5 Insanely Easy No-Bake Casseroles
These comforting meals don't require much except for a nice, deep dish you can cook in and bring straight to the table.
By Lynn Andriani
A Riff on Paella You Can Make on a Weeknight
Chorizo is the surprise ingredient that gives this low-effort meal deep, smoky flavor. The recipe, from James Tahhan's new book,
The Homemade Chef: Ordinary Ingredients for Extraordinary Food, has you remove the sausage from the casing and brown it then cook onion, garlic and red bell pepper in the fat. Add rice, sherry and chicken broth, simmer until cooked and you'll be wowed by how tasty a tricked-out bowl of rice can taste.
Get the recipe: Chorizo Rice
Photo © 2015 Eva Kosmas Flores
A Traditional Meal That's Way Simpler Than You'd Think
Chicken and dumplings is an old-fashioned dish that sounds more complicated than it really is. And this master recipe, from Eva Kosmas Flores' new book,
Adventures in Chicken exemplifies that perfectly. You quickly brown chicken thighs until golden, simmer them with stock and herbs until they're almost cooked then drop spoonfuls of a simple dough into the pot and let the dumplings plump up for 15 minutes. And while there's nothing complicated about this easy dish, there is fantastic flavor, thanks to woodsy-tasting, fresh rosemary.
Get the recipe: Herbed Chicken with Garlic and Rosemary Dumplings
A New Twist on a Breakfast-for-Dinner Favorite
Corned-beef hash gets a fresh makeover with this foolproof recipe, which keeps the potatoes and onion but swaps in prosciutto for corned beef and adds asparagus for a bit of green crunch. Once they're well cooked, you use a spoon to form four nests in the hash and crack an egg into each. You can cook the nests until they're hard, or let them go just until the egg whites are firm but the yolks are still runny.
Get the recipe: Asparagus and Prosciutto Hash
The One Casserole You Never Thought You'd Make on the Stove
This smart recipe manages to deliver cheesy, delicious lasagna (yes, lasagna!) without having you even turn on the oven. You start by sautéing ground beef, then you add canned tomatoes and seasonings; once that's all bubbling away, you toss in wide egg noodles (which are almost like mini lasagna sheets). The pasta cooks in the sauce, as you stir in ricotta and shredded mozzarella—and the cheeses melt as soon as they hit the hot sauce.
Get the recipe: Easy One-Skillet Lasagna
A Wholesome Dinner with International Flair
Black beans, corn, avocado, shredded Monterey Jack, cumin and ancho chili may be the staple ingredients in some of the world's best tacos, burritos and enchiladas—but they can do even more. The adaptable Mexican flavors are terrific in this healthy one-pot meal, where quinoa cooks in the same pan as the beans and corn, along with diced red bell pepper and tomato. The spices add depth and you garnish the somewhat spicy mixture with cooling dollops of sour cream, sliced avocado and shredded cheese.
Get the recipe: One-Pot Mexican Quinoa
Published 09/23/2016
