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25 Dinner Ideas from the ’50s Worth Making Today

These classic dinner ideas from the 1950s may seem old-fashioned, but many of the recipes are worthy of a place in your weekly rotation!

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Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

This hearty main dish is a favorite at our house. It really warms you up. —Kim Kidd, New Freedom, Pennsylvania

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2 / 25
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Spicy Lemon Chicken Kabobs

When I see Meyer lemons in the store, it must be spring. I like using them for these easy chicken kabobs, but regular grilled lemons still add the signature smoky tang. —Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada
3 / 25
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The Best Ever Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Spreading a mixture of mayo and butter on the bread creates a delightfully crispy crust with the well-loved, wonderful flavor of butter one expects on a grilled cheese sandwich.—Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
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Turkey Croquettes with Cranberry Salsa

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover turkey after the holidays.—Jacque Capurro, Anchorage, Alaska
5 / 25

Crown Roast of Pork with Mushroom Dressing

It looks so elegant that everyone thinks I spent a lot of time on this roast. But it's actually so easy! The biggest challenge is to remember to order the crown roast from the meat department ahead of time. —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania
6 / 25
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Oysters Rockefeller

My husband and I are oyster farmers, and this classic Oysters Rockefeller dish always delights our guests. It's deliciously simple! —Beth Walton, Eastham, Massachusetts
7 / 25
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Spicy Bean and Beef Pie

My daughter helped me come up with this recipe when we wanted a one-dish meal that was different than a casserole. This pie slices nicely and is a fun and filling dish. —Debra Dohy, Massillon, Ohio
8 / 25
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Baked Saucy Pork Chops

Baked pork chop recipes are always handy to feed my hungry family. This entree brightens up the usual routine of roasted pork chops and rice. I reach for this recipe when our appetites are hearty and I feel like baking pork chops. —Dorothy Toben, Blackwell, Oklahoma
9 / 25

Favorite Chicken Potpie

This is the best chicken potpie recipe! Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
10 / 25
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Apricot Ginger Mustard-Glazed Ham

Although I usually buy spiral-sliced hams, I decided to do a home-baked ham with a gingery glaze. This is how you do special-occasion dining. —Ally Phillips, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
11 / 25

Savory Spaghetti Sauce

This fresh-tasting spaghetti sauce is a real crowd-pleaser. I rely on this flavorful recipe often. It tastes especially good in the summer made with fresh garden herbs. —Anne Heinonen, Howell, Michigan
12 / 25
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Turkey a La King

This is a smart way to use up leftover turkey. You might want to make a double batch! —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
13 / 25

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

A co-worker shared this chicken zucchini casserole recipe that was originally her grandmother's. When I make it, I use precooked chicken from the grocery store and fresh zucchini my neighbor gives me from his garden. —Bev Dutro, Dayton, Ohio
14 / 25
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Lemon-Parsley Baked Cod

After trying a few baked cod recipes, this was the first fish recipe that got two thumbs up from my picky meat-only eaters. The tangy lemon gives the cod fish some oomph. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
15 / 25
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Easy Swedish Meatballs

This recipe relies on ingredients we always have on hand. While the tender homemade meatballs cook in the microwave, make your favorite noodles on the stovetop to get this saucy entree on the table in minutes. —Sheryl Ludeman, Kenosha, Wisconsin
16 / 25
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Slow-Simmered Burgundy Beef Stew

My mother-in-law shared this recipe with me about 25 years ago. Ever since then, it's been a go-to whenever I need good food without a lot of fussing. —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona
17 / 25
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Ham & Veggie Casserole

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
18 / 25

Quick Chicken and Dumplings

Using precooked chicken and ready-made biscuits, this hearty dish is comfort food made simple. It's the perfect way to warm up on chilly nights. —Lakeya Astwood, Schenectady, New York
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Double Layered Souffle

Double Layered Souffle

This simple souffle bursts with flavor. The crispy topping of cheese hides a creamy layer of turkey underneath. If I don't have turkey on hand, I use chicken instead. —Sharon Amidon, Guthrie, Oklahoma
20 / 25

No-Fuss Lasagna

I like this recipe because it can be prepared a day ahead and baked just before serving, so it's a great way to avoid that last-minute rush when attending a potluck. Using packaged spaghetti sauce and noodles that are not pre-boiled makes preparation especially quick. —Denise Goedeken, Platte Center, Nebraska
21 / 25
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De-Lightful Tuna Casserole

This mild, homemade tuna casserole will truly satisfy your family's craving for comfort food without all the fat! —Colleen Willey, Hamburg, New York
22 / 25
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Traditional Meat Loaf

Topped with a sweet sauce, this traditional meat loaf recipe tastes so good that you might want to double it so everyone can have seconds. It also freezes well. —Gail Graham, Maple Ridge, British Columbia
23 / 25

Deviled Chicken

My family has always loved this flavorful golden brown chicken. I watch for frequent sales on leg quarters to keep the cost per serving low. —Linda Trammell, Kingston, Missouri
24 / 25
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Pigs in a Blanket

These baked hot dog sandwiches appeal to kids of all ages. Even my husband, Allan, admits to enjoying every bite! We like to dip them in ketchup and mustard. —Linda Young, Longmont, Colorado
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Herbed Turkey Tetrazzini

There are many varieties of this old-fashioned casserole. I use thyme and lemon zest to give my version its fresh flavor. It’s a nice way to spice up those holiday leftovers. —Brigitte Garringer, Copper Canyon, Texas

Grace Mannon
Grace is a full-time mom with a Master's degree in Food Science. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and writes about her hits (and misses) on her blog, A Southern Grace.