64 Vintage Recipes for ’70s Food Worth Trying Today

Buttermilk Cake with Caramel Icing

This fabulous cake and caramel frosting are so tender, it melts in your mouth. It’s been a family favorite since the ’70s and it goes over really well at church potluck meals. —Anna Jean Allen, West Liberty, Kentucky

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Cowboy Stew

I made up this dish back in the early 1970s when I was down to very little food in the house. Since it’s combination of barbecue sauce, hamburger, hot dogs and beans, this one-skillet meal makes both children and adults happy.

Pineapple Pecan Cheese Ball

A tangy and nutty pineapple cheese ball is a delicious combination of sweet with savory. People love it at parties!

Seven-Layer Gelatin Salad

This colorful, showstopping seven-layer gelatin salad is a dessert that's as beautiful as it is delicious. It can be customized with your favorite colors and flavors.

Shrimp Pasta Primavera

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So when I invite that special guy to dinner, I like to prepare something equally wonderful. This well-seasoned pasta dish has lots of flavor, and it won’t hurt your budget! —Shari Neff, Takoma Park, Maryland

Black Forest Chocolate Torte

If you're thinking about pulling out all the stops for a dessert that says wow, look no further. This cherry-crowned beauty—stacked layers of chocolate cake and cream filling—will have everyone talking. —Doris Grotz, York, Nebraska

The Best Quiche Lorraine

Nestled in a buttery, rustic crust, this quiche is filled with sweet onions, bacon bits and cheese. It’s truly the best quiche Lorraine recipe. —Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin. Looking for more? Here are the best quiche recipes.

Moussaka

Moussaka is traditionally made with lamb, but I often use ground beef instead. The recipe looks a bit daunting, but if you prepare one step while working on another, it will save time. —Kim Powell, Knoxville, Tennessee

Triple Treat Holiday Bars

This 1971 recipe for 3-in-1 holiday bars has something for everyone. The only hard part? Choosing which bar to try first!

Bacon-Wrapped Spam Bites

These sweet and savory bites use Spam—a favorite ingredient in Hawaii—in a fun new way. Bet you can't stop at just one! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Interested in a spam-flavored dessert? This spam figgy pudding offers a meat-flavored dessert option.

Carrot Layer Cake

My sister gave me this recipe for what she calls “the ultimate carrot cake,” and it really lives up to the name. When people taste it, they’re bowled over by the tender, not-too-sweet cake and unexpected pecan filling. —Linda Van Holland, Innisfail, Alberta

Polynesian Kabobs

With their explosion of flavors and textures, these kabobs make a quick, satisfying entree. —Chris Anderson, Morton, Illinois.

Oyster Cheese Appetizer Log

When you say "holiday tradition" around our house, this appetizer comes to mind immediately. Every winter, I make lots of cheese logs and freeze them for when I'm expecting company or need to take food to someone's home. The blend of smoked oysters, chili powder, nuts and cream cheese tastes good-even people who don't like oysters may enjoy this interesting appetizer. —William Tracy, Jerseyville, Illinois

Lemon Sherbet

Lemon juice provides the snappy flavor in this wonderful lemon sherbet recipe from our Test Kitchen. The light, make-ahead treat looks splendid served in individual “boats” made from lemon halves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Comforting Chicken A La King

I’ve been making this thick and creamy Chicken a la King recipe for over 30 years. It’s a wonderful way to create a quick lunch or dinner with leftover chicken. —Ruth Lee, Troy, Ontario

Balsamic Three-Bean Salad

Here’s my little girl’s favorite salad. She devours it just about as fast as I can make it. I suggest preparing it ahead of time so the flavors can get to know each other. —Stacey Feather, Jay, Oklahoma

Creamy Strawberry Crepes

Creamy strawberry crepes are stuffed with a citrusy, fruity cream cheese filling and garnished with fresh berries. It's enough to make you say "ooh-la-la!"

Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo

This easy Alfredo sauce is creamy, comforting and coats fettuccine noodles in fine fashion. This recipe is wonderful as is, but sometimes I like to add sliced fresh mushrooms and black olives that have been sautéed in butter and garlic. —Jo Gray, Park City, Montana

Grandmother’s Orange Salad

This orange salad dessert is slightly sweet and tangy, too. It adds beautiful color to any meal and appeals to all ages! —Ann Eastman, Santa Monica, California

Hawaiian Meatballs

These Hawaiian meatballs are cooked low and slow until they're rich in flavor.

