23 Meals I Still Make The Way My Mom Did (Because They Work)

Some meals stick around for a reason. These are the ones that feel like something mom used to make, even if the ingredients or methods have changed a little. They’re not exact copies, but the spirit is the same. Easy dinners that work every time, feed a crowd, and don’t require a second grocery trip. A few have modern upgrades, but most still follow the same logic she did: keep it simple and get it on the table. Turns out, that still works.

Baked Skillet Gnocchi

This skillet dinner is one of those recipes you hang onto because it always works. Soft gnocchi cooks right in the pan with ground pork, canned tomatoes, spinach, and mozzarella. No boiling, no extra steps. It’s comforting, reliable, and something you can make with your eyes closed after a long day. My mom made something similar with whatever we had, and it still holds up just as well now.
Get the Recipe: Baked Skillet Gnocchi

Bomb Meatloaf

There’s no reinventing the wheel here. This meatloaf is the same kind I grew up eating—juicy, classic, and topped with that sweet glaze that somehow makes everything better. It’s easy to throw together with pantry ingredients and still shows up like a real dinner. This is the one you make when you want something that fills the kitchen and actually gets eaten.
Get the Recipe: Bomb Meatloaf

Cheddar Stuffed Turkey Meatballs

My mom swore by stuffed meatballs because they felt like more of a meal without needing sides. These are loaded with cheddar, simmered in marinara, and perfect for pasta night or on their own. You don’t need much else when they’re this solid. They’re just as dependable now as they were when I watched her make them in an oversized Pyrex.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Stuffed Turkey Meatballs

Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

This is one of those one-pot dinners you end up keeping in rotation because it gets the job done. The turkey adds protein, the cheddar gives it bite, and the spinach and peppers make it feel like a meal you don’t have to justify. My mom used to make something similar with whatever cheese was in the fridge and we never complained. Still don’t.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Orzo Soup

If your mom ever handed you soup that somehow doubled as a meal, you get it. This one has chicken, orzo, and all the kick of buffalo sauce without the mess of wings. It’s fast, filling, and comes together in one pot. You’ll keep coming back to it the same way I do because it tastes like something someone made for you on purpose.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Orzo Soup

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

This risotto skips the dairy but keeps the comfort. It’s one of those meals that feels a little fancy but is built entirely from basics. Frozen mushrooms, broth, arborio rice, and patience. My mom used to stir this while doing three other things, and I get why. It’s still one of the best ways to feel like dinner is handled.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

A skillet, some ground beef, pasta, and canned tomatoes. That’s all you need. It tastes like it’s been cooking for hours even though it’s ready in under 30 minutes. My mom used to make this on nights we were short on groceries, and somehow it always felt like enough. I still make it the exact same way.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Lamb Bolognese

This version is rich, herby, and built on simple ingredients like onion, garlic, tomatoes, and ground lamb. The flavor is deep because the sauce actually has time to simmer. It’s the kind of thing my mom would start in the afternoon and let roll while we got everything else done. It worked then and it still does now.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Bolognese

Stuffed Chicken Marsala

Melted cheese, tomato butter, and fresh basil all inside a piece of chicken—yeah, it’s a bit extra, but it’s worth it. My mom always leaned on stuffed chicken when she needed something that looked impressive but didn’t take much effort. This one delivers every time without needing a ton of ingredients or time.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Chicken Marsala

Turkey Chili Pie

This chili pie is all about layering up comfort in a skillet. A quick turkey chili base topped with a cornbread crust bakes together into something that feels like effort without much of it. My mom made this kind of dinner all the time because it fed everyone without a lot of cleanup. It’s still a go-to for good reason.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Chili Pie

Chicken Sorrentino

Prosciutto, eggplant, cheese, and sauce baked over breaded chicken might sound like a production, but it’s not. It’s one of those meals that always turned a regular night into something better at my house. It checks every box without needing a bunch of extras. Still holds up exactly how she made it.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Sorrentino

Goat Cheese Grits

Creamy grits topped with tomatoes, basil, and chicken is the kind of dinner that looks like it came from a restaurant but takes way less effort. My mom used to swap in whatever protein she had on hand. It’s flexible, comforting, and always hit the table hot.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Grits

Salsa Chicken

You take chicken, dump a jar of salsa on top, and bake it. That’s it. Add corn and cheese if you’ve got it. This is one of those meals that worked back when we were short on time and ingredients, and it still works now. Feeds everyone, takes no brainpower.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

This one’s all about pantry staples. Rigatoni, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a creamy tomato sauce that pulls it all together. It’s the kind of thing my mom could whip up without a plan and somehow make it taste like she planned it. Still fast, still comforting, and still one of the easiest ways to feel like dinner is handled.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta

A squeeze of lemon, some crumbled feta, and wilted spinach tossed with pasta. It’s not complicated, but it works. My mom made versions of this with whatever greens were on their way out. It always felt fresh without trying too hard, and it still does.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta

Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole

This casserole made regular appearances growing up, especially when we had leftover ham. Rice, cheese, and a can of something creamy made it stick-to-your-ribs reliable. It’s one of those no-brainer dinners that shows up fast, fills everyone up, and doesn’t cost much to make.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole

Lentil Bolognese

My mom leaned on lentils anytime the grocery bill needed trimming. This version skips the meat but still builds into a thick, hearty sauce that holds up over pasta. It’s simple, cheap, and it feeds a crowd without feeling like you’re missing anything.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Bolognese

Lentil Pasta with Garlicky Greens

Pasta with greens was a default dinner at my house. This version uses lentil pasta, sautéed kale, garlic, and lemon to keep it simple but still feel like a meal. It’s fast, easy, and a great way to get something decent on the table without much planning.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Pasta with Garlicky Greens

Vegetable Bean Skillet

This one checks every box—fast, filling, and made with whatever vegetables and canned beans you have around. My mom called it a “clean-out-the-fridge” dinner. I still call it that too. It’s a skillet full of stuff that somehow always works.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet

Turkey Noodle Casserole

A lighter take on the classic casserole but still just as reliable. My mom used turkey and mixed noodles because it was cheap and easy. Nothing fancy, just a comforting dinner that stretched ingredients and didn’t leave much behind.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Noodle Casserole

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

This one never got old. Chicken, cheese, bacon, ranch seasoning, and tater tots all baked together in one pan. It’s comfort food that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. My mom made it when no one wanted to argue about what’s for dinner. I do too.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Pierogi Casserole

Frozen pierogies layered with sausage and a creamy sauce. It takes minutes to throw together and always gets cleaned out. My mom leaned on this for fast dinners that fed a lot with very little effort, and I’ve never found a reason to change it.
Get the Recipe: Pierogi Casserole

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

This isn’t the sad cafeteria version. It’s creamy, fast, and always hits better than expected. My mom added one secret ingredient to cut the fishy flavor and somehow make everyone love it. I still don’t mess with the original because it works just fine the way it is.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole