There were some comfort foods you just couldn’t escape in the 70s. These were the meals everyone seemed to have on the table no matter the day of the week. They brought warmth, filled you up, and stuck in your memory whether you wanted them to or not. This list of 15 recipes brings back those unmistakable classics with a mix of nostalgia and no-fuss comfort.
French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole
French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole is baked for about 50 minutes until the cheese melts and the rice is soft. Casseroles with onion soup mix were everywhere in 70s kitchens and became a regular part of weekly meal plans. This recipe is no different—easy to throw together and full of the creamy flavors that defined comfort food back then. You can almost picture the dish being passed down the table at dinner time.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole
Chicken Hash Brown Casserole
Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is baked in the oven for about 45 minutes until golden and bubbling. This kind of creamy, cheesy dish was common on 70s dinner tables, especially when casseroles were the go-to for feeding a crowd. Using frozen potatoes and canned soup made it practical and easy to prep ahead. It’s exactly the type of comfort food that showed up again and again in that decade.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hash Brown Casserole
Ground Beef Zucchini and Rice Casserole
Ground Beef Zucchini and Rice Casserole bakes in the oven in just 30 minutes, making it quick and easy to prepare. Back in the 70s, casseroles like this were a regular way to stretch ingredients and keep dinner simple. With ground beef, rice, and vegetables, it checks all the boxes for a comforting, practical dish. This was the kind of recipe that ended up clipped to the fridge door or jotted down in a notebook.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Zucchini and Rice Casserole
Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes
Maple-Dijon Pot Roast is made in the Instant Pot and takes about 60 to 90 minutes to cook until the beef is fork-tender. In the 70s, pot roast was one of the most dependable comfort meals for Sundays and family dinners. This version keeps the same idea but makes it quicker with modern equipment. It’s the kind of meal that always meant something good was coming to the table.
Get the Recipe: Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes
Slow Cooker Osso Buco
Slow Cooker Osso Buco is cooked low and slow for 6 to 8 hours until the meat is fall-apart tender. While slightly more special-occasion than some weeknight meals, this dish reflects how comfort food in the 70s could also mean putting time into something rich and slow-cooked. It’s hearty, meaty, and easy to serve with mashed potatoes or rice. This was the kind of meal that came out when someone wanted to show they cared.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Osso Buco
One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole
One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole is baked in a single dish for about an hour until the chicken is tender and the potatoes are soft. This type of one-pan meal was a staple of 70s home cooking because it saved time and clean-up. With familiar flavors and simple ingredients, it fits right in with the comfort foods from that era. It’s the kind of meal that could feed the whole family without much effort.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole
Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon
Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon simmer for several hours until thick and flavorful. Back in the 70s, baked beans were a regular side dish at picnics, cookouts, and potlucks. Using the slow cooker makes it hands-off, just like the old stove-top versions that bubbled away while the rest of the meal came together. These beans feel like they belong next to anything from burgers to meatloaf.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon
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Easy Instant Pot Brisket
Easy Instant Pot Brisket is pressure-cooked for about 90 minutes until juicy and tender. In the 70s, brisket was common for holidays, family gatherings, and big Sunday dinners that called for something with a little more weight. This version brings back the spirit of those meals without taking all day to prepare. It’s the kind of comfort food that came with leftovers you could count on.
Get the Recipe: Easy Instant Pot Brisket
Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole
Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole bakes in the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes until everything is cooked through and the cheese is melted. Using what you had on hand was common in the 70s, and casseroles like this helped stretch a pound of ground beef into a full meal. It’s packed with familiar ingredients and easy enough to make on a busy night. This comfort food made dinner time easier when you just needed something to work.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole
Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies
Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies is baked in one pan for about 35 minutes until the meatloaves are cooked through. In the 70s, meatloaf was one of the most reliable comfort foods—always filling, always easy. This version keeps the idea but adds some convenience with everything cooked on a single tray. It’s the kind of meal that helped everyone get fed without dirtying a stack of dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies
Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is baked in the oven for about 30 minutes until the biscuit topping is golden brown. Pot pies were a fixture in 70s kitchens—whether from a box or layered together with leftovers and canned soup. This recipe uses shortcut ingredients to make it easier without losing that familiar, creamy filling. It’s the kind of dinner that felt just fancy enough without needing anything complicated.
Get the Recipe: Pillsbury Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Beef Pot Pie
Beef Pot Pie is baked in the oven until the crust is golden and the filling is hot, usually in about 40 minutes. Pot pies were everywhere in the 70s, whether made from scratch or pulled from the freezer. This version captures that same spirit, with a hearty filling wrapped in flaky pastry. It’s the kind of comfort food people leaned on when they wanted something filling and familiar.
Get the Recipe: Beef Pot Pie
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole is baked for about 30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. It’s the kind of vegetable casserole people used to rely on in the 70s to make zucchini more kid-friendly. Simple ingredients and straightforward baking made this type of dish a regular on weeknight menus. It’s the sort of recipe that showed up right next to a meatloaf or roast chicken.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Easy Chilli Con Carne
Easy Chilli Con Carne is cooked on the stovetop in under an hour and tastes even better the next day. In the 70s, chili was a common comfort food, often made with whatever was in the pantry and left to simmer while the rest of the evening unfolded. This one uses ground beef, beans, and spices to make a filling meal in one pot. It’s the type of dish that could feed a crowd or stretch into a few more lunches.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chilli Con Carne
Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake
Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake goes in the oven and cooks for about 40 to 45 minutes until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are tender. These hearty casseroles were the backbone of 70s comfort cooking, often using pantry staples like canned soup and frozen vegetables. This dish fits right into that tradition—simple, rich, and meant to feed a group. It’s the kind of dinner you might’ve found in a church cookbook or handwritten recipe box.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake
