Need to hunker down at home? These big-batch recipes are perfect for dinner tonight and leftovers tomorrow (and maybe even the day after). Don't worry—we've got big-batch sides, desserts and breakfasts, too!
57 Big-Batch Recipes to Make When You Want to Stay In
Updated on Sep. 20, 2024
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Cheese-Stuffed Shells
When I was living in California, I tasted this rich cheesy pasta dish at a neighborhood Italian restaurant. I got the recipe and made a few changes to it in my own kitchen. I'm happy to share it with you. —Lori Mecca, Grants Pass, Oregon
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Fabulous Fajitas
I've enjoyed cooking since I was a girl growing up in the Southwest. When friends call to ask me for new recipes to try, I suggest these flavorful fajitas. It's wonderful to put the beef in the slow cooker before church and come home to a hot delicious main dish. —Janie Reitz, Rochester, Minnesota
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Cheeseburger Pasta
Switch up your usual go-to cheeseburger dinner and make it in pasta form instead!
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Honey Garlic Green Beans
Green beans are a reliable standby, but they can seem ordinary on their own. Just a couple of extra ingredients give them a sweet and salty attitude. This is definitely my family's favorite way to enjoy them. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
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Banana Cake
Leftover ripe bananas aren't just for banana bread! Try our banana cake recipe covered with cream cheese frosting to make a sheet cake that you'll want to eat right out of the pan.
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Contest-Winning Greek Pasta Bake
When I take this dish to potlucks, there's never so much as a morsel left! It’s a simple, healthy, hearty supper made with ingredients that are easy to find. Add a salad and a crusty loaf of bread for a quick meal solution. —Anne Taglienti, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
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Spinach Turkey Meatballs
Our children call these “Gramby Meatballs” because the recipe came from my dear mother-in-law. It’s a great way to make spinach palatable. I usually make a triple batch, bake them all and freeze the extras for a quick meal later. —Mimi Blanco, Bronxville, New York
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Pressure-Cooker Caribbean Pot Roast
This dish is definitely an all-year recipe. Sweet potatoes, orange zest and baking cocoa are my surprise ingredients. —Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
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Chicken and Dumpling Casserole
This classic, savory casserole will become a fast favorite. The fluffy dumplings are covered with plenty of gravy, and the basil adds just the right flavor while making the whole house smell good.
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Sweet ‘n’ Tangy Carrots
With an irresistible brown sugar-mustard sauce, these simple simmered carrots bring bright flavor and color to the table. —Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah
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Pressure-Cooker Chicken Bog
Chicken Bog is a South Carolina tradition with lots of variations—think herbs, spices and fresh veggies—but the standard ingredients remain sausage, chicken and rice. This pressure-cooked rendition is a simple take on the classic. — Anna Hanson, Spanish Fork, Utah
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Baked Spaghetti
This baked spaghetti is one of our top-rated pasta recipes ever (and we have lots of pasta recipes). It may be the rich trio of cheeses or the bubbling brown top, but we suspect the real reason is that it's just so easy to make.
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80 Greek Recipes Everyone Will Love
Can’t get enough of your local Greek restaurant? This one’s for you! Here are some incredible Greek recipes, as well as Mediterranean-inspired recipes, that are sure to satisfy.
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White Texas Sheet Cake
This classic white Texas sheet cake is delicious, and surprisingly quick and easy to make. You won't even need to wait for the cake to cool completely before icing it!
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Cottage Potatoes
Learn how to make cottage potatoes, a delicious southern dish packed with cheese, butter and crispy potatoes.
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Roasted Asparagus With Thyme
This is good-for-you spring-time side dish is so easy to prepare, yet the simply seasoned spears look appealing enough to serve guests or take to carry-in dinner. -Sharon Leno Keansburg, New Jersey
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Aberdeen Beef Pie
When set in the middle of the table, this hearty beef pie is the center of attention. With chunks of tender beef and tasty vegetables under a flaky pastry crust, this pure comfort food will welcome your family home. —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma
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Chicken Stew with Gnocchi
My chicken stew makes the house smell wonderful as it gently bubbles in the slow cooker. One whiff and my family heads to the kitchen to see if it's ready. —Marge Drake, Juniata, Nebraska
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Baked French Toast
Any day is special when Mom makes one of her French toast recipes, like this do-ahead baked version. —Jill Baughman, New York, New York
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Apple Pork Loin
Learn how to make slow cooker apple pork loin, a deliciously flavored combination of tender pork and sweet apples.
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Potato Rolls
Homemade potato rolls have a distinctively delicious flavor and moist, fluffy texture.
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Slow-Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Slow-cooker corned beef is packed with cabbage and other hearty vegetables. It's easy to pull together for St. Patrick's Day, but you can enjoy it any time of year.
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Broccoli Casserole
This classic cheesy broccoli casserole recipe is a timeless family favorite. It requires only five ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time for a quick and easy dinner.
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Slow-Cooker Lasagna
Convenient no-cook lasagna noodles take the work out of this traditional favorite adapted for the slow cooker. It’s so easy to assemble for workdays or weekends. We like it accompanied by Parmesan bread or garlic cheese toast. —Lisa Micheletti, Collierville, Tennessee
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Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes
When our family of 10 goes blueberry picking, we have a bounty of berries in no time. We especially enjoy them in these melt-in-your-mouth pancakes topped with a satisfying blueberry sauce. —Paula Hadley, Somerville, Louisiana
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Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
Smoked turkey sausage and red pepper flakes add zip to this saucy, slow-cooked version of Louisiana red beans and rice. For extra heat, add red pepper sauce at the table. —Julia Bushree, Georgetown, Texas
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Reuben and Rye Strata
This make-ahead dish is wonderful for brunch, lunch or supper, and it’s so easy to prepare. If you prefer it, substitute turkey pastrami for the corned beef. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia
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Cran-Orange Couscous Salad
I often create salads for summer using a variety of healthy, filling grains. This version with tender couscous is amped up by the bright flavors of oranges, cranberries, basil and a touch of fennel. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
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Puff Pastry Chicken Potpie
Create a puff pastry chicken potpie with store-bought puff pastry. The recipe is easier to make than classic pie crust versions of potpie, yet it still contains the rich, creamy chicken-and-vegetable filling we know and love.
