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Easy Puppy Chow
This easy puppy chow recipe uses a whole package of cereal, so there’s less messy measuring. And it makes enough to feed a hungry crowd. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 2 / 60
Bean Burritos
I always have the ingredients for this cheesy bean burrito recipe on hand. Cooking the rice and shredding the cheese the night before save precious minutes at dinnertime. —Beth Osborne Skinner, Bristol, Tennessee 3 / 60
Caprese Salad
My husband and I love Caprese salad, but not the high prices we pay for it in restaurants. Here, we created our own version which tastes incredibly close, if not better, than any restaurant version we’ve tried. —Melissa Pearson, Sandy, Utah 4 / 60
Quick Garlic Toast
Mom knew how to easily round out a meal with this crisp, cheesy garlic toast. We gobbled it up when she served it alongside slaw or salad…and used it to soak up gravy from her stew, too. —Teresa Ingebrand, Perham, Minnesota 5 / 60
Easy Chicken Strips
I came up with these one night when I was looking for easy chicken strip recipes. They make great appetizers, especially when served with barbecue or sweet-and-sour sauce for dunking. I’ve been told they’re restaurant-quality. —Crystal Sheckles-Gibson, Beespring, Kentucky 6 / 60
Simple Saucy Potatoes
These rich and creamy potatoes are simple to prepare for potlucks. This saucy side dish always gets rave reviews wherever I take it. —Gloria Schroeder, Ottawa Lake, Michigan 7 / 60
Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing
The heartwarming taste of apples with cinnamon is the perfect accompaniment to tender pork chops. This dish is always a winner with my family. Because it calls for only four ingredients, it’s a main course that I can serve with little preparation. —Joan Hamilton, Worcester, Massachusetts 8 / 60
Peanut Butter Cornflake Bars
Peanut butter cornflake bars were one of my favorite treats when I was a little girl. If you like chocolate, I have a friend who spreads 1 cup of melted chocolate chips over the top. Let the chocolate set before cutting into the bars. —Laura Campbell, Lisbon, Maine 9 / 60
Quick Ravioli & Spinach Soup
I love my Italian American traditions, but I never had time to make a classic Italian wedding soup. So I created this shortcut version with ravioli. —Cynthia Bent, Newark, Delaware 10 / 60
Oven Fries
I jazz up my fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a punch. The leftovers are even good cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 11 / 60
Chicken Veggie Fajitas
Our family loves the spicy flavor of these fajitas. I also appreciate the fact that they’re fast to fix. —Eleanor Martens, Rosenort, Manitoba 12 / 60
Antipasto Skewers
This elegant-looking appetizer is quick and easy to make. It's perfect for dinner parties, cocktail parties and everything in between! —Amanda Dekrey, Fargo, North Dakota 13 / 60
Ice Cream Bread
Ice cream gets a whole new use in this tender bread recipe that I pared down to serve two. Be sure to use full-fat ice cream for best results. —Katherine Kuehlman, Denver, Colorado 14 / 60
No-Fuss Pork Chops
These tender, mouthwatering chops taste a bit like sweet-and-sour pork but require little attention or time. I prepare them year-round, whenever I'm on a tight schedule but still want something scrumptious.—Sally Jones, Lancaster, New Hampshire 15 / 60
Ravioli Casserole
The whole family will love the fun, cheesy flavor of this ravioli casserole. It's like lasagna—without all the fuss! Time-saving ingredients, including prepared spaghetti sauce and frozen ravioli, hurry the preparation along. —Mary Ann Rothert, Austin, Texas 16 / 60
Red Pepper Meat Loaf
This recipe is a nice substitute for the usual beef meat loaf. It's plenty moist and so flavorful with the sweet red pepper. Leftovers are great for sandwiches the next day. 17 / 60
Chocolate Pecan Fondue
When our kids have friends sleep over, I like to surprise them with this chocolate treat. Our favorite dippers include fruit, marshmallows, cookies and pound cake. —Suzanne McKinley, Lyons, Georgia 18 / 60
Oven-Baked Asparagus
I like to use recipes that call for fresh produce I've grown in my garden. Here's a simple way to make baked asparagus to bring out the flavor while maintaining that bright green color. —Robert Foust, Indianapolis, Indiana 19 / 60
Easy Salsa Sloppy Joes
I created these sandwiches when I realized I did not have a can of sloppy joe sauce. The sweet brown sugar in this recipe complements the tangy salsa. —Mrs. Krista E Collins, Concord, North Carolina 20 / 60
Peanut Butter, Strawberry and Honey Sandwich
Who needs jam when you have fresh strawberries? A drizzle of honey and a bit of mint make this sandwich stand out. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor 21 / 60
