54 Vintage Recipes from the ’30s Worth Trying Today (2024)

1/54

Hearty Navy Bean Soup

My family loves navy bean soup! Beans were a commodity you did not survive without in the ’30s. This excellent navy beans and ham soup is a real family favorite of ours and I make it often. —Mildred Lewis, Temple, Texas

Go to Recipe

2/54

Bacon Roll-Ups

This family recipe dates back to the 1930s, when my grandmother started making these hearty breakfast rolls. —Janet Abate, North Brunswick, New Jersey

Go to Recipe

3/54

Skillet Cabbage Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Skillet Cabbage

I use this dish often when the schedule gets tight and I need a hurry-up vegetable to cook. It adds plenty of substance to a simple meal. —Charmaine Fricke, St. Charles, Illinois

Go to Recipe

4/54

Spiedis

This is our favorite cookout dish, and it's very good served with a salad. This recipe originated here in my hometown in the 1930s. Our meat preference for speidis is venison, but we use chicken and beef when it's not available. —Gertrude Skinner, Binghamton, New York

Go to Recipe

5/54

Taste of Home

Irish Spiced Beef

The story goes that my Irish ancestors brought this recipe along when they immigrated to the U.S. Start it at least five days ahead to spice and tenderize the meat; the flavors are worth it. —Mary Shenk, Dekalb, Illinois

Go to Recipe

6/54

Grandma Davidson's Baked Apple Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Grandma Davidson’s Baked Apple Pudding

My savvy grandmother whipped up recipes like this homey cinnamon-scented apple pudding in the Depression years. Many of us still make them today. —Holly Sharp, Warren, Ontario

Go to Recipe

No money? No problem! Try this vintage cake recipe, appropriately named poor man’s cake.

7/54

Bacon, tomatoes and lima beans combine for a nutrient-packed side dish that makes the perfect accompaniment to turkey. —Karen Kumpulainen, Forest City, North Carolina

Go to Recipe

8/54

TASTE OF HOME

Spinach Souffle

This spinach souffle is for those times when you want to impress your friends with a delicious dish, but don't want to spend much time in the kitchen.

Go to Recipe

9/54

Crunchy Tuna Salad with Tomatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Healthy Tuna Salad

You do not need full-fat dressing to make a great tuna fish sandwich. Learn how to make healthy tuna salad with a recipe that cuts down on calories and fat, but keeps the classic flavor (and crunch!).

Go to Recipe

10/54

Taste of Home

Grilled Sweet Corn

Since we have plenty of fresh sweet corn available in our area, we use this recipe often in summer. Parsley, chili powder and cumin accent the corn's just-picked flavor. —Connie Lou Hollister, Lake Odessa, Michigan

Go to Recipe

11/54

Truly Tasty Turnips with Greens Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Truly Tasty Turnips with Greens

These savory greens are a hit at every church dinner I take them to. Adjust the seasonings as you please to make this recipe your own. —Amy Inman, Hiddenite, North Carolina

Go to Recipe

12/54

O'Brien Sausage Skillet

Inspiration hit one night when I was in a time crunch. This was so satisfying and easy to make, many friends now serve it, too. —Linda Harris, Wichita, Kansas

Go to Recipe

13/54

Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding

This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba

Go to Recipe

14/54

Homemade Potato Salad Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home

Potato Salad

Everyone needs a reliable potato salad recipe in their repertoire, and this one is classic in its simplicity. It's quick and versatile, and it will go with just about anything.

15/54

Taste of Home

Meat Loaf

This traditional meat loaf recipe creates a tender, juicy meat loaf topped with a caramelized glaze. The best part: It’s so easy to make, and it’s ready to eat in about an hour!

Go to Recipe

16/54

Apple Brandy Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Apple Brandy

I spend a lot of time developing recipes for the many fruits and vegetables we grow on our farm. In this creation, apple brandy is enhanced with spices for a delightful drink.—Deanna Seippel, Lancaster, Wisconsin

Go to Recipe

17/54

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Chicken and Dumplings

This homestyle chicken and dumpling soup recipe is just like mom's with its classic mirepoix base and doughy drop dumplings.

Go to Recipe

18/54

Taste of Home

Cinnamon Peanut Brittle

I made this sweet, peanut-packed candy for Christmas and sent some with my husband to work. His co-workers liked it so much they asked for more. It has a lovely glossy look and the cinnamon is a delightful surprise. You've got to try this peanut butter brittle recipe. —Grace Miller, Mansfield, Ohio

Go to Recipe

19/54

Scalloped Potatoes with Mushrooms

Potatoes and mushrooms make a one-dish meal I love – it’s the calories you have to watch. Swap out dairy products with lower fat options. —Courtney Stultz, Columbus, Kansas

Go to Recipe

20/54

Green Tomato Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Green Tomato Pie

Don't be sad that tomato season is over—be happy that it's time for green tomato pie! Made with sliced green tomatoes scented with sugar and cinnamon, then baked in a flaky crust, it's a sweet-savory dessert not to miss.

Go to Recipe

21/54

Hearty Vegetable Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Hearty Vegetable Soup

This hearty vegetable soup is packed with flavorful veggies and garbanzo beans in a tomato-based broth. This crowd-pleaser is easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners.

Go to Recipe

22/54

Easy Homemade Pickles

My husband grows cucumbers, garlic and dill in the garden and eagerly waits for me to make these homemade pickles. The recipe comes from my grandmother.—Angela Lienhard, Blossburg, Pennsylvania

Go to Recipe

23/54

Three-Bean Baked Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Three-Bean Baked Beans

I got this recipe from my aunt and made a couple of changes to suit my taste. With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I'm always asked to bring my special beans. —Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio

Go to Recipe

24/54

Grandma's Potato Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Grandma’s Potato Salad

This salad is a must for the Fourth of July feast. The red potatoes hold their shape and texture even after they are boiled. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Go to Recipe

25/54

Tuna Cheese Spread

The flavor of tuna is very subtle in this thick and creamy spread. It's terrific on crackers or carrot and celery sticks, stuffed in a tomato or used for a sandwich. —Dorothy Anderson, Ottawa, Kansas

Go to Recipe

26/54

TMB STUDIO

Molded Strawberry Salad

This refreshing salad has two layers – a pretty pink bottom that includes sour cream, and a ruby red top with strawberries and pineapple. For years, Mom has included this salad in meals she prepares for our family.
-Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois

Go to Recipe

27/54

Simple Lemon Parsley Potatoes

For a simply delicious side dish, I often prepare these potatoes. I like the fact that there are few ingredients and they take such little time to prepare.—Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas

Go to Recipe

28/54

Dark Chocolate Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Dark Chocolate Pudding

Life is too short to pass on dessert. This old-fashioned treat is so creamy and comforting! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Go to Recipe

29/54

Vegetable Lentil Soup Recipe photo by Julia Hartbeck for Taste of Home

Vegetable Lentil Soup

Vegetarians and veggie-curious eaters will both love this vegetable lentil soup that's equal parts healthy and tasty.

Go to Recipe

30/54

Easy Lemon Pie Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home

Easy Lemon Pie

This lemon pie recipe is perfectly tart and tangy, and it's perfectly simple to make with just one bowl and a refrigerated pie crust.

Go to Recipe

31/54

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Butter Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Butter

You can spread this apple butter on thick and still enjoy a breakfast that’s thin on calories. For a smoother texture, use tender varieties such as McIntosh or Cortland apples. —Diane Widmer, Blue Island, Illinois. If you like this, then you must check out our favorite retro breakfast recipes.

Go to Recipe

32/54

Potato Pan Rolls

My family loves these rolls and requests them often. They don't take long to make because you use quick-rise yeast. —Connie Storckman, Evanston, Wyoming

Go to Recipe

33/54

Roasted Asparagus Salad

Now that our six children are grown, they've started sharing recipes with me—and I love it. This tasty way to prepare fresh asparagus —by roasting the spears, then serving them with a Dijon dressing at room temperature—came from our daughter. —Anna Kreymborg, Louisville, Kentucky

Go to Recipe

34/54

Taste of Home

Rosemary Lemonade

A friend suggested I add a sprig of rosemary to lemonade. The herb makes the drink taste fresh and light, and it's a pretty garnish. —Dixie Graham, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Go to Recipe

35/54

Hominy Beef Chili

Hunker down for the night and get cozy with this filling chili. Loaded with beef chuck roast and convenient staples, such as diced tomatoes, green chiles and seasonings, it’s a satisfying supper that would be yummy served with a side of warm tortillas or tortilla chips for dipping. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin

Go to Recipe

36/54

Tillie's Ginger Crumb Cake

This recipe goes back at least as far as my grandmother, who was born in the early 1900s. Our sons and I enjoy eating it in a bowl with milk poured on it—much to the dismay of my husband, who prefers it plain! —Kathy Nienow Clark, Byron, Michigan

Go to Recipe

37/54

Tomato-Poached Halibut

My halibut with a burst of lemon comes together in one pan and stays super moist. Try it with polenta, angel hair pasta or crusty bread. —Danna Rogers, Westport, Connecticut

Go to Recipe

38/54

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe photo by Jamie Thrower for Taste of Home

Buttermilk Biscuits

You can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.

