25 Vintage Casserole Recipes from the '50s That We Still Love Today (2024)

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25 Vintage Casserole Recipes from the '50s That We Still Love Today (1)Carrie Madormo, RNUpdated: Jun. 21, 2022

    Feel like you're back around grandma's kitchen table with these comforting vintage casserole recipes.

    Tuna Noodle Casserole

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    Families are sure to love the creamy texture and comforting taste of this traditional tuna casserole that goes together in a jiffy. I serve it with a green salad and warm rolls for a nutritious supper. —Ruby Wells, Cynthiana, Kentucky

    Baked Spaghetti

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    Every time that I make this cheesy baked spaghetti, I get requests for the recipe. It puts a different spin on pasta and is great for any meal. The leftovers, if there are any, also freeze well for a quick dinner later in the week. —Ruth Koberna, Brecksville, Ohio

    Crunchy Spinach Casserole

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    Taste of Home

    Our holidays would not be the same without this family tradition. My mother made it every Thanksgiving when I was growing up; now I make it every Christmas as well, and my children and grandchildren absolutely love it! We triple the recipe because the kids can't get enough. —Sharon Scaletta, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

    Biscuit Turkey Bake

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    As a college student, I go for stick-to-your-ribs foods that are also easy on the budget. Here's one that fits the bill. I like to bake this casserole for friends' birthdays. —Stephanie Denning, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

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    Taste of Home

    This is the recipe my daughters and I often make for new parents when they come home from the hospital. With its creamy spaghetti filling and melted cheese topping, this casserole holds a nice cut and comforts hungry tummies. —Fancheon Resler, Bluffton, Indiana

    Seafood Casserole

    Taste of Home

    A family favorite, this rice casserole is filled with plenty of seafood and veggies. It's hearty, homey and so easy to make. —Nancy Billups, Princeton, Iowa

    Grandma's Rice Dish

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    My grandmother often made this casserole when I was young. I forgot about it until one day I found myself adding the same ingredients to leftover rice. The memories came flooding back. —Lorna Moore, Glendora, California

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    Taste of Home

    It's nice to have an alternative to the traditional baked ham on Easter. This comforting casserole is always a crowd-pleaser. Using rotisserie chicken from the deli makes prep simple. —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota

    Classic Cabbage Rolls

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    I've always enjoyed cabbage rolls but didn't make them since most methods were too complicated. This recipe is fairly simple and results in the best cabbage rolls. My husband, Sid, requests them often. They're terrific to share at gatherings with our children and grandchildren. —Beverly Zehner, McMinnville, Oregon

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    The entire family will enjoy this heartwarming, all-in-one dinner. Plus, it offers easy cleanup! —Mike Tchou, Pepper Pike, Ohio

    My Mother's Mac and Cheese

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    Taste of Home

    I remember my mother sending me to the store for 15 cents worth of cheese. The butcher would cut off a slice from a gigantic wheel covered with a wax-coated cloth. Mother would then blend that cheese into this tasty dish. Today, the memory of her cooking is like food for my soul. —Phyllis Burkland, Portland, Oregon

    Church Supper Spaghetti

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    Taste of Home

    Because this recipe feeds so many, I often take it to church dinners and potlucks. This colorful dish also comes in handy when we have lots of help to feed on our farm. —Verlyn Wilson, Wilkinson, Indiana

    Sausage Cheese Squares

    Taste of Home

    My grandsons tried these savory morsels for the first time as youngsters and loved them. They're all grown up now, and instead of little appetizer squares, we make the servings breakfast-size. —Helen McFadden, Sierra Vista, Arizona.

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    Taste of Home

    I couldn’t say who loves this recipe best, because it gets raves every time I serve it! Occasionally I even get a phone call or email from a friend requesting the recipe, and it's certainly a favorite for my grown children and 15 grandchildren. —Maryalice Wood, Langley, British Columbia

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    Taste of Home

    Eat it tonight, or freeze it for later. This cheesy casserole is still awesome months after you make it. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

    Church Supper Hot Dish

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    This recipe was in my mother's church cookbook, and now it's in my church cookbook! Apparently is was too good to miss a generation. I often make this dish to take along to potlucks...and it seems that if I don't, someone else will! It's hearty and so tasty! —Norma Turner, Haslett, Michigan