Zucchini Pico de Gallo Salsa
I love veggies and fresh ingredients this time of year. I make big bowls of this salsa, which we eat with pretty much everything in the summer when tomatoes are bountiful. My kids love it, though I leave out the jalapeno when making it for them. —Amy Gattuso, Madison Heights, Michigan 22 / 60
Quick Tortilla Pinwheels
Prepare these easy, cheesy rollups several days in advance if desired. Serve with your choice of mild or hot salsa or picante sauce. —Barbara Keith, Faucett, Missouri 23 / 60
Nectarine Smoothies
This nectarine smoothie recipe tastes great on a warm summer day. Enjoy it on your patio or at a picnic! —Joni Rodriguez, Silverton, Oregon 24 / 60
Easy Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
These sweet little parfaits take everything that's good about cheesecake and make it way easier. You get the rich creaminess, graham cracker crunch and bright berry flavor all in a fun individual portion. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 25 / 60
Pumpkin Butter
Biting into this spiced butter on a hot biscuit or toast is absolutely heavenly. With a dash of whipped cream, you might think you were eating pumpkin pie! —June Barrus, Springville, Utah 26 / 60
Veggie Meatball Soup
It's a snap to put together this hearty soup before I leave for work. I just add cooked pasta when I get home, and I have a few minutes to relax before supper is ready. —Charla Tinney, Tyrone, Oklahoma 27 / 60
Frozen Banana Cereal Pops
When we want a healthy snack, we dip bananas in yogurt, roll 'em in cereal, then freeze. Ta-da! —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia 28 / 60
Guinness Float
That very first sip of a Guinness is what inspired this quick and easy dessert. The rich, creamy foam that gathers on the top of a freshly poured draft made me think of vanilla ice cream. At that point, I knew I had to combine the two in a Guinness float. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor 29 / 60
Easy Pistachio Tube Cake
Mixes make this light cake easy, and a fluted tube pan gets it holiday party-ready. Go for the pistachios on top—the extra crunch is worth it. —Dina Crowell, Fredericksburg, Virginia 30 / 60
Chicken Gnocchi Pesto Soup
After tasting a similar soup at a restaurant, I created this quick and tasty version. The pesto adds an extra-nice Italian flavor that is often missing from other gnocchi soups. —Deanna Smith, Des Moines, Iowa t 31 / 60
Pineapple Chicken Casserole
I'm always looking for one-dish dinners like this Hawaiian chicken casserole that save time and cleanup. I love to cook, but with teaching school, playing handbells at church and juggling my husband's and teenage twins' schedule, I have little time in the kitchen. —Susan Warren, North Manchester, Indiana 32 / 60
Cowboy Cornbread
This cornbread is richer and sweeter than others I’ve tried, and especially luscious alongside ham and beans. —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas 33 / 60
Simple Guacamole
Because avocados can brown quickly, it’s best to make this guacamole just before serving. If you have to make it a little in advance, place the avocado pit in the guacamole until ready to serve. —Heidi Main, Anchorage, AK 34 / 60
Quick Ambrosia Fruit Salad
I start this with plenty of fruit, add the yogurt for dressing, then mix in just enough marshmallows and coconut so it tastes like the fresh and creamy version I grew up with. It’s a well-loved recipe in my home now. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho 35 / 60
Slow-Cooked Smokies
I like to include these little smokies smothered in barbecue sauce on all my appetizer buffets since they're popular with both children and adults. —Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana 36 / 60
Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Everyone will simply devour this savory and delicious dip with shredded chicken throughout. The spicy kick makes it a perfect football-watching food, and the recipe always brings raves. —Janice Foltz, Hershey, Pennsylvania 37 / 60
Zesty Beef Stew
Preparation couldn't be simpler for this hearty no-fuss stew! I created this dish when I didn't have some of my usual ingredients for vegetable beef soup. My husband says it's the best I ever made! —Margaret Turza, South Bend, Indiana 38 / 60
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 39 / 60
Potato Chowder
One of the ladies in our church quilting group brought this savory potato soup to a meeting, and everyone loved how the cream cheese and bacon made it so rich. It's easy to assemble in the morning so it can simmer on its own all day. —Anna Mayer, Fort Branch, Indiana 40 / 60
Easy Tortellini Spinach Soup
