Some recipes just have a way of slipping out of your weekly routine—even though they never should have. These 25 easy throwback recipes are the kind that you completely forgot about until now, but they’re exactly what you’ve been craving. They’re simple, satisfying, and packed with the kind of comfort that brings you straight back to the way dinner used to feel. Whether it’s something your grandma used to make or a weeknight classic you haven't thought about in years, it’s time to bring them back to the table.
Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
Fried ripe sweet plantains are the kind of throwback recipe that instantly brings back the feeling of eating something special without needing a special occasion. Their crispy edges and naturally sweet centers make them a classic side dish that’s easy to forget until you're reminded how quick they are to cook. They’re a perfect example of how simple ingredients were all it took to make something memorable. This one tastes like weekend afternoons at grandma’s with barely any cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
These stuffed potato patties bring back everything you forgot you loved about dinner in the ’80s and ’90s—soft mashed potato outsides with savory mushroom-packed centers. The recipe feels like something your aunt brought to a potluck and everyone kept asking for the recipe. They’re easy to make ahead, pan-fry quickly, and pair with just about anything. It’s the kind of comfort food that deserves a permanent spot in your recipe rotation.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel
This mushroom leek pasta kugel is exactly the kind of throwback recipe that got served at big family tables—something you didn’t expect to love but always went back for seconds. It's baked until golden and holds together in perfect slices that reheat like a dream. The ingredients are pantry-friendly and nostalgic, with that baked noodle texture that’s hard to find in modern recipes. It’s one of those forgotten favorites that checks all the boxes for weeknight ease and Sunday memories.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel
Eggplant Shakshuka
Eggplant shakshuka brings back the kind of easy throwback recipes that used to stretch ingredients without sacrificing comfort. With poached eggs nestled into a spiced tomato and eggplant sauce, this dish turns a handful of basics into something that feels complete. It’s fast to prepare and works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This one deserves a comeback just for how effortlessly it feeds a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Shakshuka
Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole
This sweet potato stuffing casserole is the kind of throwback recipe that belongs at every big family table—especially if you forgot how good stuffing could be outside of the holidays. With almonds for crunch and cranberries for tang, it hits those nostalgic fall notes in every bite. It bakes in one dish and makes great leftovers, which makes it perfect for busy weeks. You’ll wonder why this one ever got pushed to the back of your memory.
Get the Recipe: Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole
Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup
Pasulj is the kind of soup that brings you back to slow-cooked recipes that didn’t need anything fancy to feel complete. With white beans and just enough seasoning, it’s a low-effort way to make a big pot of something hearty. It’s one of those easy throwback recipes that was always simmering on someone’s stove when the weather turned cold. Keep this one in your pocket for days that need a reset.
Get the Recipe: Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup
Classic Matzo Brei Recipe (Eggy Fried Matzah)
Matzo brei is one of those throwback recipes you might’ve forgotten if you didn’t grow up with it—but once it’s back on your plate, it sticks. Quick to whip up with just eggs and broken matzah, it’s one of the easiest breakfasts that still feels like something special. You can eat it sweet or savory, and it’s a fast way to stretch pantry staples. This is breakfast nostalgia in its simplest form.
Get the Recipe: Classic Matzo Brei Recipe (Eggy Fried Matzah)
Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Dip With Tomatoes, Garlic, And Jalapeno
Black-eyed pea dip is the kind of retro party food that deserves a spot in any throwback recipes collection. Packed with bold flavors like garlic, tomato, and jalapeño, it’s a reminder that dips used to be dinner sometimes—and that was okay. It’s easy to blend up, perfect for scooping, and made with ingredients that are easy to keep on hand. This one tastes like the best part of game day from years past.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Dip With Tomatoes, Garlic, And Jalapeno
Homemade Matzo Ball Soup
Matzo ball soup brings back the memory of slow Sundays and giant pots that steamed up the kitchen windows. Each bite of those fluffy dumplings in golden broth is pure throwback comfort, especially when everything else feels a little too modern. It’s a recipe that’s easy to forget in favor of shortcuts but worth making from scratch. One bowl of this and you'll remember why it was always the cure-all recipe.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Matzo Ball Soup
Baked Creamy Salmon
Baked creamy salmon is one of those easy throwback recipes that used to make weeknight dinners feel a little more like an event. It comes together quickly in the oven and uses ingredients you probably already have in the fridge. The creamy topping keeps the fish moist without needing anything fancy or expensive. This one deserves a comeback for being fast, nostalgic, and somehow still comforting.
Get the Recipe: Baked Creamy Salmon
Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)
This old-school potato salad brings back the kind of retro flavors you probably forgot you loved. It’s creamy, hearty, and easy to prep ahead, which made it a staple at family picnics and potlucks back in the day. As one of those throwback recipes that filled countless Tupperware containers in the fridge, it’s long overdue for a comeback. Digging into this is like flipping through a faded photo album, one bite at a time.
Get the Recipe: Russian Potato Salad (Olivier Salad)
Apple-Granola Baked Bimuelos (Hanukkah Honey Puffs)
These baked bimuelos pack in all the cozy memories of holidays gone by, even if it’s been a while since you last had them. They’re light, sweet, and simple to bake—exactly the kind of throwback recipe that deserves a second look. The apple and granola combo makes them feel both nostalgic and timeless without being stuck in the past. Great for brunch or dessert, they’re like edible reminders that some recipes should never go out of style.
