Home cooking used to mean recipes you could count on—filling, familiar, and passed around for good reason. These 21 dishes are the kind people kept making because they worked, tasted good, and brought everyone to the table. They didn’t need trends or shortcuts to stay popular. If anything, they set the standard.
Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie
Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie is packed with spiced apples inside a golden, flaky crust. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to make using fresh apples, sugar, and cinnamon. The flavor is warm, sweet, and classic in every bite. It’s a dessert that feels like it came from someone’s handwritten recipe box.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie
My Grandmother's Recipe for Carrot Casserole
My Grandmother’s Carrot Casserole is a baked dish made with cooked carrots, eggs, and a touch of sugar. It bakes in about 50 minutes and comes out soft and lightly sweet. The flavor is mild and smooth with just enough richness. It’s the kind of side that always made it to the table.
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Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Spinach Lasagna Rolls are stuffed pasta spirals filled with ricotta, spinach, and tomato sauce. They take about 45 minutes from start to finish and hold together well for leftovers. The flavor is creamy and savory with a comforting texture. It’s a familiar dish that works for weeknights or gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Chicken Marbella
Chicken Marbella is a savory-sweet dish made with chicken thighs, prunes, olives, and herbs. It roasts in about an hour and develops a deep, tangy flavor with crispy skin. The combination of sweet fruit and briny olives makes it rich but balanced. It’s a dish that feels both old-school and timeless.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Marbella
Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
Stuffed Potato Patties With Mushroom Filling are pan-fried rounds with a creamy mushroom center. They take about 40 minutes to make with mashed potatoes, onions, and herbs. The flavor is earthy and soft inside with a crispy crust. They're just as good for dinner or made ahead for guests.
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Spaghetti With Mushroom Marinara Sauce
Spaghetti with Mushroom Marinara Sauce is pasta topped with a chunky, savory tomato and mushroom blend. It’s ready in about 25 minutes using pantry staples and fresh mushrooms. The taste is bold, slightly tangy, and full of umami. It’s the kind of dish that doesn’t need much else.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti With Mushroom Marinara Sauce
Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pecan Pie layers smooth pumpkin custard under a sweet, crunchy pecan topping. It takes about an hour to bake and combines canned pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and pecans. The flavor is warm, rich, and balanced between soft and crisp. It’s a dessert that hits two favorites in one slice.
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Green Bean Casserole
Green Bean Casserole is a creamy, baked dish with green beans, mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions. It takes about 40 minutes and uses mostly pantry staples. The flavor is savory, salty, and always a crowd-pleaser. It’s been passed around tables for decades with good reason.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Green Goddess Stuffed Mushrooms
Green Goddess Stuffed Mushrooms are filled with a creamy herb and cheese mixture, baked until tender. They’re done in about 30 minutes using fresh mushrooms, garlic, and herbs. The flavor is tangy, savory, and rich without being heavy. They’re a solid appetizer that holds up on any spread.
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Potato Salad with Herbs & Green Garlic
Potato Salad With Herbs and Green Garlic is a chilled dish with soft potatoes and fresh greens. It comes together in about 35 minutes and includes boiled potatoes, green garlic, and oil-based dressing. The flavor is mild with a herby punch and soft texture. It’s a clean, simple take that still hits home.
Get the Recipe: Potato Salad with Herbs & Green Garlic
Butterscotch Apple Crisp
Butterscotch Apple Crisp is baked with tender apples under a buttery oat topping and butterscotch chips. It takes about 40 minutes and uses pantry-friendly ingredients. The flavor is sweet, toasty, and just a bit gooey. It’s a dessert that feels just right with a spoonful of whipped cream.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Apple Crisp
Homemade Matzo Ball Soup
Homemade Matzo Ball Soup is a brothy chicken soup with fluffy matzo balls and carrots. It simmers for about 2 hours and tastes clean, savory, and deeply comforting. The matzo balls are soft but hold their shape, making every bite satisfying. It’s a bowl that never really goes out of style.
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Peach Cobbler Recipe with Premade Pie Crust
Peach Cobbler With Premade Pie Crust layers sweet peaches under a golden, flaky topping. It bakes in about 45 minutes using canned or fresh peaches and store-bought crust. The flavor is syrupy and simple with a buttery bite. It’s fast, easy, and always disappears fast.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler Recipe with Premade Pie Crust
Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)
Russian Potato Salad, or Olivier Salad, is a chilled mix of potatoes, eggs, pickles, and peas in a creamy dressing. It takes about 45 minutes including boil and chill time. The flavor is tangy, salty, and smooth with a soft texture. It’s often served cold and pairs with just about anything.
Get the Recipe: Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)
Eggplant Shakshuka
Eggplant Shakshuka is a skillet dish of tomato sauce, eggs, and roasted eggplant with warm spices. It takes about 40 minutes to put together and finishes with a soft, saucy texture. The flavor is smoky and bright with rich tomato and garlic. Serve it with bread and it’s a full meal.
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Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine is a baked egg pie filled with bacon, cheese, and onion in a buttery crust. It bakes in about 50 minutes and slices into firm, custardy wedges. The flavor is creamy, savory, and slightly smoky. It works hot or cold and stays firm enough for leftovers.
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Layered Salad
Layered Salad is built in a dish with stacked lettuce, chopped veggies, cheese, and a creamy dressing. It takes about 20 minutes to prep and chills well before serving. The taste is crisp, tangy, and slightly sweet depending on the dressing. It’s easy to make ahead and always looks good on the table.
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Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Chocolate Zucchini Cake is a moist dessert made with shredded zucchini, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. It takes around 50 minutes to bake and hides the veggies well. The flavor is rich and chocolatey without being overly sweet. It’s one of those cakes that gets better the next day.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts are oven-baked until crisp with smoky bits of bacon mixed in. They roast in about 30 minutes and only need a few ingredients. The flavor is salty, earthy, and slightly caramelized. They’re easy to prep and often gone before the main dish is served.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sausage Rolls
Sausage Rolls are flaky pastry-wrapped sausage links that bake up golden and crisp. They take about 35 minutes using puff pastry and ground sausage. The flavor is meaty, rich, and buttery from the crust. They’re a grab-and-go snack that still feels homemade.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Rolls
Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar is a cold bean and corn salad tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. It comes together in about 15 minutes using canned beans, peppers, tomatoes, and onions. The flavor is fresh, zesty, and crunchy with a little heat. Serve it with chips or spoons—it’s good either way.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar
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