This is the easiest soup you will ever make—believe me! I always keep the ingredients on hand, so if I'm feeling under the weather or just plain busy I can throw together this comforting soup in a flash. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas 41 / 60
Chipotle Ham 'n' Cheese Dip
During the busy holiday season, you just can't beat convenient slow cooker recipes like this that let you visit with guests instead of working away in the kitchen. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri 42 / 60
Herb Biscuit Loaf
These buttery, pull-apart biscuits are a sure way to make any meal special, from Thanksgiving dinner to a weekday supper. Their wonderful herb flavor makes my husband think I fussed. —Amy Smith, Maplewood, Minnesota 43 / 60
Pumpkin Pecan Frozen Yogurt
I always keep fat-free frozen yogurt on hand. By combining it with just four other ingredients, I can quickly whip up this great-tasting treat.—Anne Smithson, Cary, North Carolina 44 / 60
Bacon Pea Salad
My husband absolutely loves peas. My middle son isn't the biggest fan, but he loves bacon. So, I combined the two, and it was perfect! This pea salad is an awesome side dish, especially for barbecue. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas 45 / 60
Cheesy Quesadillas
We serve these quesadillas as chili dippers or load them up with salsa and sour cream for a super starter. —Terri Keeney, Greeley, Colorado 46 / 60
Peanut Butter Fudge Cups
My husband often travels during the week, and this fast-to-fix microwave peanut butter fudge recipe is perfect for just my 2-year-old and me. —Lori Brow, Manhattan, Illinois. 47 / 60
Cheese Chicken Soup
Kids won’t think twice about eating the vegetables that are incorporated into this creamy and cheesy soup. —LaVonne Lundgren, Sioux City, Iowa 48 / 60
Quick Biscuits
These biscuits make a satisfying accompaniment to any meal. I never made biscuits until I tried this two-ingredient recipe, now my husband wants them all the time! —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida 49 / 60
Simple Vegetarian Slow-Cooked Beans
When I have a hungry family to feed, these tasty beans with spinach, tomatoes and carrots are a go-to dish. This veggie delight is frequently on the menu. —Jennifer Reid, Farmington, Maine 50 / 60
Simple Turtle Cheesecake
For an almost instant dessert, I spread homemade ganache and caramel sauce over pre-made cheesecake. It makes the holidays feel slightly less hectic. —Laura McDowell, Lake Villa, Illinois 51 / 60
Creamy Tarragon Chicken
Break out the slow cooker and start the week off on an easy note with this all-in-one recipe. A cup of chicken broth may be substituted for the water and chicken bouillon granules. 52 / 60
Peanut Butter Milk Shakes
You’ve got milk, peanut butter, and probably vanilla ice cream, too. Using just a few ingredients, you can whip up this peanut butter milkshake recipe in seconds. —Joyce Turley, Slaughters, Kentucky 53 / 60
Easy Cake Mix Bars
I take this dessert to work for Friday pick-me-ups. It's one of my favorite yellow cake bar recipes. I love to share them because they're so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri 54 / 60
Quick and Easy Stromboli
Sandwich fixings get rolled into this dinner favorite, thanks to refrigerated pizza dough. Use any combo of cheese, deli meat and veggies that you like or whatever you have on hand. —Catherine Cassidy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 55 / 60
Simple Poached Salmon
I love this recipe because it's healthy and almost effortless. And the salmon always cooks to perfection! —Erin Chilcoat, Central Islip, New York 56 / 60
Peanut Butter Cookies
It is amazing how much flavor these simple peanut butter cookies without brown sugar have. I make them very often because I always have the ingredients on hand. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 57 / 60
Open-Faced Egg Sandwiches
I always experiment with different herbs on my eggs, since I eat them every morning. This one became one of my favorites! —Valerie Belley, St. Louis, Missouri 58 / 60
Quick Mango Sorbet
Last summer I decided to try my hand at making a passion fruit and mango sorbet. But fresh fruits require more prep and are difficult to find ripened at the same time, so I experimented using frozen fruit and juice. And voila! Both are readily available and inexpensive, too. —Carol Klein, Franklin Square, New York 59 / 60
Easy Layer Bars
These rich bar cookies will melt in your mouth! They’re ideal to have on hand for a snack. —Pauline Schrag, Theresa, New York 60 / 60
Easy Strawberry Salsa
My salsa is sweet and colorful, with just a little bit of a bite from jalapeno peppers. I use fresh strawberries and my own home-grown vegetables, but you can also use produce available year round. It's delicious with tortilla chips or even as a garnish to grill chicken or pork. — Dianna Wara, Washington, Illinois
Originally Published: December 29, 2020