Get the Recipe: Apple-Granola Baked Bimuelos (Hanukkah Honey Puffs)
Sweet Matzo Brei Recipe
Matzo brei isn’t just a Passover breakfast—it’s one of those throwback recipes you didn’t realize you missed until now. Sweetened up and ready in minutes, this dish has the kind of simple prep and comforting taste that made it a regular in childhood kitchens. Whether you grew up with it or not, it checks all the boxes for a forgotten favorite worth bringing back. It’s like the breakfast version of a warm memory you didn’t know was still hanging around.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Matzo Brei Recipe
Colombian Cheese Arepas
These cheese arepas bring a flash of nostalgia with every crispy, chewy bite. They come together fast and make a great snack or quick lunch, making them one of those easy throwback recipes that once filled tables across generations. Their staying power is all about texture and flavor that never needed an update to begin with. Once you’ve had one fresh off the pan, you’ll wonder why you ever stopped making them.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Cheese Arepas
Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach
Rugelach is the kind of treat that was passed around during holidays and hidden in cookie tins for decades. This chocolate version is an easy reminder of how satisfying a simple throwback recipe can be, especially when baking feels like reconnecting. It’s rich, rolls up in minutes, and doesn’t require a weekend to put together. You don’t need an occasion to bring these back—just a craving for something from a sweeter time.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach
Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie
Few things scream throwback recipes louder than a classic apple pie with a lattice crust. This one looks straight out of a vintage cookbook and tastes just as you remember—sweet, flaky, and worth every bite. It’s not hard to make either, which means you don’t need a special event to whip one up. One slice in and you’ll be transported back to the days when dessert was the highlight of Sunday dinner.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie
Sauerkraut Casserole with Ground Beef
This sauerkraut casserole is a throwback to when recipes were bold, baked, and big enough to feed everyone twice. It’s hearty, tangy, and comes together in one pan—exactly the kind of recipe that disappeared when weeknight shortcuts took over. Making it now feels like reviving an old favorite that should’ve never left the table. It’s a dish that brings back both appetite and attitude.
Get the Recipe: Sauerkraut Casserole with Ground Beef
King Ranch Casserole With Beef
King Ranch casserole was once the go-to for feeding a crowd without losing your weekend. With layers of tortillas, beef, and a creamy sauce, this is one of those throwback recipes that practically built the potluck scene. It’s easy, filling, and impossible to mess up, even if you haven’t made it in years. It’s the kind of dish that could headline any weeknight like it’s 1985 again.
Get the Recipe: King Ranch Casserole With Beef
Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
This chicken casserole has that old-school richness that made it a weeknight legend back in the day. The cheesy, creamy combo takes you straight back to the kind of dinners where seconds weren’t just expected—they were planned for. It’s simple to prep and bakes up fast, which is why it belongs with other forgotten throwback recipes that should be back in rotation. Think of it as the recipe equivalent of comfort on autopilot.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
Chorizo Breakfast Casserole
This chorizo breakfast casserole is one of those easy throwback recipes you forgot about until now but probably ate every holiday morning growing up. Packed with bold sausage flavor and simple, hearty ingredients, it’s the kind of dish that fills the kitchen with nostalgia before it even hits the table. It's perfect for feeding a crowd or prepping ahead for a no-stress morning. No one misses the cereal box when this classic is on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Chorizo Breakfast Casserole
Beef Stew Goulash Instant Pot
This beef stew goulash brings back the kind of cozy, slow-cooked comfort your grandparents swore by—except now it’s done faster in the Instant Pot. As far as throwback recipes go, this one checks every box with tender meat, rich gravy, and vegetables that melt in your mouth. It’s straightforward, hearty, and built for busy nights when you still want something that feels like it’s been cooking all day. One bite and you’re practically back at that plastic-covered dining room table.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stew Goulash Instant Pot
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
This stuffed pepper casserole brings back the flavors of a retro dinner table without the effort of individually stuffing peppers. It’s one of those throwback recipes you forgot about until now, but it’s ready to reclaim its spot in your weekly rotation. You get all the classic ingredients—ground meat, rice, tomato sauce—in one easy-to-bake dish. It’s the kind of recipe that had everyone racing home before the streetlights came on.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole
If your memory of cabbage casserole is foggy at best, this cheesy beef version is here to change that. It’s one of those throwback recipes that feels surprisingly relevant again, with simple layers that bake into pure comfort. The mix of seasoned beef, cabbage, and gooey cheese makes this a budget-friendly win that’s way better than you remember. Think of it as the dinner your aunt made—only now you actually want the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Beef Casserole
Pork Chop and Rice Casserole
Pork chop and rice casserole was a regular player at weeknight dinners back when one-pan recipes ruled the menu. This is one of those throwback recipes you forgot about until now, but it’s just as dependable and filling as ever. With minimal prep and classic ingredients, it practically cooks itself while you catch up on everything else. It’s a one-dish wonder straight from the era of Pyrex and handwritten index cards.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chop and Rice Casserole
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Chicken bacon ranch casserole may not go all the way back to the 1950s, but it’s a throwback to potlucks and bake sales of the early 2000s. It checks every nostalgic box: creamy sauce, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and zero prep stress. This easy comfort dish deserves a comeback, especially when you need something hearty that feeds everyone without complaints. Let’s just say it earns its spot next to the mac and cheese in your memory bank.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
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