20 Cheap Vintage Recipes We Come Back to Again and Again

Ground Beef and Cabbage

“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.” —mtgraham2

Homemade Sloppy Joes

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 allows you to eat it with your hands (and not make a mess).

Best Tuna Casserole

Feed a crowd with this classic tuna noodle casserole (complete with egg noodles and canned condensed cream of mushroom soup) topped with crunchy and salty potato chips.

Deviled Egg Potato Salad

“This deviled egg potato salad combines two classics—deviled eggs and potato salad— into one tasty side dish, and why not? It’s packed with those flavors you love, it’s creamy and tangy, budget-friendly, and can be easily doubled to feed a crowd.” —Pat Bernitt

Classic Swiss Steak

“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.” —Nicole McLaughlin

Real Welsh Rarebit

Sturdy toast is topped with a hot, creamy beer cheese sauce in this 18th-century comfort food.

Grandma Flo’s Shipwreck

Here’s a cheap five-ingredient casserole (with ground beef, potatoes, beans, and a can of condensed tomato soup) that’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters at your table.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Everyone needs to know how to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. This three-ingredient recipe is made with just butter, Cheddar cheese, and bread—it doesn’t get much simpler than that.

Cheap Chicken Noodle Casserole

“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!” —Caryn

Hamburger Potato Casserole

“This hamburger potato casserole is a recipe that my grandmother used to keep me and my finicky cousins well-fed! It is very kid-friendly, and adults like it too!” —GRAVYCLAN

Five-Can Soup

This quick and easy soup makes eight servings and costs less than $10 for the whole batch.

Ground Beef and Rice with Cheese

“My husband calls it heaven on a spoon,” recipe creator CAMIMCC says of this comforting 9×13 dinner made with ground beef, rice, and sliced cheese.

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 up a dish called ‘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.” —KRISTEN5

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches

“Finger sandwiches are always popular for English-style tea or for gatherings. These chicken-apple-walnut sandwiches are unbelievably cheap, tasty, and easy to make with a food processor.” —Isara

Simple Beef Stroganoff

“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.” —Brenda

Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes

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.”

3-Ingredient Cake Mix Cobbler

“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!” —Kristi Ford

Chef John’s Salmon Loaf

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.

Easy Mini Ale and Meat Pies

“A traditional meat and ale pie. Superb flavor, inexpensive to make, and absolutely delicious and filling.” —Bella V.

Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder’s Pasta)

“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!” —Buckwheat Queen

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