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Photo: Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Mothers-in-law are a notoriously fussy bunch. So, when one of them approves of a recipe, you just know it's gotta be good. That's why we threw together this collection of our best recipes that come from our community's in-laws—from tried-and-true desserts to family-pleasing dinners, these dishes will impress even the toughest critic at your table.
01
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Ultimate Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
"This recipe for the ultimate Lowcountry shrimp and grits is modeled after my mother-in-law’s recipe, for which she won first place in Charleston, SC. It features grits with fresh white sweet corn, topped with a rich tomato gravy and deep fried shrimp, then finished with crumbled bacon." —Nicole McLaughlin
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8 Soups and Stews That Are Full of Lowcountry Flavor
02
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Chicken Salad Souffle Casserole
lutzflcat
"This chicken casserole is a very old recipe given to me by my mother-in-law, who always served it with a black cherry Jell-O salad. Over the years, it has become a family thing, and we all still enjoy it." —lutzflcat
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03
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Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
lutzflcat
"An easy loaded mashed potato casserole dish for the holidays, courtesy of my mother-in-law, Marie. This can be made the day before and baked right before serving." —Shelley D
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04
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My Sicilian Ex-Mother-in-Law's Peperonata
Buckwheat Queen
"This recipe—my Sicilian ex-mother-in-law's peperonato—is Camilla's version of a Sicilian contorno (meatless side dish) made with bell peppers, onion, garlic, and fresh herbs. Peperonato is usually made in large quantities, so there will be leftovers to toss with either pasta or rice the next day." —Buckwheat Queen
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05
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Nonna's Artichokes
Allrecipes Member
"This is my Italian mother-in-law's (Nonna's) recipe for artichokes. Large artichokes are stuffed with a delicious bread crumb mixture and then simmered in a white wine sauce until tender. Use a nice crusty bread to soak up the remaining sauce!" —Kim's Cooking Now
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06
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Instant Pot Double Bean and Ham Soup
lutzflcat
"I know it sounds strange, but my mother-in-law always added a can of pork and beans to her homemade bean soup—seriously, it adds another layer of flavor!" —lutzflcat
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Our Top 22 Instant Pot Soup Recipes
07
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Black-Eyed Pea Cornbread
"My mother-in-law passed down this black-eyed pea cornbread recipe to my wife. The first time she made it, I was completely surprised. I had never heard of it, and I've been unable to find anything else quite like it. You can fix this as a side dish to a meal or make it into muffins for snacks. Either way, you'll be pleasantly surprised." —Chris
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08
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Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce
Buckwheat Queen
"This is very old recipe given to me by my mother-in-law. Serve over penne or pasta of your choice." —Bren
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09
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Best Ramen Noodle Salad
"This ramen noodle salad is light and crunchy. It's excellent with BBQ chicken. This recipe is from my mother-in-law and has been a family favorite for years." —Nicole Burnham
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10
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Martie's Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
"This broccoli salad with bacon and cheese recipe is from my mother-in-law Martie. It is always a crowd-pleaser at family events and church picnics. The combination of bacon, cheese, and raisins gives it a sweet and salty taste." —Kevin Gorton
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11
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Chicken Velvet Soup
Arizona Desert Flower
"My mother-in-law used to make this chicken velvet soup often when her son and I first married. It is simple, tasty, and quick to make." —SCHSmom
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12
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Kool-Aid Pie
Jason Donnelly / Food Styling: Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling: Natalie Ghazali
"This Kool-Aid pie is a super-easy and quick recipe I got from my mother-in-law. No cooking, no baking, just mixing and letting it set! Everyone will think you spent hours making the creamy and luscious filling." —blue
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13
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Braised Corned Beef Brisket
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
"This corned beef brisket recipe was given to my mother-in-law, and it has become a treasured family recipe. The brisket is seared in a hot skillet, then topped with sliced onions, garlic, and a drizzle of broth, and braised for about 6 hours for a tender, juicy roast. It's so worth the wait!" —mauigirl
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14
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Easy Spanish Rice
Buckwheat Queen
"This easy recipe for Spanish rice was told to me by my girlfriend's mother-in-law from Mexico. I had to measure the ingredients. Never before have they been measured, always a 'handful of this and equal parts of that' until it looked right. I hope you enjoy it. It has become a family favorite in our home." —Arizona Desert Flower
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15
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Citrus Shortbread Cookies
Allrecipes/Preethi Venkatram
"This recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, one of the best cooks I know…and given that we're from south Louisiana, that's saying something. With the chopped up dried cranberries, these are as pretty as they are tasty." —Donna
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16
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Jamie's Sweet and Easy Corn on the Cob
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
"Corn on the cob is cooked in boiled water with a little sugar and lemon juice for the sweetest, tastiest corn! My mother-in-law gave me this easy recipe." —heatherjane
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17
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Flan Mexicano (Mexican Flan)
ShellsBells
"This Mexican flan recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, who is from Durango, Mexico. I had to beg her for years to give me this custard recipe—she finally gave it to me one Christmas." —Amy Shurts
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18
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Roasted Peppers in Oil (Peperoni Arrostiti Sotto Olio)
Buckwheat Queen
"My Italian mother-in-law taught me how to make these roasted red peppers in oil. She doesn't have any of her recipes written down. She just makes them like she always has for years. They can also be used on bruschetta or pureed with cream and served over pasta." —Kim's Cooking Now
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19
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My Mother-in-Law's Plum Bread
SherYum
"This delicious sweet-tart plum bread with a brown sugar topping is just like my mother-in-law used to make! Use plain, lemon, or orange yogurt." —3dogsinthekitchen
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20
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Mother-In-Law Eggs
"Sugar and hot mustard are the secret ingredients in this much-requested recipe for deviled eggs. Whenever my daughter-in-law throws a party, she is always asked, 'Are you having your mother-in-law's eggs?' Mothers-in-law are known to be sweet and devilish!" —SHORECOOK
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I Tried Our 5 Most Popular Deviled Egg Recipes and My Favorite Stole the Show
21
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Cherry Dump Cake
humblepieliving
"This cherry dump cake is amazingly easy and amazingly good… too good! This is my mother-in-law's recipe that was just recently shared. It would be a shame not to share it. Best served warm and with vanilla ice cream!" hhuffman4
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22
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Johnny Marzetti Casserole
Rock_lobster
"Kids love this Johnny Marzetti casserole. My mother-in-law used to make a simpler version of this for my husband when he was growing up. This version pushes the flavor profile a bit. Sometimes I let the casserole sit overnight before baking, as the flavors improve and the pasta absorbs some of the sauce, so the consistency is just right." —KC
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23
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More Inspiration
Allrecipes/Qi AI
- My Mom’s 60-Year-Old Strawberry Cake Recipe Is So Good, My Daughter Has It Framed In Her Kitchen
- My Mom’s 5-Ingredient Casserole Will Be the First Thing Gone at the Tailgate
- My Mom’s No-Bake Cookie Recipe Is So Easy, She Made It Once a Week
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