Go to Recipe

39/54

Tomato Juice Cocktail

This recipe came from my mother-in-law and many say it’s the best tomato juice they’ve ever tasted. It has a little eye-opening kick to it that’s wonderful! —Beverly Cottrell, Ipswich, Maine

Go to Recipe

40/54

Lima Bean Soup Recipe photo by Laura Scherb for Taste of Home

Lima Bean Soup

This comforting lima bean soup proves that lima beans are not to be underestimated. Buttery beans and well-seasoned veggies are the power players in this soup, topped with crispy bacon for a satisfying one-pot meal.

Go to Recipe

41/54

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

This creamy, luscious ice cream will remind you of the signature treat served at church ice cream socials. What dessert could be better? —Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin—Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin

Go to Recipe

42/54

I roast veggies to bring out their sweetness, and it works wonders with onions and cabbage. The piquant vinegar-mustard sauce makes this dish similar to a slaw. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Go to Recipe

43/54

Country White Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Country White Bread

This country white bread is wonderful for making sandwiches or French toast, and it's quite delicious even on its own.

Go to Recipe

44/54

Asian Corn Succotash

Since I’m not a fan of lima beans, I use edamame (green soybeans) in this colorful corn succotash instead. The Asian-inspired dressing alone is addictive. —Dierdre Callaway, Parkville, Missouri

Go to Recipe

45/54

Vanilla Wafer Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Vanilla Wafers

This easy recipe for vanilla wafers creates buttery cookies that are equally chewy and crispy. Our seven-ingredient recipe yields more than three dozen cookies in only 35 minutes.

Go to Recipe

46/54

Broiled Parmesan and Swiss Tomatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Broiled Parmesan and Swiss Tomatoes

Planning to serve steak or tenderloin? These cheesy tomatoes make the ideal accompaniment. Plus, the recipe is simple to double for guests. —Mary Price, Youngstown, Ohio

Go to Recipe

47/54

Easy Homemade Chunky Applesauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Easy Homemade Chunky Applesauce

Here's a comforting, home-style treat that never loses its appeal. Dish up big bowlfuls and wait for the smiles! —Marilee Cardinal, Burlington, New Jersey

Go to Recipe

48/54

Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet

The concept of an old-fashioned dates back to the early 1800s and includes whiskey, bitters, cherry juice, sugar and water. This old-fashioned recipe, which is extremely popular in Wisconsin, uses brandy in place of whiskey and lemon-lime soda instead of water for a milder cocktail. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Go to Recipe

49/54

Vegan Apple Pie

This vegan apple pie recipe uses shortening instead of butter or lard in the crust. Such an easy swap!

Go to Recipe

50/54

Gimlet Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Gimlet

From the Royal Navy's boats to your kitchen, the gimlet has always been a simple-yet-sophisticated cocktail. Made with gin, lime juice and simple syrup, it's perfect for fancy parties and everyday gatherings.

Go to Recipe

51/54

Simply Delicious Roast Beef Sandwiches

Mushrooms add a different touch to these comforting roast beef sandwiches. I like to pile the shredded beef high on Kaiser rolls.—Scott Powell, Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Go to Recipe

52/54

Taste of Home

Marinated Almond-Stuffed Olives

Marinated stuffed olives go over so well with company that I try to keep a batch of them in the fridge at all times. —Larissa Delk, Columbia, Tennessee

Go to Recipe

53/54

Candied Pecans Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Candied Pecans

These candied pecans combine toasty nuts with butter, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla for a salty-sweet snack that you can eat by the handful or as an accompaniment to salad, cheese, desserts and so much more.

Go to Recipe

54/54

Fresh Fruit Bowl

The glorious colors of the fruit make this a festive salad. Slightly sweet and chilled, it makes a nice accompaniment to a grilled entree. —Marlon Kirst, Troy, Michigan

Go to Recipe

54 Vintage Recipes from the ’30s Worth Trying Today (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 5757

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.