21 Homemade Recipes That Show What Dinner Looked Like in the 1970s

The dinners of the 1970s were built around comfort and practicality. These 21 recipes show what homemade meals looked like before shortcuts took over. They relied on simple ingredients and big portions. We get to revisit that kind of cooking again.

A plate of baked chicken breast with melted cheese, served alongside broccoli, peas, and cauliflower, with a fork holding a piece of broccoli. — Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce

Seared steak topped with creamy mushroom sauce served hot on a cast iron skillet. — Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce cooks in about 25 minutes with beef and creamy mushrooms. It feels like a classic weeknight splurge.
Get the Recipe: Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce

Steak Fajitas

Sizzling sliced steak with blistered peppers and onions on a steaming fajita skillet. — Steak Fajitas. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Steak Fajitas cook in about 30 minutes with steak, peppers, and onions. We remember dinners like this filling the table fast.
Get the Recipe: Steak Fajitas

Clams Casino

Clams Casino bake in about 20 minutes with clams, breadcrumbs, and bacon. They bring back the simple party food of the decade.
Get the Recipe: Clams Casino

Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy

Crispy chicken-fried chicken covered in rich white gravy on a warm dinner plate. — Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy cooks in about 40 minutes with breaded chicken and gravy. It tastes like old-school comfort on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy

Boiled Corned Beef and Cabbage

Boiled corned beef with cabbage wedges and carrots served steaming on a large platter. — Boiled Corned Beef and Cabbage. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Boiled Corned Beef and Cabbage simmers in about 3 hours with brisket and vegetables. It shows the slow, steady style of 1970s dinners.
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Kale and Sausage Soup

Kale and Sausage Soup cooks in about 40 minutes with sausage and greens. We picture big pots like this on the stove.
Get the Recipe: Kale and Sausage Soup

Fisherman’s Stew

Fisherman’s Stew simmers in about 45 minutes with mixed seafood and tomatoes. It feels hearty and straightforward.
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Guinness Beef Stew Recipe

Guinness beef stew with deep rich broth and chunks of beef and vegetables. — Guinness Beef Stew Recipe. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Guinness Beef Stew Recipe cooks in about 2 hours with beef and root vegetables. The flavors feel timeless and practical.
Get the Recipe: Guinness Beef Stew Recipe

Bangers And Mash

Sausages and mashed potatoes served with rich brown gravy poured over the entire plate. — Bangers And Mash. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Bangers And Mash finish in about 35 minutes with sausages and mashed potatoes. It is the kind of meal everyone recognized.
Get the Recipe: Bangers And Mash

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff cooks in about 40 minutes with beef and sour cream sauce. We can imagine it served over noodles on busy nights.
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Shrimp Creole

Shrimp Creole simmers in about 45 minutes with shrimp and spiced tomatoes. It brings bold flavor to simple home cooking.
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Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna casserole baked creamy with noodles and breadcrumbs. — Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole bakes in about 40 minutes with tuna and noodles. This dish practically defines the era.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Pork chops baked shake-and-bake style crispy coated. — Shake and Bake Pork Chops. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Shake and Bake Pork Chops cook in about 30 minutes with pork chops and crumbs. They show how easy dinners used to be.
Get the Recipe: Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Steak au Poivre

Steak au Poivre cooks in about 20 minutes with steak and peppercorn sauce. It feels like a restaurant meal made at home.
Get the Recipe: Steak au Poivre

Chicken Pot Pie For Two

Pot pie made for two with flaky crust. — Chicken Pot Pie For Two. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Chicken Pot Pie For Two bakes in about 45 minutes with chicken and vegetables. We picture versions like this on countless tables.
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Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage Rolls cook in about 1 hour with ground meat and tomato sauce. They remind us of family recipes passed around.
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Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas cook in about 3 hours with pork shoulder and spices. Big batches like this fed families all week.
Get the Recipe: Pork Carnitas

Oven Baked Salmon

Salmon baked with simple seasoning flaky and golden. — Oven Baked Salmon. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Oven Baked Salmon finishes in about 20 minutes with salmon and maple glaze. It shows how simple seafood dinners used to be.
Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Salmon

Beef and Barley Soup

Beef and Barley Soup simmers in about 1 hour with beef and barley. We imagine this warming kitchens all winter long.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Barley Soup

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

A plate of cheesy vegetable casserole with broccoli, peas, and cauliflower, with a fork lifting a bite. — Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice bakes in about 1 hour with chicken and rice. It captures the convenience cooking of the decade.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Oven Roasted Sausage Skillet With Vegetables

Sausage skillet roasted with vegetables in hot oven. — Oven Roasted Sausage Skillet With Vegetables. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Oven Roasted Sausage Skillet With Vegetables cooks in about 35 minutes with sausage and vegetables. It feels like a classic sheet pan supper from another time.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Sausage Skillet With Vegetables