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    Taste of Home

    My grandmother used to make this for parties and potlucks. It was loved by all back then, and it still is today. The classic combination of pasta, ham, cheese and a creamy sauce makes it irresistible. —Mary Savor, Woodburn, Indiana

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    Taste of Home

    On chilly days, I doctor up grits and top them with shrimp for a comfy meal. If you’re not a seafood lover, use chicken, ham or both. —Jerri Gradert, Lincoln, Nebraska

    Loaded Spaghetti Bake

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    Make this loaded pasta recipe your own, everyone loves it! It's also great made with leftover chicken from the previous night's dinner. You might prefer another hard cheese for the Parmesan…or just go with the cheddar and cornflake crumbs. —Marian Pappas, Lake Stevens, Washington

    Spinach Beef Macaroni Bake

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    This hearty casserole is great for a family reunion or church supper. I've also made half the recipe for family gatherings. It's become a special favorite of my grandson-in-law and great-grandson, who often ask me to serve it when they're visiting. —Lois Lauppe, Lahoma, Oklahoma

    Grandmother's Corn Pudding

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    My grandmother always served this pudding for holidays and family reunions. Everyone loves it. Corn pudding is a popular side dish on Maryland's eastern shore. —Susan Brown Langenstein, Salisbury, Maryland

    Polish Casserole

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    When I first made this dish, my 2-year-old liked it so much that he wanted it for every meal! You can use almost any pasta that will hold the sauce. —Crystal Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

    Pizza Noodle Bake

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    Here’s a family-pleasing casserole that comes together in a snap, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. Double the recipe and freeze one for later! —Bernice Knutson, Soldier, Iowa

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    I’ve paired ham with broccoli and cauliflower for years. To complete this casserole dinner, I pass around some dinner rolls. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

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    Taste of Home

    This quick, easy recipe is truly delicious. The succulent, melt-in-your-mouth seafood flavors and textures make for elegant comfort food. To make ahead, just assemble, cover and refrigerate, then bake when ready. —Jan Bartley, Evergreen, North Carolina

    Originally Published: October 29, 2019

    25 Vintage Casserole Recipes from the '50s That We Still Love Today (26)

    Carrie Madormo, RN

    Carrie is a health writer and nurse who specializes in healthy eating and wellness through food. With a master’s degree in public health from the Medical College of Wisconsin, she strives to translate the latest health and nutrition research into interesting, actionable articles. During her six years at Taste of Home, Carrie has answered hundreds of reader questions about health and nutrition, such as if pomegranate seeds are safe to eat, why pregnant women crave pickles and how much caffeine is in a shot of espresso. Carrie is also a former health coach and food blogger.

    25 Vintage Casserole Recipes from the '50s That We Still Love Today (2024)

    FAQs

    What was the most popular dish in the 1950s? ›

    As you can see from the decade's top recipes, the 1950s were all about the intersection of comfort food and convenience—casseroles and quick dishes like Chicken a la King and Welsh rarebit reigned supreme.

    What is the oldest known casserole? ›

    Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

    What food was popular in 1957? ›

    1957: Barbecue

    The emergence of the suburb and the introduction of the Weber grill led to a surge in backyard grilling in the late 50s. Smoky briskets and juicy grilled chicken soon became the meal of choice for al fresco dining.

    Why were casseroles popular in the 1950s? ›

    Casseroles provided affordable sustenance during the Depressions of the 1890s and 1930s and the shortage of food items during both World Wars. In the 1950s, the widespread use of oven-proof cookware and canned foods made casseroles a simple, quick and inexpensive way to feed the whole family.

    What was a family favorite food of the 1950s? ›

    1950s Dinners

    There was no such thing as the keto diet in the 1950s—meat and potatoes reigned supreme. You'd find hearty main dishes like Salisbury steak, beef stroganoff and meat loaf on a '50s dinner menu, plus scrumptious sides. Casseroles were also popular, particularly those featuring seafood or ham.

    What were the popular foods in the 50s and 60s? ›

    Popular packaged foods included Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Special K cereals, General Mills' Trix and Cocoa Puffs cereals, Star-Kist Tuna, Minute Rice, Eggo Waffles, Pepperidge Farm Cookies, Ruffles potato chips, Rice-A-Roni, Ramen Noodles, and Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream.

