50 Recipes That Prove Mom Knows Best (2024)

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50 Recipes That Prove Mom Knows Best (1)Rashanda CobbinsUpdated: Jan. 31, 2024

    When Mom cooks, she's sharing her love. When she gives you her best recipes, she's passing on a tradition of home cooking that will live on for years to come.

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    Mom’s Buttermilk Biscuits

    These fluffy biscuits are so tasty slathered with butter or used to mop up every last drop of gravy off your plate. I can still see Mom pulling these tender gems out of the oven. —Vera Reid, Laramie, Wyoming

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    Taste of Home

    Mom's Macaroni and Cheese

    The wonderful homemade goodness of this creamy Velveeta mac and cheese makes it a staple side dish in my mother's kitchen and in mine as well. It has tender noodles and a crowd-pleasing golden crumb topping. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina

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    Pecan Coffee Cake

    My mom serves this nutty coffee cake for Christmas breakfast each year. The simple recipe is a big timesaver on such an event-filled morning. Everyone loves the crunchy topping. —Becky Wax, Tuscola, Illinois

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    So-Tender Swiss Steak

    This fork-tender Swiss steak with rich gravy was an often-requested main dish around our house when I was growing up. Mom took pride in preparing scrumptious, hearty meals like this for our family and guests. —Linda McGinty, Parma, Ohio

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    Effortless Black Bean Chili

    My mom found the inspiration for this chili in a slow-cooker cookbook. After a few updates, all of us love it (even those of us who steer clear of beans). We think it's even better served over rice. —Amelia Gormley, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

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    Mamaw Emily's Strawberry Cake

    My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky

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    Cauliflower Ceviche

    My 87-year-old mom showed me how to make this delicious vegetarian recipe that tastes so much like seafood ceviche. I often serve it with crackers on the side. —Beatriz Barranco, El Paso, Texas

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    Fudgy Layered Irish Mocha Brownies

    My husband and I are big fans of Irish cream, so I wanted to incorporate it into a brownie. I started with my mom's brownie recipe, then added frosting and ganache. These decadent treats are the result, and we really enjoy them! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

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    Mom's White Lasagna

    My mom made this lasagna for special occasions, such as birthdays. When she passed, I inherited her cookbooks—tucked inside one of them, I found this recipe folded into a letter she wrote to me while I was stationed overseas. It's a hearty, rich dish that reminds me of home. —Janet Wing, Minot, North Dakota

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    Turkey Biscuit Skillet

    My mother always made this while I was growing up. Now I make it for my husband and kids. I cut the biscuits into smaller pieces so they will brown nicely on top. I also sometimes add mushrooms to this recipe because my family likes them so much. —Keri Boffeli, Monticello, Iowa

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    Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Torte

    This recipe is a busy mom's twist on a favorite dessert—tiramisu. The dish is simple to assemble and perfect to make the day before you want to serve it. The hardest thing about this recipe is waiting for it to chill so you can eat it! —Cheryl Snavely, Hagerstown, Maryland

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    Easy Scalloped Potatoes

    We all loved my mom's super-rich scalloped potatoes. I tweaked her recipe to keep all the flavor, but cut the fat. The cheese blend is the clincher. It's all about experimenting. —Diane Bramlett, Manteca, California

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    Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

    A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It's dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is never enough—it's better than all the other carrot cakes I've tried! —Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania

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    Broiled Pizza Burgers

    My mother made Broiled Pizza Burgers when I was growing up. We like them for Sunday supper, and they're even faster to fix if you use pre-browned hamburger from the freezer. We sometimes substitute slices of cheddar for the process cheese. —Mrs. Ann Bailes, Anderson, South Carolina

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    Berry-Cream Cookie Snaps

    My mom and I made up this recipe by combining two others. These cute cookies are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. You could also bake the cookies flat and serve the filling as a cookie dip if you'd like. —Crystal Briddick, Colfax, Illinois

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    Round Steak Italiano

    My mom used to make this wonderful dish, and I’ve always enjoyed it. The gravy is especially dense and flavorful.—Deanne Stephens, McMinnville, Oregon

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    Mushroom and Brown Rice Hash with Poached Eggs

    I made my mother's famous roast beef hash healthier by using cremini mushrooms instead of beef and brown rice instead of potatoes. It's ideal for a light main dish. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

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    Pot of S'mores

    Mom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho

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    Spaghetti Meatball Supper

    It was such a joy to come home and find my mom making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. This recipe has always been dear to my heart. —Debbie Heggie, Laramie, Wyoming

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    Chewy Caramel-Coated Popcorn

    When I was a kid, my mom made this recipe often. I've adapted it to make it more chewy and gooey than her crunchy, nut-loaded version. I get requests to make this for every event that I host, and have never had a single leftover! —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta

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    Swiss Corn Casserole

    My mom shared this recipe with me back in the '80s, and now it's a Turkey Day mainstay. We freeze locally grown corn during peak season, and I love to use it in this special side. —Wendy Young, Cordova, Maryland

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    Santa Fe Skillet

    As a mother who works full-time, I’m always looking for quick, easy meals to prepare. This is a timeless recipe. —Lorie VanHorn, Waddell, Arizona

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    Mom's Maple-Apple Pie

    Mom's apple pie might be a cliché, but others have tried and failed to rival my mom's recipe. My siblings and I panic when anyone else takes the holiday apple pie assignment, but we make sure Mom is making hers, too. —Rebecca Little, Park Ridge, Illinois

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    Sassy Southwest Stuffed Shells

