19 ’70s Staple Dishes Boomers Don’t Even Know They’re Missing

Some meals were once so common they practically lived on every stovetop-and now they're all but forgotten. These 19 dishes were staples of the '70s, filling dinner tables with familiar smells, textures, and stories. From weekend casseroles to rich desserts, they're the kinds of meals Boomers grew up on but might not even realize they're missing. This list brings them back one serving at a time.

A bowl of tomato-based soup garnished with white beans and a basil leaf, with a swirl of cream on top. It is served in a rectangular white dish with a metal spoon and a patterned beige napkin placed beside it—perfect for family recipes to try this week. — Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Fig And Honey Medovik - Russian Honey Cake

A cream-covered layer cake adorned with pomegranate seeds and figs is displayed on a table. — Fig And Honey Medovik - Russian Honey Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Fig And Honey Medovik - Russian Honey Cake is a labor-of-love dessert that fit right in at '70s celebrations. Stacked layers, slow baking, and sticky sweetness made it a centerpiece worth the effort. This kind of cake wasn't rushed-it was remembered. It brings back the kind of desserts that were saved for special occasions and never showed up twice the same way.
Get the Recipe: Fig And Honey Medovik - Russian Honey Cake

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

A slice of bread pudding on a decorative plate with a fork, topped with whipped cream. A baking dish with more bread pudding and a small bowl of cream with a spoon are in the background. A brown cloth is partially visible on the side. — Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins feels straight out of a '70s holiday table, when casseroles could be sweet, rich, and made ahead. With egg noodles baked in custard and dotted with raisins, it balanced decadence and practicality. This dish was often handed down, shared at gatherings, and baked with memory. It's a dessert that doubles as a time machine.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Jerusalem Kugel

A hand scoops baked kugel from a round dish on marble, beside an empty plate, fork, orange napkin, and cinnamon sticks. — Jerusalem Kugel. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Jerusalem Kugel brings back the savory noodle casseroles that once stood proudly on '70s buffet tables. This version, spiced with pepper and caramel, reflected the era's quieter ties to heritage cooking. It was dense, rich, and made to be shared-perfect for big family meals that left leftovers for days. Even the smell of it baking is enough to bring back the decade.
Get the Recipe: Jerusalem Kugel

Classic Matzo Brei Recipe (Eggy Fried Matzah)

Matzo brei on two plates with parsely. — Classic Matzo Brei Recipe (Eggy Fried Matzah). Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Classic Matzo Brei Recipe (Eggy Fried Matzah) speaks to the improvisational breakfasts of the '70s, when leftovers and basics became something comforting. Made with matzo and eggs, it was quick to fry and served in endless variations. It didn't need exact measurements, just memory and feel. Dishes like this faded when cereal became king of the breakfast table.
Get the Recipe: Classic Matzo Brei Recipe (Eggy Fried Matzah)

Russian Piroshki

Three piroshki on a plate with tea. — Russian Piroshki. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Russian Piroshki brings back the stuffed breads and savory pastries that people loved to keep on hand in '70s homes. They were portable, filling, and often made in big batches for freezing or gifting. These handheld meals were practical for lunchboxes and busy kitchens alike. One bite and you're back at a folding table with a paper plate.
Get the Recipe: Russian Piroshki

Beatrice's Icelandic Pickled Beets

Beets with pomegranate seeds on a plate. — Beatrice's Icelandic Pickled Beets. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Beatrice's Icelandic Pickled Beets bring back the jarred sides that once filled shelves in '70s kitchens across small towns and suburbs. Sharp, vibrant, and homemade, pickled vegetables like this added a punch to roasts and meatloaf meals. These jars weren't just food-they were routine. This one tastes like it came straight from a cabinet lined with contact paper.
Get the Recipe: Beatrice's Icelandic Pickled Beets

Colombian Baked Plantains Recipe With Guava And Cheese

Baked plantains with cheese and guava wth tablecloth. — Colombian Baked Plantains Recipe With Guava And Cheese. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Colombian Baked Plantains Recipe With Guava And Cheese is the sort of baked side dish that echoed through '70s kitchens with a sweet-savory mix. It was common to combine fruit and cheese, especially in casseroles and bakes that doubled as dinner or dessert. This one shows how '70s dishes could stretch boundaries while staying simple. It's the kind of thing you didn't think you missed until you see it again.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Baked Plantains Recipe With Guava And Cheese

Chicken And Rice Casserole

Chicken plov on a plate with a fork. — Chicken And Rice Casserole. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Chicken And Rice Casserole was one of the most relied-on '70s dishes for good reason. It was easy to make in one pan, used common pantry staples, and fed a crowd without much planning. These kinds of hearty, practical meals were what got weeknight dinners on the table. You could say it defined how Boomers grew up eating.
Get the Recipe: Chicken And Rice Casserole

Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie

Overhead view of apple pie with apples. — Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie is the kind of dessert that reminds people exactly how sweet endings used to be in the '70s. This pie didn't just taste like fall-it looked like effort and tradition woven into a crust. You'd find something like this at nearly every holiday table or potluck in that era. Bringing it back is like putting Grandma's apron on the shelf again.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie

Sticky Date Pudding With Pinot Noir

A close-up of a rich chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with a red berry sauce. — Sticky Date Pudding With Pinot Noir. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Sticky Date Pudding With Pinot Noir recalls the denser, heavier desserts that defined '70s holiday baking. Sticky, sweet, and soaked with sauce, it leaned into comfort without apology. These kinds of desserts didn't come from boxes-they came from handwritten cards and stained cookbooks. It's the kind of end to a meal that left people leaning back in their chairs.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Date Pudding With Pinot Noir

Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

Overhead view of olivier salad with two egg halves. — Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad). Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad) fits in with the kind of creamy side dishes that filled plastic bowls and fridge shelves in the '70s. It was cold, filling, and made ahead of time-a triple win for the era's dinner parties and family meals. This dish carried just enough vegetables to feel balanced but never felt like a chore to eat. It's the kind of retro salad you didn't know you missed until it's on your plate again.
Get the Recipe: Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)

Colombian Hot Chocolate

A ceramic cup filled with hot chocolate sits on a round stone coaster. A spoon with melted chocolate is held above the cup. A wooden board with chocolate pieces is in the background. — Colombian Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Colombian Hot Chocolate reflects how '70s dishes included comfort drinks that were meant to be shared around a table. Made with real chocolate and cooked slowly on the stove, it stands in contrast to today's instant versions. The richness and ritual behind it made it more than just a drink-it was part of the evening. Some memories are stirred with a wooden spoon, not a microwave.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Hot Chocolate

Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe

A white bowl filled with clear chicken soup, containing pieces of chicken and garnished with a sprig of dill offers a modern twist on retro one-pot classics. The bowl is placed on a white plate with a slice of brown bread resting on the plate's edge. A metal spoon is in the bowl, and a gray napkin is partially visible. — Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe is the type of '70s dish that didn't just get served-it got prescribed. Whether it was cold season or a quiet Sunday, this broth with tender vegetables and noodles showed up when comfort was needed. Every version was slightly different, but all came from the same idea: cook slow, serve hot, and care deeply. Some recipes don't leave the table-they just wait to be remembered.
Get the Recipe: Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe

Cottage Cheese Blintzes

Three rolled crepes are served on a white plate, topped with powdered sugar and a generous portion of cooked blueberries in syrup. The dish sits on a light-colored surface. — Cottage Cheese Blintzes. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Cottage Cheese Blintzes were the kind of stovetop specialty that filled weekend mornings in '70s kitchens. Thin crepes wrapped around cottage cheese and gently fried in butter were more than food-they were a ritual. Dishes like this took time, which is probably why they slipped away with busier schedules. But there's still something about flipping a crepe that makes breakfast feel like a bigger deal.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Blintzes

Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup

A white bowl of soup with a spoon and basil. — Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup fits with the '70s habit of cooking low and slow, letting simple ingredients stretch across hours and meals. It's hearty, humble, and full of pantry staples that defined many kitchens of the decade. These kinds of bean soups didn't need fancy seasoning to fill the room with something familiar. One pot, one spoon, and a little patience was all it took.
Get the Recipe: Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup

My Grandma's Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

A white plate filled with cooked sliced carrots and prunes, with a fork on the side. — My Grandma's Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

My Grandma's Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes fits with the '70s tradition of sweetened vegetables baked until tender and golden. This dish-filled with carrots, dried fruit, and sometimes beef-was often passed around at holidays and big dinners. It was made to serve many and often improved the next day. It's the kind of side dish that quietly disappeared when short prep times took over.
Get the Recipe: My Grandma's Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

Pouding Chomeur With Homemade Date Syrup

A bowl of ice cream and oranges on a blue tablecloth. — Pouding Chomeur With Homemade Date Syrup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Pouding Chomeur With Homemade Date Syrup represents the kind of sweet, resourceful desserts that once made '70s meals feel complete. Made with pantry ingredients and soaked in syrup, it transformed the ordinary into something worth sharing. This was the kind of dessert that always had a story attached-often one tied to thrift and care. Every spoonful tastes like remembering how things used to be done.
Get the Recipe: Pouding Chomeur With Homemade Date Syrup

Matzo Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

A baked lasagna in a rectangular dish, topped with tomato sauce, basil leaves, and grated cheese. A spatula is lifting a portion from the dish, revealing layers of pasta and filling. The dish is on a light countertop. — Matzo Lasagna with Cottage Cheese. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Matzo Lasagna with Cottage Cheese reflects the kind of resourceful casseroles that defined '70s dinners. Swapping noodles for matzo made sense when stretching what you had was part of the rhythm. It baked up rich and hearty, the way weeknight meals were meant to be. You could count on something like this to show up whenever family got together.
Get the Recipe: Matzo Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

My Grandmother's Peach Swiss Roll (Gluten-Free)

A cake topped with peaches and flowers. — My Grandmother's Peach Swiss Roll (Gluten-Free). Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

My Grandmother's Peach Swiss Roll (Gluten-Free) is one of those showstopper desserts that made a regular appearance in '70s homes during summer gatherings. Rolled sponge filled with fresh fruit and cream was something you made to impress without being flashy. It held together with care and attention, just like most meals back then. It deserves a return to the center of the table.
Get the Recipe: My Grandmother's Peach Swiss Roll (Gluten-Free)