Ree Drummond, known as The Pioneer Woman, has captivated home cooks with her approachable style and delicious, family-friendly recipes. Starting as a home cook on an Oklahoma ranch, she has built a culinary empire, including multiple cookbooks, a popular Food Network show, and even a charming hotel. For those seeking comforting and satisfying dinner ideas, Pioneer Woman recipes are a fantastic place to start. Her dishes are known for being flavorful, easy to prepare, and perfect for feeding a hungry family. This guide explores some of the best Pioneer Woman Recipes For Dinner, offering inspiration and practical tips for your next home-cooked meal.
Comfort Food Classics for Weeknight Dinners
When it comes to weeknight dinners, comfort food is often the answer. Ree Drummond excels at creating dishes that are both comforting and relatively simple to make, making them ideal for busy families.
Pot Roast Perfection
Pot roast is a quintessential comfort food, and Ree Drummond’s version is a standout. This recipe is perfect for a Sunday dinner that can provide delicious leftovers throughout the week. The pot roast is savory, incredibly tender, and requires minimal hands-on time, especially when using a slow cooker or Dutch oven.
Perfect Pot Roast
Ingredients
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- One 3- to 5-pound chuck roast
- 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 whole onions, peeled and halved
- 6 to 8 whole carrots, unpeeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup red wine, optional
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
- Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.
- Heat the olive oil in large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the halved onions to the pot, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions to a plate.
- Throw the carrots into the same very hot pot and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so. Reserve the carrots with the onions.
- If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.
- With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a whisk. Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway.
- Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs.
- Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. The roast is ready when it’s fall-apart tender.
Quick & Easy Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a beloved dish for kids and adults alike, and Ree Drummond’s Quick Shells and Cheese recipe is both easy and incredibly satisfying. This is a perfect example of a Pioneer Woman dinner recipe that delivers big on flavor without requiring hours in the kitchen.
While the original recipe is found in The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime, you can find similar variations online that capture the essence of her easy mac and cheese. These recipes typically involve a creamy cheese sauce made with cheddar and other cheeses, combined with cooked pasta shells for a comforting and quick meal.
Breakfast for Dinner? Pioneer Woman Style!
Who says dinner has to be traditional? Ree Drummond’s recipes often blur the lines between breakfast and dinner, offering fun and flavorful options that are perfect for a change of pace. Breakfast-for-dinner, or “brinner,” can be a fantastic way to introduce variety to your weekly meal plan.
Loaded Tater Tot Bake
The Loaded Tater Tot Bake is a prime example of a Pioneer Woman recipe that’s perfect for a “brinner.” This casserole combines the comforting flavors of breakfast with the heartiness needed for a dinner meal. While Ree Drummond has her own version, the Loaded Tater Tot Bake recipe provides a great starting point. It’s customizable, family-friendly, and a fun twist on typical dinner fare. You can also explore other Pioneer Woman tater tot casserole variations for more inspiration.
Loaded Tater Tot Bake is a perfect Pioneer Woman dinner recipe that combines breakfast and dinner flavors.
Fresh & Flavorful Dinner Salads
For a lighter yet satisfying dinner option, Pioneer Woman’s salads are a great choice. These are not your typical bland salads; they are packed with flavor, texture, and hearty ingredients that make them substantial enough for a main meal.
Cowboy Chopped Salad
The Cowboy Chopped Salad is a standout Pioneer Woman recipe that’s ideal for dinner. This salad is far from ordinary, boasting layers of flavor and textures. It’s loaded with crispy bacon, crunchy tortilla strips, fresh vegetables, cheese, and a tangy BBQ ranch dressing. The Cowboy Chopped Salad is perfect as a complete meal or as a side dish for a larger gathering.
Cowboy Chopped Salad
Ingredients
Bacon and Tortilla Strips:
- 12 slices bacon, chopped
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 4 corn tortillas, cut into strips
BBQ Ranch Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- Buttermilk, as needed to adjust the consistency
- Hot sauce, as needed
- Kosher salt
Salad:
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into chunks and sliced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 bunch scallions, sliced
- 1 pound Cheddar, grated
- Pico de gallo, store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- For the bacon and tortilla strips: Fry the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Add some vegetable oil to the bacon skillet and fry the tortilla strips until crisp, approximately 1 minute. Drain on paper towels.
- For the BBQ ranch dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, barbecue sauce, parsley, chives and garlic. Adjust the consistency with buttermilk to make it a little thinner. Taste and add hot sauce and salt as needed.
- For the salad: Put the lettuce, tomatoes, scallions, bacon and most of the cheese into a bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and stir. Scatter over some pico de gallo, the tortilla strips and the reserved cheese, then serve.
Sweet Endings (Optional Dessert)
While this article focuses on dinner, no Pioneer Woman meal is truly complete without the possibility of dessert! Though not strictly a dinner recipe, Missy’s Blueberry and Lemon Cupcakes offer a delightful sweet treat to round out your Pioneer Woman-inspired dinner. These cupcakes are bursting with flavor and are a wonderful way to end a comforting meal.
Missy’s Blueberry and Lemon Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (let stand at room temp)
- 3 eggs (let stand at room temp)
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons finely shredded lemon peel
- Butter baking spray
- Blueberries, coated with flour
Frosting:
- 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter (let stand at room temp)
- 1 stick cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- For the batter: Mix the butter and eggs. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. Mix the granulated sugar, milk and lemon peel together. Then mix the butter and eggs into the milk and sugar mixture. Mix the flour into the wet mixture and blend.
- Place paper cups into a pan, spray with butter baking spray and fill each cup three-quarters full with batter. Drop the coated blueberries on top. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.
- For the frosting: Combine the powdered sugar, butter, cream cheese, lemon juice and zest together until light and fluffy. Pipe onto the cupcakes and decorate with lemon peel, blueberries and a mint leaf.
Conclusion: Pioneer Woman Dinner Recipes for Every Occasion
Pioneer Woman recipes are a treasure trove for anyone looking for delicious, easy-to-make meals that the whole family will love. From comforting classics like pot roast and mac and cheese to flavorful salads and fun “brinner” options, Ree Drummond offers a wide variety of dinner ideas to suit any taste and occasion. While many recipes are indulgent, they are perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, or simply a satisfying weeknight meal. Explore her cookbooks and website for even more Pioneer Woman recipes and bring the taste of the ranch to your dinner table tonight!
