15 Labor Day Dishes That Made Boomers Wish It Was Still the ’70s

There’s something about old-school comfort food that makes a holiday weekend feel complete. These 15 Labor Day dishes bring back the kind of flavor, ease, and crowd-pleasing power that made the ’70s unforgettable for Boomers. From casseroles to backyard staples, these recipes reflect the food that filled long tables and longer weekends. Whether you're remembering or recreating those moments, this list is your ticket back.

Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Pralines

Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Pralines bring back memories of dessert trays wrapped in wax paper and handed out at summer picnics. These sticky-sweet candies were a common sight at Labor Day gatherings in the South and beyond. Boomers remember when homemade sweets like these meant you were doing things right. They still hold the power to slow people down and gather them around like it’s 1975.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Pralines

Easy Instant Pot Brisket

Easy Instant Pot Brisket is a time-saving take on the kind of slow-roasted meat that once defined Sunday dinners and holiday feasts. Brisket was a big part of ’70s cooking, especially when feeding extended family or friends over long weekends. As a Labor Day dish, this one leans modern in prep but nostalgic in flavor. It brings back the smell that hung in the house long after the food was gone.
Get the Recipe: Easy Instant Pot Brisket

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole has that baked-in flavor that filled so many kitchens during long weekends in the ’70s. Using pantry staples and delivering rich flavor, it’s the kind of all-in-one dish that was made for holidays like Labor Day. Recipes like this helped feed crowds with little effort and became classics for good reason. You can still smell the memories in every scoop.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole

Easy Beef Pot Pie

Easy Beef Pot Pie is the kind of no-nonsense comfort food that made its way to many backyard tables in the ’70s. It’s hearty, filling, and can feed a crowd without much effort, making it perfect for a Labor Day gathering. This dish reminds Boomers of the casseroles and meat pies that were standard in every family recipe box back then. It’s the kind of throwback meal that makes today’s holiday weekend feel like yesterday’s.
Get the Recipe: Easy Beef Pot Pie

Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake

Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake reflects exactly the kind of creamy, comforting food that defined the boomer-era approach to crowd-feeding. This dish uses common ingredients, a simple method, and zero hassle—just like those trusted casseroles from the ’70s. It’s a strong pick for Labor Day because it sticks to the roots of easy family-style meals. It’s a sheet pan memory worth reheating.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken and Potato Bake

Pumpkin Spice Banana Bread

Pumpkin Spice Banana Bread hits on two of the most iconic baking trends from the ’70s—banana bread and seasonal spicing. While pumpkin spice has taken on a modern life, the core of this recipe is something Boomers grew up baking and sharing. It’s a cozy treat that fits just as well into a Labor Day weekend brunch as it did at a neighborhood gathering decades ago. It’s like a retro bake sale wrapped up in one loaf.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Banana Bread

Homemade Corn Casserole

Homemade Corn Casserole taps into a staple that was beloved during summer cookouts throughout the 1970s. Its simplicity and heartiness made it a common companion to grilled meats and potluck spreads. This Labor Day dish made Boomers wish it was still the ’70s, back when cornbread mixes and cream-style corn were pantry gold. It’s the kind of thing you don’t need to explain—you just pass it along.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corn Casserole

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping (No Canned Soup)

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping has that retro flavor and texture that instantly brings the 1970s back to life. The crushed cracker topping and cheesy layers were typical in dishes passed around at block parties and community cookouts. This is exactly the kind of Labor Day dish that made Boomers wish it was still the ’70s, when casseroles ruled every potluck. It's a crunchy, creamy crowd-feeder that checks every nostalgia box.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping (No Canned Soup)

Cajun Style Baked Turkey Breast With Vegetables

Cajun Style Baked Turkey Breast With Vegetables nods to the growing Southern influences of the ’70s, when bold seasoning started finding its way into traditional family dishes. It’s a one-pan bake that delivers a full meal with minimal fuss, ideal for outdoor celebrations. As a Labor Day dish, it reflects how flavors expanded during the decade without losing that wholesome, cooked-from-scratch feel. The spice gives it a modern edge, but the soul is pure throwback.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Style Baked Turkey Breast With Vegetables

My Grandmother's Recipe for Carrot Casserole

My Grandmother's Recipe for Carrot Casserole is the kind of handed-down recipe that speaks directly to the memory of ’70s potlucks and family feasts. With soft-baked carrots and simple prep, it fits right in with the no-frills cooking that made Labor Day dishes so memorable back then. Boomers remember this kind of food because it was made often, shared freely, and asked about for years afterward. It brings back a time when holiday food meant more than just flavor.
Get the Recipe: My Grandmother's Recipe for Carrot Casserole

Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes

Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes brings back the kind of slow-simmered meals that filled the air with comfort before everyone had somewhere to be. While the Instant Pot is modern, the flavor and purpose behind pot roast is pure ’70s. It’s a practical Labor Day dish that hits the mark for anyone who remembers long weekends filled with meat, gravy, and potatoes. This version just happens to get dinner on the table faster than Grandma could.
Get the Recipe: Maple-Dijon Instant Pot Pot Roast with Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole is one of those dishes that immediately screams vintage celebration. It was practically a requirement on every ’70s party table, and it still shows up for good reason. For Labor Day, Boomers are reminded of how one creamy dish could unite an entire table. It holds a permanent spot in the retro hall of fame.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts channels the kind of sweet-savory mashups that were a favorite during boomer-era celebrations. It takes a classic that often appeared at both holiday meals and summer cookouts and gives it a nutty, earthy edge. This is the kind of Labor Day dish that made Boomers wish it was still the ’70s, when baked sides had personality and purpose. One bite and you're back on a picnic bench with a paper plate in hand.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon hits every note of a backyard Labor Day bash straight out of 1974. The combination of sweet, smoky beans and crispy bacon was a staple in vintage cookout spreads. Boomers remember this dish not because it was flashy, but because it was always there, and always gone by the end. It’s proof that some things never needed changing.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks may use a new method, but the flavors are straight from every ’70s backyard grill. The tangy glaze and crisp skin mimic the sticky, hand-held mains that were always piled high on paper plates. It’s a Labor Day dish that brings Boomers back to folding lawn chairs and charcoal smoke. Even if the air fryer is new, the vibe is all retro.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks