In years past, one of the most popular American pastimes involved sitting around the dinner table as a family to enjoy a delicious meal. The types of meals varied from night to night, but dinnertime is ideal for allowing the family to come together, talk about the day and relax around good food. Some of the most delicious meals don’t take a lot of preparation and are some of the classic staples in any American kitchen. Whenever it is difficult to come up with a good menu for dinner, always pull out one of these selections and the family is sure to be pleased!
1. Chicken Dinner
Unless the family is vegetarian, most people really love chicken. Many kids name chicken nuggets as their favorite dish. In these cases, it is great to play on that. Once it is well-seasoned, chicken can be made in a variety of ways. Baking a chicken or throwing it in the crock-pot are two of the most hands-off ways to prepare it. While the chicken is cooking, throw some basmati rice in the rice cooker with a little coconut milk, salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. Boil a few ears of corn on the cob and steam a large head of broccoli over the stove top. This meal is sure to stick to the bones and leave everyone happily satisfied.
2. Hamburger and/or Hot Dog with Chips
These are the classic items on any picnic menu and they work seamlessly for a great family meal. If the weather allows, use the outdoor grill to give the hamburgers and hot dogs a good chargrilled finish. Add the toppings of mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and sliced cheese! For the hot dogs, make sure to include relish and the classic Coney bun, available from Klosterman Baking Company and similar businesses. Chips are a simple side item and popular flavors include barbecue and sour cream and onion!
3. Pizza and Fries
This is an American meal that’s super easy to make from scratch. It’s also even easier to pick up the phone and call the nearest pizza shop to deliver it. After laying out the dough, add tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and whatever toppings the family loves (olives, mushrooms, green peppers, etc.). Use a pizza stone for a better crust while baking. Then, peel a few potatoes and slice them up. Put them in a bowl and add olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients until the potatoes are completely coated. Bake for 20 minutes and flip them halfway through.
4. Spaghetti, Meatballs & Garlic Bread
This dish is one of the easiest on the list to make. Noodles take less than ten minutes to boil. Use turkey or beef as the base for meatballs. Throw in a loaf of store-bought garlic bread in the oven. Add some veggies and it’s a scrumptious meal for all to enjoy.
All-American classics are usually easy to create, but are incredibly filling and leave everyone happy. With any one of these dishes in regular rotation, a family is sure to have plenty of fond memories around the kitchen table.
