Turn up the nostalgia with these old-school dinner recipes that will never go out of style. From our Old-Fashioned Meatloaf to our Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings, these classic meals are a healthy twist on all of your comforting favorites. Try one (or all!) of these dinner recipes when you’re in the mood for an elevated, nutritious take on all of your old favorites.
01 of 15
Chicken Tetrazzini
This retro dish will please kids and adults alike.
View Recipe
02 of 15
Old-Fashioned Meatloaf
Mushrooms, garlic and oats sneak some extra nutrients into this hearty and easy meatloaf. Serve with sweet potatoes and your favorite green vegetables for a super-satisfying comfort food dinner.
View Recipe
03 of 15
Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole
Known as Tuna-Pea Wiggle to some, this family-friendly tuna noodle casserole tends to be made with canned soup and whole milk, which means high fat and sodium. We remedy this by making our own creamy mushroom sauce with nonfat milk thickened with a bit of flour. Look for whole-wheat egg noodles–they have more fiber than regular egg noodles (but this dish will work well and taste great with either).
View Recipe
04 of 15
Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings
This crock pot chicken and dumplings recipe uses store-bought biscuits for dumplings that are moist and tender once stirred into the savory mixture of creamy mushrooms, chicken and veggies. Using 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup cuts down on prep time. To give the chicken stew body, we use a flour and butter paste known as a beurre manié—a classic thickening agent for soups, stews and sauces.
View Recipe
05 of 15
Classic Lasagna
Here’s an old-fashioned meat-and-cheese lasagna made lighter. Whole-wheat lasagna noodles taste great in this recipe, plus they help boost the fiber to 9 grams, which is more than a third of the recommended daily intake and especially good news for a healthy heart.
View Recipe
06 of 15
American Goulash
American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can be made in just one pot.
View Recipe
07 of 15
Classic Chicken Soup
Classic chicken noodle soup gets a healthy upgrade with low-sodium chicken broth, whole-wheat egg noodles and tons of vegetables. To get a homemade stock flavor using store-bought broth, we simmer bone-in chicken breasts in the broth before adding the rest of the soup ingredients. But you’re short on time, feel free to use pre-cooked chicken and start the recipe at step 2.
View Recipe
08 of 15
Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes
This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.
View Recipe
09 of 15
Stuffed Peppers
With a flavorful tomato sauce and savory beef-rice filling, this stuffed peppers recipe will appeal to the whole family. Look for peppers that are the same size for uniformity, which will make filling them easier. Chopping the tops of the peppers and using them in the stuffing mixture minimizes food waste.
View Recipe
10 of 15
Baked Mac & Cheese
Mac & cheese can be a true comfort on a gloomy day, and our healthy update takes advantage of extra-sharp Cheddar balanced with creamy low-fat cottage cheese and tucks a layer of spinach into the middle, which may help picky eaters down their vegetables. Whole-wheat pasta adds robust flavor and extra fiber.
View Recipe
11 of 15
Skillet Chicken Potpie
A store-bought pie crust, frozen veggies and precooked chicken simplify the prep for this easy potpie. This healthy dinner recipe is comfort food at its best.
View Recipe
12 of 15
Chicken & Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie
The creamy chicken filling is spiked with sherry and the potatoes are mashed with olive oil in this healthy shepherd’s pie recipe. To make individual pies, use six 10-ounce ramekins. Serve with a green salad with balsamic vinaigrette and crusty bread.
View Recipe
13 of 15
Spicy Tomato-Braised Pot Roast
This tomato sauce gets its heat from Calabrian chiles. Find them whole or chopped packed in jars near the pickles in well-stocked grocery stores. If you don’t have any, just a bit of crushed red pepper will do the trick. Serve over polenta, mashed potatoes or pasta.
View Recipe
14 of 15
Roast Chicken with Parmesan-Herb Sauce
A store-bought rice blend and quick-cooking chicken breast help get this healthy chicken recipe on the dinner table fast. Check the label to avoid excessive sodium or other undesirable ingredients. Other herbs, such as rosemary and sage, are also delicious in this recipe.
View Recipe
15 of 15
Minestrone Soup
This fresh and simple minestrone soup is the perfect recipe for chilly days. Adding the ingredients in stages allows this quick-cooking soup to develop deep flavors in a short time. Cooking the pasta in the soup is an easy and efficient way to add body. This minestrone soup would work with different veggies (think peas, cabbage or winter squash) or another type of canned bean, like creamy cannellini beans or even chickpeas.
View Recipe
Comments are closed.