Favorite Main Dish Recipes {Part 1}

I have several requests to talk about my favorite recipes by category so today we’ll get into my favorite main dish recipes! I will have to split this category up into two posts (click here for part 2)…because it would be WAY too long to do in just one.

One of my tricks for meal planning is having easy access to ALL my favorite and most-used recipes.

To make things convenient, I print them out and store the recipes in page protectors in a 3-inch binders. I divide them up by category (breakfast, dinner, etc.) When I make my meal plan, I chose one or two new recipes and then the rest are old standbys from the binder. I clean it out a few times a year to make room for new recipes we try and love. Here are my Favorite Main Dish Recipes!

Soups, Stew, and Chilis:

Hominy Taco Chili – This is actually my mom’s recipe. It’s in my Crock On cookbook. I also did a Facebook Live video showing all how to make it so be sure to check that out.

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie Stew – One of my favorite crock-pot recipes, this stew is easy, hearty and goes so well with my Cheesy Kefir Drop Biscuits!

Cowboy Beans – Another recipe from yours truly! And this one is a kid favorite around here. I also really like to take it to potluck meals at church or deliver to someone in need.

Crock Pot Cheeseburger soup — You can find this recipe on the blog too. It couldn’t be easier and Barry loves it.

Pepperjack Potato Soup – This is one of my recipes – y’all know I love a good crockpot soup recipe.

 

Cornbread Waffles with Chili – Y’all – if you haven’t tried this yet, you’ve got to spoon your cornbread batter in a waffle maker…to make DELICIOUS cornbread waffles. Then just top with whatever kind of meat you prefer (beef, chicken, vegetarian, etc.). This is a great way to use up leftover chili, too.

Crockpot Vegetarian Quinoa Chili. – I found this recipe on the blog, Little Kitchie. And one of the reasons I love this recipe is because it travels really well! Because it’s a very thick chili, it doesn’t slosh around a ton great  is very thick. great to take to friends or new moms. It’s thick and doesn’t slosh all around in the car.
Crockpot Italian Sausage and Cabbage. – One of my recipes that Barry just loves – and I just love that it is really fast and to make.

Chicken:

Buffalo Chicken Baked Potatoes – This recipe from the blog Little Ritchie, is a favorite to make whenever I need a real quick meal. I don’t like blue cheese, so I sub feta.

Crock-pot Butter Chicken – Another one of my own recipes! Sadly, my kids just don’t eat spicy food, so I don’t get to make this as often as I would like. And if you’ve never made butter chicken before, you’ll probably be as shocked as I was to learn that there is no butter in. It’s just smooth like butter.

Mango Chicken Curry – This recipe is by friend, Trina Holden. I’ve tried a lot of chicken curry recipes before and usually did not like them. But this one is really, really good. It does require a lot of chopping…so don’t make this on a day you are in a hurry.

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore – Another one of my recipes, this has always bee a very popular recipe on the blog. I like to serve it over whole wheat penne pasta.

Pressure Cooker Teriyaki Chicken – This recipe from Barns and Noodles is a big hit with my crew and is not complicated – easy to make with ingredients most of you will already have in your pantry.

Easy Sesame Chicken – If you are ever looking for a cheap and delicious meal, y’all have to check out Budget Bytes. She has SO many yummy recipes – I love them all. This is a quick version, not labor intensive. You can substitute dried ginger or keep peeled chunks of ginger in your freezer and just pull them out when you need it.

Chicken Italiano – This is one of my recipes…one of the rare dinner recipes I created that isn’t made in the crock pot.

Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets – This homemade chicken nugget recipe from the Whole New Mom blog is quick and easy. i like to serve with macaroni and cheese.

Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole – this I used to use up some Tater Tots – it felt super indulgent. I started using from chopped frozen potatoes – the hash brown kind that come in the bag. I know it looks like it isn’t very good but y’all it’s delicious.

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice – This is a pressure cooker recipe from the blogger Barns and Noodles. My kids really enjoy this one, even if most of them do pick out the broccoli. It’s easy and delicious – perfect combination.

 

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas – Fun fact…this is my most viewed post of all time. Seriously. It is my most pinned post of all time. And also my most commented on post of all time. So you need to check it out 🙂 And I love to make it for company.

Beef:

Copycat Taco-Bell Mexican Pizzas – This recipe from Domestic Superhero is super quick and super easy…and a kid favorite.

Low Carb Buffalo Crack Slaw – I’m not low carb or Atkins or Keto…but I love this recipe – I have been making it for YEARS! I think it’s absolutely amazing. One thing to note – I don’t use splenda. I sometimes use a dash of stevia or you could us sugar. It just helps balance out the heat. This is a huge family favorite.

Homemade Crunchwrap Supremes – This are so ridiculously delicious. I use homemade taco seasoning. These are really good and really fast!

Cheeseburger Pizza – Another Stacy original, this recipe is a real crowd pleaser.

Cheater Korean Beef – Another one of our family’s favorite dinners, I make this ALL the time. Blogger Lizzy Writes offers a great shortcut – using ground beef! I always serve this over rice with some frozen stir-fry veggies on the side.

Pasta:

Butter and Garlic Cream Sauce – This recipe from the blog Happily Unprocessed is a great sauce for any kind of pasta like ravioli or tortellini or even spooned over chicken and steamed broccoli.

One-Pot BBQ Chicken Pasta – You can find this recipe online over at “Darn” Delicious. I love a good one-pot pasta! And when you’re shopping, always try to look for a BBQ sauce that doesn’t contain corn syrup.

Spicy Sausage Pasta – I love this One-Pot pasta meal from Kevin and Amanda’s recipes. I use a lot of their recipes because what’s NOTE  are ONE-POT pasta meals. It’s got a lot of flavor without a lot of fancy ingredients.

Peas, Ham and Creamy Noodles – I love all of Kevin and Amanda’s recipes. I like to have this recipe on hand, because every once in a while I end up with extra ham…usually after a family event or party. I always chop up any extra ham and store it in the freezer so that I can pull it out to throw in soups or pastas like this one.

 

One Pot Spaghetti – Another one of my recipes and this one is definitely a FAVORITE!

Sandwiches and Salads:

Scrambled Egg Salad – This is another recipe from the Plain Chicken blog. It’s unique – instead of boiling the eggs and chopping, you scramble, then chop. It tastes totally different, but really delicious.

Marilyn Monroe Sandwiches – This recipe from the plain chicken blog is one of Barry’s favorites. If you love turkey sandwiches and pizza – you’re sure to love this quick and easy panini recipe!

Bacon, Egg, Avocado and Tomato Salad – Barry and I love this one. It’s great for Sunday meals when I don’t necessarily want to come home and cook a big meal. And gives you another good reason to make sure you have hardboiled eggs and bacon on hand.

Homemade Sloppy Joes – U have made a TON of sloppy joe recipes over the years…I even have created my own. But the reason this one from Five Heart Home out is in my binder…it is hands-down the best version of sloppy joes that i’ve ever made.

Tuna Melts – Another one of my recipes you can find on the blog. I know some people don’t like tuna…but we are not those people. LOL. I make these A LOT!

Fish:

Paleo Tuna Cakes – I stumbled on this recipe on the Dishes and Dishes blog  because I was looking for a way to use up some extra almond and coconut flour. I do usually double the recipe.. because to feed our family of six, we need more than 4 tuna cakes.

Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema – This is an old Cooking Light recipe – but definitely doesn’t taste like health food.

 

Hope you enjoyed checking out some of my favorite main dish recipes! Please share any you and your family love. And don’t miss part 2! 🙂

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