Tastes Like Home: 44 Nostalgic Recipes

Re-create childhood's most-comforting food memories in your own kitchen with recipes that channel Mom's famous meatloaf, creamy mac and cheese, and fresh-from-the-oven buttermilk biscuits.

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Fettuccine Alfredo

Cloaked in a thick and cheesy cream sauce, this comforting pasta is rich in every sense of the word. Giada uses fresh lemon juice and zest to brighten her dish, which takes just 10 minutes to toss together.

Get the Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo

Double-Trouble Meatloaf

This meatloaf proves a popular belief to be true: Everything is better with bacon. Built with a satisfying blend of ground bacon and chuck meat, Michael Symon's recipe is equally delicious right out of the oven or sliced cold for a sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Double Trouble Meatloaf

Sloppy Gino

Nadia G hollows out hamburger buns to keep this hand-held Bolognese from getting too sloppy. Thick shavings of an Italian cheese of your choosing add elegant flare.

Get the Recipe: Sloppy Gino

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Creamy, savory and ready in under an hour, Kelsey’s five-star recipe hits all the right notes.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Turkey Meatloaf

Take mom's meatloaf into the modern age by making it with better-for-you turkey. A mix of light and dark meat adds up to one juicy loaf.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Meatloaf

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Kelsey tosses olive oil-packed tuna in a fragrant sherry-soy sauce instead of canned mushroom soup for a sophisticated take on the after-school classic.

Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole

Chicken Parmesan

Giada skips the breadcrumb coating and instead brushes her chicken cutlets with a fresh herb oil made from rosemary, thyme and parsley before slathering them with two kinds of cheese.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmesan

Pot Roast with Porcini Mushrooms

Braise beef with marinara sauce, wine, beef stock and aromatics for a fall-apart-tender Italian-style roast served over creamy polenta.

Get the Recipe: Pot Roast with Porcini Mushrooms

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Michael’s five-star recipe is a sure-fire stunner with plump beef meatballs and al dente spaghetti. But the best part might be his grandma’s slow-cooked, flavor-loaded Sunday gravy made with wine, baby back ribs, and hefty doses of garlic and oregano.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Meatballs

Pork Chops with Potatoes

Juniper berries yield a piny, rustic flavor that pairs extremely well with pork, so it's no surprise that they make an appearance in this hearty dinner dish. Use your favorite white wine, cider or even beer to flavor the pan sauce.

Get the Recipe: Pork Chops with Potatoes

Fried Catfish with Tartar Sauce

Crispy, lemony catfish is an upgrade from frozen fish sticks, coated in crunchy breading and ready to dip in homemade tartar sauce.

Get the Recipe: Fried Catfish with Tartar Sauce

Hot Beef Sandwich

Cook your roast beef as you would make jam: in canning jars. With this genius method, you now have canned and preserved roast beef to take out whenever you get the hankering for a sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Hot Beef Sandwich

Pasta al Forno

Pasta al forno simply translates to oven-baked pasta, but the ingredients included can be as varied as the imaginations of the recipe creators. This dish is satisfyingly salty thanks to olives and sun-dried tomatoes lurking beneath the thick mozzarella topping.

Get the Recipe: Pasta Al Forno: Oven Baked Pasta

Twice-Fried Chicken with Sriracha Honey

Always a fan of the double-fry method, Michael Symon insists that this process delivers the crispiest chicken. His seafood seasoning-chipotle powder-smoked paprika spice rub offers a one-two punch of zesty flavor, matched only by the spicy honey sauce that must be drizzled generously over the chicken.

Get the Recipe: Twice-Fried Chicken with Sriracha Honey

Scalloped Potatoes au Gratin

Kelsey's ultra-creamy gratin is an essential recipe for any cheese lover. Infused with fresh thyme and garlic, this bubbly cheddar and Gruyere dish takes just 15 minutes to bake.

Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes au Gratin

Pot Roast with Carrots, Shallots, Mint and Lemon

There are few things more soothing than a helping of fork-tender pot roast. Michael Symon likes to serve his on creamy polenta to sop up the meaty juices.

Get the Recipe: Pot Roast with Carrots, Shallots, Mint and Lemon

Herbed Garlic Bread

The simple pleasures of warm garlic bread can hardly be denied. In his version, Tyler slathers baguettes with garlic- and basil-infused butter and bakes them until they are crusty and fragrant.

Get the Recipe: Herbed Garlic Bread

Chicken Tetrazzini

Though it was named in honor of an Italian opera star, this old-school pasta dish was actually invented in America. Giada features the typical mushrooms and thyme but also adds a pinch of nutmeg to enhance the cream-based sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Tetrazzini

Meatloaf with Awesome Sauce

What makes Nadia G.'s sauce so awesome? The answer: a combination of tomato sauce, mustard, vinegar and dark brown sugar, which forms a sticky-sweet, crackly glaze when baked.

Get the Recipe: Meatloaf with Awesome Sauce

Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions

Amp up this childhood classic by combining sweet caramelized onions with aged cheddar cheese. Griddle the sandwich in a skillet until golden brown and crusty and serve it with a tangy bowl of tomato soup.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions

Beef Bourguignonne

This hearty French beef stew gets its flavor from a whole bottle of red wine, aromatics, bacon and a bouquet garni made from bay leaves, parsley stems and thyme sprigs.

Get the Recipe: Beef Bourguignon

Macaroni and Cheese

Though this looks like your standard bowl of macaroni and cheese, Tyler tucks aromatic thyme, bay leaves, garlic and dry mustard into the creamy cheddar and Parmesan sauce, giving this kid-friendly dish a very adult flavor.

