Food and Recipes Dinner Old-Fashioned Weeknight Dinner Recipes You Can Always Rely On If you're in a dinnertime rut from serving the same recipes over and over again, it might be time to switch things up and bring these old-fashioned dinner recipes back to the menu. By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna is a Senior Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and assigns content with a focus on email growth and commerce content. She covers a range of topics in the lifestyle space from holiday gift guides to new product launches to tips for cooking with your air fryer. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 22, 2023 Close Photo: Antonis Achilleos If you're in a dinnertime rut from serving the same recipes over and over again, it might be time to switch things up and bring these old-fashioned dinner recipes back to the menu. These are the classic dinner recipes that your Mama has been serving up for decades, and they still deserve a spot on your dinner table today. Need convincing? From Fried Chicken to Chicken Pot Pie to Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole and so much more, there is sure to be plenty of recipes on this list that fit your family's taste. Plus, homemade from scratch doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen. Make-ahead and slow-cooker options will ensure that you can serve your family a warm meal no matter how busy your day may be. And if they're one-pot? Even better. It's never been easier to whip up a beloved dish. 01 of 31 New Tuna Casserole Greg Dupree Crushed potato chips give this cheesy casserole a crunchy finish that the whole family will love. It only takes 35 minutes to prepare, and you can sit back and let the oven do the rest. 02 of 31 Mama's Fried Chicken Southern Living This traditional fried chicken recipe has a short, no-fuss ingredient list that is practical for a weeknight. Marinate your chicken a few hours ahead of time and then the frying process will only take a few minutes. 03 of 31 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Hector Sanchez You'll find chicken, butter, cheese, pasta, and a dash of hot sauce all on the ingredient list for this classic casserole. The best part? You can freeze this casserole to enjoy for meals to come. 04 of 31 Beef Stroganoff Antonis Achilleos Egg noodles, mushrooms, and beef tips come together to create a comforting bowl of stroganoff. Fresh parsley add just the right touch of green. 05 of 31 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Will Dickey This ground beef recipe includes make-ahead instructions so you can keep it in the freezer for busy weeknights. We love to serve with a side of garlic bread. 06 of 31 Ham Noodle Casserole Jen Causey It will take you just 45 minutes from start to finish to get this casserole on the table for dinner. A tasty mix of vegetables and a can of cream of mushroom soup make this a rich, hearty dish. 07 of 31 Chicken Fried Steak Southern Living This classic is made with tenderized beef steak that's breaded and served covered with a creamy pepper gravy. It's just wonderful for a weeknight. 08 of 31 Old-Fashioned Meatloaf Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Don't let the long list deter you, most of the spices and ingredients you'll need for this meatloaf recipe are probably already on hand in your kitchen. A combination of Creole and Greek seasonings add a surprising yet impressive flavor. 09 of 31 Roasted Spatchcock Chicken Alison Miksch If you find roasting a whole chicken intimidating, this sheet pan recipe will help you achieve the ideal crispiness without over-drying the meat. It also allows for the chicken to cook more evenly than the traditional whole chicken. 10 of 31 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster When it comes to chicken pot pie, from scratch is always best, but frozen vegetables and refrigerated pie crust make the recipe attainable. Cooking the pie in a 9x13 dish makes every bite just perfect. 11 of 31 Cottage Pie With Potato Crust Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr Frozen mashed potatoes ensure that this comforting dinner will be on the table in an hour. You can also make a double batch and freeze half for later. 12 of 31 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree Chicken Bog has been a staple meal in the Lowcountry for years because it's simple to make and will feed many mouths. We love our version that comes together in three steps. 13 of 31 Classic Fried Catfish Beth Dreiling Hontzas A homemade batch of fried catfish is begging to become your new go-to summertime supper. Let the catfish sit in a combination of buttermilk and hot sauce. 14 of 31 Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett If you want to change up the menu, this classic casserole can also be prepared with shrimp. Substitute 2 pounds of peeled, deveined raw shrimp for the chicken. 15 of 31 Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall First featured in Southern Living in October 1983, this no-frills recipe is a surefire winner. It's prefect for a rainy evening or just a cozy night in. 16 of 31 Slow-Cooker Sloppy Joes This sandwich supper requires just 15 minutes of prep time to throw it into the slow cooker. Plus, it freezes well, so it's great to keep on hand for a homemade dinner on even the busiest days. 17 of 31 Lowcountry Shrimp And Grits Iain Bagwell Briny shrimp meet melted Parmesan and Cheddar on a bed of creamy grits. They don't call it a classic for nothing. 18 of 31 JuneBaby Fried Catfish And Parmesan Grits Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Southerners know how to do a fish fry, and Edouardo Jordan takes it up a notch with nutty brown butter and Parmesan Grits. 19 of 31 Collard Greens with Smoked Ham Hocks and Pickled Collard Green Stems Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox The standard greens and ham hocks in a simple broth is elevated by the addition of Pickled Collard Green Stems, which makes it extra flavorful. No complaints over here. 20 of 31 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry Brittany Conerly; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman It's the classic reinvented. The rich filling is sure to satisfy hungry tummies, and the flaky puff pastry may cause a tussle or two at the table. 21 of 31 Skillet Mac And Cheese With Crispy Breadcrumbs Hector Manuel Sanchez Who doesn't love mac and cheese? There's nothing like a big bowl of cheesy pasta. Breadcrumbs add a delightful crunch. 22 of 31 Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo Southern Living Few things satisfy on a cold night like gumbo. Though there are endless variations and possibilities when it comes to this classic dish, we settled on shrimp and sausage as the perfect duo. 23 of 31 Our Best Jambalaya Stacy K. Allen, Props: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Ready in just under an hour, our Jambalaya recipe features generous amounts of shrimp, sausage, and seasonings. It also freezes like a dream. 24 of 31 Biscuits-And-Gravy Casserole Southern Living Brunch or breakfast for dinner? You decide. Either way, we can't pass up this well-loved, old-fashioned combination. Top with homemade biscuits or use some pre-made ones for ease. 25 of 31 Twice Baked Potato Casserole Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Serve baked potatoes for a crowd in a handy casserole dish. It's loaded with all the fixings: sour cream, bacon, scallions, and cheese. 26 of 31 French Onion Soup Casserole Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Hearty, homey, and filled with Vidalia onions, this soup-inspired casserole makes for a great early-spring meal. The light broth, crunchy bread, and melty cheese come together for a comforting and refreshing meal. 27 of 31 Shrimp And Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos This staple just got a whole lot easier. It's now a casserole ready in just an hour, with all the flavors we know and love. 28 of 31 King Ranch Chicken Casserole Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This is a dish that reigns supreme at both potlucks and on busy weeknights. All you need are some corn tortillas, spicy green chiles, and a can of creamy soup. Top it all off with grated Cheddar cheese for some melty goodness. 29 of 31 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick Sit back, relax, and let your slow cooker create this super simple, quick-fix pasta dish. Serve with a light salad for the easiest weeknight dinner ever. 30 of 31 Fried Pork Chops With Cream Gravy You might be surprised to learn that golden brown fried pork chops come together in just 30 minutes. Even the gravy comes together in a snap. 31 of 31 Chicken Casserole D'Iberville Southern Living You can use rotisserie chicken to shorten the prep time before popping this casserole in the oven. You can also make this recipe ahead to make it even simpler. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit