Fall always seems to arrive with a full calendar—back-to-school routines, sports schedules, shorter days, and weekends packed with activities. With so much going on, deciding what to make for dinner can feel like another chore. And that’s where a well-stocked pantry comes in.
Keeping essentials like HORMEL® Chili, DINTY MOORE® Stew, MARY KITCHEN® Hash, SPAM® Brand, HORMEL® Canned Meats, and HERB-OX® Bouillon on hand means you’re never far from a comforting meal. These staples are the backbone of easy weeknight cooking, helping you turn busy evenings into cozy dinners with minimal effort. From hearty stews to bubbling casseroles, they make it simple to bring big flavor and warmth to the table—no stress required.
Chili Potato Puffs Casserole
Easy MealsIngredients
| 2 | (15-ounce) cans HORMEL® Chunky Chili No Beans |
| 1 | (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained |
| 1 | (4-ounce) can diced green chiles |
| 2 | cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided |
| 1 | (28-ounce) package frozen potato puffs |
| 2 | tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves |
| Sour cream | |
| Chopped fresh cilantro leaves |
Directions
Heat oven to 450°F.
In lightly greased 13 -x 9-inch baking dish, combine chili, tomatoes and green chiles. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese and layer with potato puffs. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese and cilantro.
Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with additional cilantro.
Chili Mac N' Cheese Bake
Easy MealsIngredients
| 8 | ounces uncooked macaroni |
| 1 | (15 ounce) can HORMEL® Chili with Beans |
| 1½ | cups CHI-CHI’S® thick & chunky salsa |
| 1 | medium green pepper, chopped |
| 1 | tablespoon chili powder |
| 2 | cups (8 ounces) shredded marble Jack cheese, divided |
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 2 ½-quart baking dish. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well. Pour into large bowl.
Toss chili, salsa, green pepper and chili powder with macaroni until well mixed. Stir in 1 ½ cups cheese. Spoon into prepared casserole. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Beef Stew Mashed Potato Pie
Easy MealsIngredients
| 1 | (20-ounce) can DINTY MOORE® Beef Stew |
| 1 | (20-ounce) HORMEL® Homestyle Mashed Potatoes |
| 1 | cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese |
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F.
In 1-quart oven safe skillet, place stew. Place scoops of mashed potatoes over stew. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Chicken & Dumpling Bake
Easy MealsIngredients
| 2 | tablespoons butter |
| ⅜ | cup chopped onion |
| ½ | cup sliced celery |
| ½ | cup sliced carrots |
| 1 | (20-ounce) can DINTY MOORE® Chicken & Dumplings |
| ½ | (17.3-ounce) package ready-made puff pastry sheets, thawed according to package directions |
| 1 | egg, lightly beaten |
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. In medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions, celery and carrots. Cook 4 to 5 minutes or until softened. Add chicken and dumplings. Cook 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a 1½-quart baking dish.
On lightly floured surface, roll out pastry sheet into a 16-inch square. Cut pastry into 1½ to 2-inch squares.
Place dough squares, slightly overlapping on top of chicken and dumpling mixture. Brush dough squares with beaten egg. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
Corned Beef Hash Casserole
EntertainingIngredients
| 1 | (14-ounce) can HORMEL® MARY KITCHEN® Corned Beef Hash |
| 1 | onion, chopped |
| 8 | eggs |
| 1¼ | cups milk |
| 1 | teaspoon whole grain mustard |
| Pinch cayenne pepper | |
| 4 | cups ½-inch bread cubes |
| 1½ | cups shredded Swiss cheese, divided |
| Chopped parsley |
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
In large skillet, cook hash and onion 5 to 7 minutes or until hash is crisp and onion is tender.
In large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, mustard and cayenne pepper. Stir in bread cubes, hash mixture and 1 cup cheese. Spoon into greased 9×9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and center is set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley. Serves 6.
Ultimate Breakfast Nachos
Easy MealsIngredients
| 1 | (10-ounce) bag corn tortilla chips |
| 1 | cup HORMEL® MARY KITCHEN® Corned Beef Hash |
| ½ | (8-ounce) package ground breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled |
| 4 | HORMEL® BLACK LABEL® bacon slices, cooked and crumbled |
| 4 | large eggs, softly scrambled |
| 1½ | cups shredded Mexican 4-cheese blend |
| ¼ | cup chopped fresh cilantro |
| ¼ | cup sour cream |
| 1 | jalapeño, seeded and sliced |
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F.
Arrange chips in single layer on jelly-roll pan. Spoon hash over chips. Layer with sausage, bacon, eggs and cheese. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Top with cilantro, sour cream and jalapeño slices. Serve immediately.
Chicken Taco Tortilla Soup
EntertainingIngredients
| 4 | CHI-CHI’S® Fajita Tortillas, cut into thin strips |
| 3 | water |
| 1 | (16-ounce) jar CHI-CHI’S® Thick & Chunky Salsa |
| 3 | HERB-OX® Chicken Bouillon Cubes |
| 1 | (1.25-ounce) package CHI-CHI’S® Taco Seasoning Mix |
| 1 | (10-ounce) cans HORMEL® Premium Chicken Breast , drained and flaked |
| 1 | (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed |
| 1 | (11-ounce) can whole kernel corn with red and green bell peppers, drained |
| Sour cream, if desired |
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F.
Place tortilla strips on baking sheet; lightly coat strips with cooking spray. Bake 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp.
Meanwhile, in large saucepan, stir together water, salsa, bouillon and taco seasoning over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 5 minutes.
Add chicken, beans and corn to saucepan. Cook 10 to 12 minutes or until soup is hot and flavors are blended. Ladle into warm bowls; top with tortilla crisps. Garnish with sour cream.
Hearty Beef & Black Bean Soup
EntertainingIngredients
| 4 | HERB-OX® Beef Bouillon cubes, crumbled |
| 6 | cups water |
| 1 | (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed |
| 1 | cup frozen corn kernels |
| 12 | ounces shredded beef |
| ⅓ | cup sour cream |
| ¼ | cup chopped fresh cilantro |
| Cilantro leaves, chopped avocado and sliced green onions, to serve |
Directions
In large saucepan, combine bouillon cubes and water. Bring to boil. Stir until bouillon cubes dissolve. Add beans and corn. Cook, covered, over medium-high heat 2 minutes or until hot.
Stir in beef. Heat, covered, 3 minutes or until hot.
Stir in sour cream and cilantro. Spoon soup into warmed bowls. Top with cilantro leaves, avocado & green onions, if desired.
Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Easy MealsIngredients
| ½ | cup wild rice, rinsed thoroughly |
| 2 | medium carrots, shredded |
| 2 | celery stalks, thinly sliced |
| 1 | large yellow onion, chopped |
| 5½ | cups water |
| 2 | tablespoons HERB-OX® Chicken Granulated Bouillon |
| 1 | cup whipping cream |
| 2 | tablespoons all-purpose flour |
| 2 | (10-ounce) cans HORMEL® Premium Chicken Breast, drained and flaked |
| Slivered almonds |
Directions
In 6-quart slow cooker, combine wild rice, carrots, celery, onion, water and bouillon. Cover; cook on LOW setting 4 hours or until rice is tender.
In bowl, whisk together cream and flour until smooth. Slowly stir into soup; add chicken. Cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened and chicken is heated thoroughly.
Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with almonds.
SPAM® Pizza Casserole
Easy MealsIngredients
| 2 | (12-ounce) cans SPAM® Oven Roasted Turkey, cut into 1/2-inch cubes |
| 1 | (10.75-ounce) can Cheddar cheese soup |
| 6 | cups frozen shredded hashbrown potatoes, thawed |
| 1 | large egg, lightly beaten |
| 1 | (4-ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained |
| 1 | onion, chopped |
| ¼ | teaspoon pepper |
| 1 | (14 to 16-ounce) jar pizza sauce |
| ½ | teaspoon salt |
| 4 | cups shredded pizza cheese blend |
| 1 | tablespoon vegetable oil |
Directions
Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, combine the potatoes, soup, egg, salt, and pepper; mix well. Spread the mixture evenly in the baking pan.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
Add the SPAM® Oven Roasted Turkey, onion, and mushrooms.
Cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
Stir in pizza sauce.
Sprinkle hot potato crust with 2 cups cheese. Top with SPAM® mixture and remaining 2 cups cheese.
Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut the pizza into squares.
Cheesy Macaroni Bake
Easy MealsIngredients
| 1 | (12-ounce) can SPAM® Classic, diced |
| 1 | tablespoon all-purpose flour |
| 2 | tablespoons butter or margarine, divided |
| ¼ | teaspoon dry mustard |
| 8 | ounces elbow macaroni |
| ½ | cup fresh breadcrumbs (1 slice) |
| 1 | pinch ground red pepper (cayenne) |
| 2 | cups milk |
| ⅛ | teaspoon paprika |
| ½ | pound processed sharp American cheese, diced |
| ¼ | teaspoon salt |
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole pan.
Cook macaroni according to the package, then drain.
In casserole, stir together SPAM® Classic and macaroni.
In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Blend in flour, salt, mustard, black pepper, and cayenne until smooth. Stir in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture thickens and boils. Add the cheese and cook, stirring until it’s melted. Pour over SPAM® mixture and mix together well.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then stir in breadcrumbs and paprika. Sprinkle over macaroni. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
