25 Forgotten Recipes People Made Often Back in The Day

Some recipes used to be regulars at the table without much thought, showing up week after week because they were dependable and filling. Over time, many of those meals quietly faded as schedules changed and shortcuts took over. These 25 forgotten recipes bring back the kinds of dishes people once cooked often, using familiar ingredients and steady flavors. Each one reflects the kind of cooking that felt practical, comforting, and worth repeating.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings Skillet

Easy Chicken and Dumplings Skillet is a one-pan comfort meal ready in about 35 minutes. The dish combines chicken, vegetables, broth, and soft drop dumplings in a creamy base. The flavor is mild, savory, and filling without being heavy. It reflects the kind of stovetop dinner that showed up often on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings Skillet

Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe

Classic Jewish Chicken Soup is a slow-simmered soup that takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The soup is made with chicken, onions, carrots, celery, and herbs. The flavor is savory, clean, and deeply comforting. It was often prepared weekly as a dependable family meal.
Get the Recipe: Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins is a baked dish that takes about 1 hour. The recipe includes egg noodles, cheese, eggs, raisins, and sugar. The flavor is lightly sweet, creamy, and rich. It is the kind of dish that once appeared often at family gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Buckwheat Kasha With Caramelized Mushrooms And Onions

Buckwheat Kasha with Caramelized Mushrooms and Onions is a stovetop dish ready in about 45 minutes. The recipe uses buckwheat groats, mushrooms, onions, and oil or butter. The flavor is earthy, nutty, and savory. It was commonly served as a filling side or simple main.
Get the Recipe: Buckwheat Kasha With Caramelized Mushrooms And Onions

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is a baked dish that takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. The main ingredients include cooked chicken, hash browns, cheese, and a creamy sauce. The flavor is rich, salty, and familiar. It is the kind of casserole that once filled tables at family dinners and potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls In A Tomato-Raisin Sauce

Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls in a Tomato-Raisin Sauce take about 1 hour to prepare. The rolls are filled with rice and plant-based protein, then cooked in a tomato sauce with vinegar and raisins. The flavor is tangy, lightly sweet, and deeply comforting. It reflects a style of cooking rooted in patience and tradition.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls In A Tomato-Raisin Sauce

Aruk, Iraqi Style Latkes

Aruk, Iraqi Style Latkes are crisp fritters made with ground beef, herbs, spices, and vegetables that come together in about 30 minutes. The mixture includes parsley, scallions, garlic, and warm spices that cook into a savory, well-seasoned bite. The flavor is hearty, aromatic, and balanced. It is the kind of pan-fried dish people relied on for gatherings and simple meals alike.
Get the Recipe: Aruk, Iraqi Style Latkes

My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes is a stovetop and oven dish that takes about 1 hour to cook. The recipe features carrots, dried fruit, honey, and citrus juice. The flavor is gently sweet with a soft texture. It was often prepared for holidays but also appeared at everyday family tables.
Get the Recipe: My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

Russian Potato Salad, also known as Olivier Salad, is a chilled mixed salad that takes about 40 minutes to prepare. The dish combines potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles, and a creamy mayonnaise dressing. The flavor is mild, tangy, and filling without being heavy. It was commonly served at gatherings because it held well and pleased a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping (No Canned Soup)

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping is a baked dish that comes together in about 50 minutes. The main ingredients include cabbage, cheese, onions, butter, and crushed crackers. The flavor is savory, creamy, and slightly crunchy on top. It reflects the kind of practical casserole families relied on for filling meals.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping (No Canned Soup)

Belgian Endive Soup

Belgian Endive Soup is a simple blended soup that takes about 40 minutes to make. The main ingredients include Belgian endive, potatoes, butter, and broth. The flavor is smooth, slightly bitter, and gently savory. It represents the kind of humble soup that quietly anchored many meals.
Get the Recipe: Belgian Endive Soup

Traditional Russian Blintzes

Traditional Russian Blintzes are thin crepes filled and pan-cooked in about 45 minutes. The batter includes flour, eggs, milk, and butter, often paired with a cheese filling. The flavor is mild, lightly rich, and comforting. They were a common breakfast or brunch dish made with care.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Russian Blintzes

Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup!)

Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole is a stovetop and oven dish ready in about 50 minutes. The casserole combines tuna, rice, vegetables, broth, and a crisp topping. The flavor is mild, creamy, and comforting. It reflects a time when casseroles were a dependable dinner solution.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Tuna Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup!)

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole is a baked side dish that comes together in about 40 minutes. The recipe uses green beans, mushrooms, a creamy sauce, and a crispy topping. The flavor is savory, soft, and familiar. It was once a regular fixture at family meals and holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie

Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie is a baked dessert that takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The pie is filled with sliced apples, sugar, and warm spices inside a flaky crust. The flavor is sweet, spiced, and familiar. It reflects the kind of dessert people baked often, not just for special occasions.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie

Basil Peach Cobbler

Basil Peach Cobbler is a baked dessert that takes about 1 hour from start to finish. The cobbler uses peaches, sugar, basil, and a simple buttery topping. The flavor is sweet with a subtle herbal note. It reflects a time when fruit desserts followed the season closely.
Get the Recipe: Basil Peach Cobbler

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup is a slow-simmered soup that takes about 1 hour to prepare. The dish features matzo meal dumplings, eggs, chicken broth, and onions. The flavor is savory, rich, and deeply familiar. It was often made when comfort mattered more than speed.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce

Argentinian Flan, also known as bread pudding with caramel sauce, takes about 1 hour to bake and cool. The dessert is made with bread, eggs, milk, sugar, and caramel. The flavor is soft, sweet, and lightly custardy. It reflects a time when desserts were built from simple pantry staples.
Get the Recipe: Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce

Pumpkin Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pecan Pie is a baked dessert that takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to prepare. The filling includes pumpkin puree, pecans, eggs, sugar, and warm spices. The flavor is sweet, rich, and balanced between creamy and crunchy. It reflects classic holiday baking that once felt routine.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Pie

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice is a baked meal ready in about 50 minutes. The casserole combines chicken, rice, cheese, broth, and a creamy sauce. The flavor is mild, savory, and filling. It was often made because it was reliable and fed everyone easily.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a baked dinner that comes together in about 50 minutes. The peppers are filled with seasoned ground turkey, grains, herbs, and vegetables. The flavor is savory and balanced with a soft texture from the filling. It feels like a practical dinner people made to stretch ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

Cottage Cheese Blintzes

Cottage Cheese Blintzes are pan-cooked crepes filled with cheese and ready in about 45 minutes. The filling includes cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar, often served with fruit. The flavor is mild, creamy, and slightly tangy. They reflect a breakfast or brunch people took time to make.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Blintzes

Morning Glory Muffins

Morning Glory Muffins are hearty baked muffins ready in about 45 minutes. The batter includes carrots, apples, nuts, oats, and honey for natural sweetness. The flavor is lightly sweet with texture from fruit and grains. They were commonly made for breakfasts that needed to last through the morning.
Get the Recipe: Morning Glory Muffins

My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole

My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole is a baked dish that takes about 45 minutes to prepare. The recipe features carrots, sugar, eggs, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The flavor is lightly sweet and soft. It was often served as a side that crossed into dessert.
Get the Recipe: My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole

Homemade Corn Casserole

Homemade Corn Casserole is a baked side dish ready in about 40 minutes. The main ingredients include corn, eggs, butter, and dairy for a tender texture. The flavor is mild, slightly sweet, and comforting. It was commonly made because it paired easily with many meals.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corn Casserole