Old-Timey Recipes People Used to Know By Heart (2024)

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

When you think back to your childhood, what are the meals you remember most?

Food plays a huge part in our connection with our past and the people we love. Yet, many families today do not consistently share a family dinnertime despite the opportunities it gives for conversation and relationship-building. They rely instead on take-out meals or foods that can be prepared and eaten in a flash.

As inspiration for reviving the tradition of family dinners, we decided to delve into some recipes that many Americans knew by heart in the last century. Most of them are easy and affordable, and they can be adapted for different dietary restrictions. Plus, the leftovers work well for lunches the next day.

Here are some classic” old-timey” recipes people used to know by heart.

Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!

Baked Fish

With the convenience of frozen seafood options, modern families often don’t make the effort to bake fresh fish. However, it is easy, quick, healthy, and tasty. Here is a basicbaked fishrecipe. And here is a listof 50 variations to make in your oven.

Beef Stew

Stews are warm, comforting, and budget-friendly. Here’s a classicone-pot supperthat tastes even better the next day.

Bread Pudding

See Also

25 Modern Passover Recipes for Your Family's Seder15 Delicious Mulberry Recipes & Uses for MulberriesHands-on Learning with Native American Corn RecipesRemoving Marker Off Your Wall: Easy Recipe & Tips

We haven’t focused on desserts here, but we wanted to give a nod to bread pudding. Thrifty moms have used it for many years as a way to use up stake bread. Here’s a classic bread puddingrecipeto try as a yummy treat for your family.

Casseroles

Casseroles took America by storm in post-Depression America, and variations kept popping up through the rest of the last century. Here’s atuna casserolerecipe that may seem familiar from your childhood.Chicken Divanwas a well-loved chicken casserole of days done by. You can serve this dish over potatoes, rice, or biscuits.

Chicken and Dumplings

Your memories of this classic dish can vary according to where in the country you grew up. However, the recipes all feature chewy dumplings, tender chunks of chicken, and rich gravy. You might as well say it offers spoonfuls of nostalgia for many of us. Here’s a classic chicken and dumplingsrecipe, and here are somevariationsto consider,

Chicken Pot Pie

If making the pastry from scratch for this vintage dish is not an option on a busy weeknight, why not try some of the easy variations using store-bought dough? Here’s arecipeusing homemade pastry, and here’sanother onewith some shortcuts.

Fried Chicken

If you’ve only ever had fast-food fried chicken, you are really missing out. Many American home cooks have honed their own special versions of this classic dish. Here is one recipe forSouthern fried chicken, and here’sanotherfor good measure.

Fried eggs and ham

Whether you have it as a hearty breakfast or as your evening meal, here is an easyclassic. As with many of the recipes on our list, there are cultural variations. Here’s a Spanishversionthat may be more like what you remember, depending on where you grew up.

Lasagna

Here’s an old-fashioneddishthat you can easily modify to suit your family’s tastes and dietary restrictions. This listhas meatless and dairy-free options as well as some other interesting variations.

Meatloaf

Meatloaf was a standby for American households in the 1950s and 1960s. Although you may have been served some nightmarish versions of this classic dish, it can be elevated to a weeknight hit.

The essential ingredients are beef and tomatoes. But after that, you can get creative. Here is a traditional meatloafrecipe. And here are sometwistson the classic version.

Pot Roast and Potatoes

The use of the term “pot roast” began in the late 19th century to describe browned meat cooked with vegetables in a covered pot. If you want a comforting meat and potatoes meal,hereit is. And when you use acrockpot, it couldn’t be easier.

Salisbury Steak

If you’ve only had the frozen, microwaved version of this dish as a kid, you may have a few shudders when you relive the experience of eating it. However, the home-cookedversionwas a classic at one time. It often featured a rich mushroom gravy and a side of mashed potatoes.

Sloppy Joes

You may have horror stories of eating these sandwiches in your school cafeteria. However, your memories of the homemade version are no doubt much better. Here are some traditional Sloppy Joerecipesto try with your family. Be sure to have plenty of napkins handy; that name is there for a reason.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Italian-American mamas and grandmamas take great pride in their homemade sauce. But everyone can make a great spaghetti and meatball dinner. Here’s a classicrecipe, and here’sanother oneto try.

Stuffed Peppers

Making a tasty meal of hollowed-out peppers filled with meat, vegetables, cheese, rice, or sauce and baking them to perfection is part of various cultures. Many American families had this dish on repeat in years past. Here’s an easyrecipethat you can adapt to your family’s preferences.

Sunday Chili

Whether you call it Sunday Chili or just plain chili, this is a dish that many moms cooked up in a huge pot so it would last their families for a few days. You can find many, many chili recipes – from meaty ones to vegan ones. Here’s aclassicfor meat lovers, and here’s avegetarianone that amps up the flavor with spices.

Sunday Roasts

There’s nothing like the smell of roast chicken, pork, or beef wafting through the house on the weekend. And the simplest of recipes tend to be the best. Here is a classicroast beefrecipe. And here is a traditionalroast chicken recipe. Don’t forget the potatoes and other veggies.

Turkey Tetrazzini

Grandma knew just what to do with Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. However, this easy baked spaghettirecipecan warm up your family’s tummies all winter long.

According to an article published inHealth News, food nostalgia is a phenomenon that can be triggered by smelling certain aromas and tasting certain flavors that can bring you back to a different time, often involving strong emotions.

At a time when the world is in constant upheaval, we all could use a bit of comfort and peace. Therefore, we encourage you to think back to your childhood and consider revisiting those tastes and smells with these and other recipes of the past.

Like this post? Don’t Forget to Pin It On Pinterest!