33 Old-Fashioned Recipes Just Like Grandma Used to Make (2024)

There's nothing like the taste of Grandma's home cooking. The old-fashioned recipes in this collection are like leafing through her favorite cookbook. You'll find comfort food classics like tuna casserole, chicken and dumplings, and breaded pork chops. And of course, Grandma always had something sweet waiting for you when you visited, whether it was butterscotch pudding or pineapple upside-down cake. Her food felt like a warm hug—and these old-time recipes capture that cozy, nostalgic feeling.

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Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

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The name says it all: This time-honored dessert regularly tops the list of favorite pie recipes. Grandma made it on the regular, and you should too. The buttery crust is the perfect contrast to the soft apple filling.

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02of 33

Chicken and Dumplings

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A true comfort dinner, fluffy drop dumplings finish this hearty chicken dish. Our recipe uses shortcuts— precooked chicken and store-bought stock—that grandma might or might not have approved of.

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03of 33

The Best Banana Bread

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Of course Grandma baked the best banana bread. She probably used Martha's recipe.

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04of 33

Tuna Casserole

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Buttery panko breadcrumbs bring crunch to this classic comfort food. Grandma says you should use elbow macaroni because it holds the sauce so well; good-quality canned tuna packed in oil is another must-have ingredient, and that's simply because it tastes better than other alternatives.

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05of 33

Peach-Blueberry Cobbler

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It's like a taste of summer gone by, this biscuit-topped dessert scents the kitchen as it bakes. Grandma might have made her cobbler just with peaches but we love the filling with berries, too.

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06of 33

Classic Meatloaf

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Made with equal parts of ground beef, veal, and pork, plus breadcrumbs for texture and Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce for flavor, this is truly a classic.

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07of 33

Chicken Tetrazzini

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A cozy, comforting chicken casserole, this easy recipe calls for shredded rotisserie chicken and linguine. The result is an easy, family-friendly dinner that will remind you of Grandma.

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08of 33

Martha's Banana Cream Pie

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This dreamy dessert is packed with old-fashioned flavors. Our recipe is a classic, with a graham cracker crust, sweet custard, and plenty of homemade whipped cream.

09of 33

Pot Roast

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Chuck roast is braised with turnips, new potatoes, and carrots, until it's rich, tender, and succulent. It's the ultimate Sunday dinner.

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10of 33

Lasagna with Meat Sauce

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Everyone always looked forward to Grandma's lasagna. This recipe uses ground beef and sweet Italian sausage, plus no-boil noodles which saves prep time.

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11of 33

Test Kitchen's Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup

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This is a traditional take on a beloved soup—and one that Grandma would approve of. The recipe starts with a whole chicken, which gives you a mix of light and dark meat, and is cheaper than buying pre-cut chicken pieces.

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Butterscotch Pudding

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Dark brown sugar and pure vanilla extract bring rich, caramelized flavor to this timeless dessert recipe.

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13of 33

Green Bean Casserole

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It's a dish that's a must-have for holidays and family get together. Our genius upgrade on green bean casserole skips the canned soup mix for a creamy mushroom sauce with fresh button mushrooms, chicken broth, and whole milk. A sprinkle of crispy fried shallots on top takes this dish to the next level.

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14of 33

Chicken Marsala

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Just like Nonna made! This classic chicken recipe is defined by its signature sauce made with cremini mushrooms, Marsala wine, garlic, and lemon juice.

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15of 33

Cheddar-Topped Shepherd's Pie

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Don't tell her we added cheddar to the recipe! A touch of cheese in the mashed potatoes makes for a most irresistible topping.

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16of 33

Fried Chicken

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Did your Grandma use a buttermilk brine on her fried chicken? This one includes dry mustard powder and ground paprika, which keeps the chicken super moist and adds so much flavor to this classic recipe. It's best enjoyed hot while it's still super crispy.

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17of 33

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

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An old-fashioned dessert with timeless appeal, this version is made in a nonstick skillet, which creates an easy release for a picture-perfect finish every time.

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18of 33

Monkey Bread

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Another much-loved and much-requested recipe, this version of Monkey Bread uses a classic yeast dough and a combination of melted butter, light brown sugar, and cinnamon to create the beloved sticky sweet and subtly spiced flavor that makes this coffee-time treat so irresistible.

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19of 33

Easy Creamed Spinach

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A combination of milk and cream cheese make this simple vegetable side dish super indulgent.

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20of 33

Pea Soup

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Skip the canned variety for this old-fashioned soup with green split peas, glazed ham, and chicken broth. A tablespoon of lemon gives this deeply savory soup a hint of sunshine.

