Classic ’70s Recipes Everyone’s Mom Used to Make
Step back into the kitchens of the 1970s with these beloved recipes that defined a generation. From hearty casseroles and jello salads to comforting meatloaf and baked treats, these dishes were staples at family dinners. Rediscover the flavors that brought warmth, nostalgia, and togetherness to every home.
Beef Stroganoff
This was every Mother’s version of “fine dining”, wasn’t it? Tender beef strips mingled with mushrooms in a tangy sour cream sauce, usually spooned over a mountain of egg noodles. The aroma alone was enough to bring the whole family to the table.
Salmon Loaf / Salmon Croquettes
If there was ever a fancy way to stretch a can of salmon into a family feast, this was it. Mothers would mix it with breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings and shape it into loaves or crispy little patties. It was the epitome of Frugal genius.
Dessert AND a buzz? The '70s truly were amazing!
Dessert AND a buzz? The '70s truly were amazing!
Harvey Wallbanger Cake
A cake named after a cocktail? The '70s truly were wild. Moms took some yellow cake mix, spiked it with Galliano, vodka, and orange juice, and voila! They had a moist, citrusy delight that adults adored (and why wouldn’t they).
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
A retro masterpiece that turned dessert on its head—literally! You would bake it normally, flip it over, and suddenly you had caramelized pineapple rings with maraschino cherries staring back at you. The whole kitchen smelled like sunshine and sugar.
Meatloaf
No dinner table in the ’70s was complete without this brick of love and mystery. Ground beef, breadcrumbs, and ketchup baked into a masterpiece that could feed a small army. Everyone’s mom had their own version, each amazingly delicious in their own way!
Think that's retro? The next one will really take you back!
Think that's retro? The next one will really take you back!
Pork Chops With Rice and Soup
The ultimate “one-pan wonder” from Mom’s kitchen. Pork chops huddled up into a bed of rice and cream of mushroom soup. It was simple, savory, and always made you feel like you were full and happy.
Sloppy Joes
Did it ever get better than this? It still hasn’t! These things were messy, meaty, and gloriously saucy in the best possible way. Ground beef simmered in a tangy, slightly sweet sauce piled high on a soft bun. If you did not make a mess while eating this, you were doing it wrong.
Salisbury Steak
Steak night, minus the steak budget. Ground beef patties smothered in rich brown gravy, often with a side of mashed potatoes. It wasn’t much to look at, but it tasted hearty and made every dinner plate feel like a diner special straight from Mom’s kitchen.
Chicken À La King
Chicken à la King was everything you want your food to be: creamy, colorful, and just the right amount of classy. Tender chicken, peas, and pimentos swimming in a velvety sauce spooned over toast, biscuits, or rice. Irresistible!
A surprisingly sophisticated dish that infiltrated every 70s dinner party…
A surprisingly sophisticated dish that infiltrated every 70s dinner party…
Quiche Lorraine
One minute, no one knew what it was. Next, everyone’s mom was making quiche! This buttery pie, filled with eggs, cream, cheese, and bacon, felt downright sophisticated. It was served up warm at brunches or dinner parties and was practically gone in minutes.
Shrimp Cocktail
The height of sophistication for any '70s gathering! Chilled shrimp artfully arranged around a glass, dipping into a zesty cocktail sauce that packed just the right kick. Simple, showy, and undeniably cool; Mom’s ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Watergate Salad
Unlike the Watergate scandal, the Watergate salad was sweet, fluffy, and welcome at every table. It was basically a dizzying mix of pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and a generous amount of Cool Whip. Sounds like a dessert more than a salad.
Your childhood dinner table is about to flash before your eyes!
Your childhood dinner table is about to flash before your eyes!
Ambrosia Salad
A bowl filled with pure, sugary nostalgia. Canned fruit, coconut flakes, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream mixed in a pastel dream that tasted like childhood holidays. All moms had their secret ratio, and no two versions ever looked alike.
Jell-O Molds (Savory or Sweet)
No '70s spread was complete without a wobbling, shimmering Jell-O mold. From the classic fruit-studded sweet versions to adventurous savory mixtures, these molded masterpieces were the ultimate crown jewel of every potluck table.
Carrot Cake
Every '70s mom had her "famous" carrot cake recipe, and honestly, they were all pretty much the same. It was a moist, spiced cake loaded with grated carrots, nuts, and sometimes pineapple, all slathered in a thick layer of cream cheese frosting disguised as healthy food.
Spinach Dip in a Pumpernickel Bowl
Arguably the undisputed queen of ‘70s appetizers. Cold, creamy, savory dip made with frozen spinach, a packet of Knorr Vegetable Soup mix, and sour cream, all served inside a hollowed-out pumpernickel bread loaf bowl. And yes, eating the bowl was half the fun!
The '70s also mastered the art of making potatoes utterly irresistible…
The '70s also mastered the art of making potatoes utterly irresistible…
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Golden, bubbling, and dangerously addictive. Thinly sliced potatoes, lovingly layered and baked in a rich, bubbling sauce of cream, butter, and an abundance of gooey cheese. Even though Moms served it as a side, it was good enough to steal the whole meal!
