These cheap vintage recipes, from crowd-pleasing casseroles and comfort foods to classic breakfasts and desserts made with few ingredients, will have you feeling hungry and nostalgic. The best part? They won’t break the bank.
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01 of 22
Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes
Credit: Allrecipes Member
This classic pancake recipe came from Allrecipes community member Dakota Kelly’s grandma’s recipe book, and “judging from the weathered look of this recipe card, this was a family favorite.”
02 of 22
Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Credit: Allrecipes Member
“Made with canned chicken and a handful of everyday ingredients, these retro tea sandwiches are an easy way to feed a group. The filling is surprisingly easy to make in a food processor.” —Allrecipes member Isara
03 of 22
Old-Fashioned Potato Soup
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Hannah Greenwood
“This old-fashioned potato soup recipe is closest to the soup I remember as a child. I have seen many renditions of it surface in several bistros. Top with crispy bacon crumbles and shredded cheese if you like!” —Recipe submitter Cyd Lmbros
04 of 22
Ground Beef and Cabbage
Credit: Photographer: Stacy Allen / Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling: Julia Bayless
“This ground beef and cabbage recipe was my mother’s. She was a country cook, plain and simple. But as I have traveled and worked and experienced foods from around the world, I look back and realize that many of the dishes she prepared, while simple, were perfect for that moment.” —Recipe submitter mtgraham2
05 of 22
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy
Everyone needs to know how to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. This three-ingredient recipe uses just butter, Cheddar cheese, and bread—it doesn’t get much simpler.
06 of 22
Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Yeast Rolls
Credit: Allrecipes / Diana Chistruga
“This recipe is one of our family traditions. We don’t know how old it is, but it is at least Depression Era (no milk, no eggs). It was handed down from my Grandma Pearl Nash.” —Recipe submitter Asgard Ranch
07 of 22
Real Welsh Rarebit
Credit: Photographer: Jacob Fox / Food Styling: Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling: Gabe Greco
This 18th-century comfort food features sturdy toast topped with a hot, creamy beer cheese sauce.
08 of 22
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling: Kady Wohlfarth / Prop Styling: Christina Daley
Throw it back to your school days with this cafeteria favorite. According to Chef John, the key to a perfect sloppy Joe sandwich is a thick sauce that lets you eat it with your hands (without making a mess).
09 of 22
Best Tuna Casserole
Credit: Allrecipes Member
Feed a crowd with this classic tuna noodle casserole (made with egg noodles and canned condensed cream of mushroom soup), topped with crunchy, salty potato chips.
10 of 22
Shipwreck Casserole
“This shipwreck casserole might not be pretty, but it is a tasty, busy-night, kid-friendly meal. The big bonus is that it’s a complete one-pot meal!” —Recipe submitter Bcsgibson
11 of 22
Classic Swiss Steak
Credit: Allrecipes Member
“This classic Swiss steak, round or rump steak slowly braised with tomatoes and vegetables, is best served over rice. This comforting dish is also easy on the budget.” —Allrecipes’ Nicole McLaughlin
12 of 22
Cheap Chicken Noodle Casserole
Credit: Allrecipes Member
“A mixture of chicken, soup, milk, peas, and carrots baked with egg noodles, cheese, and bread. My husband hates tuna, so I improvised my mom’s tuna casserole recipe. Both he and my brother-in-law love it!” —Allrecipes member Caryn
13 of 22
Hamburger Potato Casserole
Credit: Photographer: Victor Protasio / Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling: Christine Keely
“This hamburger potato casserole is a recipe that my grandmother used to keep my finicky cousins and me well-fed! It is very kid-friendly, and adults like it too!” —Recipe submitter GRAVYCLAN
14 of 22
Easy Mini Ale and Meat Pies
Credit: Allrecipes Member
“A traditional meat and ale pie. Superb flavor, inexpensive to make, and absolutely delicious and filling.” —Allrecipes member Bella V
15 of 22
Five-Can Soup
This quick and easy soup makes six servings and costs less than $10 for the whole pot.
16 of 22
Ground Beef and Rice with Cheese
“My husband calls it heaven on a spoon,” says recipe creator CAMIMCC. This comforting 9×13 dinner features ground beef, rice, and sliced cheese.
17 of 22
I Don’t Know
“I would always ask my mom, ‘What’s for dinner?’ and the response would be, ‘I don’t know.’ I said I was going to make a dish called the ‘I don’t know’ dish. It turned out pretty good. Ground beef, potatoes, and cheese are layered with a few vegetables in this simple one-dish meal.” —Recipe submitter KRISTEN5
18 of 22
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder’s Pasta)
Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek / Food Styling: Addelyn Evans
“This peasant food comes from Roman sheep herders who had little time and money to spend on eating. They used their sheep’s cheese and a bit of the water that cooked the pasta to create a cream, then added black pepper to give it some extra flavor. Cheap, easy, and fast: this was perfect for them and for us even today!” —Allrecipes member Buckwheat Queen
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder’s Pasta)
19 of 22
Simple Beef Stroganoff
Credit: Allrecipes Member
“This rich and creamy beef stroganoff recipe is made with ground beef and served with egg noodles. It’s super simple to prepare and ready to serve in under 30 minutes, making it a great choice for busy weeknights.” —Recipe submitter Brenda
20 of 22
Chef John’s Salmon Loaf
Credit: Allrecipes Member
Use inexpensive canned salmon to make this impressive recipe. “While salmon right out of the can may not be the most appealing thing to look at, this salmon loaf is so delicious that we can surely forgive some of its visual shortcomings,” says Chef John.
21 of 22
3-Ingredient Cake Mix Cobbler
Credit: Allrecipes / Qi Ai
“Yummy, easy peach cobbler made with cake mix. It makes you feel as though you are in the South on a warm, sunny day. This recipe is inexpensive, quick, and surprisingly delicious!” —Allrecipes member Kristi Ford
22 of 22
Wacky Cake
“Wacky cake is made without milk or eggs and is a moist, dark, and delicious chocolate cake. A brainchild of the Depression Era, when ingenious cooks developed a cake that could be made without expensive and scarce ingredients. Frost with your favorite icing.” —Allrecipes member Mary Knipe
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