Times were tough in the 1930s and people had to be creative with the few ingredients they could find and afford. These dishes show just how inventive our ancestors could be!
33 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression
Updated on Sep. 12, 2024
Grandma Pruit’s Vinegar Pie
This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always at all of the family get-togethers.—Suzette Pruit, Houston, Texas
1/33
2/33
Creamy Chipped Beef Fondue
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 4 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother often served fondue on Christmas Eve and I've since followed in that tradition. It's nice to offer a hearty appetizer that requires very little work.
—Beth Fox, Lawrence, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 75 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 189mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
3/33
Meat and Potato Patties
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
During World War II, when meat was rationed and had to be purchased with tokens, this recipe went a long way in feeding a family. To this day, I still reach for it whenever I want something different from regular hamburgers. By the way, children really like these (just as I did when I was a child!).— Gladys Klein, Burlington Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 patty: 237 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 99mg cholesterol, 373mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein.
4/33
Navy Bean Soup
Total Time
2 hours 15 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 244 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 410mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 10g fiber), 18g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable.
5/33
Favorite Bread & Butter Pickles
Total Time
55 min
Servings
11 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 60 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 645mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
6/33
Spice Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I get a craving for a tasty old-fashioned treat, I make this cake. Great cooks in my family have been baking it for generations, and their families have been enjoying the wonderful spice flavor and rich frosting.
—Nancy Duty, Jacksonville, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 482 calories, 22g fat (11g saturated fat), 99mg cholesterol, 353mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (53g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
7/33
Bacon Pasta
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As children, we always requested this dish for our birthday dinners. Our mother got the recipe from her grandmother. Now I pass on our tasty tradition. —Ruth Keogh, North St. Paul, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 159 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 498mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
8/33
Fish Chowder
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 4-1/2 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe was handed down by my mother, although I have changed it a bit. This really reflects our region, since New England is famous for its fish.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 193 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 659mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein.
9/33
Bacon Roll-Ups
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 roll-ups
From the Recipe Creator:
This family recipe dates back to the 1930s, when my grandmother started making these hearty breakfast rolls. —Janet Abate, North Brunswick, New Jersey
Nutrition Facts:
1 roll-up: 164 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 312mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.
10/33
Grandma Davidson’s Baked Apple Pudding
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 291 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 381mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (43g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein.
11/33
German Pancakes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings (2 cups syrup)
From the Recipe Creator:
Piping hot and puffy from the oven, this golden pancake made a pretty presentation for a skier's theme breakfast I hosted. Served with homemade buttermilk syrup, it's an eye-opening treat. Make several German pancakes if you're feeding a crowd, and keep in mind that my easy syrup tastes great on waffles and French toast, too. —Renae Moncur, Burley, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece with 1/4 cup syrup: 428 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 203mg cholesterol, 543mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 0 fiber), 8g protein.
12/33
Ruby Grape Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 400 calories, 17g fat (8g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 231mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
13/33
Country Potato Pancakes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 24 pancakes
From the Recipe Creator:
These potato pancakes are really versatile. They can be a side dish for just about any meal or the main course for a light meal. Potato pancakes go particularly well with pork. We have them often at our house. —Lydia Robotewskyj, Franklin, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
2 pancakes: 257 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 242mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 5g fiber), 6g protein.
14/33
Chocolate Cream Pie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our teenage son, John, has done lots of 4-H baking. This old-fashioned chocolate cream pie recipe with a flaky crust was his favorite thing to make. —Mary Anderson, De Valls Bluff, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 488 calories, 25g fat (13g saturated fat), 184mg cholesterol, 413mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.
15/33
Dandelion Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of my favorite salads, and it's so healthy for you! Guests will be surprised at how wonderful it tastes. —Frances Sheridan Goulart, Weston, Connecticut
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 166 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 212mg cholesterol, 67mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 medium-fat meat, 1 vegetable.
16/33
Bread Pudding with Nutmeg
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I always make this bread pudding recipe for my dad on his birthday and holidays. He says it tastes exactly like the bread pudding he enjoyed as a child. —Donna Powell, Montgomery City, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 419 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 118mg cholesterol, 534mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.
17/33
Potato Soup
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll be surprised at the taste of this rich and cheesy easy potato soup. It really is the best potato soup recipe, ever. I came up with it after enjoying baked potato soup at one of our favorite restaurants. I added bacon, and we think that makes it even better. —Coleen Morrissey, Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 250 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 823mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 12g protein.
