‘Comfort shortcut’: Just 3 ingredients. I throw this together when time’s tight.

This little three-ingredient wonder is a good base for all sorts of tinkering, just like the casseroles our mothers and grandmothers made from whatever was on hand. If you’d like a bit more flavor without adding extra ingredients to the shopping list, season the ground beef well as it cooks with salt, pepper, and any pantry staples you keep around—garlic powder, onion powder, or a pinch of dried Italian seasoning all work nicely. You can also swap the cheddar for whatever cheese you have: Colby Jack will give you that classic Midwestern flavor, while pepper jack adds a gentle kick. If your biscuits are on the larger side, cut them into smaller pieces so they bake through evenly. For a heartier dish, you can stretch the meat by stirring in a handful of leftover cooked vegetables—corn, peas, or green beans—before adding the biscuits and cheese. And if you like a crisper top, bake the casserole on the middle-upper rack so the cheese gets a little golden around the edges, just like those beloved potluck bakes from years gone by.