Pumpkin Delights

This 1971 recipe for Libby’s Pumpkin Delights makes ultra-creamy pumpkin pecan ice cream. Your guests won’t be able to resist a second helping!

Overnight Salad

This overnight salad is a great recipe for any occasion but it's especially well-suited to those where you want to feed a crowd. The crunchy vegetables combine very well with the creamy mayonnaise dressing.

Green Flop Jell-O

Get ready for fluffy lemon-lime goodness. My family calls it "flop Jell-O" because most of the time a clear gelatin layer that tastes like lemon-lime soda falls to the bottom of the dish. Try it with any flavor gelatin! —Michelle Gauer, Spicer, Minnesota

Sweet Macaroni Salad

A sweet out-of-the-ordinary dressing makes this macaroni salad special. My aunt gave me the recipe and it has become one of my favorites. I occasionally leave out the green pepper if I know that people don’t like it, and it still tastes great. —Idalee Scholz, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Looking for more recipes? Try this colorful Mexican macaroni salad.

Cornbread-Topped Frijoles

My family often requests this economical slow-cooker favorite. It's loaded with fresh southwestern flavors. One batch makes eight servings—but they never last long at our house! —Suzanne Caldwell, Artesia, New Mexico

Rainbow Jello Cubes

Make your next party a hit with rainbow layer Jell-O. A sweet, fun and nostalgic treat for all ages. With patience and a little attention to detail, you’ll create a stunning dessert that’s as enjoyable to make as it is to eat.

Over-the-Top Baked Ziti

I adapted a ziti recipe to remove ingredients my kids did not like, such as ground beef, garlic and onions. The revised recipe was a success not only with my family but at potlucks, too. It’s so versatile: You can use jarred sauce, double or triple the recipe, and even freeze it. —Kimberley Pitman, Smyrna, Delaware Field Editor

If you love tasty pasta-onion combinations, you have to try out this french onion pasta recipe next!

Great Garlic Bread

This tasty garlic bread topped with flavor makes a great side for any pasta dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pina Colada Grilled Pineapple

During a cookout with friends, I forgot about dessert. I had a fresh pineapple and coconut, so I improvised. Now I grill pineapple at every cookout. —Josee Lanzi, New Port Richey, Florida

English Trifle

If you want a special dessert recipe to wow your guests, this is it. When you serve it, the only sound after that will be the scraping of spoons against bowls—and the occasional sigh of extreme satisfaction.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

Homemade cheeseburger macaroni gives you another easy way to enjoy the simple harmony of pasta and ground beef. It’s a one-skillet dinner that's a good option for batch-cooking and freezing too.

Chicken Aloha

This chicken is a welcome way to cook a quick, delicious meal. —Beth Corbin, Sarasota, Florida

Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas

Alfredo Sauce

Keep this creamy homemade Alfredo sauce recipe on deck for when you need a bowl of easy comfort food in less than 30 minutes.

Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

Summertime gatherings aren't complete without a refreshing pasta salad. This tasty version features a mayonnaise and picante dressing. It may become one of your favorite side dishes for tacos, too! —Kathryn Donahey, Oil City, Pennsylvania

Pumpkin Bread

When everything's coming up pumpkin in the fall, make this easy pumpkin bread recipe. Filled with classic pumpkin spice flavor, this sweet quick bread is perfect for breakfast, snacks or any time you need a slice of autumn.

Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad is a retro dessert that’s so good, it has stood the test of time. Whip up this fruity, airy, marshmallow-studded treat for summer gatherings or winter holidays.

Broccoli Casserole

This classic cheesy broccoli casserole recipe is a timeless family favorite. It requires only five ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time for a quick and easy dinner.

Chef Salad

This gorgeous combination of garden veggies, hard-boiled eggs, deli turkey and ham is perfect for lunch or dinner. Customize your chef salad with different vegetables and salad dressings.

