The Drummond Kids' Favorite Recipes from Childhood Are Still Family Staples Today
From chicken spaghetti to chocolate sheet cake, they're all classics!
Few things say "Drummond family" quite like a table full of comfort food. Over the years, Ree has built a following by sharing the hearty, family-friendly meals she makes for her crew—recipes that are simple, satisfying, and always made with love (and usually cheese). Whether she's whipping up a casserole on a weeknight or sending a care package of frozen meals to her college kids, her cooking has always been about one thing: feeding the people she loves.
And as any parent knows, every kid has their own list of favorites. Some are long-standing classics from the dinner rotation on the ranch, while others are newer meals that made it into the weekly lineup by popular demand. Either way, when the Drummond kids request one of The Pioneer Woman's recipes, it has officially passed the ultimate test.
This list rounds up some of the Drummond kids' favorite foods of all time, from cozy soups and saucy pasta recipes to easy 30-minute meals and knock-your-socks-off desserts. There’s Todd's beloved chocolate peanut butter pie, Bryce's broccoli with cheese sauce, Alex's cajun pasta, and yes, even Paige's favorite potato soup. These are the recipes they ask for every time they come home, and the ones that make it into birthday dinners, holiday spreads, and lazy Sunday afternoons.
So whether you're planning your next family meal or just looking for something tried, true, and totally delicious, these go-to Drummond kid favorites are a great place to start.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Bryce has a soft spot for anything involving broccoli and cheese, and this soup is no exception. It’s rich, smooth, and full of flavor, with just enough veggies to keep things balanced. Hearty enough for lunch, easy enough for dinner.
Get Ree's Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Chocolate peanut butter pie is pretty much guaranteed to disappear around the Drummond crew. Todd's especially fond of it (as is Ladd!), because it's rich, creamy, and totally dreamy. Peanut butter and chocolate were just meant to be together!
Get Ree's Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie recipe.
Perfect Potato Soup
There's a reason this soup shows up again and again in the Drummond kitchen. It's creamy, comforting, and easy to make with pantry staples. Paige has always loved this soup, and we can understand why! It's so satisfying... and best served with a slice of crusty bread.
Get Ree's Perfect Potato Soup recipe.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Cajun chicken pasta has been one of Alex's go-to dinners for years. It's creamy, slightly spicy, and packed with enough bold flavor to keep things interesting. It feels fancy enough for a Friday night but still comes together easily, especially if you've got a craving for comfort with a little kick.
Get Ree's Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe.
Salisbury Steak
A favorite of Bryce’s, this old-school classic checks every box for a hearty, satisfying meal. The beef patties are simmered in a savory onion gravy that begs to be spooned over mashed potatoes. It’s the kind of dinner that fills you up and keeps you coming back for seconds.
Get the Salisbury Steak recipe.
French Onion Chicken Casserole
This rich, cheesy casserole made headlines in the Drummond house when Ree prepped it ahead of time for Alex after baby Sofia was born. It's savory, comforting, and loaded with caramelized onions and melted cheese. (Exactly what you’d want waiting for you after a life-changing week!)
Get Ree's French Onion Chicken Casserole recipe.
Smothered Pork Chops
"Sometimes you just need a big honkin' plate of pork chops smothered with bell pepper gravy," Ree says—and this dish delivers. The chops are pan-fried until golden, then simmered in a creamy skillet gravy with peppers and onions. Todd is especially fond of this hearty, no-frills favorite, and Ree always insists on serving it over something starchy for maximum gravy-soaking potential. Mashed potatoes preferred.
Get Ree's Smothered Pork Chops recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
Even Ladd, who's famously not a casserole guy, makes an exception for this one. "It's chicken, cheese, pasta, and a few sneaky vegetables," Ree says. It's Todd’s favorite too—Ree has sent frozen pans of it to his dorm more than once. Cheesy, saucy, and easy to make in big batches, it's everything you want in a weeknight dinner.
Get Ree's Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
Fettuccine Alfredo
This pasta is Alex Drummond's go-to comfort food, and it's easy to see why. Ree describes it as "one of the simplest but dreamiest" recipes in her rotation. With just butter, cream, parmesan, and pasta, it comes together quickly and feels like something from a fancy restaurant—even if you're eating it on the couch with a fork and a blanket.
Get Ree's Fettuccine Alfredo recipe.
Sloppy Joe
Ree has a whole backstory when it comes to sloppy joes—complete with childhood fears of demonic possession (yes, really). But over time, this classic ground beef sandwich won her over. Now it's a regular part of the dinner rotation and a favorite among the boys, especially Bryce. It’s simple, flavorful, and easy to customize with a little spice or a grilled bun.
Get Ree's Sloppy Joe recipe.
Orange Chicken
Paige is a longtime fan of orange chicken—specifically the kind from Panda Express. "To three females who live on an isolated ranch, being less than five minutes away from drive-through Chinese food is enough to keep us going back to co-op week after week," Ree once wrote. Paige's order was always the same: orange chicken, every time. Ree's homemade version is extra citrusy, lightly sweet, and a regular request from her youngest daughter.
Get Ree's Orange Chicken recipe.
Broccoli With Cheese
"My boy Bryce loves broccoli with cheese sauce so much that there've been times I've actually feared he would turn into broccoli with cheese sauce," Ree jokes. This classic side dish is creamy, comforting, and beloved by everyone, but especially by Bryce. The sauce works on just about anything, but broccoli is the clear winner in the Drummond house.
Get Ree's Broccoli With Cheese recipe.
Chocolate Sheet Cake
This is the cake that's been showing up at Drummond birthdays for decades. Ree has made it for all four kids over the years, and it's still her go-to for celebrations. The cake is rich and moist with a warm, pour-over chocolate frosting that sinks into every bite. It's simple, classic, and always the first dessert to disappear.
Get Ree's Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe.
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