Step back in time with these retro dinner recipes. They're hearty, delicious and ready to eat in just 30 minutes!
Our Quickest Retro Dinner Recipes
Updated on May 09, 2024
1/31
School-Night Sausage Stroganoff
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this recipe in an old church cookbook about 25 years ago and tweaked it to fit my family's tastes. It's a savory, creamy dish that's quick to fix on a busy school night. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups sausage mixture with 1-1/2 cups noodles: 675 calories, 39g fat (15g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 1204mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein.
2/31
Beer & Cheddar Fondue
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
This great-tasting beer cheese fondue is my mom's favorite, so I make it for her birthday every year. I like to serve this cheddar cheese fondue recipe with apple slices, rye bread cubes, and chunks of carrots, mushrooms, celery, zucchini, squash and broccoli. —Amanda Wentz, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 221 calories, 16g fat (12g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 341mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 12g protein.
3/31
Tuna Potato Supper
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tuna lovers will find this to be a real treat. My husband and I enjoy it as a nice change from the ordinary baked potato. Add a salad for a simple lunch or dinner. —Rosella Peters, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan
Nutrition Facts:
1 potato: 598 calories, 25g fat (6g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 866mg sodium, 63g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 6g fiber), 30g protein.
4/31
Turkey a la King
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a smart way to use up leftover turkey. You might want to make a double batch! —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 297 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 591mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein.
5/31
Broccoli Beef Braids
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 loaves (4 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
Each slice of this fast-to-fix golden bread is like a hot sandwich packed with beef, broccoli and mozzarella. —Penny Lapp, North Royalton, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
2 pieces : 396 calories, 23g fat (6g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 644mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein.
6/31
Crescent Beef Casserole
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This flavorful meal-in-one dish is all you need to serve a satisfying and quick dinner on a busy weeknight. It's on the table in just 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 443 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 981mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein.
7/31
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I wanted to lighten my mother-in-law's wonderful recipe and came up with this tasty beef Stroganoff. In our home, we call it special noodles. —Jennifer Riordan, St. Louis, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup beef mixture with 3/4 cup noodles: 333 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 329mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 fat.
8/31
Chicken and Dumplings
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
8 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Homemade chicken and dumplings from scratch hearken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. It's one of those types of soup you'll want to eat again and again. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 470 calories, 24g fat (8g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 892mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 32g protein.
9/31
Weekday Beef Stew
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Beef stew capped with flaky puff pastry adds comfort to the weeknight menu—my family is always glad to see this meal. Make a salad and call your crowd to the table. —Daniel Anderson, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups with 1 pastry round: 604 calories, 25g fat (8g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 65g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 9g fiber), 32g protein.
10/31
Pork Chops ‘n’ Pierogi
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The Polish dumplings are traditionally served as a meal, with applesauce or sour cream. This meal in one is a different way to use pierogi. —Greta Igl, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 730 calories, 33g fat (18g saturated fat), 154mg cholesterol, 1207mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (45g sugars, 5g fiber), 36g protein.
11/31
Homemade Chicken Potpie
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Why look for potpie in the frozen food aisle when this easy version tastes much better? The chicken pot pie's crust is so tender and flaky, and underneath you'll find the ultimate comfort food for kids and adults. —Amy Briggs, Gove, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 439 calories, 20g fat (6g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 526mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein.
12/31
Classic Cobb Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Making this salad is a lot like putting in a garden. I plant everything in nice, neat sections, just as I do with seedlings. —Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 260 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 148mg cholesterol, 586mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 2 fat.
13/31
Deviled Chicken Thighs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I make this dish when I invite my next-door neighbor over for supper. It's just enough for the two of us. The tasty chicken is tender and moist with a bit of crunch from the cashews. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken thigh: 246 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 189mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.
14/31
Kielbasa Hot Potato Slaw
Total Time
18 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I like the challenge of cooking lighter meals that pack big flavor. This one, which came from a dear friend, fits the bill. My son rated it a 10 out of 10! —Beverly Batty, Forest Lake, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 305 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 1529mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein.
15/31
Turkey Scallopini
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Quick-cooking turkey breast slices make this recipe a winner when you only have a few minutes to fix a satisfying meal. I've also used flattened boneless skinless chicken breast halves in place of the turkey of this entree. —Karen Adams, Cleveland, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked turkey: 358 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 169mg cholesterol, 463mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 38g protein.
16/31
Old-Fashioned Salisbury Steak
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 229 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 556mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 starch.
