19 Home-Cooked Dinners Straight From the 1970s

Dinner in the 1970s was all about easy ingredients and dependable recipes. Casseroles, slow cookers, and simple skillet meals ruled the kitchen, and families counted on them night after night. These dishes were practical, filling, and made to feed a crowd without a lot of fuss. With 19 throwback recipes to try, dinner can feel deliciously old-school again.

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole is a classic vegetable bake that comes together in about 35 minutes. The recipe uses fresh zucchini, cheese, eggs, and simple seasonings layered into a creamy dish. It tastes savory, warm, and comforting with that familiar homemade flavor. This casserole feels like something served at countless family tables in the 1970s.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice is a simple dinner that takes about 45 minutes to prepare. It includes chicken, quick-cooking rice, broth, and basic pantry seasonings. The taste is creamy, mild, and hearty in a dependable, old-fashioned way. This recipe is a true example of practical 1970s home cooking.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice is a no-fuss meal that cooks in about 4 hours. It uses chicken, rice, broth, and a couple of everyday staples for an easy slow cooker dinner. The flavor is comforting, creamy, and simple in the best way. This dish fits perfectly with the easygoing dinners of the 1970s.
Get the Recipe: Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is a hearty bake ready in about 45 minutes. The recipe combines chicken, hash browns, cheese, and a creamy sauce into one cozy dish. It tastes rich, cheesy, and satisfying like a true retro comfort food. This casserole feels straight out of a vintage recipe card box.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Easy Chilli Con Carne

Easy Chilli Con Carne is a classic stovetop dinner that cooks in about 30 minutes. It includes ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and warm chili spices. The flavor is bold, savory, and filling with that familiar homemade taste. This recipe brings back memories of simple, hearty 1970s suppers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chilli Con Carne

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping (No Canned Soup!)

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping is ready in about 45 minutes. It features tender cabbage, melted cheese, and a crunchy buttery topping. The taste is creamy, savory, and wonderfully comforting in an old-school way. This casserole could have easily been a weeknight staple in the 1970s.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping (No Canned Soup!)

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti is a relaxed dinner that cooks in about 4 hours. The recipe uses chicken, pasta, cheese, and a creamy sauce made in the crockpot. It tastes rich, hearty, and satisfying with almost no effort. This dish fits perfectly with the easy meals of the decade.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips is a fun classic ready in about 35 minutes. It combines noodles, tuna, cheese, and a crunchy chip topping. The flavor is creamy, salty, and comforting in a true vintage style. This casserole is pure 1970s nostalgia on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips

Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breast

Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breast is a simple main dish that cooks in about 30 minutes. The recipe uses chicken breasts filled with broccoli and melted cheddar cheese. It tastes savory, tender, and satisfyingly cheesy. This dinner feels like the kind of family meal popular decades ago.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers is a wholesome recipe that takes about 45 minutes to prepare. It features bell peppers filled with turkey, rice, and tomato sauce. The flavor is hearty, mild, and comforting with classic home-cooked appeal. Stuffed peppers were a regular on many 1970s tables.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole is a cozy bake ready in about 50 minutes. It uses chicken, rice, onions, and a creamy sauce with classic flavors. The taste is savory, rich, and deeply comforting in a simple way. This dish fits right in with the casserole craze of the decade.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

Green Bean Hamburger Casserole

Green Bean Hamburger Casserole is a practical dinner that bakes in about 40 minutes. The recipe combines ground beef, green beans, and a creamy sauce in one pan. It tastes hearty, savory, and satisfying with minimal effort. This casserole feels like a true retro weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Hamburger Casserole

Colossal Cheeseburger

Colossal Cheeseburger is a fun family dinner ready in about 25 minutes. It uses ground beef, cheese, and classic burger toppings served big and bold. The flavor is juicy, cheesy, and wonderfully nostalgic. This recipe brings back the simple joy of 1970s diner-style cooking.
Get the Recipe: Colossal Cheeseburger

Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Stuffed Baked Potatoes are an easy dinner that takes about 60 minutes from start to finish. The recipe features fluffy potatoes filled with cheese, butter, and simple toppings. They taste warm, comforting, and satisfying with very little fuss. This meal was a popular no-stress option in the 1970s.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms

Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms is a classic skillet meal that cooks in about 35 minutes. It includes seasoned beef patties, mushrooms, and a rich savory gravy. The flavor is hearty, comforting, and deeply familiar. This recipe feels like something served on many 1970s dinner plates.
Get the Recipe: Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms

Traditional Irish Cottage Pie

Traditional Irish Cottage Pie is a filling bake ready in about 60 minutes. The recipe layers seasoned ground beef and vegetables under creamy mashed potatoes. It tastes savory, rich, and wonderfully comforting. This hearty dish fits perfectly with the home-cooked style of the decade.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Irish Cottage Pie

Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Shake and Bake Pork Chops are a quick dinner that takes about 30 minutes to cook. The recipe uses pork chops coated in a seasoned crispy crumb mixture. They taste crunchy, savory, and satisfying with very little preparation. This meal captures the easy convenience cooking of the 1970s.
Get the Recipe: Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is a comforting bake ready in about 40 minutes. It includes chicken, vegetables, creamy sauce, and flaky biscuit topping. The flavor is rich, hearty, and perfectly nostalgic. This casserole feels like a true throwback family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Apricot Chicken

Apricot Chicken is a simple dish that cooks in about 45 minutes. The recipe combines chicken with sweet apricot sauce and pantry seasonings. It tastes sweet, savory, and tender in a classic retro way. This dinner was a popular weeknight meal straight out of the 1970s.
Get the Recipe: Apricot Chicken