17 Recipes That Made the '60s and '70s Taste Good

The food from the ’60s and ’70s didn’t need to go viral to earn its spot at the table. It was comforting, reliable, and loaded with flavors that showed up week after week. Whether it was served at potlucks, packed into lunchboxes, or waiting on the stovetop, these dishes made their mark without overcomplicating things. They were part of growing up, and somehow, they still taste right today.

Two white ramekins filled with strawberry rhubarb crisp — Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches

A slice of peach crumble on a white plate with a fork and peach slices, placed in front of a blue baking dish and a red and white napkin. This fresh and fruity dessert is the perfect addition to your summer vacation treats. — Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches bakes in about 45 minutes and combines ripe peaches, oats, and a buttery butterscotch topping. The fruit turns soft and jammy, while the crisp layer stays crumbly and sweet. The flavor is rich without being too heavy, with a slight caramel note from the sauce. It’s warm, filling, and built for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches

Hot Chipped Beef Dip

A bowl of dip with carrots and celery. — Hot Chipped Beef Dip. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Hot Chipped Beef Dip blends cream cheese, dried beef, green onions, and seasonings into a baked dip ready in 30 minutes. It comes out warm and creamy with a sharp, salty flavor from the beef. Served with crackers or bread, it’s tangy, rich, and made to share. Every bite is bold and packed with nostalgia.
Get the Recipe: Hot Chipped Beef Dip

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Apple Cinnamon Rolls bake in about 35 minutes with a filling of apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar wrapped in soft dough. The rolls are tender with a warm spiced center and sweet glaze on top. The apples stay slightly firm, adding texture to each bite. It’s a breakfast that showed up on more than just weekends.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Pigs in a Blanket

Hot dog buns with little smokies on a plate. — Pigs in a Blanket. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Pigs in a Blanket wrap cocktail sausages in buttery dough and bake for 15–20 minutes until golden and crisp. The flavor is salty, savory, and familiar, with a soft interior and flaky bite. Made with just a few ingredients, they work for parties or weeknight snacks. They rarely last more than a few minutes on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Pigs in a Blanket

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes are done in about 40 minutes with Yukon golds, garlic, and browned butter. The result is creamy, rich, and nutty with a subtle herby finish. The potatoes stay fluffy with just enough texture to feel homemade. It’s a side that worked with nearly everything else on the table.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Lime Jello Salad

Lime Jello Salad sets in a few hours and mixes lime gelatin with pineapple, cottage cheese, and whipped topping. The flavor is tart and sweet with a creamy, slightly tangy texture. It’s cold, jiggly, and bright—always more fun than it looked. It often showed up in bowls no one could ignore.
Get the Recipe: Lime Jello Salad

Amish Macaroni Salad

Amish Macaroni Salad comes together in 40 minutes with elbow macaroni, hard-boiled eggs, and a slightly sweet mayo dressing. The texture is creamy with bits of crunch from celery and pickles. The flavor balances tang and sugar without being too heavy. It’s the kind of side that disappears fast at any gathering.
Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad

Grape Salad

Grape Salad is a chilled mix of red and green grapes coated in a sweet cream cheese dressing with a brown sugar pecan topping. It takes under 15 minutes to prep and chills before serving. The texture is juicy, crunchy, and smooth, all in one bowl. It’s sweet enough to feel like dessert, but always stays with the sides.
Get the Recipe: Grape Salad

Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy

A serving of chicken pot pie with golden crust, diced chicken, peas, and potatoes on a black plate—an ideal choice for budget recipes and cheap meals. — Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy bakes in about an hour. It’s buttery crust covers chicken, carrots, peas, and herb-laced gravy. The filling is creamy and well-seasoned, with a mild licorice note from the tarragon. Each bite gives a little of everything—meat, vegetables, and sauce. It’s the kind of dinner that doesn’t need a backup plan.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board. — Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Honey-Glazed Carrots roast in 30–40 minutes with a mix of honey, butter, and herbs that caramelize as they cook. The carrots turn tender with crispy edges and a sweet, earthy flavor. The glaze sticks just enough to give every bite a little shine. This side made vegetables easy to like.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy | No Onions

Gravy being poured over sausages and mashed potatoes. — Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy | No Onions. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy takes about 45 minutes to make, featuring sausages served over mashed potatoes with a rich, beer-based sauce. The gravy has a deep, malty flavor from the Guinness, balanced by savory drippings and butter. The mashed potatoes are creamy and soak up every drop of the sauce. Each bite is hearty, filling, and built for cold-weather dinners.
Get the Recipe: Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy | No Onions

Apple Bacon Beer Bread

A loaf of bread with three slices cut, a knife, a red apple, and a blue and white checkered cloth are displayed on a wooden cutting board—perfect snacks for movie night. — Apple Bacon Beer Bread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Apple Bacon Beer Bread bakes in about an hour with chopped apples, smoky bacon, and a splash of beer. The loaf comes out dense and slightly crumbly with a sweet-salty balance that holds its own. The crust turns golden while the inside stays moist. It’s the kind of bread you sliced thick and ate warm.
Get the Recipe: Apple Bacon Beer Bread

Grandma’s Cornbread

Overhead shot of cornbread in a cast iron skillet with a single slice cut out. — Grandma’s Cornbread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grandma’s Cornbread bakes in 30 minutes with cornmeal, milk, eggs, and butter for a soft center and crisp edges. The taste is slightly sweet with a toasty finish and a texture that holds up to stews or butter. It cuts clean and doesn’t crumble too much. It was always on the table before the meal was.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cornbread

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

A bowl of butternut squash soup with a spoon on a colorful blue and white plate. — Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup cooks in about 45 minutes with squash, apples, onion, and broth blended into a smooth finish. The flavor is sweet and savory with a slight tang from the apple. The soup is thick enough to feel like a full meal. It was made for chilly nights and second servings.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Two servings of strawberry shortcake on a blue background. — Homemade Strawberry Shortcake. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake stacks sweetened strawberries over a tender biscuit with whipped cream, ready in about 40 minutes. The fruit is juicy and tart, the shortcake buttery and just dense enough to soak up the juices. Each layer brings its own texture and taste. It was always the dessert that meant something special was happening.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Healthier Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe sandwiches on an English muffin. — Healthier Sloppy Joes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Healthier Sloppy Joes cook in under 30 minutes with ground meat, tomato sauce, mustard, and spices on a soft bun. The texture is thick and saucy without being greasy, with just enough tang to cut through the richness. The flavor is bold but not too sweet. It still tastes like the ones from school lunch—just better.
Get the Recipe: Healthier Sloppy Joes

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp bakes in 45 minutes with chopped rhubarb and strawberries topped with a crunchy oat mixture. The filling is tart, sweet, and slightly jammy under the crisp, golden top. The contrast in texture makes every bite different. It’s the dessert that made rhubarb a name worth remembering.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp