Watch In Comfort
Remember those beloved TV dinners that made weeknight meals feel special? The aluminum trays, the perfectly portioned compartments, and those satisfying comfort foods still spark nostalgia for simpler times. Now you can recreate these classic convenience meals at home with fresh ingredients and familiar flavors with this collection of 20 easy homemade TV dinner recipes.
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Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe by Natashas Kitchen
1. Salisbury Steak With Mashed Potatoes & Peas
This nostalgic dinner staple features juicy beef patties smothered in rich mushroom gravy, complemented by cloud-like mashed potatoes and bright green peas. Originally created as a health food by Dr. Salisbury in the 1800s, this dish benefits from a bit of Worcestershire sauce in the gravy.
2. Fried Chicken With Mac & Cheese + Corn
A perfect trio of comfort foods begins with perfectly seasoned fried chicken, with decadent macaroni and cheese made with sharp cheddar. The addition of sweet corn creates that classic TV dinner balance. The chicken coating gets an expert boost from smoked paprika.
FRIED CHICKEN MAC & CHEESE AND CORN ON THE COB 🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧 by Carlene n Irene
3. Meatloaf With Green Beans & Mashed Potatoes
Steam-fresh green beans tossed in garlic butter accompany a perfectly glazed meatloaf, finished with a brush of ketchup midway through cooking. During WWII, this resourceful dish helped families stretch their meat rations while still enjoying a filling dinner.
Meatloaf patties with green beans and mashed potatoes #sundaydinner by CaughtMeCooking
4. Turkey With Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce
Every forkful of this timeless combination brings back memories. The stuffing, fragrant with sage and thyme, pairs perfectly with convenient deli turkey slices and cranberry sauce. Native cranberries, among the few fruits indigenous to North America, add a bright, natural sweetness whether served from the can or made fresh.
Roast Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce by KartTV
5. Spaghetti & Meatballs With Garlic Bread
A classic American creation masquerading as Italian cuisine, this hearty plate features plump meatballs enhanced with authentic Italian seasonings. The secret to its appeal lies in allowing the meatballs to simmer slowly in tomato sauce. Crispy garlic bread, achieved through careful broiling, provides the perfect companion.
How to Make Spaghetti and Meatballs with Garlic Bread | Julia at Home by America's Test Kitchen
6. Chicken Pot Pie
The filling's signature creaminess shines with warming nutmeg, and pre-made crusts deliver that perfect golden finish without the fuss. Few realize this comfort food classic traces back to ancient Rome, where elaborate versions sometimes included live birds for entertainment.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe by Preppy Kitchen
7. Fish Sticks With Fries & Peas
A beloved TV dinner classic becomes even better when prepared at home. First, bake the fish sticks on a wire rack. For the golden fries, add extra flavor by dusting garlic powder and paprika. Then, the bright green peas get a fresh twist with a sprinkle of mint.
8. Lasagna With Garlic Bread
Simple yet impressive, this homestyle lasagna and garlic bread duo delivers pure comfort. A clever blend of spinach and ricotta cheese creates rich layers, and the no-boil noodles eliminate tedious pre-cooking steps. The professional touch comes from allowing the finished lasagna to rest for 10 minutes.
9. Chicken Alfredo With Broccoli
The American-style Alfredo creates a luxurious sauce enhanced with garlic and nutmeg, perfect for coating tender pasta and fresh broccoli. Clever cooks can streamline preparation by steaming vegetables in the pasta water, then adding pre-grilled chicken strips for a complete meal.
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta| Must Try! by Island Vibe Cooking
10. BBQ Chicken With Cornbread & Coleslaw
American comfort food reaches its peak with this BBQ chicken dinner. The key steps include waiting until the last 10 minutes to apply the BBQ sauce and incorporating honey into the cornbread batter. Apple cider vinegar brightens the coleslaw.
SMOKED CHICKEN, COLESLAW, AND CORNBREAD by Michael's Videos
11. Ham With Scalloped Potatoes & Green Beans
Layering potatoes with cream and cheese is the secret here. Then, pair this with a juicy, glazed ham. The trick to getting the glaze right? Brown sugar and a bit of Dijon mustard. Don't forget the side dish. Quickly steamed green beans, tossed with crunchy almonds.
Tangy Honey Glazed Ham with Scalloped Potatoes & Green Beans by Twin Sisters Country Cooking
12. Chicken Parmesan With Spaghetti
If your craving is kicking in, you can use pre-breaded chicken cutlets. The entrée's signature creamy and ultra-cheesy taste is achieved with a blend of mozzarella and parmesan, melted on top. Lastly, the paired spaghetti should be merely hinted at with sauce to avoid oversaturation.
13. Shrimp Scampi With Rice Pilaf
Astaxanthin, a pigment present in shrimp, paints them pink upon cooking. To maintain tenderness, heat just until they start turning pink. Lemon zest is another essential. Rice pilaf complements the dish, with the grains first toasting in butter to unlock a nutty flavor sensation before simmering.
Shrimp Scampi with Low Carb Cauliflower Rice Pilaf by Bobby Parrish
14. Pork Chops With Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Peas
Pork chops acquire a delectable golden-brown hue and flavor during searing in a cast-iron pan. This scrumptious meat pairs well with sweet potatoes, mashed with a hint of cinnamon and smooth butter. The quick pan gravy blends the pork and sweet potatoes into a flavorful experience.
Grilled Pork Chops, loaded mashed potatoes and sweet peas by The Eat Kitchen
15. Chili With Cornbread
Who said chili has to be laborious? Canned beans fit the bill. And here’s a trick—a touch of cocoa powder or coffee deepens the character of your chili. Cornbread then makes the perfect companion to this hearty meal, baked up in a cast-iron pan.
Trying American Chili & Cornbread for the First Time (as a Brit) by Barry Lewis
16. Sloppy Joes With Potato Wedges
Above the traditional burger lies the humble Sloppy Joe. This hearty dish combines ground beef with a saucy blend of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Then, add finely chopped green peppers and onions, and pair with rosemary and garlic-infused potato wedges.
17. Stuffed Peppers With Rice & Tomato Sauce
You can use leftover cooked rice for a quick assembly. Add to this potpourri of deliciousness a blend of earthy cumin and fiery chili. The process reaches its culinary zenith when a covering of cheese is baked atop the peppers until golden.
18. Beef Stroganoff With Egg Noodles
Authentic Beef Stroganoff is made with high-quality ingredients: sour cream and mushrooms. When serving, properly cook the egg noodles separately, and coating them lightly with butter provides the perfect texture to accompany this rich, hearty entrée.
Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff! (Over Extra Wide Egg Noodles) by Cooking with Shotgun Red
19. Chicken Fried Steak With Mashed Potatoes & Corn
This chicken-fried steak is beef. The coating is seasoned flour with garlic powder and cayenne. To enhance the flavor, drizzle gravy made from pan drippings over the steak. Paired with sweet corn, the dish delivers a delightful contrast against the steak and mashed potatoes.
20. Shepherd’s Pie
To whip up this dish, start with either ground lamb or beef. Note that it’s the Worcestershire sauce that adds an interesting taste twist. Then, pop your Shepherd’s Pie under the broiler towards the end of cooking to brown and crisp up the mashed potato topping.
Shepherd's Pie Recipe | How to Make Perfect Shepherd's Pie by The Cooking Foodie
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