Diners hold a special place in my heart. On family trips up I-95 to visit grandparents throughout my childhood, we would often forgo the rest stop fast-food options and detour to a diner off the New Jersey Turnpike. New Jersey has the most diners per capita in the world, and they're also (objectively) the best. Upon settling into a booth inside the shiny silver building, you face the big decision: breakfast or dinner food? The best diners do pancakes and meatloaf equally well, so it’s not an easy choice. If you’re not near a great diner (or the diner mecca of New Jersey), here are five spins on diner classics to churn out in your own kitchen.

The classic diner breakfast of an omelet with toast is simplified in this all-in-one version: a no-fuss omelet nestled and cooked inside a thick slab of toast, egg-in-a-hole style.

Cooking meatloaf in a sheet pan cuts down the cooking time dramatically, making this a perfect weeknight dinner. Shaping it thin and flat ensures that you get enough sticky-sweet glaze in every bite.

If your favorite part of the chicken pot pie is the crust, we've got you covered. This creamy version is topped with acres of light and flaky pastry and takes less than a half hour of hands-on time, making it easy enough for a weeknight and fun enough for a crowd.

All the flavors of the iconic sandwich are rolled up into pizza dough studded with caraway seeds. Brushing the bread with a baking soda wash gives it that deep golden brown soft pretzel look-- a new alternative to brushing with butter or egg wash.

Why choose just one pancake flavor or limit yourself to a short stack? Load up fluffy flapjacks with both bananas and chocolate chips and layer them in this crowd-friendly breakfast casserole.