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17 Easy 1970s Recipes That Always Felt Right on a Full Table

By: kseniaprints · Updated: Feb 4, 2026 · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Full tables in the 1970s were built around food that knew how to hold its place. Recipes needed to be easy enough to manage and reliable enough to satisfy everyone gathered around. These 17 easy 1970s recipes reflect the kind of cooking that felt natural in that setting, familiar, filling, and meant to be shared. They worked because they understood how a meal fits into a room full of people.

Shredded pot roast with gravy and cranberries on mashed potatoes, with a fork on a white plate.
Crockpot Cranberry Pot Roast. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Plate of creamy chicken casserole topped with sliced almonds and green onions, served with crackers.
Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken leans into the kind of rich, crowd-feeding dishes that defined 1970s recipes at a full table. Chicken cooks low and steady in the slow cooker for about 4–5 hours, picking up creaminess and texture without hands-on work. This approach matched how 1970s recipes prioritized ease while still feeding everyone generously. It finishes as the kind of dish people remember scraping clean before the plates ever left the table.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Peach Dump Cake

A serving of peach cobbler topped with whipped cream on a decorative plate with a spoon.
Peach Dump Cake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Peach Dump Cake reflects how 1970s recipes leaned on pantry baking to fill dessert plates fast. The oven does the work in about 45–50 minutes, layering fruit and topping without mixing bowls or mixers. This style fit right in with 1970s recipes that showed up reliably when dessert needed to stretch for a crowd. It lands on the table bubbling and golden, ready to be served straight from the pan.
Get the Recipe: Peach Dump Cake

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

A spoonful of creamy chicken and stuffing casserole garnished with herbs.
Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie follows the practical rhythm common to 1970s recipes built around leftovers and long cooking. Everything simmers together in the slow cooker for roughly 4 hours, turning simple ingredients into a full meal. That steady method mirrors how 1970s recipes kept the table full without constant attention. It comes together as something that feels planned even when it started as a way to use what was on hand.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole

A delightful slice of carrot cake with a dollop of whipped cream graces a decorative black and white plate. A fork rests invitingly on the cake while a white and blue cup peeks from the background, almost like the perfect ending to a recipe for an unforgettable carrot casserole.
My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole fits squarely into the sweet-savory sides that anchored many 1970s recipes. It bakes in the oven in about 45 minutes, using simple prep and familiar ingredients. This kind of casserole reflects how 1970s recipes balanced comfort and quantity for shared meals. It often ends up remembered as much as the main dish beside it.
Get the Recipe: My Grandmother’s Recipe for Carrot Casserole

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

A plate of creamy spaghetti with shredded chicken, topped with chopped parsley and black pepper.
Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti shows how 1970s recipes embraced one-pot meals that fed a lot of people with little effort. The slow cooker handles everything over 3–4 hours, keeping prep simple and cleanup light. That method lines up with 1970s recipes meant for busy days that still ended with a full table. It settles in as the kind of dish that quietly anchors dinner without drawing attention to the work behind it.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

A plate of cheesy vegetable casserole with broccoli, peas, and cauliflower, with a fork lifting a bite.
Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice directly reflects the convenience-driven spirit of 1970s recipes. Baked in under an hour, it relies on straightforward assembly and pantry staples. This structure mirrors how 1970s recipes prioritized speed while still filling plates evenly. It shows up looking familiar, steady, and ready to serve without extra steps.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole with Minute Rice

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping

A casserole dish filled with a cheesy cabbage casserole.
Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping echoes the vegetable casseroles that frequently appeared in 1970s recipes. The dish bakes for about 45 minutes, softening the cabbage while forming a crisp top layer. This method aligns with how 1970s recipes transformed simple produce into something table-ready. It holds its place among heavier mains without getting lost on the spread.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping

Carrot Casserole Soufflé

A slice of sweet potato soufflé topped with powdered sugar on a black and white plate with a gold spoon.
Carrot Casserole Soufflé. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Carrot Casserole Soufflé reflects the baked side dishes that gave 1970s recipes their variety. Prepared and baked in about an hour, it relies on oven timing rather than complex technique. That balance matches how 1970s recipes aimed for impact without demanding constant attention. It arrives with a lighter texture that still feels at home among fuller plates.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Casserole Soufflé

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Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans

Baked sweet potato casserole topped with toasted marshmallows in a round dish, partially eaten, with a metal serving spoon visible.
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans represents one of the most recognizable styles of 1970s recipes. The oven handles it in roughly 45–50 minutes, layering flavors through simple assembly. This approach mirrors how 1970s recipes leaned into familiar combinations that fed a crowd easily. It tends to disappear quickly once serving spoons start moving.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans

Easy Beef Pot Pie

A close-up of a beef and vegetable pie with a golden, flaky crust. A triangular segment is removed, revealing chunks of beef and vegetables in a savory sauce inside the pie. The crust is lightly seasoned with herbs.
Easy Beef Pot Pie. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Beef Pot Pie fits the hearty, oven-baked meals that grounded many 1970s recipes. It bakes in about an hour, enclosing meat and vegetables under a single crust. That structure reflects how 1970s recipes focused on complete meals in one dish. It lands on the table looking substantial without requiring extra sides to feel finished.
Get the Recipe: Easy Beef Pot Pie

Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

A bowl of shredded pot roast with baby potatoes and carrots, garnished with parsley, on a woven placemat.
Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots mirrors the slow-cooked mains common in 1970s recipes. Cooking low for 6–8 hours lets everything soften and cook together with minimal prep. This long method reflects how 1970s recipes valued timing over constant involvement. It finishes as the kind of centerpiece people remember hours after dinner ends.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

A baked dish with a golden-brown crumb topping is in a rectangular baking dish, which has a white and blue checkered cloth nearby. A serving is on a round plate to the right. The surface is a light marble texture.
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole follows the baked vegetable dishes that filled out many 1970s recipes. The oven brings it together in about 40–45 minutes with simple slicing and mixing. That process matches how 1970s recipes turned garden produce into shareable sides. It holds steady between heavier dishes without fading into the background.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Crockpot Cranberry Pork Loin

Shredded pork with cranberry sauce served over mashed potatoes, garnished with rosemary on a white plate.
Crockpot Cranberry Pork Loin. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Crockpot Cranberry Pork Loin reflects how 1970s recipes combined slow cooking with bold sauces. The pork cooks for about 6 hours in the crockpot, freeing up time while building flavor. This setup fits how 1970s recipes supported full tables with minimal hands-on work. It slices cleanly and serves easily once everyone gathers.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cranberry Pork Loin

Pecan French Toast Casserole

A slice of French toast on a white plate is topped with whipped cream, pecans, a dusting of cinnamon, and drizzled with syrup.
Pecan French Toast Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Pecan French Toast Casserole fits into the baked breakfasts that often crossed into dinner in 1970s recipes. It bakes in about 45 minutes, relying on oven timing instead of stovetop work. That structure reflects how 1970s recipes handled feeding groups without rushing. It settles comfortably into the table whether served early or late in the day.
Get the Recipe: Pecan French Toast Casserole

Seven Layer Vegetarian Dip

A hand dips a tortilla chip into a layered dip in a glass bowl. The dip consists of chopped tomatoes, green onions, cheese, beans, guacamole, and sour cream, arranged in visible layers. The bowl is on a marble surface, with more chips in the background.
Seven Layer Vegetarian Dip. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Seven Layer Vegetarian Dip represents the make-ahead party foods common in 1970s recipes. Assembly takes about 20 minutes with no cooking required, making it easy to scale for groups. This no-heat method aligns with how 1970s recipes supported gatherings alongside hot dishes. It stays in reach as people circle the table more than once.
Get the Recipe: Seven Layer Vegetarian Dip

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

A dish in a black baking pan filled with baked casserole. The top is golden brown with crispy edges and garnished with sliced green onions. A portion has been removed, revealing a creamy interior.
Chicken Hash Brown Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Chicken Hash Brown Casserole reflects the baked, filling meals that anchored many 1970s recipes. The casserole bakes in about an hour with straightforward layering. This approach matches how 1970s recipes focused on feeding everyone evenly from one pan. It lands firmly as a dish that rarely needs explanation once served.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Crockpot Cranberry Pot Roast

Shredded pot roast with gravy and cranberries on mashed potatoes, with a fork on a white plate.
Crockpot Cranberry Pot Roast. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Crockpot Cranberry Pot Roast follows the slow, steady cooking style seen across 1970s recipes. The roast cooks for 8 hours, letting the crockpot handle timing from start to finish. That hands-off method mirrors how 1970s recipes made room for long days and full dinners. It finishes ready to carve and serve without last-minute scrambling.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cranberry Pot Roast

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Hello! I am Ksenia, a cook and blogger passionate about comfort food that warms the heart.

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