27 Old-School Recipes That Bring Back Grandma’s Best Potlucks

There’s something about old-school recipes that never stopped showing up at Grandma’s best potlucks. They were filling, practical, and built to feed a crowd without a fuss. These 27 old-school recipes bring back the kind of dishes that stood the test of time and always found a spot on the table. As you scroll, expect comfort, a few surprises, and the feeling that you’ve been here before—in the best way.

A baking dish filled with peach crisp topped with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream. The crisp has a crumbly topping and chunks of peaches, with a serving spoon resting inside the dish. — Pecan Peach Crisp. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Roasted Cauliflower Bake in Green Herb Sauce

A baked dish with roasted cauliflower florets covered in a green herb sauce is displayed in a white ceramic baking dish. A sprig of fresh parsley garnishes the top. A small bowl of olive oil and a few scallions are placed beside the dish. — Roasted Cauliflower Bake in Green Herb Sauce. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Roasted Cauliflower Bake in Green Herb Sauce offers the kind of humble ingredient transformation that old-school recipes were known for. Baked until golden and wrapped in fresh herb flavor, it’s a vegetable side that delivers more than expected. It works for potlucks thanks to its simplicity and the way it holds its texture even after sitting out. It’s the kind of dish that makes people pause before going back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Bake in Green Herb Sauce

Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe with Fresh Peaches

A baked peach cobbler in a white oval dish, topped with sprigs of fresh herbs, is surrounded by whole and halved peaches and green basil leaves on a dark surface. — Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe with Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Southern Peach Cobbler with Fresh Peaches is the kind of dessert that anchored many old-school recipes with its simple joy and reliable flavor. Baked until golden and bubbling, it pairs sweet fruit with a buttery topping in a format everyone recognizes. It’s easy to make ahead and brings that homespun feel to any event or potluck. This cobbler doesn’t just end the meal—it closes it with a memory.
Get the Recipe: Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe with Fresh Peaches

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 brings together the kind of comforting ingredients that made old-school recipes a potluck favorite. With crispy hash browns, tender chicken, and a cheesy finish, it feels like something your grandma would've pulled straight from the oven. It’s easy to prepare and bakes all in one dish, making it a go-to for busy families and gatherings alike. This is the sort of dish that always drew a crowd at church halls and backyard tables.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole

A baked sweet potato casserole topped with melted cheese and chopped parsley, served in a white rectangular dish on a wooden board. Small bowls of fresh herbs and seasonings are visible in the background. — Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole is the kind of old-school recipe that stretched ingredients into something generous and memorable. Ground beef and sweet potatoes bake together with a creamy finish that holds up well for make-ahead meals. It’s hearty enough to stand alone but plays nicely with classic potluck sides. This is the kind of dish that earned its place in grandma’s recipe box.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole

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 has all the makings of the old-school recipes that anchored many potluck spreads. A golden, flaky crust hides a savory filling of tender beef and vegetables swimming in rich gravy. With minimal prep and a timeless flavor profile, it brings back the kind of homemade meal that once turned heads at any gathering. It’s the kind of comfort that feels like it came with a handwritten note.
Get the Recipe: Easy Beef Pot Pie

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

A white plate holds a serving of cheesy casserole garnished with chopped parsley, placed on a blue-striped cloth next to a wooden spoon, an onion, and green leafy parsley in the background. — French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole blends tender chicken, sweet caramelized onions, and creamy rice for a dish that echoes beloved old-school recipes. It bakes up in one pan and delivers a crowd-pleasing flavor with minimal cleanup. The mix of hearty ingredients and melted cheese calls to mind potlucks where no one left hungry. It tastes like something passed down without needing to say a word.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

Gluten-Free Apple Cake

A plate of apple pie with a slice taken out of it. — Gluten-Free Apple Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Apple Cake—light, tall, and filled with tender fruit—is the kind of dessert that ties back to the fruit-filled simplicity of many old-school recipes. Even though it’s gluten-free, it keeps the familiar taste and airy texture that made Grandma’s baking a hit. It’s quick to mix, bakes in one pan, and fits effortlessly on any potluck table. This cake brings back that just-baked smell that filled kitchens long before boxed mixes.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cake

Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes

A white plate containing a stew made of tender shredded meat and chunks of potatoes, garnished with sprigs of fresh thyme. A spoon rests on the side of the dish, placed on a marble surface. — Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes turns a weeknight meal into something worthy of Grandma’s best old-school recipes. Sweet and tangy sauce meets fall-apart beef and soft potatoes in a dish that cooks up fast but tastes like it simmered all day. This one-pot roast cuts down on time but never on the charm. It’s a shortcut with a slow-cooked soul.
Get the Recipe: Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes

Easy Cherry Cobbler

A baked fruit cobbler in a round white dish with a portion already served. A spoon holds up a serving, showing fruit filling and golden-brown crust. Cherries and crumbs are visible on the table in the background. — Easy Cherry Cobbler. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Cherry Cobbler carries on the sweet legacy of old-school recipes that used seasonal fruit to bring people together. Jammy cherries bake into a bubbling base under a crisp golden topping that’s ready with minimal prep. Perfect for potlucks, it travels well and tastes just as good the next day. This is the kind of dessert that gets scraped clean no matter how full the table was.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cherry Cobbler

Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake

A slice of raspberry cheesecake topped with raspberries, mint leaves, and crumbled topping is placed on a decorative plate with a fork beside it. — Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake holds the timeless richness that ties it to the heart of old-school recipes often brought to celebrations. Light and creamy with a hint of tart berry, it balances flavor and texture in a way that feels both familiar and special. It’s easy to slice and serve, and holds up well through transport, making it perfect for potluck events. This one brings elegance without losing the homemade touch.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake

Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce

Honey cake in individual bundt shape with honey container. — Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Argentinian Flan with Caramel Sauce brings the smooth texture and sweet simplicity common in old-school recipes that lived on long after the last bite. Made with soaked bread and a rich caramel topping, it bakes up in a bundt pan for easy serving at large gatherings. The prep is minimal, but the payoff tastes like something worth passing down. This is the kind of dessert that made its way to potlucks through family hands, not cookbooks.
Get the Recipe: Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce

Homemade Corn Casserole

Two rectangular slices of light golden-brown cake with a slightly crumbly texture are placed side by side on a patterned plate. — Homemade Corn Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Homemade Corn Casserole is a true example of the no-frills magic behind old-school recipes that once made potlucks unforgettable. With just a few pantry staples and real corn, it bakes into a golden, tender dish that works as both side and snack. It’s quick to prep and consistent every time, making it a go-to for gatherings. This one’s the kind of classic that never needed updating.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corn Casserole

Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce

A slice of cake topped with strawberry sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream sits on a white plate, with a halved fresh strawberry beside it. A baking tray and whole strawberries are in the background. — Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Strawberry Sheet Cake with Strawberry Sauce is the kind of no-fuss dessert that old-school recipes are known for. It bakes up tall, soft, and rich with cream cheese, then gets finished with sweet berries and a simple sauce. Built for feeding a crowd, this sheet cake holds up well at room temperature and looks right at home on any potluck spread. It’s the kind of cake you remember seeing on picnic tables and graduation tables alike.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce

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Chicken Sorrentino

A close-up of a pan of cheesy baked lasagna with a serving being lifted out, showing melted cheese stretching from the pan and bits of fresh basil on top. — Chicken Sorrentino. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Chicken Sorrentino brings together ingredients that speak to the layered charm of old-school recipes. With golden chicken, eggplant, prosciutto, and melted cheese in a tomato base, it’s the kind of hearty dish that once showed up at family reunions and holiday potlucks. Though full of flavor, it’s easy enough to prepare and bakes into something that feels familiar and filling. This dish carries the richness of shared tables and second helpings.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Sorrentino

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

A white bowl filled with a red kidney bean stew, including visible pieces of meat or vegetables, sits on a dark cloth napkin with a fork and spoon beside it. A small bunch of parsley is on the table nearby. — Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon are the kind of side dish that made old-school recipes stick around for generations. Rich, savory, and made with pantry staples, this version keeps things simple while packing in plenty of comfort. It’s hands-off and hearty, making it an easy addition to any potluck table. This is the pot you hoped would still be warm when you went back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Colombian Rice Pudding

A glass jar filled with rice pudding sits on an orange textured fabric next to two dark wooden spoons. — Colombian Rice Pudding. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Colombian Rice Pudding carries that spoonable comfort often found in the sweetest of old-school recipes. Simmered slowly with milk and cinnamon, it delivers a soft and creamy bite that feels like something made from memory. It’s easy to prepare ahead and serve chilled or warm, fitting perfectly into a spread of time-tested favorites. This pudding feels like it came from a kitchen that never stopped cooking for others.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Rice Pudding

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies

A plate with meatloaf topped with brown sauce, surrounded by roasted broccoli, sweet potato chunks, and roasted potatoes. A yellow-striped cloth is partially visible to the right of the plate. — Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies reimagines a classic in the spirit of old-school recipes with smart updates for busy cooks. Made in one pan, these individual meatloaves roast alongside sweet potatoes and broccoli for a balanced and hearty meal. It has all the familiar flavor of the traditional meatloaf dinner but built for convenience. This one brings the potluck charm without needing a carving knife.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaf and Veggies

Mixed Berry Pretzel Salad

A slice of berry-topped dessert with a pretzel crust, whipped cream, and a strawberry half sits on a white plate. A glass dish with more dessert and a bowl of mixed berries are in the background. — Mixed Berry Pretzel Salad. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Mixed Berry Pretzel Salad stands as a sweet-and-salty nod to the playful side of old-school recipes. Layers of cream, fruit, and a crunchy pretzel crust make it a crowd-pleaser that’s best made ahead. It’s a nostalgic dessert that works great for potlucks, offering a chilled bite on warm days. This dish always sparked curiosity—and usually disappeared first.
Get the Recipe: Mixed Berry Pretzel Salad

