13 Comfort Food Dinners Just Like Mom Used to Make

It's undeniable that mom's cooking is a taste of home.

By
Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
Myo's recipes, writing, and food styling can be found on King Arthur Baking, Food Network, Delish, Food52, and more. She collaborated on the cookbook Delish Vegan Dinners and trained at Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum.
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Updated May 21, 2024
Myo Quinn
Sloppy Joe's

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Do you have a particular food so wedded to your mom's cooking that it has the power to resurrect the past? My Korean mom is a great cook, so I have several—kimchi jjigae, kimbap, mandu, and more dinners I can still taste in my memory. She lives over 5,000 miles away, so I often get a pang of homesickness that can only be cured by trying to replicate her dishes.

Whether your mom was a lousy cook and an expert at reheating microwaveable dinners, or a fantastic cook who regularly whipped up amazing meals, it's undeniable that mom's cooking is a taste of home.

Here you'll find 13 blast-from-the-past dinner recipes just like mom used to make, including handy tips from Simply Recipes readers, contributors, and editors.

  • Chicken and Dumplings

    Chicken and Dumplings

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "The key is to not peek into the pan while the dumplings are cooking. The dumplings need to gently steam in the simmering stew to result in a light texture." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

  • Chicken à la King

    Serving of chicken a la king on a plate with rice and a biscuit at a table setting with another serving on a plate, a bowl of biscuits, glasses of wine, and table napkins

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "If you don’t have sherry on hand, white wine or Madeira work just as well. Pimentos are commonly found in a jar or can, usually close to (and also stuffed inside!) the olives on grocery shelves." —Laura Manzano, Contributor

  • Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole

    Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole in cast iron skillet

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "The best casserole topping ever...especially this casserole...take a rolling pin and crush shredded wheat cereal to crumbs!" —Aaron, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Skillet Chicken Divan

    Skillet chicken divan in a cast iron skillet (with some already served) at a table setting with a bowl of salad, a bowl of parmesan, a small bowl of chopped parsley, and a utensils

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Brings back memories of family cooking in the 1970s. I didn't have enough broccoli and found some frozen asparagus in the freezer and that worked really well too. Delish!" —kryzadmz, Simply Recipes Reader

    Continue to 5 of 13 below

  • Salisbury Ground Beef

    salisbury ground beef with a side of green beans on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Instead of making individual patties and searing each one, simply cook ground beef in a skillet and combine it with sautéed mushrooms and a savory gravy for a 30-minute meal. It has all of the flavors of the original without the hassle." —Jasmine Smith, Contributor

  • Best Ever Sloppy Joe's

    Sloppy Joe's

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Make prep a breeze by coarsely chopping the onion, celery, and carrots and then pulsing them a few times in the food processor (carrots first; you can do the onions and celery together)." —Elise

  • Shipwreck Casserole

    shipwreck casserole in a casserole dish at a table setting with a bowl of scallions, plate, and glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Almost every version of shipwreck casserole I’ve seen includes some sort of potato, most often lots of raw potatoes that are peeled and sliced very thinly. In my recipe, frozen hash browns make it quicker and easier. Plus, the hash browns get incredibly crispy on the bottom and top of the casserole." —Nick Evans, Contributor

  • Beef Stroganoff

    Plate of easy beef strognaoff with a bite being lifted on a fork

    Simply Recipes / Lisa Lee

    "It helps to cut thin strips of the beef by putting the meat into the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes first." —Elise

    Continue to 9 of 13 below

  • Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

    Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Paprika can go flat if it's too old. Make sure you taste test your paprika for cooking with it in this recipe. If it doesn't have a strong flavor, it's no longer good and you'll need to replace it." —Elise

  • Chicken Marsala

    chicken marsala in a cast iron skillet

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "This chicken Marsala is excellent, simple, quick, and delicious... When I make this dish always use dry Marsala. Using the sweet version in savory dishes like this gives the finished dish an unpleasant caramelized and candied taste due to the residual sugar left after fermentation." —Bill, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Chicken Paprikash

    Chicken Paprikash

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "We like cooking chicken skin-on and bone-in, but this recipe will easily work with boneless, skinless chicken pieces as well if that's what you prefer." —Elise

  • Chicken Fried Steak

    Chicken Fried Steak

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "You don't need to deep fry the chicken-fried steaks. You can easily shallow fry them in less oil. Help firm up the coating on top by spooning hot oil over the top before flipping the steaks." —Elise

    Continue to 13 of 13 below

  • Chicken Noodle Casserole

    Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole in a white baking dish with a silver spoon.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Yes, you can use rotisserie chicken or use leftover chicken to make the casserole. You will need two to three cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces." —Elise

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