why it's worth the time it takes.

Beef bourguignon

When you're looking for something classic and just a little bit fancy, whipping up this beef bourguignon can't be a bad idea. This is one of the most well-known French recipes out there, and when you make it the right way, you can guarantee it's going to be as rich and savory as can be. If you have about four hours to make this meal, you can easily prepare your own beef bourguignon at home. The beef and bacon combine to create an incredibly flavorful stew that you'll want to eat again and again. While this dish may be better fresh, you can always freeze your leftovers and eat them later.

Slow cooker pot roast

What happens when you want a delicious slab of beef for dinner but you don't have a ton of time and energy to stand over the stove, grill, or oven all day? That's when this delicious slow cooker pot roast comes into play. It takes about six hours to cook this meal from start to finish, but you'll be pleased to know that it only requires 15 minutes of prep time. Just get everything ready, throw it in the slow cooker, and you'll have the ideal meal to eat with your red wine in just a few hours.


If you're vegetarian, you may think that there's nothing here for you on this list, but that couldn't be further from the truth. You don't have to eat a lot of red meat to come up with a meal that goes with your favorite bottle of red. That's especially true when you decide to whip up this manicotti recipe. To many people, making manicotti can seem like too much work to deal with. However, filling this kind of pasta is actually easier than you may be assuming. In fact, you can have this dish done in just under an hour. Sounds great for weeknights when you want to eat something that feels special without going all out.


Those who have had the chance to go to Italy — or just visit an especially nice Italian restaurant — will know all about the popular dish called ossobuco. This is one of the most delicious meat dishes you will ever try, though it may seem a bit out of the ordinary. You'll cook veal shanks so the bone marrow inside will get nice and tender, making it the ideal consistency to mix with the polenta you'll eat it with. This rich dish does take some time to make, so it may be a good idea to try this ossobuco recipe on the weekend.

Prime rib

All meat lovers know that prime rib is one of the best cuts out there. However, with that status comes a price. If you've ever ordered prime rib at your favorite restaurant, you know it can be a pricey purchase. Don't want to pay those big bucks just to chow down? You may be better off trying this prime rib recipe at home. Don't get intimidated — it's actually a lot easier to cook a great prime rib than you're probably thinking. When you're done, you'll get a deliciously cooked piece of meat that has the perfect exterior and a pink, juicy interior.


Are you looking to impress someone with a home-cooked meal paired with a glass of red wine? Maybe you're hosting a date for dinner for the first time and want to show off your cooking skills. If that's the case, you can't go wrong with this recipe for chateaubriand. While this dish may sound and look pretty fancy, it's actually exceptionally easy to make, even if you don't tend to cook red meat on a regular basis. Just one thing to keep in mind: This cut of meat is pretty expensive, so you'll want to follow the directions carefully.

Baked ziti

Tired of all the meat dishes? Just because you love red wine doesn't mean you have to make beef or pork to enjoy your meal pairing. This tomato-based baked ziti recipe will also do the trick. The secret to this recipe is letting your pasta spend enough time in the oven. You want it to get a nice, crispy, crunchy bite to it that offers a bit more texture than a traditional pasta dish. Also, you should be very generous with the cheese. If you do it right, you'll have an undeniably impressive cheese pull to show off as you bring a forkful to your mouth.

Beef brisket

If you're Jewish, then you likely already know that beef brisket is the signature meal to serve at a Passover celebration. However, you don't have to have it on a certain day of the year and you don't have to be Jewish to try making it for yourself. Our beef brisket recipe is out of this world, and the red wine in your house is practically begging you to make it. With just 30 minutes of prep time required to make this meal, you can even make it on a weeknight if you want to dig into something special.

Baked spaghetti

How often do you and your family sit down at a table filled with spaghetti-laden plates? If you're like many people out there, it's a common occurrence, especially if you're trying to manage a busy evening. Pasta is something that's easy to make even when you feel like you're always on the go. But if you want to take your next pasta dish to the next level, throwing it in the oven is a great start. When you make this baked spaghetti recipe, you won't believe how much texture it has to offer. One thing is for sure when you make this dish: your family won't stop asking you to make it again!

Mississippi pot roast

Looking for the ideal excuse to break out your slow cooker? If so, then you have to whip up this Mississippi pot roast. You won't even need that many ingredients to make it. Just grab a chuck roast that's about three or four pounds, some seasoning, and a few other basics, and you're all ready to go. This is a recipe that takes some time to cook, so it's something that you'll want to get started on in the morning. But once you throw everything into the slow cooker, you can just let it do its thing. Just remember to grab some wine to pair with the final result!

Simple Salisbury steak

Just because you're making meat to pair with your red wine doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune in the process. If you're looking for a more cost-effective meal, then this simple Salisbury steak is going to be perfect for you and your family. Since you make it with ground beef, this recipe isn't going to cost you a lot of money just to buy the meat. And when you save money on food, that means you can buy more wine, right?