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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

    Homemade TV Dinner

    Published: Jan 20, 2013 · Modified: Feb 1, 2023 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade TV Dinner with all the fixins, including mashed potatoes, meatloaf, peas and carrots and fruit crumble.

    Retro-Redo: Homemade TV Dinner via LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    It didn't take me long to figure out what I was going to make for this weeks Sunday Supper theme. I mean, come on, retro is where its at! I am sure we all have fond memories of classic TV dinners and i wanted to bring that nostalgia and history of such a revolutionary time.

    We may turn up our noses now to those pre-made boxed meals,but TV dinners were a true revelation. Back in 1954, Swanson came out with the first TV dinners at the same time as  modern appliances, such as the huge popularity of the TV.  According to TLC, the start of TV dinners was an answer to a problem with Thanksgiving leftovers! Swanson had tons of Thanksgiving leftovers and needed a way to use them up. One of Swanson's salesman, Gerry Thomas just traveled via Pan Am where he saw tin trays with compartments. So the Swanson brothers took that idea and loaded up the compartment tin trays. A campaign followed and ever since, TV dinners were an instant hit!

    Retro-Redo: Homemade TV Dinner via LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    The revolutionary thing about TV dinners is that it allowed woman more free time. Towards the end of WWII, women were the usual home-keepers and cooks of the family.

    So having dinner ready within minutes allowed women to find other hobbies and work. The 1960's also brought an addition to the TV dinner, dessert. By this time TV trays had protein, carbs, vegetable and dessert all in 1 package!

    For today's Sunday Supper I made a just as easy, homemade TV dinner! Meatloaf made in muffin cups are perfect for portion control and cook up in less time than a larger loaf.

    Mashed potatoes with sour cream and Parmesan hit the spot and sweet peas and carrots are tossed with a touch o butter...nothing better than classic! And of course we can't end without a sweet dessert of Pear and pomegranate crumble to make it truly feel like home.

    Ain't that swell?

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    • Puttanesca pasta with anchovies, capers, olives and garnished with basil.
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    Homemade TV Dinner

    Samantha Ferraro

    LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    Homemade TV Dinner with all the fixins, including mashed potatoes, meatloaf, peas and carrots and fruit crumble.
    4.94 from 32 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Dinner, Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 633 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Meatloaf

    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 1 egg whisked
    • ½ c breadcrumbs
    • 2 Tb ketchup + more for topping
    • 1 Tb mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ onion chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves chopped
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Mashed Potatoes

    • ½ lb potatoes cut in half
    • ¼ c sour cream
    • ¼ c freshly grated Parmesan
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 1-2 Tb butter for topping

    Peas and Carrots

    • 2 c carrots peeled and chopped
    • 2 c peas frozen or fresh
    • 2 Tb butter
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Meatloaf

    • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.
    • Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and use a tablespoon to full muffin cups. It should make about 9.
    • Spread 1 Tb of ketchup on top of each meatloaf and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until edges begin to crisp.

    Mashed Potatoes

    • Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 15 minutes.
    • Use a potato masher to mash potatoes and add sour cream, Parmesan and salt and pepper.
    • Top with extra pat of butter.

    Peas and Carrots

    • Cook peas and carrots in boiling water under carrots are tender. About 15 minutes.
    • When done, drain and place vegetables back in pot. Toss with 2tb butter and allow the warm vegetables to melt butter.
    • Season with salt and pepper.

    Notes

    Find the recipe for pear crumble here. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 633kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 31gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 157mgSodium: 543mgPotassium: 1059mgFiber: 8gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 11750IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 199mgIron: 5mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina says

      December 11, 2021 at 8:54 am

      5 stars
      Hello, where did you buy those lovely trays from?

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        December 12, 2021 at 10:12 am

        Hi Christina! They are a regular TV dinner tray from a frozen TV dinner!

        Reply
    2. Ramona says

      June 29, 2014 at 10:53 pm

      5 stars
      Hello where do you get the black trays
      thank you

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        June 30, 2014 at 8:14 am

        Hi Ramona! I actually just bought TV dinners (that I didn't use) and washed out the tray to use as a photo prop!

        Reply
        • Rae says

          January 01, 2021 at 12:13 pm

          5 stars
          You can order ceramic TV trays from Uncommon Goods! I like them much better than the black disposable ones! They keep food warmer and helps save the planet!

          Reply
    3. Amanda @ MarocMama says

      January 27, 2013 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      I've heard stories from my grandparents about TV dinners and they still enjoy them. I just wish food companies would put food in them instead of loading them up with preservatives and quasi-food. I love this meal - thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    4. The Kitchen Edition says

      January 25, 2013 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      How fun is that! Love the meatloaf in the muffin pans. Brings back memories of my parents "date nights" when we'd have tv dinners with the baby sitter.

      Reply
    5. Allilau says

      January 24, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic! I love how you've taken the retrotasique TV dinner and revamped it for your retro supper. A sure winner and no doubt tastier than what Swansons ever served up!

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        January 24, 2013 at 6:40 pm

        Thanks so much!!! Ya I totally had find making this!

        Reply
    6. Faye Leong says

      January 24, 2013 at 12:37 am

      5 stars
      When Isabel posted the list of participants for this week event, I wasn't sure what is Homemade TV Dinner about. You did not disappoint me, such a great informative and creative post !

      Reply
    7. Bea says

      January 22, 2013 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      What a great post & fantastic idea to make a homemade TV dinner. It looks fantastic!!!

      Reply
    8. Renee says

      January 22, 2013 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      I would eat one of your TV dinners in a heartbeat. Those old ones - not a chance! Great job on a whole retro meal.

      Reply
    9. Nancy @ gottagetbaked says

      January 22, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      Samantha, cool history lesson on Swansons. We make fun of tv dinners now but I bet they were such a revelation when they were first made. I can't believe you found a tv dinner tray - I love the presentation! And this is a meal I could totally get behind - everything sounds fresh, tasty, and healthy. I think I could do with a bigger portion of the cobbler though - yum! 😉

      Reply
    10. Chris Baccus says

      January 22, 2013 at 7:12 am

      5 stars
      Now that's a TV dinner American can be proud of. Fantastic addition to this past weekend's Sunday Supper. You win. 🙂

      Reply
    11. Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says

      January 22, 2013 at 3:43 am

      5 stars
      This is so, so fun! Love it all.

      Reply
    12. Susan says

      January 21, 2013 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      Now this is one tv dinner I will happily eat! This looks amazing Sam, I love all the compartments, you could build a new business.

      Reply
    13. Jenne says

      January 20, 2013 at 9:03 pm

      5 stars
      Growing up I had my share of TV dinners when my grandma was working late and my grandfather and I watch the dozens of movies he had recorded from TV. I really love your idea for the retro recipes because it fits perfectly!

      Reply
    14. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says

      January 20, 2013 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      Sam, this is my favorite of the list! I would gladly sit down, watch tv and eat this tray!

      Reply
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