19 Old-Fashioned 1970s Recipes That Fed Big Families on One Income

Feeding a big family on one income in the 1970s meant relying on meals that were filling, familiar, and built to stretch what you had. These recipes center on casseroles, slow-cooked dishes, and pantry staples that showed up on tables night after night without complaint. The flavors are steady and comforting, designed to keep everyone full without needing expensive ingredients. It is the kind of cooking that made dinner feel dependable.

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole combines tender chicken with creamy rice and onion flavor. It takes about 1 hour to prepare and uses chicken, rice, onions, broth, and cheese. The taste is savory and rich with a soft, spoonable texture. It feeds a crowd using simple, affordable ingredients.
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Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips is a pantry-based dinner designed to stretch protein. It takes about 45 minutes and includes tuna, egg noodles, creamy sauce, and crushed chips. The flavor is savory and familiar with a soft interior and crunchy topping. It feeds many using inexpensive ingredients.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie is a hearty meal made with turkey and vegetables in gravy. It takes about 4 hours and includes turkey, mixed vegetables, broth, and stuffing. The flavor is savory and familiar with a soft, comforting texture. It is well suited for feeding a large household.
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Easy Chilli Con Carne

Easy Chilli Con Carne is a hearty one-pot meal built around ground beef and beans. It takes about 45 minutes and includes beef, beans, tomatoes, onion, and mild spices. The flavor is savory with gentle heat and a thick texture. It stretches meat easily to serve several people.
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Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake

Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake is a filling casserole made with chicken and sliced potatoes. It takes about 1 hour and relies on chicken, potatoes, cheese, and cream. The taste is savory and comforting with soft layers throughout. It works well as a complete meal without extra sides.
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Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots is a traditional dinner centered on slow-cooked meat and vegetables. It takes about 6 to 8 hours and uses pork roast, potatoes, carrots, and broth. The taste is savory and mild with tender meat. It fills plates easily without extra cost.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti is a creamy pasta dinner made for busy days. It takes about 4 hours and includes chicken, spaghetti, cheese, and sauce. The flavor is savory and comforting with soft noodles throughout. It feeds a crowd using pantry ingredients.
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Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken is a creamy casserole-style dinner cooked slowly. It takes about 4 hours and uses chicken, bacon, cheese, and buttery crackers. The taste is rich and savory with tender chicken throughout. It feeds several people without needing side dishes.
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Slow Cooker Lentil And Carrot Soup

Slow Cooker Lentil And Carrot Soup is a simple soup built around affordable vegetables and legumes. It takes about 4 to 6 hours and includes lentils, carrots, tomatoes, and broth. The taste is earthy and savory with a thick texture. It serves many without relying on meat.
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Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup!)

Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole is a classic baked dish made with rice and canned tuna. It takes about 1 hour and uses tuna, rice, vegetables, and broth. The flavor is savory and balanced with soft texture throughout. It is designed to stretch pantry staples into a full meal.
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Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is a shortcut version of a familiar family dinner. It takes about 50 minutes and uses chicken, frozen vegetables, creamy sauce, and refrigerated dough. The taste is savory and comforting with a soft filling and golden topping. It is designed to feed several people with minimal prep.
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Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies is a practical dinner built around ground meat and vegetables. It takes about 45 minutes and includes ground beef, potatoes, broccoli, and basic seasoning. The flavor is savory and familiar with tender meat and roasted vegetables. It feeds multiple people using one pan and simple ingredients.
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Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is a filling dinner built around tender chicken, shredded hash browns, and melted cheese. It takes about 50 minutes to make and uses cooked chicken, frozen hash browns, sour cream, and cheddar. The taste is savory and creamy with a soft interior and lightly crisp edges. It works well for feeding several people without needing extra sides.
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Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole is a baked dish that turns fresh zucchini into a filling dinner option. It takes about 45 minutes and uses zucchini, cheese, eggs, and breadcrumbs. The flavor is mild, savory, and creamy with a lightly crisp top. It is a practical way to stretch vegetables into a main dish.
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Authentic Rice and Lentil

Authentic Rice and Lentil is a simple, hearty dish made with lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. It takes about 45 minutes to prepare and relies on pantry staples like lentils, long-grain rice, onions, and basic spices. The flavor is earthy and savory with sweetness from the onions. It is filling enough to serve as a main without stretching the budget.
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Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice is a no-frills dinner built for simplicity. It takes about 4 hours and uses chicken thighs, rice, broth, and seasoning. The taste is mild, savory, and filling. It relies on few ingredients to feed several people.
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Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice is a classic dinner built for speed and simplicity. It takes about 50 minutes and uses chicken, Minute Rice, cheese, and creamy sauce. The taste is mild, savory, and filling. It stretches a small amount of meat into a full family meal.
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Easy Four Cheese Mac and Cheese

Easy Four Cheese Mac and Cheese is a baked pasta dish made to serve a crowd. It takes about 50 minutes and includes macaroni, cheddar, mozzarella, Colby Jack, and milk. The flavor is rich and savory with a creamy center. It stretches pasta and cheese into a filling family meal.
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Easy Beef Pot Pie

Easy Beef Pot Pie is a classic dinner featuring tender beef, vegetables, and rich gravy under a flaky crust. It takes about 1 hour to make and includes beef, carrots, peas, potatoes, and pie dough. The taste is savory and familiar with a hearty, comforting texture. It serves multiple people using simple ingredients.
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