60 Big-Batch Recipes to Make When You Want to Stay In
Updated: Apr. 18, 2024
Need to hunker down at home? These big-batch recipes are perfect for dinner tonight and leftovers tomorrow (and maybe even the day after). Don't worry—we've got big-batch sides, desserts and breakfasts, too!
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Cheese-Stuffed Shells
When I was living in California, I tasted this rich cheesy pasta dish at a neighborhood Italian restaurant. I got the recipe and made a few changes to it in my own kitchen. I'm happy to share it with you. —Lori Mecca, Grants Pass, Oregon
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Fabulous Fajitas
I've enjoyed cooking since I was a girl growing up in the Southwest. When friends call to ask me for new recipes to try, I suggest these flavorful fajitas. It's wonderful to put the beef in the slow cooker before church and come home to a hot delicious main dish. —Janie Reitz, Rochester, Minnesota
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Stovetop Cheeseburger Pasta
Cheeseburgers are delicious in any form, but I'm partial to this creamy pasta dish that seriously tastes just like the real thing. It's weeknight comfort in a bowl. —Tracy Avis, Peterborough, Ontario
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Garlic-Sesame Green Beans
Sauteed bits of garlic and shallot, with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, turn ordinary beans into something special. Keep the recipe in mind for your garden crop in summer. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
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Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
As a mother of three sons, sweets are a staple in my kitchen! I buy ripe fruit on sale and freeze it to make this cake. My banana cake with cream cheese frosting is a favorite among loved ones at my family picnics and dinners. —Bonnie Krause, Irvona, Pennsylvania
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Contest-Winning Greek Pasta Bake
When I take this dish to potlucks, there's never so much as a morsel left! It’s a simple, healthy, hearty supper made with ingredients that are easy to find. Add a salad and a crusty loaf of bread for a quick meal solution. —Anne Taglienti, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
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Spinach Turkey Meatballs
Our children call these “Gramby Meatballs” because the recipe came from my dear mother-in-law. It’s a great way to make spinach palatable. I usually make a triple batch, bake them all and freeze the extras for a quick meal later. —Mimi Blanco, Bronxville, New York
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Grandma's Biscuits
Homemade biscuits add a warm and comforting touch to any meal. My grandmother makes these tender biscuits to go with her seafood chowder. —Melissa Obernesser, Utica, New York
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Pressure-Cooker Caribbean Pot Roast
This dish is definitely an all-year recipe. Sweet potatoes, orange zest and baking cocoa are my surprise ingredients. —Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
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Chicken & Dumpling Casserole
This classic, savory casserole is one of my husband's favorites. He loves the fluffy dumplings with plenty of gravy. The basil adds just the right flavor and makes the whole house smell so good while this dish bakes. —Sue Mackey, Jackson, Wisconsin
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Sweet 'n' Tangy Carrots
With an irresistible brown sugar-mustard sauce, these simple simmered carrots bring bright flavor and color to the table. —Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah
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Pressure-Cooker Chicken Bog
Chicken Bog is a South Carolina tradition with lots of variations—think herbs, spices and fresh veggies—but the standard ingredients remain sausage, chicken and rice. This pressure-cooked rendition is a simple take on the classic. — Anna Hanson, Spanish Fork, Utah
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Favorite Baked Spaghetti
This is my grandchildren's most-loved dish. It feels like a special dinner and is so cozy for cooler months. —Louise Miller, Westminster, Maryland
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80 Greek Recipes Everyone Will Love
Can’t get enough of your local Greek restaurant? This one’s for you! Here are some incredible Greek recipes, as well as Mediterranean-inspired recipes, that are sure to satisfy.
