Few things evoke nostalgia as much as dinner with family and friends. There’s something about dishes that were lovingly prepared by parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents that evokes a sense of comfort and sentimentality that only time-honored recipes can provide.
Today, we’re taking you into the world of vintage holiday dishes, culinary classics beloved for their flavor and craftsmanship that deserve to shine once again on our holiday tables.
1. **Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows**: Sweet potato casserole is a dish that has evolved into modern times and is still loved by many. Mainly because of its addictive sweetness and consistency, it is always topped with a thick layer of toasted marshmallows. The marshmallow industry has always found ways to incorporate their product into people’s lives, hence the creation of this recipe.
This dish is also visually enticing – the golden-brown marshmallow contrasts with the orange sweet potato underneath. For many, it embodies the flavors of Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Recipe details: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows Recipe
Cook time: Unknown Total time: 210
Level: Unknown Servings: 8
Total weight: 3091.8 g Calories: 3560.5 kcal
Energy: 3560.5 kcal Protein: 67.1 g
Carbs: 601.9 g Fat: 114.7 g
Dish Tags: american, main course, lunch/dinner, High-Fiber, Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Egg-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free
Ingredients:
6 pounds (2.8kg) moist sweet potatoes, such as ruby or garnet yams (about 6 large potatoes; see note)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick; 115g)
8 sprigs fresh thyme and/or sage
1 (4-inch) knob peeled fresh ginger, finely grated (about 1 tablespoon; 15g)
1/4 cup (60g) buttermilk or sour cream
Kosher salt
2 cups mini marshmallows (3 ounces; 90g) (see note)
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows Recipe
2. **Green Bean Casserole**: The origins of green bean casserole can be traced back to the Campbell Soup Company’s test kitchen in 1955. This signature blend of canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions continues to be served as a holiday staple in many homes to this day.
Recipe details: Green Bean Casserole Pie Recipe
Cook time: Unknown Total time: 120
Level: Unknown Servings: 2
Total weight: 91.4 g Calories: 58.0 kcal
Energy: 58.0 kcal Protein: 4.5 g
Carbs: 10.5 g Fat: 0.1 g
Dish Tags: american, main course, desserts, lunch/dinner, Low-Fat, Low-Sodium, Low Potassium, Kidney-Friendly, Keto-Friendly, Vegetarian, Pescatarian
Ingredients:
1 recipe Easy Pie Dough, made with no sugar, with 1/2 of the fried shallots from the Green Bean Casserole recipe added to the food processor while processing flour and salt
1 recipe Ultimate Homemade Green Bean Casserole, completed through step 5, all ingredients allowed to cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours
1 egg white
Coarse sea salt, such as Maldon
Get the recipe: Green Bean Casserole Pie Recipe
3. **Popcorn Balls**: When you think of popcorn balls, I’m sure most people’s first thought should be to think of its sticky, sweet crunchy texture. It’s delicious again and fun to eat. Popcorn balls are popular until today ah, usually used to be handed out during Halloween. Whether they’re dyed a festive color, drizzled with chocolate, or stuffed with candy, popcorn balls are as creative as desserts come.
Recipe details: Popcorn Balls
Level: Unknown Servings: 12
Total weight: 671.2 g Calories: 3005.4 kcal
Energy: 3005.4 kcal Protein: 16.2 g
Carbs: 456.7 g Fat: 132.6 g
Dish Tags: american, starter, lunch/dinner, Low-Sodium, Low Potassium, Kidney-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Egg-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering hands
1 package miniature marshmallows (10 ounces)
¼ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
3 quarts popped popcorn
1 cup dried cranberries, or English toffee bits, optional
Get the recipe: Popcorn Balls
4. **Cheese Ball**: The cheese ball is a holiday appetizer whose popularity peaked decades ago, and it never really went away. It’s now a popular dish that’s been passed down through generations. This creamy cheese ball is covered in chopped nuts or herbs and is usually served with crackers or crumpets as a warm-up before the main meal. This recipe can either be passed down or adapted to modern tastes.
Recipe details: Cheese Ball
Cook time: Unknown Total time: 170
Level: Unknown Servings: 16
Total weight: 906.6 g Calories: 3622.1 kcal
Energy: 3622.1 kcal Protein: 113.4 g
Carbs: 53.7 g Fat: 337.8 g
Dish Tags: american, starter, lunch/dinner, Low-Carb, Sugar-Conscious, Low Potassium, Kidney-Friendly, Keto-Friendly, Vegetarian, Sulfites
Ingredients:
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (about 2 ½ cups)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Ground pepper
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Get the recipe: Cheese Ball
5. **Jell-O Salad**: The Jell-O Salad is truly a classic, and the first sight of it is reminiscent of mid-century America. It’s always brightly colored, and that’s because the ingredients all use fruits, nuts, and sometimes even vegetables. Then they were wrapped together with edible gelatin – a combination that may seem strange today, but was very popular with children at festivals back then.
Recipe details: Thanksgiving Jell-O Salad
Cook time: Unknown Total time: 130
Level: Unknown Servings: 6
Total weight: 1332.4 g Calories: 1996.7 kcal
Energy: 1996.7 kcal Protein: 69.5 g
Carbs: 226.5 g Fat: 95.5 g
Dish Tags: american, special occasions, salad, lunch/dinner, Balanced, Kidney-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Egg-Free, Peanut-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (16 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip®), thawed
1 (3 ounce) package lime-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O®)
Get the recipe: Thanksgiving Jell-O Salad
6. **Swedish Meatballs**: Swedish meatballs are the perfect holiday snack because these bite-sized meatballs can be eaten in just one bite. They’re not a mess to eat at a party, but can even be eaten with elegance. Most often they are served with a creamy dill sauce, which was a standard at parties in the 1960s.
Since the dish extends to many versions of preparation based on personal preference, its popularity has always endured. Today, these meatballs are still more often slow-cooked, but the original recipe is still still loved by many.
Recipe details: Swedish Meatballs in Walnut and Sage Alfredo Sauce
Level: Unknown Servings: 16
Total weight: 2018.5 g Calories: 4099.5 kcal
Energy: 4099.5 kcal Protein: 282.1 g
Carbs: 88.1 g Fat: 294.1 g
Dish Tags: nordic, condiments and sauces, lunch/dinner, Low-Carb, Sugar-Conscious, Keto-Friendly, Peanut-Free, Soy-Free, Fish-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
For the Swedish Meatballs
• 2 slices fresh white bread
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons pure olive oil, divided
• 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 pound chuck, cut in bite-size cubes
• 1 pound veal, cut in bite-size cubes
• 2 extra large egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage or poultry seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
For the Walnut and sage Alfredo Sauce
• 1 pint whole milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped sage leaves
• 1/2 cup walnuts, finely grinded
Get the recipe: Swedish Meatballs in Walnut and Sage Alfredo Sauce
7. **Shrimp Cocktail**: This appetizer is mostly about presentation, as you can imagine a pile of plump prawns neatly arranged around a bowl of cocktail sauce. This dish is both fancy and approachable.
Cocktail shrimp has endured because of its simplicity and the freshness the dish gives. Today, it remains an ideal menu choice for many celebrations, adding a touch of vintage charm to the table.
Recipe details: Grilled Shrimp Cocktail
Level: Unknown Servings: 4
Total weight: 1639.0 g Calories: 1421.4 kcal
Energy: 1421.4 kcal Protein: 276.8 g
Carbs: 71.1 g Fat: 7.8 g
Dish Tags: american, drinks, lunch/dinner, High-Protein, Low-Fat, Low-Carb, Pescatarian, Mediterranean, DASH, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ancho or other mild chili powder
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon juice from 1 small lemon (we use more)
1 tbsp juice from 1 small lemon (we use more)
3 pounds of shrimp
Get the recipe: Grilled Shrimp Cocktail
8. **Scalloped Potatoes**: This dish combines thinly sliced potatoes with a rich, creamy sauce and then topped with golden cheese. Doesn’t it give it an indulgent feel? It’s not complicated to make either, which is why it was popular at many holiday gatherings in the past.
To this day, this dish remains a nostalgic side dish. But most now pair perfectly with ham or turkey to bring a touch of retro comfort to a modern holiday meal.
Recipe details: Scalloped potatoes
Level: Unknown Servings: 8
Total weight: 2075.3 g Calories: 2069.3 kcal
Energy: 2069.3 kcal Protein: 77.3 g
Carbs: 263.0 g Fat: 80.6 g
Dish Tags: american, main course, lunch/dinner, Balanced, Egg-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Fish-Free, Sulfites
Ingredients:
50g unsalted butter, plus extra for the dish
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
50g plain flour
500ml whole milk
250ml chicken or vegetable stock
1kg Maris Piper potatoes, thinly sliced (use a mandoline for the best results)
75g parmesan, finely grated
Get the recipe: Scalloped potatoes
These vintage holiday dishes are clearly more than just recipes; they are primarily about carrying memories and traditions. By reviving the extent to which these classic dishes spread, new flavors and stories to cherish can also be further created.
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