Spicy Goulash

Ground cumin, chili powder and a can of Mexican diced tomatoes jazz up my goulash recipe. Even the elbow macaroni is prepared in the slow cooker. —Melissa Polk, West Lafayette, Indiana

Classic Beef Wellingtons

Perfect for holidays, this beef Wellington recipe is also impressively easy. Find ready-made puff pastry sheets in the frozen food section. —Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida

Cheese Lover’s Fondue

French bread cubes and apples are the perfect dippers for this classic fondue, made with white wine and Swiss and Gruyere cheeses. It’s a crowd pleaser. —Linda Vogel, Elgin, Illinois

Authentic Pasta Carbonara

I learned on my culinary internship in Tuscany that real Italian cuisine is simpler than you think! This carbonara is quick, simple and delicious, just the way they like it in Italy. —Lauren Brien-Wooster, South Lake Tahoe, California

Chicken Fajitas

Sizzling chicken fajitas are super easy to make and full of flavor. The secret is in the skillet, which can go from stove to table for restaurant-quality presentation.

Hot Pineapple Ham Sandwiches

Your trusty slow cooker lets you make these warm, gooey sandwiches without heating up the house on a hot day. The mustard and brown sugar give them such satisfying richness. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

French Onion Soup

This rich and comforting French onion soup recipe is surprisingly simple to make at home. And it rivals the soup you’ll find at any restaurant.

Cioppino

Is cioppino a soup or a stew? It doesn't matter! This cioppino recipe teems with fish and shellfish swimming in an aromatic tomato broth that calls out for a hunky of crusty bread.

Crown Roast of Pork

If you're looking for a recipe that will wow your dinner guests, this crown roast of pork recipe is exactly what you need. It looks elegant and sophisticated, but it's actually really easy to make.

Orange Chocolate Fondue

Invite you family and friends to dip cubes of cake and pieces of fruit into this rich, luscious fondue for a special treat during the holiday season. —Mary Jean DeVries, Grandville, Michigan

Slow-Cooker Beef Stew

This slow-cooker beef stew recipe certainly satisfies when it's chilly outside. Each spoonful delivers tender bites of beef, creamy potatoes and chunky vegetables in a rich mustard-seasoned broth.

Lemon Bars

These delightful lemon bars have a wonderful tangy flavor, and they're always a hit. As a bonus, the color and shape make them a nice addition to a dessert platter.

Beef Lo Mein

This simple beef lo mein is easy to toss together with the veggies you have on hand. And since it uses spaghetti, you won't have to go searching for special noodles.

Eggs Benedict

You don't have to brave the brunch rush for a plate of eggs Benedict. Learn how to make poached eggs and hollandaise sauce for breakfast at home.

Quick and Easy Tiramisu

No one can resist this classic cool and creamy dessert. It’s quick to prepare, but it can be made ahead for added mealtime convenience. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Pina Colada Molded Salad

My gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

Crockpot beef stroganoff is a comforting meal of slow-cooked beef, onions and mushrooms, simmered until tender in a seasoned sauce made rich and creamy with a secret ingredient: condensed mushroom soup.

Quick Hawaiian Pizza

Our family never quite liked the taste of canned pizza sauce, so one time I tried mixing some barbecue sauce into spaghetti sauce to add some sweetness. I’ve made my pizzas with this special and easy sauce ever since, and my family loves it! —Tonya Schieler, Carmel, Indiana

Swedish Meatballs

Mom fixed this Swedish meatball recipe for all sorts of family dinners, potluck suppers and PTA meetings. The scent of browning meat is intoxicating. Add to that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and everyone’s mouth starts watering. —Marybeth Mank, Mesquite, Texas

Cherry Cheese Logs

Our party guests flock to this holiday gem of an appetizer - cherry-studded cream cheese served with graham or water crackers and pears. —Libby Walp, Chicago, Illinois

Hawaiian Pork Chops

Not sure what to do with those lean pork loin chops? Make Hawaiian pork chops to dress them up with sweet pineapple, savory vegetables and a tangy sauce.

Molded Cranberry-Orange Salad

When I take this dish to potlucks during the holidays, people always ooh and aah. Feel free to top with whipped cream for added appeal. —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico

World's Best Lemon Pie

Mother’s pies were always so memorable, with tender, flaky crusts. In summer the order of the day was lemon meringue! —Phyllis Kirsling, Junction City, Wisconsin

Stuffed Peppers for Four

Truly a meal in one, this quick supper has it all: Veggies, meat, pasta and sauce, packed into tender peppers. It’ll look so pretty on your table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Hawaiian Hash

I like the combination of ginger, pineapple and macadamia nuts. This dish brings back memories of an island vacation.—Roxanne Chan, Albany, California