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Was it a side dish or a dessert? Nobody knew, and nobody cared. Sweet potatoes mashed with butter and brown sugar, then topped with a fluffy layer of marshmallows that got perfectly golden and gooey in the oven. All those fights over the marshmallow-to-potato ratio are justified.
Baked Alaska
Possibly the most extra dessert of the decade! A dome of ice cream encased in a perfectly browned meringue, often flambéed right at the table. It offered the perfect balance of hot and cold and was a true masterpiece of presentation and taste.
From fancy flaming desserts to... stuffed tomatoes? The '70s were a rollercoaster...
From fancy flaming desserts to... stuffed tomatoes? The '70s were a rollercoaster...
Tomato Stuffed With Cottage Cheese / Tuna
The health-conscious (but still very '70s) lunch or light dinner. Large, ripe tomatoes were cored and then generously filled with either creamy cottage cheese or a simple tuna salad. It was a fresh, light bite that proved a "salad" didn't always have to involve a bag of lettuce.
Grape Jelly Meatballs
The shockingly simple, yet utterly addictive party appetizer that ruled potlucks! Sweet grape jelly and tangy chili sauce simmered into a glossy glaze that logically shouldn’t work but somehow made perfect sense. You’d never know how good these are until you try ‘em.
Hummingbird Cake
Despite the name, no actual hummingbirds were harmed in the making of this Southern classic. This incredibly moist cake was loaded with bananas, pineapple, pecans, and warm spices, and then smothered in cream cheese frosting. It was considered to be sweet enough to attract hummingbirds, hence the name.
Your mom definitely made this when you were young!
Your mom definitely made this when you were young!
Seven-Layer Salad
It looked exactly as it sounds: beautifully distinct layers of crisp lettuce, sweet peas, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and sometimes bacon, all topped with a rich, mayonnaise-based dressing. Moms would proudly serve it in a clear glass bowl to showcase its impressive height and vibrant colors.
Fondue (Cheese or Chocolate)
Was this the undisputed king of '70s social dining? Whether it was gooey melted cheese for dipping bread cubes and apples, or luscious chocolate for fruit and pound cake, fondue turned a meal into an interactive, communal event.
Cheese Balls
The deliciously simple yet impressive centerpiece of any appetizer spread. Cream cheese mixed with savory seasonings (onion soup mix was a popular choice!), shaped into a festive ball, and rolled in chopped pecans or fresh parsley for a one-bite burst of cheesy goodness.
This next ‘70s staple was literally everywhere!
This next ‘70s staple was literally everywhere!
Deviled Eggs
Was there ever a family gathering that was not graced with the presence of this timeless appetizer? Perfectly boiled eggs filled with a whipped yolk mixture of mayo, mustard, and a sprinkle of paprika for flair. You could never eat just one…
Pigs in a Blanket
The quintessential kid-friendly (and adult-approved) party food of the ‘70s. Little cocktail sausages wrapped snugly in a crescent roll dough and baked until perfectly golden and buttery. They were simple, cheap, and guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
Lipton Onion Soup Dip
The simplest, yet most iconic dip of the '70s, possibly of all time. All you needed was a packet of Lipton's dry onion soup mix stirred into a container of sour cream to make a dip that was salty, creamy, and wildly addictive.
From the easiest dip ever to a casserole that tried way harder…
From the easiest dip ever to a casserole that tried way harder…
Chicken Divan
If there was anything that could make broccoli feel fancy, it was this. Tender chicken and bright green broccoli florets swimming in a rich, cheesy sauce, often crowned with buttery breadcrumbs. Rich, regal, and unmistakably ‘70s.
Cream Wafers
These delicate, melt-in-your-mouth sandwich cookies made every mom feel like a fancy French pastry chef! Two thin, crisp wafers were held together by a sweet, airy cream filling, which was usually tinted pink, green, or yellow for maximum '70s flair.
Rumaki
An appetizer that looked as exotic as it sounds. Water chestnuts (and sometimes chicken livers, if Mom was feeling brave!) wrapped in crispy bacon and marinated in a soy sauce mixture. A perfect savory bite that truly tasted "out of sight."
The party spreads of the '70s were something special!
The party spreads of the '70s were something special!
Green Goddess Dressing
A salad dressing that may have looked as bold as its name. This creamy, herb-packed blend of mayo, sour cream, and anchovies turned every salad into a retro masterpiece. It was creamy, tangy, and elevated even the simplest bowl of iceberg lettuce into something sophisticated.
Hawaiian Meatballs
A sweet-and-savory escape to the tropics, straight from Mom’s casserole dish. Juicy meatballs simmered in a glossy pineapple glaze with bell peppers, giving off vacation vibes right at the dinner table, perfectly in tune with the ‘70s obsession with anything “Hawaiian.”
Black Forest Cake
The showstopper dessert looked like it came straight out of a European bakery! Layers of rich chocolate cake, whipped cream, and boozy cherries stacked into a dramatic masterpiece. It genuinely felt like unveiling a crown jewel when you brought it out.
