• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • X
 Trending:  Holiday Recipes
Erren's Kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Finder
    • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizer
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Side
      • Dessert
      • Drinks
    • Type
      • Quick and Easy
      • Vegetarian
      • Pasta
      • Soups
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Rice Dishes
      • Comfort Food
      • Slow Cooker
    • Protein
      • Chicken & Poultry
      • Seafood
      • Beef, Pork, & Lamb
    • Cuisine
      • Italian Food
      • Asian Food
      • American
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican Food
      • Southern
    • Method
      • Slow Cooker
      • One Pot/One Pan
      • Oven-Baked and Roasted Recipes
      • Stovetop
    • Desserts
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Pies & Tarts
      • Muffins, Breads & Donuts
      • Ice Cream Recipes
  • Videos
  • Conversions
    • US Sticks of Butter Conversion Charts
    • Basic ounces to grams weight conversions
    • Oven Temperature Conversions
    • Butter in the US and the Rest of the World
    • British Dessert Spoon Conversions
    • US Cups to ounces & grams for common ingredients
    • Basic Volume Conversions
  • About
    • Erren’s Kitchen
    • Meet the Team
    • Meet Erren
    • Collaborate
    • Life Stories
    • Contact
    • Our Philosophy
  • Contact

Specialties:

Quick & Easy
Italian
Poultry
Better Than Takeout!
Desserts
Meat
Pasta
Home / Best Recipes

16 Nostalgic Dishes That Are Bringing Grandma’s Kitchen Back

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

02/19/2025

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Sometimes the most comforting meals are the ones that remind us of simpler times, when kitchens were filled with the aroma of bubbling casseroles and steaming bowls of soup. These 16 old-school recipes bring all that delicious nostalgia back to life, from the cheesy warmth of baked spaghetti to the flaky perfection of beef Wellington. Whether you grew up savoring honey-glazed ham at family dinners or sneaking crispy edges off a homemade meatloaf, these timeless dishes are like a love letter to classic comfort food. They’re here to inspire new traditions, revisit treasured memories, and fill your home with the kind of flavors that truly feel like home.

Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Casserole

An image of a slice of baked spaghetti casserole on a plate.
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

This cheesy baked spaghetti casserole is the ultimate crowd-pleaser! Packed with gooey melted cheese, hearty meaty sauce, and tender pasta, it’s a guaranteed hit for kids and adults alike. Easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners, this dish will have everyone coming back for seconds!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Southern Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

cheesy broccoli rice casserole in a baking dish
Photo credit: Cook’s with Soul

This Southern Broccoli Rice Casserole is the ultimate comfort food—easy to make, packed with flavor, and loaded with cheesy, creamy goodness! Perfectly cooked white rice meets tender broccoli in a dish that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Southern Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

Sloppy Joe Casserole in a blue Dutch oven.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

This Sloppy Joe Casserole is a game-changer—easy to make, packed with flavor, and no buns required! Perfect for a quick, crowd-pleasing meal.Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

Chicken Dumpling Soup

A creamy Southern recipe featuring artichoke hearts, carrots, celery, and strips of chicken. The ingredients are garnished with fresh herbs and immersed in a thick sauce.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Chicken Dumpling Soup is a comforting dish featuring tender, slow-cooked chicken in a rich broth, fluffy dumplings, and hearty veggies. It’s delicious and easy to make, offering a warm and inviting meal that will nourish your heart and soul.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Dumpling Soup

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 proves that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated. Rich, creamy, and ready in a mere 30 minutes, it’s the perfect way to indulge without the hassle.

Get The Recipe: Easy Beef Stroganoff

Smothered Chicken

A close-up of a plate with grilled chicken, caramelized onions, and white rice, garnished with chopped herbs. A spoon is drizzling a golden-brown sauce over the chicken, creating a savory and appetizing presentation. This easy chicken dinner idea is sure to impress every time on your marble-like surface.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This smothered chicken recipe is super easy to make, whether you use the stove or a slow cooker. It’s all about those tender chicken thighs swimming in a tasty gravy that’s just right for comfort food lovers!

Get The Recipe: Smothered Chicken

Honey Glazed Ham

A close-up of a glazed ham being sliced with a serrated knife. The ham has a shiny, caramelized outer layer with a pink, juicy interior. The knife has just cut through a small portion, revealing the tender inside.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This glazed ham recipe is sweet, tangy, and savory. The ham is scored and baked with a mouth-watering glaze made with brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, mustard, pineapple juice, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, and ground cloves.

Get The Recipe: Glazed Ham

Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie

A close-up of a freshly baked pot pie in a skillet. A portion has been cut and lifted, revealing gooey melted cheese, flaky golden-brown crust, and creamy mushroom filling that rivals even the best chicken cutlet recipes in comfort and flavor.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

After a long and draining day, there’s nothing quite like the comforting embrace of a pot pie. It’s a warm hug in a dish, filling your belly and spirit with pure comfort.

Get The Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie

Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

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

This Traditional Homemade Meatloaf recipe is moist, tender, and flavorful. Once you try it, you’ll cherish this recipe forever!

Get The Recipe: Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

Smoked Salmon & Eggs

Two toasted English muffins topped with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on a white plate.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Skip the ordinary! Our smoked salmon and eggs recipe adds a touch of luxury to your weekend brunch without the hassle.

Get The Recipe: Smoked Salmon & Eggs

Split Pea and Ham Soup

A bowl of hearty pea and ham soup featuring chunks of ham, diced carrots, and garnished with fresh parsley. The soup has a creamy consistency and a comforting appearance. Beside the bowl, slices of toasted bread are arranged on a ceramic plate—perfect for comfort food recipes.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This awesome Split Pea and Ham Soup recipe is super easy to whip up using a ham bone or ham hocks. You can cook it in a slow cooker or on the stovetop too!

Get The Recipe: Split Pea and Ham Soup

Cream of Crab Soup

A bowl of creamy crab soup with chunks of crab meat and slices of potato, garnished with fresh herbs, served with crackers on the side.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This creamy soup combines tender crab meat and soft potatoes, with each spoonful exploding with flavor from smoky bacon, rich seafood stock, and a hint of briny clam juice. It’s a satisfying, hearty dish that truly comforts.

Get The Recipe: Cream of Crab Soup

Ham and Egg Casserole

A slice of ham and cheese casserole being lifted with a spatula, showing the layered interior, garnished with herbs.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Creamy eggs and savory ham join forces with a rich, cheesy blend, sprinkled with fresh green onions for a delightful brunchtime treat.

Get The Recipe: Ham and Egg Casserole

Easy Drop Biscuits

Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Golden brown on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, this easy bake is sure to become a new family favorite, no doubt about it!

Get The Recipe: Easy Drop Biscuits

Lemon Chicken Rice Bake

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

This recipe turns your oven into a flavor factory. Juicy chicken thighs nestle on a bed of lemony garlic rice, all baking together for a stress-free and delicious weeknight dinner.

Get The Recipe: Baked Chicken and Rice

Beef Wellington

A sliced beef Wellington with golden puff pastry, revealing medium-rare beef and a mushroom duxelles layer, garnished with fresh thyme on a white platter—a festive main dish perfect for Christmas. A vintage fork rests nearby, alongside a white napkin.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:




A woman with long dark hair and a dark blue shirt is smiling while leaning on a kitchen counter. In front of her are a plate of pasta and a cutting board with chopped herbs. A potted plant, a cooking pot, and a marble backsplash are in the background.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting Erren’s Kitchen! Here you will find a collection of easy & delicious recipes made with fresh, simple ingredients.

MORE ABOUT ERREN

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL!

Don’t forget to tag me on social @ErrensKitchen to be featured!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • X

Win a $100!

Join the Made with Erren Challenge for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

Find Out More

Trending


  • Best EVER Potato Wedges

    Best EVER Potato Wedges

  • Seriously, The Best Broccoli of Your Life

    Seriously, The Best Broccoli of Your Life

  • The Best Fettuccine Alfredo of Your Life

    The Best Fettuccine Alfredo of Your Life

  • Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce

    Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce

  • Award Winning Banana Bread

    Award Winning Banana Bread

  • Crispy Roasted Potatoes

    Crispy Roasted Potatoes

Reader Favorites


  • Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life

    The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life

  • Ultimate Orange Cake

    Ultimate Orange Cake

  • Fudgy Chocolate Chip Brownies

    Fudgy Chocolate Chip Brownies

Quick
Desserts
Dinner
Comforts
Poultry
Pasta
Meat
Seafood
Sides

Favorite Recipes from 2024

These posts were seen over 4.5 million times!

  • The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life

    The Best Brussels Sprouts of Your Life

  • Seriously, The Best Broccoli of Your Life

    Seriously, The Best Broccoli of Your Life

  • Quick & Easy Chinese Noodle Soup

    Quick & Easy Chinese Noodle Soup

  • Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

    Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

  • Donut Glaze Recipe

    Donut Glaze Recipe

  • Crispy Roasted Potatoes

    Crispy Roasted Potatoes

Still hungry?

Subscribe to my Newsletter for all my latest recipes!

All Recipes
Dinner Ideas
Conversion Guide
Quick & Easy
Erren hart of Erren's Kitchen leaning on a kitchen island.

About your Chef

I’m Erren, I have a passion for cooking and baking from scratch to create simple, nourishing, delicious recipes made with fresh ingredients, free from artificial additives and preservatives you find in prepackaged foods.

Meet Erren
Life Updates
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • X
Contact
Terms of Service
Work with Me
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer

© All Rights Reserved. Brand by MRD. Site by OC.