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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    25 Wholesome Family Meals Straight from Grandma's Kitchen

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on March 21, 2025, updated March 11, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    There's something special about family meals that come straight from Grandma's kitchen. These 25 wholesome recipes are filled with love and tradition, bringing comfort and warmth to the dinner table. From hearty casseroles to classic soups, each dish is a reminder of the simple joys of home-cooked food.

    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This tuna pasta bake is creamy and packed with flavor, featuring canned tuna and mozzarella cheese along with a few easy ingredients. It's a satisfying dish that's perfect for a cozy dinner.

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    Meatball Casserole

    Meatball casserole served on a dish.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Meatball Casserole is a filling and tasty dish that combines juicy meatballs and pasta in a creamy marinara sauce with melted cheese. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner when you want something comforting and satisfying.

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    Beef and Barley Stew

    Beef and Barley Stew.
    Photo Credit Chew Out Loud.

    This stew is cooked in a slow cooker, resulting in tender meat and rich flavors. It's a simple dinner option that requires very little work.

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    Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    Broccoli cheddar soup in a Dutch oven.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Broccoli cheddar soup is a creamy and comforting dish that combines fresh broccoli, cheddar cheese, broth, and cream with a mix of seasonings. This simple recipe is great for a cozy dinner or lunch and can be adjusted to fit your taste.

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    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These meatballs are simple to prepare and can be ready in under an hour. You can cook them on the stove, in an air fryer, or in the oven, resulting in juicy and flavorful meatballs.

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    Parmesan Chicken Casserole

    Parmesan Chicken Casserole.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This casserole combines the familiar tastes and textures of chicken parmesan in a simple, easy-to-serve dish. It's perfect for a quick dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Lamb Pastitsio

    Leftover Lamb Pastitsio.
    Photo credit: Mrs Jones's Kitchen.

    This Greek lamb pastitsio features layers of hearty lamb sauce, tender pasta, and a thick, creamy béchamel, all baked until golden. It's a comforting dish that's perfect for family dinners.

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    Spaghetti Pie

    Spaghetti Pie.
    Photo credit: A Cedar Spoon.

    Spaghetti Pie is a great dinner option for busy nights, as it's simple to prepare and loaded with protein. It's a hearty meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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    Easy Meatball Sandwich

    Meatball sandwiches on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This meatball sandwich is ready in just 30 minutes and is sure to become a favorite at the dinner table. It's a simple and delicious meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Duck With Orange Sauce

    Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce is a fantastic dish that combines the rich flavor of duck with a sweet and tangy orange sauce. This is a great dinner option that’s simple to prepare and can be made ahead of time.

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    Slow Cooker Meatloaf

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This slow cooker meatloaf is a simple and tasty dish that skips the oven. With just a few classic ingredients, it’s perfect for holiday meals or any busy night.

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    Mediterranean Lasagna

    Mediterranean Lasagna.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This Mediterranean Lasagna is packed with creamy feta cheese sauce, ricotta, and lots of mozzarella, along with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, and herbs. It's a delicious and satisfying dinner option that everyone will enjoy.

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    Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole

    Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole.
    Photo Credit: All in the Family Recipes.

    Enjoy a comforting bowl of Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole, a classic dish full of flavor. With tasty broth, homemade meatballs, and fresh veggies, this soup is sure to please everyone.

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    Lamb Meatballs with Cilantro & Lemon

    Lamb Meatballs with Cilantro & Lemon
    Photo credit: always use butter

    These Lamb Meatballs are simple to prepare and packed with fresh lemon and cilantro flavor. They pair perfectly with mashed potatoes or can be served as appetizers at a gathering, making them a favorite in my kitchen for years.

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    Creamy Italian Meatball Soup

    Creamy Italian meatball soup with fresh herbs.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This creamy Italian meatball soup recipe comes together in one pot and is loaded with juicy meatballs and al dente pasta nestled in an herb-filled creamy tomato broth.

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    Baked Ziti

    Baked Ziti.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This dish is all about comfort and satisfaction. With pasta, meat, sausage, tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese, Super Deluxe Baked Ziti is perfect for feeding a crowd and is sure to please everyone.

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    Chicken Noodle Casserole

    A plate of chicken noodle casserole.
    Photo credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    This Chicken Noodle Casserole is a comforting dish packed with chicken, veggies, and egg noodles in a creamy sauce. It's an easy and affordable meal that you can tweak with whatever ingredients you have at home.

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    Potato Ground Beef Casserole

    Ground Beef Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Honour System.

    This ground beef casserole is a family favorite that's sure to please everyone. It features browned beef in a tasty tomato sauce, layered with filling potatoes and topped with melted cheese.

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    Chicken Pasta Bake

    Chicken Pasta Bake.
    Photo Credit: The Recipe Well.

    This Chicken Pasta Bake combines cheesy tomato sauce with simple ingredients for a cozy meal. It's a great way to use leftover rotisserie chicken and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This dish is warm and cheesy, offering all the comfort of lasagna but with much less effort. It's a great option for a cozy dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This is a simple and satisfying meal that you can prepare in under 30 minutes. It combines the creamy goodness of mac and cheese with the flavors of broccoli and chicken alfredo.

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    Italian Noodle Casserole

    Italian Noodle Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    This pasta dish is quick and easy to make with just a few basic ingredients. Ground beef, tomato sauce, soft egg noodles, and cheese come together to create a casserole that everyone in the family will love.

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    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a rich and hearty meal in no time.

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    Pork Chops with Red Wine & Mushrooms

    Cast iron skillet pork chops.
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These Cast Iron Pork Chops are quick to prepare and full of flavor, perfect for a satisfying dinner. With garlic, mushrooms, and thyme, they are seared and simmered in red wine, resulting in incredibly juicy chops.

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    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Spinach

    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Spinach.
    Photo Credit: Mediterranean Latin Love Affair.

    Baked Ziti is a comforting casserole filled with a hearty ground beef and vegetable sauce, topped with plenty of cheese. A creamy layer of ricotta or cottage cheese adds a delicious touch to this satisfying meal.

    Get the Recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Lasagna.
      22 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Will Revolutionize Your Weeknight Meals
    • A veggie casserole.
      21 Vegetarian Casseroles That Will Change Your Dinner Game
    • Instant Pot French Onion Soup.
      18 Elegant Lunch Ideas to Impress Mom This Mother’s Day
    • Cheesburger sliders.
      18 Cheap Ground Beef Recipes That Are Perfect for Spring

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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