Get the Recipe: Macaroni and Cheese

Bacon, Egg and Shrimp Fried Rice

Swap takeout for the stovetop: Ching's easy fried rice is ready in just 15 minutes and uses up any leftover proteins that you have sitting in the fridge, from chicken to roast pork.

Get the Recipe: Bacon, Egg and Shrimp Fried Rice

Olive Oil-Poached Tuna Melts

Kick canned tuna to the curb: Poach fresh ahi or yellowfin tuna in lemon-infused olive oil for these Gruyere-capped brioche stacks.

Get the Recipe: Olive Oil Poached Tuna Melts

Beef Stroganoff Over Buttered Noodles

Low-and-slow cooking makes cubed chuck roast exceptionally tender in Tyler's mushroom-studded take on classic Russian Stroganoff.

Get the Recipe: Beef Stroganoff over Buttered Noodles

Turkey- and Artichoke-Stuffed Shells with Arrabbiata Sauce

The simple shells of your youth receive an adult update when stuffed with ground turkey, frozen artichokes and basil. Use jarred marinara to speed up the spicy arrabbiata sauce that's ladled over top.

Get the Recipe: Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells with Arrabbiata Sauce

Sirloin Shepherd's Pie

Traditionalists might be surprised by Nadia G.'s potato chip crust, but this unconventional topping adds welcome crunch to her modern casserole filled with creamed corn and mashed yams.

Get the Recipe: Sirloin Shepherd's Pie

Good Eats Meatloaf

Alton shares his secrets for a perfectly textured meatloaf: Don't overwork the meat, cook on low heat, monitor it with a probe thermometer and remove the meat from the loaf pan before cooking to allow the glaze to harden into an all-over crispy coating.

Get the Recipe: Good Eats Meatloaf

Jerk Chicken and Dumplings

Explore the Caribbean side of classic comfort food with Chuck's spicy chicken wings and fried dumplings. His ginger beer- and kaffir lime-infused pan sauce channels sunny island flavors and the crunchy cornmeal dumplings are perfect sidekicks that never get soggy.

Get the Recipe: Jerk Chicken and Dumplings

Lazy Man's Lasagna

David Rocco’s easy béchamel and five-minute tomato sauce — which he loads with ground meat, chili peppers and celery to form a hearty Bolognese — serve as the base of this cheesy Italian casserole. Simply layer the sauces on sheets of dried pasta and let the oven work its bubbling magic.

Get the Recipe: Lazy Man's Lasagna

Osso Buco

Giada offers her twist on osso buco –– veal shank braised with vegetables and white wine. Make it a two-pot meal by serving it with risotto, which is traditional.

Get the Recipe: Osso Buco

Stuffed Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers

Channel your childhood kitchen with Giada's familiar recipe that fills a colorful collection of bell peppers and zucchini with well-seasoned turkey stuffing.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers

Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Shiitake mushrooms give Sunny's two-cheese casserole earthy undertones while cooked rice and broccoli add a hearty texture.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Venetian Rolled Pizza

Also known as stromboli, this savory turnover is a speedy meal for busy weeknights. Just roll store-bought pizza dough around your favorite fillings –– like mozzarella, prosciutto and spinach –– and bake until puffy and golden.

Get the Recipe: Venetian Rolled Pizza

Buttermilk Biscuits

Kelsey's salty Southern-style biscuits are perfect when topped with just a pat of butter, but if you'd like a more flavorful bread, she offers variations for meaty, sweet and dessertlike takes.

Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuit

Roasted Tomato Penne Alla Vodka

Mascarpone cheese adds creaminess to Rachael's vodka sauce and helps it cling to the ridges of penne rigate.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato Penne alla Vodka

Pierogi with Fixins

Nadia G. flavors the potato filling in her pierogi with garlic, cheddar and green onions and tops the boiled dumplings with crispy fried onions.

Get the Recipe: Pierogies with Fixins'

Double-Batch Classic Bolognese

Rachael doubles her recipe for this flavorful meat sauce because it freezes well, so you can eat half tonight and half next week when you're craving it again.

Get the Recipe: Double-Batch Classic Bolognese

Eggplant Parm Stacks

Rather than smothering eggplant with cheese in a casserole a la traditional eggplant Parm, Rachael sandwiches basil, mozzarella and sauteed vegetables between the breaded rounds for a unique spin on the Italian dish.

Get the Recipe: Eggplant Parm Stacks

Sausage, Shrimp and Peppers Over Cheesy Grits

Serve a bowl of Southern comfort any day of the week with these Parmesan-laced grits; they provide a creamy bed for herbed pork sausage and shrimp.

Get the Recipe: Sausage, Shrimp and Peppers over Cheesy Grits

Sunday Pot Roast

Plate this elegant boneless roast with a fresh watercress salad and panko-crusted risotto cakes for an extra-indulgent Sunday supper.

Get the Recipe: Sunday Pot Roast

Lola Fries with Rosemary

Take it from Michael Symon: There's no better way to ensure crispy fries than to fry them twice. After the initial dip, it takes just 5 minutes to finish the fries off at a higher heat. Don't forget to add a final flourish of flaky sea salt and chopped rosemary.

Get the Recipe: Lola Fries with Rosemary

Chicken-Fried Steak with Peppered Gravy

Start your day the Southern way with a hearty breakfast of chipotle-spiced pan-fried steak. Smother it with beefy peppercorn gravy and serve with bitter greens and classic mashed potatoes.

Get the Recipe: Chicken-Fried Steak with Peppered Gravy

Southern-Style Chicken Nuggets with Special Sauce

Pay homage to classic Southern chicken shacks by frying these tempura-battered nuggets. The secret behind their juicy texture and underlying tang is to marinate them overnight in pickle juice and hot sauce.

Get the Recipe: Southern-Style Chicken Nuggets and Special Sauce