On board with meal planning? Here are more meals you can cook once and eat all week.
Slow-Cooker Roast ChickenIt's easy to make a whole chicken in a slow cooker. We save the shredded chicken to use during busy weeks. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Chicken AmandineWith colorful green beans and pimientos, this attractive casserole is terrific for the holidays. This is true comfort food at its finest. —Kat Woolbright, Wichita Falls, Texas
Chicken-Stuffed Cubanelle PeppersHere's a different take on traditional stuffed peppers. I substituted chicken for the beef and used Cubanelle peppers in place of the green peppers that are usually featured in such a dish. —Ron Burlingame, Canton, Ohio
Calls for: 3 cups shredded cooked chicken. <br><br> "Here's a different take on traditional stuffed peppers. I substituted chicken for the beef and used Cubanelle peppers in place of the green peppers." —Ron Burlingame, Canton, Ohio
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Thai Red Chicken CurryI recreated a favorite red curry chicken dish from a restaurant, and now I cook it almost weekly for my family. On a busy night, frozen stir-fry veggies really speed things up. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois
Chicken Salad Croissant SandwichesParmesan cheese and dill make this the most incredible chicken salad I’ve ever tasted. These sandwiches are a simple entree to serve at parties, showers or picnics.—Jaclyn Bell, Logan, Utah
Slow-Cooked HamEntertaining doesn't get much easier than serving this tasty five-ingredient ham from the slow cooker. And the leftovers are delicious in casseroles! —Heather Spring, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
Split Pea Soup with HamFor a different spin on split pea soup, try this recipe. The flavor is peppery rather than smoky. —Barbara Link, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Ham Pasta TossThis is my favorite meal to make when I'm short on time. You can also use different meats or vegetables depending on what you have on hand. —Sharon Gerst, North Liberty, Iowa.
Ham & Swiss Potato CasseroleNo one will be able to resist the classic trio of ham, Swiss and potatoes in this comforting bake. It was the result of creative experimentation when I wanted to use up ingredients I had on hand. I sometimes replace the ham with turkey ham. —Sarah Wilham, Elkhart, Illinois
Skillet Ham & RiceHam, rice and mushrooms make a tasty combination in this homey stovetop dish. It goes from start to finish in just 25 minutes. —Susan Zivec, Regina, Saskatchewan
Slow-Cooker Loaded Mashed PotatoesEvery year my Mom made cream cheese mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving. I tailored the recipe to my family's taste and carried on the tradition. I make them a day ahead and use my slow cooker to free up oven space for other dishes. —Ann Nolte, Tampa, Florida
Meat Shell Potato PieGuests always comment on the presentation and flavor of this delightfully different dish. —Julie Sterchi, Flora, Illinois
Bacon-Cheddar Potato CroquettesInstead of throwing out leftover mashed potatoes, use them to make this potato croquette recipe. The little baked balls are yummy with ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or Dijon mayonnaise for dipping. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Pork Shepherd's PieOf all the shepherd's pie recipes I've tried through the years, this version is my favorite. Although I live alone, I enjoy cooking and baking for friends and family. —Mary Arthurs, Etobicoke, Ontario
Broccoli Potato SupremeMy family insists that this two-in-one casserole makes an appearance at all of our special meals. Every bite is doubly delicious! —Jane Birch, Edison, New Jersey
Green Chile Shredded PorkPork green chili made in the slow cooker always makes my hungry family happy. Getting creative with the leftovers is part of the fun. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Barbecue Pork and Penne SkilletI'm the proud mother of wonderful and active children. Simple, delicious and quick meals like this BBQ pork skillet are perfect for us to enjoy together after school activities, especially if I have leftover pulled pork. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana
Pork TaquitosThese taquitos freeze very well, so you can make a big batch and enjoy them anytime. Microwave the tortillas before filling for easier rolling. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Big Kahuna PizzaA prebaked pizza crust and refrigerated barbecued pork make this tasty supper idea super fast and super easy. Cut into bite-sized pieces, and it can double as a great last-minute appetizer, too! —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
Slow-Cooker Corned Beef and CabbageThis corned beef and cabbage slow-cooker recipe is a fuss-free way to cook the traditional dish. I tried it for St. Patrick's Day a few years ago. Now it's a regular in my menu planning. —Karen Waters, Laurel, Maryland
Chicken Reuben Roll-UpsMy Nebraska-native husband loves Reuben sandwiches and anything with chicken, so I combined his two favorites in a fun roll-up. —Ashli Kottwitz, Hermitage, Tennessee
Reuben-Style PizzaThis homemade pie has all the goodness classic Reuben sandwich in a form that will feed a crowd. It has a cheesy sauce, and smells so wonderful coming out of the oven. —Tracy Miller, Wakeman, Ohio
Paddy's Reuben DipThis slow-cooked spread tastes just like the popular Reuben sandwich. Even when I double the recipe, I end up with an empty dish. —Mary Jane Kimmes, Hastings, Minnesota
Reuben Bread PuddingOur Aunt Renee always brought this casserole to family picnics in Chicago.
It became so popular that she started bringing two or three. I have also made
it using dark rye bread or marbled rye, and ham instead of corned beef—all the variations are delicious! —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
Lemony Turkey Rice SoupWhile growing up in Texas, I spent a lot of time helping my grandma cook. Lemon and cilantro add a deliciously different twist to turkey soup.
—Margarita Cuellar, East Chicago, Indiana
Four-Cheese Turkey Pasta BakeLeftover turkey combines with penne and cheeses to make a classic comfort food. The pasta bake works with chicken, shrimp or beef, too.—Mary Cokenour, Monticello, Utah
Turkey CurryI'm always looking for new and interesting ways to use leftover turkey—especially around the holidays. Make this skillet meal as spicy as you'd like by varying the amount of curry powder. —Martha Balser, Cincinnati, Ohio
Slow-Cooker SalmonI love this slow-cooker salmon recipe because it's healthy and almost effortless. The salmon always cooks to perfection! —Erin Chilcoat, Central Islip, New York
Smoked Salmon Quesadillas with Creamy Chipotle SauceThese extra-special quesadillas take just minutes to make, but you'll want to savor them for as long as possible. Sprinkle the cheesy wedges with chopped fresh cilantro. —Daniel Shemtob, Irvine, California
Salmon Burgers with Tangy SlawI thought I’d made salmon every way you can make it—until now. The tangy slaw, made with fennel and avocado, adds another layer of flavor that goes surprisingly well with salmon and other seafood. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
Creamy Salmon LinguineExtra Pesto Grilled Salmon gives this creamy pasta toss a luxurious taste and texture. We love it as is, but you could easily sub in any veggies you have on hand for the broccoli. —Jacob Kitzman, Seattle, Washington
Provolone Beef Pastry PocketsMy children always make sure they're home when they find out we're having these pockets for dinner. They're a smart way to use leftover pot roast. —Karen Burkett, Reseda, California
Weekday Beef StewBeef stew capped with flaky puff pastry adds comfort to the weeknight menu—my family is always glad to see this meal. Make a salad and call your crowd to the table. —Daniel Anderson, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Tex-Mex Cheesesteak SandwichesWe adore cheesesteak sandwiches and anything with southwestern flavor, so I combined the two. If you crave even more firepower, add chopped jalapenos. —Joan Hallford, Fort Worth, Texas
Easy Beef PiesWe make a lot of French dips and always have leftover roast beef. Here's how I put it to good use. For these pies, use any vegetables you like. They're extra awesome drenched in cheese sauce. —Jennie Weber, Palmer, Alaska
Updated: Dec. 10, 2019