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Cream Cheese Sheet Cake
This tender, buttery cream cheese cake with a thin layer of fudge frosting is perfect for a crowd. It's always popular at potlucks and parties. It's not uncommon to see folks going back for second and even third pieces. —Gaye Mann, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
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Cottage Potatoes
I often make this crunchy and colorful potato dish for our family reunions. It's my cousin's recipe, and we always know we'll never have any leftovers. —Mary C. Sholtis, Ashtabula, Ohio
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Roasted Asparagus With Thyme
This is good-for-you spring-time side dish is so easy to prepare, yet the simply seasoned spears look appealing enough to serve guests or take to carry-in dinner. -Sharon Leno Keansburg, New Jersey
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Aberdeen Beef Pie
When set in the middle of the table, this hearty beef pie is the center of attention. With chunks of tender beef and tasty vegetables under a flaky pastry crust, this pure comfort food will welcome your family home. —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma
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Chicken Stew with Gnocchi
My chicken stew makes the house smell wonderful as it gently bubbles in the slow cooker. One whiff and my family heads to the kitchen to see if it's ready. —Marge Drake, Juniata, Nebraska
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Baked French Toast
Any day is special when Mom makes one of her French toast recipes, like this do-ahead baked version. —Jill Baughman, New York, New York
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Roast Pork Loin with Rosemary Applesauce
I made this for a family get-together on my husband's birthday. The homemade rosemary applesauce adds an extra layer of comfort to the tender pork. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey
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Easy Potato Rolls
After I discovered this recipe, it became a mainstay for me. I make the dough ahead of time when company is coming, and I try to keep some in the refrigerator to bake for our ranch hands. Leftover mashed potatoes are almost sure to go into these rolls. —Jeanette McKinney, Belleview, Missouri
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Slow-Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
This 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
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Cheesy Cheddar Broccoli Casserole
Even people who don’t like broccoli beg me to make this comforting broccoli cheese casserole recipe. It's similar to a classic green bean casserole, but the melted cheese just puts it over the top. —Elaine Hubbard, Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania
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Slow-Cooker Lasagna
Convenient no-cook lasagna noodles take the work out of this traditional favorite adapted for the slow cooker. It’s so easy to assemble for workdays or weekends. We like it accompanied by Parmesan bread or garlic cheese toast. —Lisa Micheletti, Collierville, Tennessee
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Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes
When our family of 10 goes blueberry picking, we have a bounty of berries in no time. We especially enjoy them in these melt-in-your-mouth pancakes topped with a satisfying blueberry sauce. —Paula Hadley, Somerville, Louisiana
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Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
Smoked turkey sausage and red pepper flakes add zip to this saucy, slow-cooked version of Louisiana red beans and rice. For extra heat, add red pepper sauce at the table. —Julia Bushree, Georgetown, Texas
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Reuben and Rye Strata
This make-ahead dish is so easy to prepare. It's wonderful for brunch, lunch or supper, or as a potluck meal. If you prefer it, substitute turkey pastrami for the corned beef. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia
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Cran-Orange Couscous Salad
I often create salads for summer using a variety of healthy, filling grains. This version with tender couscous is amped up by the bright flavors of oranges, cranberries, basil and a touch of fennel. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
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Puff Pastry Chicken Potpie
When my wife is craving comfort food, I whip up this chicken pot pie with puff pastry. It's easy to make, sticks to your ribs and delivers soul-satisfying flavor. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
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Cashew Rice Pilaf
This hearty dish will add pizazz to your plate with its beautiful blend of flavors and colors. I often serve it as a main course with salad and bread. —Tina Coburn, Tucson, Arizona
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The Best Sausage Pizzas
What makes this recipe unique is the slow overnight fermentation of the dough. The flour has time to hydrate and relax, which makes the dough so much easier to roll out! —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
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Slow-Cooker Beef Stew
When there's a chill in the air, nothing beats this beef stew. Seasoned with thyme and dry mustard, the hearty slow-cooker beef stew is chock-full of tender carrots, potatoes and meat. —Earnestine Wilson, Waco, Texas
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Blueberry Lattice Bars
Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for amazing new recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine
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Spiced Apple Oatmeal
These easy apple-y oats let your family have a warm and cozy breakfast no matter how busy you are. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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Mini Ham Quiches
These quiches are delightful for brunch when you don’t want to fuss. Replace the ham with bacon, sausage, chicken or shrimp, or use chopped onion, red pepper or zucchini instead of olives. —Marilou Robinson, Portland, Oregon