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 is one of those old-school recipes that brought flavor and frugality to the same dish. A layer of golden cheese over baked zucchini recalls the simple ingenuity of Grandma’s cooking. It’s easy to prepare, feeds a crowd, and fits any potluck table like it’s always belonged there. Even picky eaters couldn’t resist second helpings when this came out hot.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

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 couldn’t be more fitting for a collection of old-school recipes that defined gatherings of the past. Sweetened with sugar and spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, it walks the line between side and dessert like many vintage dishes. It’s easy to make ahead and carries the kind of personal history that made potluck tables special. This one feels like a recipe handed over the counter with a knowing smile.
Get the Recipe: My Grandmother's Recipe for Carrot Casserole

Gingerbread Loaf Casserole

A plate of bread pudding topped with two dollops of whipped cream. A fork rests on the plate. In the background, a baking dish with more bread pudding is partially visible on a marble surface. Decorative items are placed around. — Gingerbread Loaf Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Gingerbread Loaf Casserole delivers the holiday charm and comfort that define so many old-school recipes. Spiced and soft, it doubles as breakfast or dessert, making it a versatile option for potlucks and shared gatherings. Prepared as a casserole, it feeds a crowd with minimal effort and tastes just as good reheated. This one brings back memories of warm kitchens and frosty windows.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Loaf Casserole

Sweet Potato Stuffing

A baking dish filled with a baked oat and fruit mixture, topped with a sprig of rosemary. A spoon rests in the dish. Oats and cranberries are scattered on the table, and a small bowl of cranberries is visible in the background. — Sweet Potato Stuffing. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Sweet Potato Stuffing brings the heart of old-school recipes to life with pantry staples and traditional flavors. Soft bread cubes soak up the flavor of roasted sweet potatoes and herbs in a dish that’s both comforting and easy to assemble. Perfect for make-ahead prep, it bakes beautifully and sits well on a crowded potluck table. This stuffing holds the kind of quiet legacy passed from one generation’s feast to the next.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Stuffing

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

A slice of crumbly dessert topped with a dollop of white cream is presented on a dark plate. The dessert is garnished with chopped nuts, and a fork rests in front of it, partially obscuring the dessert. — Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts channels the comforting, nutty warmth found in so many old-school recipes. Creamy sweet potatoes meet the crunch of toasted hazelnuts for a side dish that’s as nostalgic as it is practical. It fits into any potluck spread without much effort and reheats beautifully for leftovers. It’s the kind of dish people remember next year and ask you to bring again.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole

A plate of roasted chicken with crispy skin, garnished with chopped green herbs. Beside the chicken are sliced potatoes and mushrooms. An ornate fork is placed on the plate, which has a decorative floral pattern. — One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole is packed with rich flavor and rustic charm that defines many old-school recipes. Using buttermilk and garlic for tender chicken, this hearty casserole simmers alongside golden potatoes in just one pan. It’s the kind of practical, no-nonsense dish that once graced potlucks with familiar ease. There’s something about this meal that just feels like a Sunday spent in Grandma’s kitchen.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes Casserole

Pecan Peach Crisp

A bowl of peach cobbler topped with melted ice cream sits on a table; a spoonful of cobbler with peaches and crumbly topping is held above the bowl. A checkered cloth is in the background. — Pecan Peach Crisp. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Pecan Peach Crisp brings a baked fruit dessert that fits right in with the tradition of old-school recipes served at every summer potluck. Canned peaches bake under a sweet oat and pecan topping, offering warmth and texture in every bite. It’s easy to throw together, holds well on the table, and doesn’t need fancy extras to be remembered. This one feels like something you'd serve with a scoop of vanilla and a porch full of stories.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Peach Crisp

Pouding Chomeur with Date Syrup

A bowl of dessert features a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with pieces of chopped dates. Surrounding the ice cream are slices of yellow and purple fruits, along with dark grapes. A spoon rests in the bowl. — Pouding Chomeur with Date Syrup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Pouding Chomeur with Date Syrup adds a rich and humble dessert to the list of old-school recipes that warmed generations. A traditional Quebec dish, it pours hot syrup over cake batter for a bubbling, self-saucing treat that’s deeply comforting. Despite its decadent appearance, it comes together with pantry staples and bakes easily in the oven. This dessert feels like a nod to resilience and resourcefulness at the potluck table.
Get the Recipe: Pouding Chomeur with Date Syrup

Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake

A rectangular glass baking dish filled with a baked casserole topped with melted, browned cheese sits on a white surface beside a folded gray cloth and a wooden utensil. — Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake captures the hearty spirit that made old-school recipes such staples of potluck gatherings. Layers of chicken and potatoes smothered in creamy cheese come together easily in one pan. It’s filling, practical, and deeply familiar—the sort of recipe that fed families on busy weeknights and crowded picnic benches alike. It’s a recipe that feels like it already has a history.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake