RecipesBreakfast Burrito Casserole A friend gave me this burrito casserole recipe and I modified it to fit our family. It’s perfect for a brunch, because you can prep it the night before and bake it the next morning. —Krista Yoder, Due West, South Carolina
RecipesRhubarb Berry Coffee Cake I rely on a cake mix to speed the prep for this moist streusel-topped dessert that pairs tart rhubarb with sweet strawberries. It’s great all by itself, but feel free to add some frosting or ice cream. —Jackie Heyer, Cushing, Iowa
RecipesCatalina Chicken Using salad dressing to make this family favorite helps keep the prep time to only 10 minutes. I like to spoon extra sauce over the baked Catalina chicken just before serving. —Frances Roberts, Silver Spring, Maryland
RecipesFennel Orange Salad You’ll need just a few ingredients to fix this fresh-tasting fennel orange salad. The combination of crisp fennel and juicy oranges is delightful. To reduce last-minute prep, make it the day before you plan to serve it. —Nina Hall, Spokane, Washington
RecipesCheeseburger Soup with Rice I don’t have a lot of extra time to spend in the kitchen, so I appreciate that I can cook this soup’s ground beef and rice in advance to speed up my dinner prep on busy days. —Janne Rowe, Wichita, Kansas
RecipesSlow-Cooked Southwest Chicken This dish needs just 15 minutes of prep, so you’ll be out of the kitchen in no time. The delicious low-fat chicken gets even better with a garnish of reduced-fat sour cream and fresh cilantro. —Brandi Castillo, Santa Maria, California
RecipesLasagna Soup in the Slow Cooker Every fall and winter, our staff has a soup rotation. I have modified this recipe so I can prep it the night before and put it in the slow cooker in the morning. My colleagues love it! —Sharon Gerst, North Liberty, Iowa
RecipesSlow-Cooker Kalua Pork & Cabbage My slow-cooker pork has four ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes to prep. The result tastes just like the luscious slow-roasted kalua pork that’s served in Hawaii. —Rholinelle DeTorres, San Jose, California
RecipesBanh Mi Skewers I love banh mi sandwiches but wanted to make them a little easier to serve for a party. These skewers are a really fun twist! For easier prep on the day of the party, make the meatballs in advance and freeze them. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
RecipesChicken Carrot Fried Rice A dear friend shared this colorful stir fry when my four children were small. It quickly won over those picky eaters! To cut down on prep time, I make the rice ahead and often marinate the chicken beforehand.
RecipesHash Brown Potato Salad Frozen hash browns pare down prep time for this quick mayonnaise potato salad from Myra Innes of Auburn, Kansas. “It’s so easy to make in a hurry because you don’t have to peel any potatoes,” she notes.
RecipesSlow-Cooker Cheesy White Lasagna Here’s my best version of my favorite food—lasagna! The recipe is a winner, so it’s worth the extra prep. You’ll have plenty of time to plan side dishes while the main dish is cooking. —Suzanne Smith, Bluffton, Indiana
RecipesDilly Veggie Pizza Always popular at special events and a cinch to prep, this is one of my favorite ways to use leftover veggies. You can change the mixture to match your kids’ tastes, and it’s just as yummy the next day. —Heather Ahrens, Columbus, Ohio
RecipesRanch-Marinated Chicken Breasts The pub favorite pairing of ranch dressing and chicken comes home to your kitchen. With just a little prep time the night before, you can have these savory breasts ready in about half an hour! —Barbee Decker, Whispering Pines, North Carolina
RecipesChicken Alfredo Lasagna My family was growing tired of traditional red sauce lasagna, so I created this fun twist using a creamy homemade Alfredo sauce. Store-bought rotisserie chicken keeps prep simple and fast. —Caitlin MacNeilly, Uncasville, Connecticut
RecipesMexican Pork Tenderloins We spoon the black bean salsa that accompanies this dish over grilled tenderloin slices. You can save on last-minute prep time by making the salsa and the cumin-coriander pork rub ahead. —Maria Chiarino of Concord, North Carolina