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Sunday Dinner Mashed Potatoes
Sour cream and cream cheese add delicious dairy flavors to these potatoes. They can be prepared in advance and are special enough to serve guests. —Melody Mellinger, Myerstown, Pennsylvania
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Nacho Chicken
I have been serving this rich and zippy chicken casserole for years, and it's a favorite of my family and friends. It disappears quickly at bring-a-dish gatherings, too. —Thom Britton, Three Rivers, Michigan
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Swedish Meatballs
Mom fixed this Swedish meatball recipe for all sorts of family dinners, potluck suppers and PTA meetings. The scent of browning meat is intoxicating. Add to that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and everyone’s mouth starts watering. —Marybeth Mank, Mesquite, Texas
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Pepper Parmesan Beans
A colorful mixture of peppers and green beans gets an Italian treatment with basil and Parmesan cheese in this delightful vegetable dish. The garlic adds a savory zip. —Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington
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Jelly Donut Cake
Cake. Doughnuts. Now you don't have to choose between the two. Impress your family with this easy jelly-filled cake. Try your best to center the jelly in the middle of the half-filled Bundt pan so that it will not leak out the edges of the cake. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
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Pineapple Baked Beans
Tangy pineapple dresses up these hearty baked beans. Brown the beef while you open the cans and chop the vegetables—it doesn't take long to get this side dish ready for the slow cooker. —Gladys De Boer, Castleford, Idaho
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Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy
Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that's ready to serve when you are. It's a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Mixed Fruit with Lemon-Basil Dressing
A slightly savory dressing really complements the sweet fruit in this recipe. I also use the dressing on salad greens. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
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Chicken Ranch Mac & Cheese
Prep once and feed the family twice when you double this chicken mac and cheese and freeze half of it. I created it for the people I love most, using ingredients they love most. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida
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Three-Green Salad
For a crisp, refreshing side dish, this tasty salad can't be beat. It's the perfect salad to go with lasagna. —Gina Squires, Salem, Oregon
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Chicken Chiles Rellenos Strata
This versatile bake can be made as an entree, a brunch option or a potluck dish. It's one of the easiest meals to assemble on a busy weeknight. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
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Patriotic Potatoes with Mustard Sauce
Show your true spirit with a bowl of red, white and blue potatoes dressed with bacon and sour cream. They’re tops in my hit parade of patriotic dishes. —Julie Murphy, Peachtree City, Georgia
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Grandma's English Trifle
This scrumptious trifle recipe is a family heirloom. My grandmother would make an enormous dish of it for Saturday night dinners when they often had guests. If there were leftovers, they'd eat that English trifle dessert every night that week until it was gone! —Ruth Verratti, Gasport, New York
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Hungarian Goulash
Talk about your heirloom recipes! My grandmother made this Hungarian goulash recipe for my mother when she was a child, and then Mom made it for us to enjoy. Paprika and caraway add wonderful flavor, and sour cream gives it a creamy richness. It’s simply scrumptious! —Marcia Doyle, Pompano, Florida
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Slow-Cooked Beef Burritos with Green Chiles
I created this recipe years ago, and it has become such a favorite that the wonderful aroma of it cooking makes my family instantly happy. It is hearty, flavorful and easy to prepare, and it uses the long, slow-cooking method that truly defines comfort food. —Sally Pahler, Palisade, Colorado
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Skillet Shepherd's Pie
This is the best shepherd’s pie recipe I’ve ever tasted. It’s very quick to make, and I usually have most—if not all—of the ingredients already on hand. —Tirzah Sandt, San Diego, California
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Kentucky Spoon Bread
This is a traditional Kentucky recipe. It’s a popular side dish served all year long. If you’ve never tried spoon bread before, I think you’ll find it’s tasty and comforting. —Caroline Brown, Lexington, Kentucky
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Lemony Chicken & Rice
I couldn’t say who loves this recipe best, because it gets raves every time I serve it! Occasionally I even get a phone call or email from a friend requesting the recipe, and it's certainly a favorite for my grown children and 15 grandchildren. —Maryalice Wood, Langley, British Columbia
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Tater Tot Casseroles
Ground beef, sausage and cheese make this tater tot casserole with green beans a crowd-pleaser. Cayenne pepper and hot Italian sausage give it a pleasant kick. —Ryan Jones, Chillicothe, Illinois
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Sicilian Brussels Sprouts
I love to make this dish because the flavors jumping around in your mouth keep you coming back bite after bite. Other nuts can be used in place of the pine nuts. — Marsha Gillett, Yukon, Oklahoma
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Chicken and Wild Rice Bake
My chicken and rice bake is a lovely example of midwestern cuisine. The dish is ideal for hosting parties because it can bake while you turn your attention to other preparations. —Suzanne Greenslit, Merrifield, MinnesotaOriginally Published: March 16, 2020
