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Even for those who aren’t big on veggies, this dish is sure to please. Caramelized bacon engulfs tender asparagus spears, for a side that is sure to sell out! Loaded with flavorful seasoning, and baked to perfection, this dish makes the perfect accompaniment to any tender meat dish.  You can also grill these, if you so choose, for a little smoky flair.

Asparagus is one of those veggies that makes people either smile or cringe. I did not always like it, myself – until I found out the reason. I had just been cooking it wrong the entire time! This recipe is one of my favorites and I’ve been able to convert serious asparagus-haters with this one! Once you’ve had a taste of these crunchy things with the delicious bacon, you can’t go back. These are one of my holiday side dish favorites!

Recipe and photo courtesy of How Sweet Eats

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Quick tip: These will also make the perfect side to your favorite steak!

This Cheesy Broccoli Gratin recipe comes with an extra helping of cheddar and a creamy, savory roux that can make most any veggies taste out-of-this-world wonderful. What a great way to balance out a good main course! I think that a dish such as this is particularly good for the cooler months. It’s so warm and soothing, and it brings a great change to all the heavy meals we tend to eat during the holidays.

A single large baking dish works just fine to bake this, but if you want to get a bit fancy, you can divide portions into individual ramekins for baking, once you are finished with the prep cooking steps on the stove. That pinch of nutmeg makes this side dish a great choice for fall or holiday baking, and if you would like to mix up the flavors a bit, you could always substitute cauliflower for the broccoli.

Recipe and photo courtesy of 12 Tomatoes

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Quick tip: I love to serve this with chicken!

This Chicken Black Bean Taco Bake is another great Mexican-inspired recipe for those hectic midweek nights. With a few simple cheats, you can have a great-tasting dinner ready in about half an hour! The cheese lovers in your family will go wild over this one, I think. Granted, it doesn’t skimp on the meat, either. It’s a quick and easy recipe but still manages to be rather hearty and filling.

Though you are welcome to cook chicken on your own, the easiest thing to do for a recipe like this is to buy a nice rotisserie chicken and shred that up. It minimizes the hassle, and it’s already nicely seasoned for a savory, creamy, cheese-rich recipe such as this. I do recommend investing in a good iron skillet if you don’t have one already; they last forever (the one I have has been in the family for over 100 years and is still going strong) and are great when you need really even heating or if you need to do transfers between stove and oven, such as this.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Picky Palate

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Quick tip: For best results, use a 12-inch iron skillet for this recipe, though any oven-safe skillet will do just fine.

Sometimes, you just want something quick and hearty for dinner. This Ground Turkey & Sweet Potato skillet fills that need nicely, while being lean and gluten-free. It’s also a nice flavor combination for fall and the holidays. You know – when you’ve practically spent the last couple of days in the kitchen, you start to think there must be an easier way…

I have had a lengthy run of entertaining family for football here recently, and though I enjoy everyone’s company, after all of that, even the most motivated chef needs a bit of a break. This easy skillet recipe was just right for me. It is filling, yet also rather lean and with a healthy dose of vitamins and complex carbs. The best part, however, was that everyone totally loved it! They went for seconds so fast I could hardly believe it.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Primavera Kitchen

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Quick tip: Use your favorite cheese instead of mozzarella.

This French Onion Soup Stuffed Meatloaf recipe is about as far from boring as you can get, for a ground beef-based main course! It’s basically meatloaf au gratin and a rich onion soup rolled into one really hearty recipe – filling enough for a big family meal but gourmet enough to serve for company.

If you and your family think that meatloaf generally equals “blah” or “boring,” you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise if you give this recipe a try. It’s loaded with cheese and savory flavor and manages to be gourmet and hearty comfort food at the same time. With carefully chosen side dishes you can turn this into a festive meal – and your guest will think you have secretly hired a chef!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Cupcakes & Kale Chips

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Quick Tip: Use ground turkey in place of ground beef for a healthier version if you prefer.

If you are looking for an easy, creamy casserole to make for dinner, this Chicken Alfredo Casserole recipe is a good choice. It brings gourmet flavor to your dinner table without much hassle or time investment. I have a box full of go-to recipes for those busy days when I want to serve something nice but don’t have the time to slave away in the kitchen. This is one of those recipes. Chicken Alfredo has a fancy name, and if you like creamy, cheese-rich dishes, it does sport great Italian-style flavor.

Making it into a casserole is a great way to speed up the process and reduce the hassle. After all, you’ve probably got hungry kids and family members to feed, right? Who wants to listen to them howl about how hungry they are any longer than you have too? Not me!

So, I’m always thankful for recipes like this because it’s easy to make, tastes good, and very filling. Everyone is usually happy with it, too! This includes my picky eater son 🙂

Recipe and photo courtesy of Mommy’s Kitchen

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Quick Tip: Always ensure to thoroughly coat your baking dish with Pam Cooking spray to discourage food from sticking.

Liven up your side dish menu a bit with this Loaded Wild Rice Pilaf. It sports an exciting combination of flavors that make it perfect as part of a holiday meal, though you shouldn’t have any trouble making up a batch for any occasion that you like.

I suppose that this is properly a Thanksgiving or Christmas side, but I got really excited, looking at the different combinations in this recipe, and just had to try it early. I am glad that I did. It’s not that difficult to put together, and it makes a great part of any fall (or winter) meal.

Recipe and photo courtesy of What Would Cathy Eat

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