The Most Popular Dinner Recipe the Year You Were Born

Meat and Potato Patties

During World War II, when meat was rationed and had to be purchased with tokens, this recipe went a long way in feeding a family. To this day, I still reach for it whenever I want something different from regular hamburgers. By the way, children really like these (just as I did when I was a child!).— Gladys Klein, Burlington Wisconsin

Ham and Beans

Make this ham and beans recipe in your slow cooker for a dish with down-home flavor that you can serve alongside so many of your favorite meals.

Calico Scrambled Eggs

When you're short on time and scrambling to get a meal on the table, this recipe is just what you need. There's a short ingredient list, cooking is kept to a minimum. and the green pepper and tomato makes it colorful. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

15-Minute Meat Loaf

Cozy, comforting meat loaf can be tonight's dinner—even at the last minute. This nifty microwave recipe makes it possible.

Chicken and Dumplings

This homestyle chicken and dumpling soup recipe is just like mom's with its classic mirepoix base and doughy drop dumplings.

Bacon Pasta

This bacon pasta recipe is a simple, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for weeknight meals. Combining crispy bacon with a slow-simmered tomato sauce and al dente spaghetti, it’s a comfort food classic.

Skillet Pork Chops

Skillet pork chops are the kind of hearty, comforting, fuss-free meal everyone needs to have in their repertoire. With just a handful of ingredients and one pan to clean up, it's an ideal weeknight meal.

Deviled Chicken

My family has always loved this flavorful golden brown chicken. I watch for frequent sales on leg quarters to keep the cost per serving low. —Linda Trammell, Kingston, Missouri

1948: Meatballs

My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor’s so good, you won’t miss the extra calories. —Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts

Classic Beef Stew

This easy beef stew recipe is my favorite. The rich beef gravy helps the hearty flavor of the potatoes and carrots to come through. It's the perfect homemade dish for a blustery winter day. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Tuna Noodle Casserole

We make this tuna noodle casserole recipe with canned tuna, tender vegetables, cream of mushroom soup and egg noodles. Top it off with a crisp bread crumb topping for a warm and cozy meal-in-one.

Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

This hearty main dish is a favorite at our house. It really warms you up. —Kim Kidd, New Freedom, Pennsylvania

Homemade Chicken Potpie

Why look for potpie in the frozen food aisle when this easy version tastes much better? The chicken pot pie's crust is so tender and flaky, and underneath you'll find the ultimate comfort food for kids and adults. —Amy Briggs, Gove, Kansas

How to Cook a Ham

Whip up a gorgeous holiday centerpiece with this easy glazed ham recipe. Our Test Kitchen experts share their best tips and tricks for how to cook a ham for special occasions.

Tasty Meat Pie

I work full time as a nurse, so I depend on quick and easy meals like this one. My sister suggested I use canned soups instead of prepared gravy. Now my husband and teenage son ask for seconds and even thirds. —Cheryl Cattane, Lapeer, Michigan

Best Lasagna

What makes this classic lasagna recipe so spectacular? Homemade meat sauce and plenty of cheese. Best of all, it's easy to make lasagna ahead of time so dinner can be ready in a flash.

Slow-Cooked Chicken a la King

When I know I'll be having a busy day with little time for cooking, I prepare this tasty main dish. Brimming with tender chicken and colorful vegetables, it smells so good while cooking. —Eleanor Mielke, Snohomish, Washington

Pigs in a Blanket

Cue the music! Pigs in a blanket are the perfect party food.

Swedish Meatballs

Whip up a batch of these easy Swedish meatballs for a meal that's all comfort and no fuss!

Savory Spaghetti Sauce

This fresh-tasting spaghetti sauce is a real crowd-pleaser. I rely on this flavorful recipe often. It tastes especially good in the summer made with fresh garden herbs. —Anne Heinonen, Howell, Michigan

Slow-Cooker Burgundy Beef

When my adult children are coming over for dinner, this is the request. All three of them, and their significant others, love this dish. Yum! — Urilla Cheverie, Alfred, Maine

Tenderloin Steak Diane

Sometimes, I add more mushrooms to this recipe when my son's eating dinner—he loves them, and they are just fantastic with the steak. — Carolyn Turner, Reno, Nevada

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, Minnesota

1964: Beef Wellington

Though individual servings of this beef Wellington recipe might look sophisticated, making them is as easy as crimping together the edges of store-bought puff pastry.

Ground Pork Pasta

Ready in just 30 minutes, this flavorful ground pork pasta is a versatile dish that you can easily customize with your favorite pasta and seasonal vegetables.

Summer Steak Kabobs

These steak kabobs not only satisfy my love of outdoor cooking, they feature a mouthwatering marinade, too. It's terrific with chicken and pork, but I prefer it with beef because it tenderizes remarkably well. —Christi Ross, Guthrie, Texas

Chicken Kiev

This chicken Kiev recipe is stuffed with chive butter and rolled in cornflake crumbs. The melted butter in the center makes it impressive for entertaining, but it's easy enough for any day of the week.

Steak & Mushroom Stroganoff

This homey recipe of steak and egg noodles in a creamy sauce is just like what we had at my gran's house when we visited. It's one of my favorite "memory meals," as I call them. —Janelle Shank, Omaha, Nebraska

Baked Crab Rangoon

Recreate your favorite takeout dish at home with this baked crab rangoon: so crispy and creamy, we understand if there aren't leftovers.

Pineapple Chicken

Break out of a humdrum chicken dinner routine with this simple, sweet pineapple chicken recipe.

Hungarian Goulash

This Hungarian goulash recipe features tender chunks of beef and a rich sauce infused with paprika and caraway seeds. It's a warm and comforting slow-cooker meal that is best served over egg noodles.