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21of 33

Honey Glazed Ham

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Everyone loves Grandma's honey-baked ham on Easter or Christmas. To make the sweet and sharp glaze, mix together honey, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and ground cloves.

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22of 33

Cream of Broccoli Soup

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We're sure this recipe would be Grandma approved. It requires six ingredients: unsalted butter, yellow onion, all-purpose flour, chicken broth, broccoli florets, and heavy cream. The end result is a smooth, delicious, and totally classic soup.

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Scalloped Potatoes

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With its crispy-crunchy top and cheesy sauce, this potato side dish is must-make for Sunday dinner and every holiday.

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24of 33

Stuffed Cabbage with Beef and Rice

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One of Martha's favorite recipes, this stuffed cabbage recipe has a hearty filling of crushed tomatoes, long-grain white rice, and ground beef chuck.

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25of 33

Chicken Cacciatore

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Using a whole chicken is a time-honored, economical, and efficient way to get both light and dark meat for this Italian-inspired recipe that also calls for cremini mushrooms, onion, bell peppers and plenty of garlic and crushed tomatoes.

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Stuffed Peppers

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Chicken sausage, diced tomatoes, and couscous might not be how Grandma made them but we think she'd approve of this filling that's light, nutritious, and flavorful. It's stuffed into hollowed red bell peppers and topped with shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

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Stuffed Artichokes

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This is a classic preparation for artichokes and can be served as a starter or a side.

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Swedish Meatballs

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A combination of ground beef and pork makes for flavorful meatballs, but the real star of the show is the cream sauce. Don't skip the fruit jelly on the side.

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Quick Collard Greens

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If you grew up enjoying Grandma's southern cooking, this recipe for collard greens will appeal.

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Corn-Kernel Cornbread

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Combining cornmeal and frozen corn kernels makes this cornbread extra homely. It's baked in an ovenproof skillet and is an easy, family-friendly dish.

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Breaded Pork Chops with Thyme

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Raise your hand if you grew up eating pork chops! We made Grandma's classic recipe even more flavorful by brining the pork chops in a mixture of water, sugar, salt, peppercorns, and orange zest before breading and frying.

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Easy Creamy Rice Pudding

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The key to soft and creamy rice pudding is using arborio rice, which releases its starches as it cooks low and slow with milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. One ingredient that Grandma probably didn't use? A 1/4 cup of Champagne.

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Seared Lamb Loin Chops

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This lean cut of lamb is just as spectacular on a holiday as it is for a weeknight dinner. Grandma served it both ways and we will, too.

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33 Old-Fashioned Recipes Just Like Grandma Used to Make (2024)

FAQs

What to make for dinner when you have no clue what to make? ›

17 No-Fuss Ideas For When You Don't Know What The Heck To Make For Dinner
  1. Easy Migas Eggs. Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com. ...
  2. Mushroom Toast With Fried Egg. ...
  3. Italian Shrimp Pasta. ...
  4. Sautéed White Beans With Garlic, Sage And Tomatoes. ...
  5. 15-Minute BLT Pasta Salad. ...
  6. Easy Tuna Melts. ...
  7. One-Pot Pasta With Peas And Bacon.
Mar 31, 2020

Where can I find the best recipes? ›

2024's Best Recipe Websites: Our Picks
  1. Minimalist Baker. This site gem is all about making cooking fun, easy, and absolutely delightful. ...
  2. Love and Lemons. ...
  3. Cookie and Kate. ...
  4. Pinch of Yum. ...
  5. Budget Bytes. ...
  6. Smitten Kitchen. ...
  7. A Cozy Kitchen. ...
  8. David Lebovitz.
Apr 2, 2024

What should grandmas eat? ›

Grandma's Favorite Comfort Food Recipes
  • 01 of 21. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. View Recipe. ...
  • 02 of 21. Beef Pot Roast. ...
  • 03 of 21. Fried Chicken with Creamy Gravy. ...
  • 04 of 21. World's Best Lasagna. ...
  • 05 of 21. Grandma Ople's Apple Pie. ...
  • 06 of 21. Modenese Pork Chops. ...
  • 07 of 21. Classic Meatloaf. ...
  • 08 of 21. Grandma's Green Bean Casserole.
Jan 31, 2022

What is the oldest food we still eat? ›

First found in a tomb in Ancient Egypt, honey is about 5,500 years old. Revered in ancient Egypt, honey remains edible over long periods. In 2015, while excavating tombs in Egypt, the archaeologists found about 3000-year-old honey that was fully edible.