18/33
Oven-Fried Cornbread
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Nothing says good home cooking like a crisp Southern cornbread baked in a cast-iron skillet. This old family recipe has been passed down to each generation. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 238 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 709mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
19/33
Coconut Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
2 each: 107 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 61mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
20/33
Creamy Skillet Noodles with Peas
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve made this creamy noodle side for years. Since kids and adults go for it, I keep the ingredients on hand at all times. —Anita Groff, Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 329 calories, 31g fat (8g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 757mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 9g protein.
21/33
Cheesy Hash Brown Bake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These cheesy hash browns were so popular at the morning meetings of our Mothers of Preschoolers group that we published it in our newsletter. It's a great dish for busy moms because it can be prepared ahead of time. It's perfect for brunches or to serve on Christmas morning. It's creamy, comforting and tasty. —Karen Burns, Chandler, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 305 calories, 18g fat (12g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 554mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 12g protein.
22/33
Stovetop Goulash
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this recipe after trying goulash at a local restaurant. The blend of spices gives it fabulous flavor, and it’s so easy to make on a weeknight! —Karen Schelert, Portland, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups goulash with 1 cup potatoes: 605 calories, 22g fat (9g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 1425mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 8g fiber), 28g protein.
23/33
Sugar Cream Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I absolutely love Indiana sugar cream pie; especially the one that my grandma made for me. Here, we serve it warm or chilled and call it “Hoosier” sugar cream pie. —Laura Kipper, Westfield, Indiana. Want to try out an unusual recipe? Check out this depression-era water pie that has gotten a lot of attention on social media recently.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 418 calories, 24g fat (15g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (28g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
24/33
Sausage Cornbread
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cornbread is a staple here in the South. I added sausage and cheese to a cornbread recipe and came up with this satisfying dish. It goes especially well with soup.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 369 calories, 22g fat (9g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 731mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g protein.
25/33
Green Tomato Pie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine and make this old family favorite. It's been handed down from my grandmother, and now my granddaughters are asking for the recipe.—Violet Thompson, Port Ludlow, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 433 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 242mg sodium, 71g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
26/33
Sausage and Potato
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One Saturday night a few years ago, I came up with this dish on the spur of the moment. It was dinnertime, and I had to use what I had on hand. It's been a hit with my family ever since. —Nancy Russell, Englewood, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
2 cups: 448 calories, 37g fat (17g saturated fat), 91mg cholesterol, 1396mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 18g protein.
27/33
Rice Pudding
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made. After she passed away, I took it upon myself to try and find the secret to her rice pudding. It took quite a bit of experimentation, but I finally got it right! And I'm glad to share this easy recipe here. —Margaret DeChant, Newberry, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 197 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 52mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.
28/33
Beef Cabbage Soup
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was a little girl, I helped my parents work the fields of their small farm. Lunchtime was always a treat when Mother picked fresh vegetables from the garden and simmered them in her big soup pot. We loved making this delicious recipe. —Ethel Ledbetter, Canton, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 116 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 582mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 11g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 lean meat.
29/33
Shoofly Pie
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother made the best shoofly pie in the tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner. —Mark Morgan, Waterford, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 540 calories, 22g fat (13g saturated fat), 99mg cholesterol, 630mg sodium, 82g carbohydrate (49g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
30/33
Corn Dog Casserole
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Reminiscent of traditional corn dogs, this fun main dish really hits the spot on fall days. It's perfect for the football parties my husband and I often host. It tastes especially good right from the oven.
-Marcy Suzanne Olipane, Belleville, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 578 calories, 38g fat (16g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 1307mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 4g fiber), 19g protein.
31/33
Ham and Beans
Total Time
6 hours 35 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I had never made or eaten this dish before meeting my husband here in Kentucky. Now I make it at least once a week. I serve it with some homemade sweet cornbread. Delicious! —Christine Duffy, Sturgis, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 195 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 505mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 10g fiber), 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat.
32/33
Slow-Cooker Baked Apples
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coming home to this irresistible dessert on a dreary day is just wonderful; it’s slow-cooker easy. — Evangeline Bradford, Erlanger, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
1 stuffed apple: 203 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 35mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 4g fiber), 1g protein.
33/33
Egg Drop Soup
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We often start our stir-fry meals with this fast egg drop soup — it cooks in just minutes flat. There are many versions of the recipe, but we like the easy addition of cornstarch to thicken the soup and give it a rich, golden color. I got the recipe from my grandma’s old cookbook. —Amy Beth Corlew-Sherlock, Lapeer, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 39 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 714mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
