21 Forgotten Recipes Families Rolled Their Eyes at but Loved Anyway

Every family has recipes people pretended not to like. They sighed when these dishes showed up on the table, yet somehow the plates always ended up clean. Over time, many of those meals faded from regular rotation, even though they were comforting and familiar. These 21 recipes bring back the foods everyone complained about but quietly hoped would show up again.

Chicken Colombian Tamales (Tamales Colombiano)

Chicken Colombian Tamales (Tamales Colombiano) is a traditional wrapped meal that takes about 2 hours to prepare and cook. It includes chicken, corn masa, vegetables, and warm spices tucked into banana leaves. The taste is savory, rich, and deeply comforting with layers of familiar flavor. Families may have called it fussy, but they always reached for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Colombian Tamales (Tamales Colombiano)

Morning Glory Muffins

Morning Glory Muffins are hearty baked treats that take about 25 minutes to make from start to finish. The recipe uses carrots, apples, raisins, and warm spices mixed into a tender batter. They taste gently sweet and wholesome with plenty of texture in every bite. Kids may have rolled their eyes at the ingredients, but the muffins never lasted long.
Get the Recipe: Morning Glory Muffins

Spiced Apple Butter Cake

Spiced Apple Butter Cake is a simple dessert that bakes in about 50 minutes with basic pantry staples. It features apple butter, cinnamon, sugar, and flour blended into a soft, moist cake. The flavor is warmly spiced and lightly sweet with an old-fashioned homemade feel. People might have pretended it was too plain, but they always came back for more.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Apple Butter Cake

Sweet Plantains in Coconut Milk

Sweet Plantains in Coconut Milk is a humble dish that comes together in about 25 minutes on the stovetop. The recipe uses ripe plantains, creamy coconut milk, and a touch of sugar for gentle sweetness. It tastes rich, smooth, and comforting in a way that feels like home cooking from another time. Even picky eaters usually ended up enjoying every bite.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Plantains in Coconut Milk

My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes is a slow-cooked side dish that takes about 45 minutes to prepare. It combines carrots, honey, dried fruit, and warm spices into a tender, sweet mixture. The flavor is cozy, soft, and nostalgic with a hint of natural sweetness. Family members may have teased it, but they always scooped it onto their plates.
Get the Recipe: My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins is a baked classic that takes about an hour to make. It includes egg noodles, eggs, raisins, and a creamy custard base. The taste is sweet, rich, and comforting with a soft, pudding-like texture. Many claimed it was too old-fashioned, yet it vanished quickly at every meal.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Vegan Hubbard Squash Pie

Vegan Hubbard Squash Pie is a rustic dessert that takes about 70 minutes to bake and cool. The recipe uses squash puree, spices, and a flaky crust for a simple homemade treat. It tastes smooth, lightly sweet, and warmly spiced like a traditional fall pie. People may have been unsure at first, but they always asked for another slice.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Hubbard Squash Pie

Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup!)

Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup!) is a throwback dinner that cooks in about 40 minutes. It combines tuna, rice, cheese, and vegetables into a creamy baked dish. The flavor is mild, savory, and deeply familiar in that dependable casserole way. Families often groaned at the idea, yet they cleaned their plates every time.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup!)

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips is a crunchy, comforting meal ready in about 35 minutes. It features noodles, tuna, cheese, and a crispy chip topping. The taste is creamy, salty, and satisfying with a fun bit of texture on top. People joked about it being old-school, but nobody ever turned it down.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe With Ripples Chips

Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage

Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage is a hearty dish that cooks slowly for about 5 hours. The recipe uses potatoes, sausage, onions, and simple seasonings for big flavor. It tastes smoky, savory, and filling like a true stick-to-your-ribs supper. Kids might have complained about the name, but they loved the results.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage

Grandma’s Cornbread

Grandma’s Cornbread is a basic, comforting bread that bakes in about 25 minutes. It uses cornmeal, flour, milk, and butter to create a simple golden square. The flavor is lightly sweet, tender, and perfect alongside almost any meal. Family members may have taken it for granted, but they always reached for another piece.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cornbread

Potato Leek Soup

Potato Leek Soup is a straightforward recipe that takes about 35 minutes to cook on the stove. It combines potatoes, leeks, broth, and seasonings into a smooth, creamy bowl of comfort. The taste is mild, warm, and soothing in a way that feels like childhood dinners. People said it was boring, yet they quietly loved every spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Potato Leek Soup

Italian Mushroom Stew

Italian Mushroom Stew is a rustic dish that simmers for about 40 minutes with simple ingredients. The recipe features mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs cooked into a rich mixture. It tastes earthy, savory, and deeply satisfying without any fancy steps. Some called it too plain, but bowls were always scraped clean.
Get the Recipe: Italian Mushroom Stew

Yellow Plum Crumble Bars

Yellow Plum Crumble Bars are an old-fashioned dessert that bakes in about 45 minutes. They include fresh plums, sugar, butter, and a crumbly topping layered together. The flavor is sweet, tangy, and buttery with a soft fruit center. People may have acted unimpressed, but the tray never stayed full for long.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Plum Crumble Bars

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup is a traditional recipe that takes about 90 minutes from start to finish. It uses chicken broth, matzo meal, eggs, and simple seasonings for tender dumplings. The taste is warm, comforting, and gently savory like a familiar family remedy. Many pretended they were tired of it, yet they always wanted more.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Amish Broccoli Salad

Amish Broccoli Salad is a simple cold dish that takes about 15 minutes to mix together. The recipe includes broccoli, bacon, raisins, and a creamy dressing. It tastes crunchy, sweet, and savory all at once with classic potluck flavor. Some claimed they did not like it, but the bowl was always empty at the end.
Get the Recipe: Amish Broccoli Salad

Roasted Salmon On A Bed Of Apples And Potatoes

Roasted Salmon On A Bed Of Apples And Potatoes is a one-pan meal ready in about 40 minutes. It combines salmon, apples, potatoes, and herbs roasted together. The flavor is lightly sweet, savory, and comforting in an unexpected way. Families may have questioned the mix, but they ended up loving the taste.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Salmon On A Bed Of Apples And Potatoes

Deviled Eggs Without Mustard

Deviled Eggs Without Mustard is a simple appetizer that takes about 20 minutes to prepare. The recipe uses eggs, mayonnaise, and seasonings for a smooth creamy filling. They taste rich, mild, and familiar in the best classic way. People joked about being tired of them, yet they disappeared from every platter.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs Without Mustard

Roasted Cauliflower Casserole With Tomatoes And Capers

Roasted Cauliflower Casserole With Tomatoes And Capers is a baked dish that takes about 45 minutes to cook. It features cauliflower, tomatoes, capers, and olive oil roasted into a flavorful mix. The taste is savory, slightly tangy, and surprisingly hearty. Family members may have doubted it, but they always went back for more.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Casserole With Tomatoes And Capers

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice is a quick classic that takes about 45 minutes in the oven. The recipe uses chicken, rice, broth, and simple seasonings for an easy meal. It tastes creamy, mild, and comforting in a dependable home-cooked way. People pretended to be bored of it, but they quietly loved every forkful.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Salmon Quiche

Salmon Quiche is a savory pie that bakes in about 40 minutes with everyday ingredients. It includes salmon, eggs, cheese, and a flaky crust for a simple family dinner. The flavor is rich, mild, and satisfying with a classic homemade feel. Some claimed it was too fancy, yet they always asked for another slice.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Quiche