17 Old-Fashioned Recipes Grandma Would Love

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There’s something undeniably comforting about old school recipes that bring back memories of family dinners and classic home-cooked meals. This collection of 17 old school recipes captures the essence of traditional cooking, with dishes like smothered chicken, Cottage Pie, and Classic Irish Stew. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Pot Roast, a classic patty melt, or the indulgence of Beef Wellington, these recipes deliver flavors that never go out of style. Perfect for cozy nights and family gatherings, these dishes are sure to remind you of the good old days.

Smothered Chicken

This smothered chicken recipe is so easy, you could whip it up while binge-watching your favorite show! Whether you go old-school on the stove or let a slow cooker do the heavy lifting, it’s all about those tender chicken thighs luxuriating in a gravy that’s the ultimate comfort food hug. Get ready for a delicious embrace!

Get The Recipe: Smothered Chicken

Creamy Chicken Marsala

Chicken breasts in a creamy mushroom sauce with herbs and ham, garnished with parsley, are served from a pan with a metal spatula—a perfect addition to your collection of comfort food recipes. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with Creamy Chicken Marsala—a restaurant-quality dish you can easily whip up at home! Think golden, juicy chicken smothered in a rich, velvety sauce that’s bursting with flavor.

Get The Recipe: Creamy Chicken Marsala

Traditional Cottage Pie

Close-up of a shepherd's pie featuring a golden-brown mashed potato topping. Below, there's a mixture of cooked ground meat, peas, carrots, and other vegetables, all in a brown gravy, served on a white plate. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

A comfort food classic, this cottage pie is pure coziness. Savory ground beef, carrots, onions, and peas simmer in rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. Hearty, delicious, and soul-warming, it’s the ultimate craving-satisfier.

Get The Recipe: Traditional Cottage Pie

Coconut Shrimp

A hand dips a crispy, golden-fried shrimp into a creamy dipping sauce, with lime slices and more fried shrimp on a plate in the background—perfect for your next round of picnic recipes.

Perfectly crispy, golden coconut shrimp fried to a mouthwatering crunch and paired with a creamy, sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy chili sauce. Each bite is a burst of tropical flavor—crunchy, rich, and so good you won’t be able to stop at just one!

Get The Recipe: Coconut Shrimp

Bacon and Cheese Quiche with Buttery Crust

A baked quiche with a golden crust sits on a wooden board, perfect for a Mother’s Day Brunch. One slice is cut and slightly pulled out. The quiche is topped with chopped chives, and a small bowl of chives is nearby. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This bacon and cheese quiche is a flavor-packed masterpiece—rich, creamy, and irresistibly delicious. Whether you’re hosting brunch, grabbing a quick lunch, or enjoying a cozy dinner, this dish is sure to impress!

Get The Recipe: Bacon and Cheese Quiche with Buttery Crust

Classic Irish Stew

A close-up of a hearty, old school recipe bowl of soup features chunks of beef, carrots, potatoes, and barley in a rich broth. A spoon rests inside the square bowl. The background shows blurred elements, suggesting a cozy dining setting for enjoying classic dishes. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This one-pot Irish Stew is a testament to smart cooking! It features a budget-friendly cut of lamb that’s slow-cooked to tender perfection, delivering all the classic flavors you love.

Get The Recipe: Classic Irish Stew

Classic Diner-Style Patty Melt

A hand lifts half of a grilled cheese burger sandwich with melted cheese and beef patty, revealing gooey cheese inside—an irresistible twist on classic ground beef recipes. The sandwich is served with golden French fries on a white plate. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Golden, buttery rye bread, juicy beef patties, gooey melted cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a tangy burger sauce—this patty melt is pure comfort food with all the classic diner vibes in every bite.

Get The Recipe: Classic Diner-Style Patty Melt

Potato Leek Soup

A white bowl filled with creamy potato soup, a staple of old school recipes, topped with shredded cheese and garnished with chopped green onions and ground black pepper. A spoon rests nearby on a napkin. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Who says you need cream for a creamy soup? This recipe pulls a fast one with leeks, potatoes, and butter, crafting a silky texture that’s totally dairy-free. It’s simple, wholesome, and bursting with flavor—consider it the sneaky overachiever of soups!

Get The Recipe: Potato Leek Soup

Turkey & Ham Pot Pie

A baked dish with a golden-brown pastry crust partially removed, revealing a filling of chicken, ham, and leeks. Garnished with fresh thyme, it sits in a white rectangular casserole on a wooden board. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Treat yourself to this scrumptious Turkey and Ham Pie that’s a delicious love story between tender turkey, savory ham, sweet leeks, and fresh herbs, all snuggled up in a flaky puff pastry blanket. It’s the ultimate makeover for leftovers, guaranteed to dazzle your guests and have them asking for seconds!

Get The Recipe: Turkey and Ham Pie

Italian Stuffed Peppers

Four Italian stuffed bell peppers in vibrant red, orange, and yellow rest on a white plate. Each is filled with a savory mixture of ground meat, rice, and herbs, topped with grated cheese and garnished with chopped parsley. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This colorful dish is sure to delight any crowd! Not only is it an easy and delicious recipe perfect for midweek meals, but it’s also impressive enough to serve to dinner guests!

Get The Recipe: Italian Stuffed Peppers

Chicken Rice Bake

A spoonful of chicken and rice being scooped from a blue pan. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe transforms your oven into a flavor factory! Picture juicy chicken thighs cozying up on a bed of zesty lemon-garlic rice, baking away like they’re at a spa retreat. It’s a stress-free, delicious weeknight dinner that practically cooks itself—because who has time for fuss?

Get The Recipe: Baked Chicken and Rice

Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

A sliced meatloaf on a serving dish. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Traditional Homemade Meatloaf recipe is so moist, tender, and flavorful, it’ll have you wondering why you ever settled for the store-bought stuff! Try it once, and you’ll hold onto this recipe tighter than your grandma’s secret cookie recipe!

Get The Recipe: Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

Pot Roast

This Crock Pot Sirloin Tip Roast is like a warm hug in a bowl! Picture tender beef, carrots, and onions all swimming in a luxurious homemade gravy—perfect for those cozy family dinners where you can indulge without the guilt. Who needs a Michelin star when you have this slow-cooked delight?

Get The Recipe: Crock Pot Sirloin Tip Roast

Easy Beef Stroganoff

a close up image of Beef Stroganoff made up of Beef and mushrooms in a creamy Stroganoff sauce over noodles. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Easy Beef Stroganoff recipe shows that comfort food can be as uncomplicated as your weekend plans! Rich, creamy, and ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect way to indulge without breaking a sweat—because who has time for hassle when you could be devouring deliciousness?

Get The Recipe: Easy Beef Stroganoff

Chicken Fried Steak

Dive into a slice of Southern hospitality with a fork in hand! This Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak recipe serves up comfort food bliss in just 45 minutes. Get ready to whip up some crispy, golden-fried steak smothered in creamy country gravy—a dinner so good, it’ll have your taste buds dancing and your soul singing!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak

Beef Wellington

Unlock the secrets to the perfect Beef Wellington with this easy-to-follow recipe! Impress your guests with a dish that’s as elegant as it is delicious—perfect for any occasion and way simpler than you’d imagine!

Get The Recipe: Beef Wellington

Salisbury Steak

Cook up a scrumptious and cozy meal with our fabulous Salisbury Steak recipe, ready in just 30 minutes! Perfect for those crazy weeknights when you need dinner fast—this dish is sure to earn a permanent spot on your family’s favorites list and maybe even your fridge!

Get The Recipe: Salisbury Steak