17/31
Stovetop Turkey Tetrazzini
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A very special aunt shared this fun spin on creamy tetrazzini. We think it’s even better the next day. —Tasia Cox, Niceville, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 420 calories, 21g fat (11g saturated fat), 102mg cholesterol, 717mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein.
18/31
Grandma’s Tomato Soup
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is my grandmother’s. Originally, she even made the tomato juice in it from scratch! Gram had this recipe cooking on the stove every time I visited her. She enjoyed making this tomato soup and other favorite dishes for family and friends, and she made everything with love. —Gerri Sysun, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 259 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 1144mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
19/31
Snappy Tuna Melts
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I lightened up a classic tuna melt by using creamy balsamic vinaigretee in place of the traditional mayonnaise. Kids and adults both go for this quick meal. —Christine Schenher, Exeter, California
Nutrition Facts:
2 open-faced sandwiches (calculated without mustard): 341 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 105mg cholesterol, 557mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 35g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat.
20/31
Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A fabulous sauce, green pepper and pineapple chunks transform premade meatballs into something special. Serving them over rice makes for a satisfying main dish. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
5 meatballs: 389 calories, 19g fat (8g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 682mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein.
21/31
Crescent Turkey Casserole
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
How do you make a dinner of turkey and vegetables appealing to kids? You turn it into a pie, of course! My version tastes classic but doesn’t take any time at all. —Daniela Essman, Perham, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 453 calories, 28g fat (6g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 671mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein.
22/31
Whole Grain Chow Mein
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My kids are picky eaters, but teriyaki and hoisin sauces work wonders with them. They love the meatballs, and I swap the noodles for whole grain pasta. —Kelly Shippey, Orange, California
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 305 calories, 15g fat (3g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 758mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 18g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat.
23/31
Country Chicken and Gravy
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a lightened-up take on the classic southern comfort-food dish: chicken and gravy. This recipe has been a hit at our house since the first time we tried it! —Ruth Helmuth, Abbeville, South Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken breast half with 2 tablespoons gravy: 274 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 569mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat.
24/31
Steak Diane
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Sometimes, I add more mushrooms to this recipe when my son's eating dinner—he loves them, and they are just fantastic with the steak. — Carolyn Turner, Reno, Nevada
Nutrition Facts:
1 steak with 2 tablespoons sauce: 358 calories, 21g fat (11g saturated fat), 111mg cholesterol, 567mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 37g protein.
25/31
Healthy Tuna Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
On a hot summer day, there's nothing more refreshing than this salad. I grow a few tomato plants in my garden and the fresh-picked taste makes the dish even more of a treat. —Diane Selich, Vassar, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup tuna salad with 1 tomato: 280 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 656mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 fat, 1 vegetable.
26/31
Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This elegant rosemary chicken requires minimal effort but will win you major compliments. You'll love the mellow sauce! —Connie McDowell, Greenwood, Delaware
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken breast half: 411 calories, 26g fat (15g saturated fat), 158mg cholesterol, 183mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 35g protein.
27/31
Sweet-and-Sour Popcorn Chicken
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This sweet and sour chicken dish is one you’ll find yourself returning to again and again. Pre-cooked, frozen popcorn chicken simmered in a thick, homemade sweet-and-sour sauce is the secret to this fast and fabulous recipe. And what a great way to dress up frozen chicken nuggets! —Amy Corlew-Sherlock, Lapeer, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 441 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 1143mg sodium, 65g carbohydrate (41g sugars, 3g fiber), 12g protein.
28/31
Pizza Potato Toppers
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make, but it's an economical treat as well. I don't know of a more satisfying way to stretch a half-pound of meat! —Sheila Friedrich, Antelope, Montana
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 486 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 325mg sodium, 74g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 7g fiber), 26g protein.
29/31
Mac and Cheese with Ham
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The original comfort food, macaroni and cheese gets a makeover with the addition of cubed ham and grated Parmesan. Kids will love it! —Christy Looper, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 434 calories, 26g fat (16g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 1414mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 22g protein.
30/31
Tangy Beef Turnovers
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom's recipe for these flavorful pockets called for dough to be made from scratch, but I streamlined it by using crescent rolls. My children love them plain or dipped in ketchup — mustard works, too. —Claudia Bodeker, Ash Flat, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
2 turnovers: 634 calories, 35g fat (7g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 1426mg sodium, 54g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein.
31/31
Best Chicken ‘n’ Biscuits
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Quick and comforting, this delicious chicken and biscuits recipe is filled with chunky chicken, colorful veggies and spoonfuls of creamy flavor. It’s guaranteed to warm your family to their toes! —Judith Whitford, East Aurora, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1-2/3 cups: 447 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 1612mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 31g protein.
