1Chicken Nugget Parm Casserole
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Craving chicken Parm but not in the mood for all the time it requires to prepare this labor of love dish? Opt for our chicken nugget Parmesan casserole instead. This comforting dish has all the cheesy flavor you know and crave, but with simple shortcuts to cut down on all that cooking time (and effort). Store-bought chicken nuggets are a much faster swap-in for breading and pan-frying chicken cutlets—just layer them in between cheesy pasta, then top it with more chicken nuggets, more sauce (store-bought for ease), and cheese for an irresistible presentation.
Get the Chicken Nugget Parm Casserole recipe.
2Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY 3Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Nothing is more comforting than chicken pot pie topped with a buttery crust. Swap out the crust for garlic bread, though, and now we are really talking. The top gets golden and crunchy, while underneath, the texture comes out more like dumplings. 😍
Get the Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
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4Orange Chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS If your kids just can't get enough of the classic Panda Express dish, this copycat recipe will be a game-changer. Ready in under an hour with all of the same sweet and savory flavors you love, staying in for weeknight dinner has never been easier.
Get the Orange Chicken recipe.
5French Bread Pizza
JOEL GOLDBERG Craving homemade pizza, but don’t want to deal with finicky pizza dough? We get it, that stuff can be tricky. Skip it altogether, and grab the nearest loaf of French bread instead. The loaf makes for a delicious pizza “crust” that will get crispy on the outside while staying nice and soft on the inside. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
Get the French Bread Pizza recipe.
6Smash Burgers
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN: FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS Super-thin patties and crispy edges are the draw of a smash burger. The patty is so thin, it’s almost impossible to dry out because it cooks so quickly, and cooking two patties for each burger gives you more of those lacey edges. Using an ungreased skillet or griddle is important, as it gives the ground beef a chance to really stick to the surface and form an irresistible crust.
Get the Smash Burgers recipe.
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7Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini
Andrew bui Here’s one way to get more veggies into picky eaters’ mouths: Score and scoop out zucchini pulp, chop, and cook it down with spices into a cream sauce, then incorporate it into good ol’ kid-approved mac & cheese.
Get the Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini recipe.
8Baked Falafel Bites with Spicy Tahini Dip
Emily hlavac green 9Sloppy Joe Meatball Bake
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Meatballs don’t take the sloppy out of sloppy Joes, they just turn it into a whole new form. Trust us—these little ones are just as delicious as the original ground beef version. Cheesy, hefty, and super-saucy, this skillet dish also comes together in just under an hour, making it the perfect anytime meal.
Get the Sloppy Joe Meatball Bake recipe.
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10One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac
JOEL GOLDBERG 11Sheet Pan Honey Mustard–Pretzel Chicken
12Copycat Olive Garden Meatballs
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Aside from their signature breadsticks and their creamy zuppa toscana, one of Olive Garden’s most iconic dishes is their meatballs. Sauced in bright marinara and perched atop a glossy mound of spaghetti, they transform into a showstopping entrée that still manages to deliver those down-home comfort food vibes.
Get the Copycat Olive Garden Meatballs recipe.
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13Broccoli Cheddar Pasta
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS 14Cheeseburger Cups
We love using muffin tins for genius hacks like this. The "cups" are pieces of white bread that get molded and then filled with a ground beef mixture that tastes just like a cheeseburger. Don't forget to drizzle with your favorite condiments and top with a pickle chip.
Get the Cheeseburger Cups recipe.
15Mini Meatball & Marinara Soup
Andrew Bui The genius shortcut in this grown-up take on Spaghetti-Os? A jar of marinara. This recipe is super-flexible too. Anelletti is the preferred pasta cut here for the ultimate nostalgia factor, but any small cut—like elbows or bowties—will do.
Get the Mini Meatball & Marinara Soup recipe.
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16Black Bean Tostadas
Lucy schaeffer 17TikTok Ramen
Joel Goldberg Have fun customizing these ramen noodles with your favorite veggies and toppings. Try using frozen peas or halved snow peas in place of the bell pepper and carrot. Skip the egg and top with seared chicken or tofu and try the whole thing topped with a smattering of everything bagel seasoning.
Get the TikTok Ramen recipe.
18Easy Frittata
Bryce Johnson There is no limit to what you can add to a frittata! We love making a kid-friendly pizza-flavored frittata, with some sautéed cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, grated Parmesan, and basil.
Get the Easy Frittata recipe.
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19Meatloaf
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Meatloaf can be many things to different people—for some, it might be a comfort food from childhood; for others, a reliable weeknight dinner. Whatever it is for you, one thing is for sure: Your go-to recipe should be simple and dependable, but also packed with flavor to keep you (and your family and guests) coming back for more. We tested this recipe again and again to guarantee that this WILL be your new forever go-to, never-fail meatloaf.
Get the Meatloaf recipe.
20Zucchini Tater Tots
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