    What is the oldest dish still eaten? ›

    The World's 10 Oldest Dishes And Where They Are Today
    • Indian curry, circa 2200-2500 B.C. ...
    • Pancakes, circa 11650 B.C. ...
    • Linzer Torte, circa 1653. ...
    • Tamales, circa 5000 B.C. ...
    • Burgers, circa 100 century A.D. ...
    • Mesopotamian Stew, circa 2140 B.C., and bone broth, circa 400 B.C. ...
    • Rice dishes, circa 4530 B.C. ...
    • Beer, circa 3500 B.C.
    Sep 2, 2023

    What is the oldest food still made? ›

    The oldest foods still eaten today
    • Stew. Who can say no to a delicious, heart-warming stew? ...
    • Tamales. Made from starchy, corn-based dough, tamales are still enjoyed today all throughout Mexico and Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the US and even the Philippines. ...
    • Pancakes. Yep. ...
    • Bread. ...
    • Curry. ...
    • Cheesecake.

    What was the original casserole? ›

    Baked dishes have existed for thousands of years. Early casserole recipes consisted of rice that was pounded, pressed, and filled with a savoury mixture of meats such as chicken or sweetbread. Sometime around the 1870s the casserole seems to have taken on its current definition.

    What foods were made in the 1950s? ›

    Here's a look at other important food innovations from the 1950's.
    • 1950. Minute Rice. Kellogg's Sugar Pops.
    • 1951. Ore Ida Foods (frozen potato products) ...
    • 1952. Kraft Cheese Wiz. ...
    • 1953. Eggo Frozen Waffles. ...
    • 1954. General Mills Trix. ...
    • 1955. Kellogg's Special K cereal. ...
    • 1956. Imperial Margarine.
    • 1957. Pam nonstick cooking spray.
    Apr 11, 2014

    What food came out in 1958? ›

    1958: The instant noodle was invented by Momof*cku Ando of Nissin Foods in Japan. They were launched the same year. 1958: The first conveyor belt sushi restaurant, Mawaru Genroku Sushi, opens in Higashiosaka.

    What food was popular in 1953? ›

    In addition to Coronation Chicken, Chicken Tetrazzini.

    What did people eat in a day in the 1950s? ›

    Typical main dishes might have been a hamburger, tuna fish, chicken casserole, dried chipped beef in cream gravy over toast, fried chicken, mac and cheese, Spam, canned ham, spareribs, hot dogs wrapped in Bisquick, hot dogs with barbecue sauce, liver and onions or various bean dishes.

    What did food look like in the 1950s? ›

    "Government cheese," canned tuna, white bread, canned vegetables, mayonnaise, boxed cake and biscuit mixes, and yes, gelatin and Cool Whip were what poor people ate. Wealthier people ate "real" food - a trend that continues today.

    When was the first casserole made? ›

    *The oldest “recipe” for casserole appears to be a form of macaroni and cheese that was written down in Latin. The recipe was called “de lasnis”, which called for pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese (probably parmesan) and mild spices. This was clear back around the year 1250!

    What foods were eaten in the 1950s? ›

    Typical main dishes might have been a hamburger, tuna fish, chicken casserole, dried chipped beef in cream gravy over toast, fried chicken, mac and cheese, Spam, canned ham, spareribs, hot dogs wrapped in Bisquick, hot dogs with barbecue sauce, liver and onions or various bean dishes.

    What food came out in the 1950s? ›

    Food Innovations of the 1950's
    • 1950. Minute Rice. Kellogg's Sugar Pops.
    • 1951. Ore Ida Foods (frozen potato products) Duncan Hines Cake Mix. ...
    • 1952. Kraft Cheese Wiz. Mrs. ...
    • 1953. Eggo Frozen Waffles. Star-Kist canned tuna. ...
    • 1954. General Mills Trix. ...
    • 1955. Kellogg's Special K cereal. ...
    • 1956. Imperial Margarine.
    • 1957. Pam nonstick cooking spray.
    Apr 11, 2014

    What food was served at the 1950 picnic? ›

    Often tinned hams, salads, breads and dessert would be served in a field. However, for an easier alternative make sandwiches and wrap them in greaseproof paper. Don't forget the hard boiled eggs as no picnic would be a picnic without one! Tea and lemonade.

    What fast food started in the 1950s? ›

    Taco Bell and Burger King are among the fast food chains that were started in the 1950's. With so many new innovations in technology and processing, the food industry was revolutionized in the 1950's. This revolution included restaurants and the landscape of dining was changed with the rise of fast food.

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