What is the oldest dish we still eat? ›

The World's 10 Oldest Dishes And Where They Are Today
  • Indian curry, circa 2200-2500 B.C. ...
  • Pancakes, circa 11650 B.C. ...
  • Linzer Torte, circa 1653. ...
  • Tamales, circa 5000 B.C. ...
  • Burgers, circa 100 century A.D. ...
  • Mesopotamian Stew, circa 2140 B.C., and bone broth, circa 400 B.C. ...
  • Rice dishes, circa 4530 B.C. ...
  • Beer, circa 3500 B.C.
Sep 2, 2023

What to cook for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

WHAT TO EAT FOR DINNER WHEN YOU LACK INSPIRATION OR DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING
  • Homemade queso + chips.
  • Popcorn. ...
  • Eggs on or with toast.
  • Omelet – very accommodating to whatever you might have in the fridge!
  • Grilled cheese and soup. ...
  • Cereal. ...
  • One skillet meals like rice, chicken and veggies.
  • Pesto pasta.
May 27, 2020

What to cook when you have almost nothing? ›

15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
  1. Buttery, gooey grilled cheese. ...
  2. PB&J because duh. ...
  3. Tuna melt tostadas. ...
  4. Pancakes! ...
  5. Scrambled eggs. ...
  6. Waffles. ...
  7. A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal. ...
  8. Spaghetti carbonara.
Apr 28, 2020

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

27 Weeknight Dinner Ideas For People With Literally No Time
  1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
  2. Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
  3. Cacio e Pepe. ...
  4. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
  5. Italian Chopped Salad. ...
  6. Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza. ...
  7. Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls. ...
  8. Chicken Cucumber Avocado Salad.
Nov 8, 2023

Who has the best food on earth? ›

  • Italy. #1 in Has great food. #15 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Spain. #2 in Has great food. #17 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • Mexico. #3 in Has great food. #33 in Best Countries Overall. ...
  • France. #4 in Has great food. ...
  • Greece. #5 in Has great food. ...
  • Thailand. #6 in Has great food. ...
  • Turkey. #7 in Has great food. ...
  • Portugal. #8 in Has great food.

What is the number 1 best cuisine? ›

The 10 best cuisines in the world
  • Italy.
  • Japan.
  • Greece.
  • Portugal.
  • China.
  • Indonesia.
  • Mexico.
  • France.
Feb 21, 2024

Who makes the most delicious food? ›

10 best cuisines in the world
  1. Italy. It's hard to beat traditional Neapolitan pizza.
  2. China. Peking duck -- just one of many Chinese culinary delights. ...
  3. France. Freshly baked French baguettes are simply mouthwatering. ...
  4. Spain. With churros, dough meets chocolate with delicious results. ...
  5. Japan. ...
  6. India. ...
  7. Greece. ...
  8. Thailand. ...

What are 5 foods that seniors should eat? ›

Wholegrain cereals, wholemeal bread, fruit, dried fruit, dried peas, beans and lentils are all excellent sources. Make sure you drink enough water to prevent constipation. Remember, most older people need 6–8 cups of fluid each day.

What do 70 year olds eat? ›

Choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium. To get enough protein throughout the day and maintain muscle, try adding seafood, dairy, or fortified soy products along with beans, peas, and lentils to your meals. Learn more about protein and other important nutrients.

What do 80 year olds eat? ›

How can I eat healthy as I age?
  • Fruits and vegetables (choose different types with bright colors)
  • Whole grains, like oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice.
  • Fat-free or low-fat milk and cheese, or soy or rice milk that has added vitamin D and calcium.
  • Seafood, lean meats, poultry, and eggs.
  • Beans, nuts, and seeds.
Mar 13, 2024

What are 5 foods that went from the Old World to the New World? ›

By way of crops, the Old World introduced the Western Hemisphere to bananas, grapes, oranges, peaches, grains, and olives. They also contributed luxuries such as honey, sugar, and coffee.

What food has the biggest impact on the Old World? ›

The Old World received other plants and animals from the New World. Many of these exchanges had positive impacts, but the impact of some exchanges was negative. Corn, or maize, is one of the most important foods the Old World received from the New World.

What desserts came from the Old World? ›

English sweets included many types of cakes, custards, and fritters such as funnel cake. They used strawberries, apples, figs, raisins, currants and almonds. They also made cheese-based sweets including cheesecake. A large number of English cookbooks have been found and some date back to the late 1300's.

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