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Cashew Rice Pilaf
This hearty dish will add pizazz to your plate with its beautiful blend of flavors and colors. I often serve it as a main course with salad and bread. —Tina Coburn, Tucson, Arizona
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Sausage Pizza
Make any night pizza night at home with this recipe for sausage pizza. Once you get the hang of making your own pizza, you'll never get the frozen stuff again.
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Slow-Cooker Beef Stew
This slow-cooker beef stew recipe certainly satisfies when it's chilly outside. Each spoonful delivers tender bites of beef, creamy potatoes and chunky vegetables in a rich mustard-seasoned broth.
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Blueberry Lattice Bars
Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for amazing new recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine
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Spiced Apple Oatmeal
These easy apple-y oats let your family have a warm and cozy breakfast no matter how busy you are. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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Mini Ham Quiches
These quiches are delightful for brunch when you don’t want to fuss. Replace the ham with bacon, sausage, chicken or shrimp, or use chopped onion, red pepper or zucchini instead of olives. —Marilou Robinson, Portland, Oregon
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Mashed Potatoes
The best mashed potatoes recipe is as simple as it is delicious. We have all the tips and tricks you need to learn how to make mashed potatoes that turn out buttery, creamy and oh-so-rich.
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Nacho Chicken
I have been serving this rich and zippy chicken casserole for years, and it's a favorite of my family and friends. It disappears quickly at bring-a-dish gatherings, too. —Thom Britton, Three Rivers, Michigan
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Swedish Meatballs
Mom fixed this Swedish meatball recipe for all sorts of family dinners, potluck suppers and PTA meetings. The scent of browning meat is intoxicating. Add to that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and everyone’s mouth starts watering. —Marybeth Mank, Mesquite, Texas
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Pepper Parmesan Beans
A colorful mixture of peppers and green beans gets an Italian treatment with basil and Parmesan cheese in this delightful vegetable dish. The garlic adds a savory zip. —Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington
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Jelly Donut Cake
Cake. Doughnuts. Now you don't have to choose between the two. Impress your family with this easy jelly-filled cake. Try your best to center the jelly in the middle of the half-filled Bundt pan so that it will not leak out the edges of the cake. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
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Baked Beans with Pineapple
This marvelous recipe is a staple at our neighborhood's annual barbecue. —J. Hindson, Victoria, British Columbia
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Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy
Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that's ready to serve when you are. It's a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Mixed Fruit with Lemon-Basil Dressing
A slightly savory dressing really complements the sweet fruit in this recipe. I also use the dressing on salad greens. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
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Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken
Prep once and feed the family twice with this comforting, hearty macaroni and cheese with chicken. Pro tip: Double the recipe and freeze half for another time.
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Three-Green Salad
For a crisp, refreshing side dish, this tasty salad can't be beat. It's the perfect salad to go with lasagna. —Gina Squires, Salem, Oregon
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Chicken Chiles Rellenos Strata
This versatile bake can be made as an entree, a brunch option or a potluck dish. It's one of the easiest meals to assemble on a busy weeknight. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
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Patriotic Potatoes with Mustard Sauce
Show your true spirit with a bowl of red, white and blue potatoes dressed with bacon and sour cream. They’re tops in my hit parade of patriotic dishes. —Julie Murphy, Peachtree City, Georgia
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English Trifle
If you want a special dessert recipe to wow your guests, this is it. When you serve it, the only sound after that will be the scraping of spoons against bowls—and the occasional sigh of extreme satisfaction.
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Hungarian Goulash
This Hungarian goulash recipe features tender chunks of beef and a rich sauce infused with paprika and caraway seeds. It's a warm and comforting slow-cooker meal that is best served over egg noodles.
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Slow-Cooked Beef Burritos with Green Chiles
I created this recipe years ago, and it has become such a favorite that the wonderful aroma of it cooking makes my family instantly happy. It is hearty, flavorful and easy to prepare, and it uses the long, slow-cooking method that truly defines comfort food. —Sally Pahler, Palisade, Colorado
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Skillet Shepherd's Pie
This is the best shepherd’s pie recipe I’ve ever tasted. It’s very quick to make, and I usually have most—if not all—of the ingredients already on hand. —Tirzah Sandt, San Diego, California
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Kentucky Spoon Bread
This is a traditional Kentucky recipe. It’s a popular side dish served all year long. If you’ve never tried spoon bread before, I think you’ll find it’s tasty and comforting. —Caroline Brown, Lexington, Kentucky
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Lemon Chicken and Rice
This bright and savory lemony chicken and rice recipe is delicious, easy to prepare and so incredibly satisfying that it will have you rethinking your list of go-to comfort foods.
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Tater Tot Casserole
Thanks to a few ingredients and easy prep, this cheese-smothered Tater Tot casserole will be a recurring star at your dinner table.
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Sicilian Brussels Sprouts
I love to make this dish because the flavors jumping around in your mouth keep you coming back bite after bite. Other nuts can be used in place of the pine nuts. — Marsha Gillett, Yukon, Oklahoma
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Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
This chicken and wild rice casserole is the perfect dinner for when you need something easy, balanced and friendly for the whole family. Precooked chicken and rice make it even quicker.