    When I was a child, my mom made this dish quite often. When I came across her recipe on an index card, I quickly copied it. Over the years, I have made very few changes to retain that taste-of-home memory. —Kellie Braddell, West Point, California

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    Spice Cake Bars with Salted Caramel Icing

    As a busy mom, I was always looking for baking shortcuts. When I found these bars, I knew I'd hit the jackpot. I still make them for my kids and grandkids. —Ellen Hartman, Chico, California

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    Browned Butter Roasted Cauliflower

    When I was growing up, my mother (who insists on loving some of the least popular vegetables) always raved about how deliciously sweet and tender cauliflower can be. Here, the briny capers, lemon juice and sweet raisins allow the caramelized, nutty cauliflower to shine. —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington

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    Mississippi Mud Pie

    This southern favorite is one my family can never get enough of, and there are never any leftovers. My grandmother, mother and aunts always made this dish for family gatherings. Now I make it for just about every event because it's so easy to prepare, and everyone loves it! —Elizabeth Williston, Thibodaux, Louisiana

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    Lemon-Garlic Lima Beans

    When I was growing up on Cyprus, my mother would often make this side dish to have with roast lamb. Although I hated lima beans when I was a kid (who didn't?), I love them now. They always remind me of home. —Paris Paraskeva, San Francisco, California

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    Taste of Home

    Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake

    My mom often made pineapple upside down cake, but I prefer something creamier. This recipe looks just like her cake, but gets even tastier as pineapple upside down cheesecake. —Marilyn McGinnis, Citrus Heights, California

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    Gluten-Free Potato Salad

    In college, my best friend and I debated whose mom made the best potato salad. Turns out they were almost identical! Even though I've since tweaked our recipe, this gluten-free potato salad still takes me home again. —Ellie Martin Cliffe, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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    My mom taught me about Italian prune plums and pie. Sprinkling the crust with ground hazelnuts gives it a luscious flavor and also keeps it from getting soggy. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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    Sloppy Joe Biscuit Cups

    I’m a busy teacher and mom, so weekday meals with shortcuts are a huge help. I always have to share the recipe when I take these to school. —Julie Ahern, Waukegan, Illinois

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    Taste of Home

    My mom made the best salads, and that's where my love for them started. I’ve turned her side salads into awesome meals with protein, veggies, nuts and cranberries. —Lindsay Tanner, Cathedral City, California

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    P.S. I Love You Cake

    Growing up, there was always some scrumptious treat to eat at our house. The name my mom chose for this cake has a double meaning: P.S. for the type of cake (poppy seed) and for the love note to her family. —Sue Groetsch, La Crosse, Wisconsin

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    Beef Stew with Pasta

    I have happy memories of my mother's tomato-y beef stew, so I combined her recipe with a bunch of fall veggies I needed to use. The result was a fun, fill-you-up dinner. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York

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    Fresh Spinach Tamale Pie

    I got this recipe from my mother, who loved quick and easy meals for dinner. I made a few variations by adding spinach, bell peppers and fresh corn. The changes were well worth it––my family and friends love this dish!—Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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    Tasty Taco Chopped Salad

    My friends and I love Mexican food, but we try to eat healthy. My mom taught me how to make this tasty taco salad for my friends. —Matthew Smith, Knippa, Texas

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    Apple Cider Doughnut Holes

    Their light, tender texture and apple cider flavor make these small bites a big hit! My mom made them every year as soon as the weather turned cool. I carry on the tradition, and the aroma always brings back cherished memories. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

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    Crunchy Spinach Casserole

    Our holidays would not be the same without this family tradition. My mother made it every Thanksgiving when I was growing up; now I make it every Christmas as well, and my children and grandchildren absolutely love it! We triple the recipe because the kids can't get enough. —Sharon Scaletta, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

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    Creamy Paprika Pork

    When I was little, I would often ask my mom to make "favorite meat." She knew I was requesting this homey pork recipe. It's been in my family for more than 30 years and it's still a favorite! —Alexandra Barnett, Forest, Virginia

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    Frosted Chocolate Cake

    This recipe is my mother's oldest and most popular chocolate cake recipe. I always thought it should have a fancier name, but this is what she called it. Mom would say a fancy name would not make it taste better. —Beth Bristow West Plains, Missouri

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    Pressure-Cooker Ground Beef Stroganoff

    My mother gave me this recipe 40 years ago. It's a wonderfully tasty dish that's perfect for a pressure cooker. —Sue Mims, Macclenny, Florida

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    Mama's Puerto Rican Chicken

    My mom has a vast repertoire of recipes, and this extra-crispy, spiced-up chicken is the best one of the bunch. We love it served with a side of traditional red beans and rice. —Edwin Robles, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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    Crescent Turkey Casserole

    How do you make a dinner of turkey and vegetables appealing to kids? You turn it into a pie, of course! My version tastes classic but doesn’t take any time at all. —Daniela Essman, Perham, Minnesota

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    Pecan Cake with Cookie Butter Frosting

    My mom and I bought a jar of cookie butter to try it out, and we fell in love with it. I knew the flavor would go well with maple syrup and pecans, so I came up with this cake. I like to make a pretty design on the top of the cake with pecan halves. —Natalie Larsen, Columbia, Maryland

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    Originally Published: September 17, 2019

    50 Recipes That Prove Mom Knows Best (46)

    Rashanda Cobbins

    Rashanda is a former food editor for Taste of Home. While studying for her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, Rashanda interned in Southern Living’s test kitchen and later spent nearly a decade developing recipes and food content at ConAgra Brands. In her spare time, she loves scoping out local farmers markets and having picnics in the park.

    50 Recipes That Prove Mom Knows Best (2024)

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