Garden Vegetable Primavera

Although I enjoy this dish throughout the year, it's even more special when I use my garden to supply the vegetables. A splash of white wine and a sprinkle of fresh basil really add flavor. I have also roasted the vegetables and mixed in chicken breasts with scrumptious results. —Carly Curtin, Ellicott City, Maryland

Best Ever Beans and Sausage

When my wife asks what she should make for a gathering, she's always told to bring this—and a couple of copies of the recipe! — Robert Saulnier, Clarksburg, Massachusetts

Beef Lo Mein

This simple beef lo mein is easy to toss together with the veggies you have on hand. And since it uses spaghetti, you won't have to go searching for special noodles.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

Homemade cheeseburger macaroni gives you another easy way to enjoy the simple harmony of pasta and ground beef. It’s a one-skillet dinner that's a good option for batch-cooking and freezing too.

Rainbow Quiche

With plenty of veggies and a creamy egg-cheese filling, this tasty quiche gets rave reviews every time I make it! —Lilith Fury, Adena, Ohio

Makeover Swiss Chicken Supreme

Stephanie Bell asked our test kitchen to lighten her family-favorite recipe. Even though this makeover recipe is slimmed down, it is still supreme. It has 560 fewer calories, 81 percent less fat and nearly 75 percent less sodium. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Potluck Taco Salad

I found this recipe in an old school cookbook, and I've taken it to many potlucks since then. The layers look so pretty in a glass bowl. —Sandy Fynaardt, New Sharon, Iowa

Slow-Cooker Ratatouille

Not only does this classic recipe make a phenomenal side dish, you can also serve it with sliced French bread for a warm and easy appetizer. Try it in the summer with your garden-fresh vegetables. —Jolene Walters, North Miami, Florida

1980: Swiss Steak

This saucy Swiss steak yields tender meat smothered in a creamy sauce that's dotted with mushrooms and bacon bits.

Super Crispy Baked Chicken

Combine mashed potato flakes with Parmesan cheese for an ultra-crunchy coating to oven-baked chicken that is oh-so-tender and perfectly moist.—June Brown, Veneta, Oregon

Sloppy Joes Sandwiches

Who doesn't love a classic sloppy joe recipe? Customize your homemade sloppy joes by mixing in veggies or melting cheese on top.

Pizza Egg Rolls

If you love pizza rolls and often wished they were a little bigger, this recipe for pizza eggrolls is for you. A filling based on your favorite pizza topping is wrapped in an eggroll wrapper and fried; make a large batch of these to store in the freezer for later.

Slow-Cooked Chicken Marbella

This recipe is sweet, briny, savory and herbal, and it packs a big punch of garlic. The Mediterranean flavors make me think of dinner on the patio with family or friends. — Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Blackened Halibut

This blackened halibut recipe brings a restaurant-quality seafood dinner to the table with very little prep and cook time. Serve it with an equally indulgent side dish, like garlic and herb mashed potatoes.

Penne alla Vodka

This easy and impressive pasta is always on the menu when my husband and I invite first-time guests over for dinner. Many friends have asked me to make the recipe again years after they first tried it. —Cara Langer, Overland Park, Kansas

French Fry Casserole

Cheeseburger-inspired french fry casserole is a playful take on a hot dish. Who wouldn't smile when presented with a toasty platter of fries crowning a cheesy, beefy tumble? As with a burger, you can customize yours with any toppings you like.

Chicken-Fried Steak

This chicken-fried steak and gravy combination is absolute comfort food. Cube steak gets a lightly seasoned coating, making this dish perfect for those nights when you want something filling but don't have a lot of time to prep dinner.  

Meatball Pizza

Meatballs, tomato sauce, cheese, pizza dough—a recipe for meatball pizza heaven.

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

Shrimp Alfredo Fettuccine

Fettuccine Alfredo's been around for ages. I give it a modern update by adding tender shrimp and a pop of lemon. —Tonya Burkhard, Davis, Illinois

1992: Macaroni and Cheese

The wonderful homemade goodness of this creamy Velveeta mac and cheese makes it a staple side dish in my mother's kitchen and in mine as well. It has tender noodles and a crowd-pleasing golden crumb topping. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Everyone who tries this comforting cheesy chicken casserole asks for the recipe. It's so simple to make that sometimes I feel as if I'm cheating! —Kay Pederson, Yellville, Arkansas

Tasty Tacos

A taco seasoning made from scratch with pantry staples deliciously jazzes up ground beef, turning Tuesday night into an all-out fiesta. Add your favorite toppings, and dinner is served! —Rebecca Levesque, St. George, New Brunswick

California Roll in a Jar

I'm a big sushi fan, but I don't always have time to make those intricate rolls at home. This jar is layered with my favorite California roll ingredients, so I can get the flavor I love without the fuss. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

1996: Caesar Salad

My Caesar with grilled chicken is a healthier alternative to heavy meat and potatoes dishes. After grilling the kabobs, we serve them family style. —Melissa Adams, Tooele, Utah

Italian Sausage & Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Flavor-packed sausage and sun-dried tomatoes are sure to liven up any simple pasta dish. I have a feeling that once you've tried it, it'll become a family favorite!—Dawn Singleton, Eighty Four, Pennsylvania

Homemade Fish Sticks

This fun homemade fish stick recipe is super easy and healthy, too! Kids and adults will love them.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Noodles

Stir-fry noodles on a cooking show caught my eye. I ran with the idea and loaded mine with veggies. Now it’s our favorite hurry-up meal. —Beverly Norris, Evanston, Wyoming

BBQ Hot Dog & Potato Packs

For these nifty foil packs, small hands make quick work of topping potato wedges with a hot dog, onions and cheese. — Kelly Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin