Best Main Dish Recipes That Get a Kick from Vinegar

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Updated on February 10, 2020

Grilled Hoisin Beef — Photo by Chef John.

We love the sour tang of vinegar in salad dressings, marinades, and pickles. But lately, we're getting our kicks from main dishes that offer a pop of vinegar. In dinner recipes like chicken adobo, hoisin beef, sweet and sour chicken, and slow cooker BBQ pulled pork, we just can't get enough! Here are some of our favorite dinner recipes featuring sherry vinegar, and red and white wine vinegars. For more dinner recipes with vinegar, check out our best Main Dish Recipes with Balsamic Vinegar.

01 of 17

Oxtail Ragu

Oxtail Ragu — Photo by Chef John.

"Richly browned oxtail sections are simmered low and slow in a rich tomato sauce until the meat comes off the bones-- this oxtail ragu is almost foolproof," says Chef John. "The only way to screw up this incredibly succulent cut of beef is to not cook it long enough."

02 of 17

Sea Bass a la Michele

Sea Bass a la Michele — Sea Bass a la Michele | Photo by The Gruntled Gourmand.

"Whenever I can't decide on what to do with a piece of fish, I usually opt for this easy and crowd-pleasing technique, which involves roasting seafood after it's been slathered in a highly seasoned vinaigrette," says Chef John. "It's baked on top of a warm potato salad."

03 of 17

Oktoberfest Chicken and Red Cabbage

"I adore Bavarian cuisine! And since there's no good German food here (while I lived in San Francisco, my husband and I ate at wonderful German/Hungarian restaurants there), I have to make my own...This recipe is crazy simple," says HerbanSpoons.

04 of 17

Chongqing Chicken

You'll use sherry vinegar and balsamic vinegar in this Chinese recipe that's similar to Kung Pao Chicken. "You can control the spiciness of this dish by the number of chile peppers you add," says ," says Yoly. "I like it spicy so I add extra chile peppers."

05 of 17

Grilled Mongolian Pork Chops

Grilled Mongolian Pork Chops — Image: Chef John.

"Once marinated, these pork chops can be cooked any way you like, but for the true experience, you're going to want to cook these on a charcoal grill," says Chef John. "For me, it's the smokiness that brings all these flavors together."

06 of 17

Grilled Hoisin Beef

Grilled Hoisin Beef — Photo by Chef John.

Hoison sauce makes a great marinade. "The (underrated) hoisin sauce is a thickened, fermented soy-sauce-like substance, flavored with chilies, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and, of course, exotic spices," says Chef John. "And unless you horribly overcook it, this skirt steak is juicy and tender."

07 of 17

Good Frickin' Paprika Chicken

paprika chicken on a blue plate with potatoes and greens — Valerie Brunmeier

"I really like oil and vinegar-based sauces on grilled meats," says Chef John. "They work beautifully with the smoky, caramelized exterior. While this is a pretty straightforward grilled chicken recipe, the vinaigrette at the end was a last minute touch that worked out nicely."

08 of 17

Sweet and Sour Sicilian Tuna

Seared tuna steaks are smothered in caramelized onions and a sweet and sour pan sauce. "Completely authentic recipe for Sicilian style tuna steak," says wisewoman. "My grandmother made it too!"

09 of 17

Sauerbraten III

"This is an original German sauerbraten recipe handed down to me," says DORINNC. "The meat is more tender, and flavorful the longer you marinade, I usually marinade for 2 days."

10 of 17

Sweet and Sassy Pork Tenderloin

Slices of pork tenderloin are grilled, then bathed with a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce.

11 of 17

Sweet Hot Mustard Chicken Thighs

Sweet Hot Mustard Chicken Thighs — Photo by Nicolette.

"When it comes to mustard, sweet-hot works amazingly well, especially as a glaze for chicken," says Chef John. "Even though we are using skin-on bone-in chicken thighs, I'm sure it will work with any cut of chicken. By the time this is done, it doesn't have a super-strong mustard flavor. It gets mellowed out by the brown sugar and spices. The old saying 'The closer the bone, the sweeter the meat' really is true. Leaving in the bones adds a lot of flavor and juiciness."

12 of 17

Prune and Olive Chicken

"A taste of the Mediterranean in one delicious baked chicken dish," says Teresa. "This is a classic Chicken Mirabella recipe."

13 of 17

Fry Bread Tacos with Spicy Shredded Beef

"A delicious take on the traditional taco," says hwiggins. "A light, fluffy fried bread complete with fresh refried beans, shredded spicy beef, and toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream. Most of the cooking time is from using the slow cooker. It only takes 30 minutes from frying the bread to serving this wonderful meal."

14 of 17

Pot Roast with Vegetables

"This recipe is my personal favorite for pot roast," says judy2304. "It tenderizes the toughest meats and produces a wonderful, flavorful gravy. It's best when cooked in a cast-iron Dutch oven. This is a whole meal in one pot, my favorite kind of meal."

15 of 17

Chicken Escabeche

"A great dinner for two! Chicken breasts marinated in oil, red wine vinegar, and Ranch-style dressing, then broiled to a beguiling finish," says SUZYNAGY. "This is a wonderful chicken recipe that can be prepared in the morning and cooked when you get home at night. The longer you let it marinate, the better it tastes!

16 of 17

Apricot-Glazed Chicken Breasts

"Boneless chicken breasts with apricot jam, olives, red wine vinegar, and capers," says Ross Carozza. "From some magazine, some place, at some time. It is one of my personal favorites.

17 of 17

Misoyaki

Butterfish, also known as black cod, is pan-fried in a miso-based marinade and served with lemon beurre blanc, white wine vinegar, and sweet soy sauce. "This rich miso-crusted butterfish melts in your mouth," says Angela Wolery-Garcia. "I always serve with steamed rice."

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