Ready to blast from the past with a dinner that’s got more twists than a 90s sitcom? These updated classic recipes are your ticket to a throwback bash that’ll have your friends talking for weeks. We’re talking the same great flavors that you grew up with, but with a little punch that screams 21st century. It’s like your favorite old school mixtape met a streaming service.
Shake and Bake Pork Chops
Shake and Bake Pork Chops makes the old school pork chop in the more modern oven or air fryer. Coat the pork chops in mayo and then shake them in a bag to yield a flavorful coating made with bread crumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and more. You’ll then bake them for 15 to 25 minutes to achieve a crispy outer layer with a tender center in each bite.
Get the Recipe: Shake and Bake Pork Chops
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
This Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole highlights the flavors of classic stuffed peppers with easy preparation. This recipe mixes ground beef, bell peppers, rice, tomato sauce, and seasonings in a casserole, whipping up an old school meal with the convenience of today’s cooking techniques. Ready in 45 minutes, it skips the labor-intensive stuffing of peppers. Extra easy to make and always a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole brings an old but gold recipe to your table with minimal work. Combine egg noodles, canned tuna, peas, and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, then top with cheese and breadcrumbs. This dish is a nostalgic meal made with modern convenience, using canned cream of mushroom soup to simplify sauce preparation. Ready in less than an hour, it’s perfect for a busy night when you need a comforting meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup combines an old school comfort food with new school convenience. With the use of a slow cooker, you can simmer diced onions, carrots, celery, ham, and dried split peas in a broth, creating a rich, comforting soup reminiscent of grandma’s cooking. It’s a great choice for those who love traditional flavors but appreciate modern, hands-off cooking methods. Serve with crusty bread for a complete meal!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Chicken Pot Pie Soup revamps the classic comfort of a traditional pot pie into a quick, one-hour soup. By simplifying the cooking process into a single pot, this dish is both easy to prepare and filling. It is made with chicken, vegetables, seasonings, and a heavy-cream-based broth thickened with flour. It really captures that essence of old school flavors with new school efficiency.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Cabbage and Sausage
The Cabbage and Sausage dish is a quick, updated take on a nostalgic meal. Ready in just 25 minutes, it features sliced smoked sausage, cabbage, onions, and garlic. This recipe makes cooking even easier by using pre-cooked sausage to reduce preparation time. It’s a perfect quick dinner for those evenings when you need something hearty yet quick to make.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole updates a veggie favorite by mixing frozen broccoli, cauliflower, bacon, a cream sauce, and cheese in a casserole. This 30-minute dish revisits the comfort of a childhood meal with a modern approach, using frozen vegetables to cut down on prep time.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Baked Ravioli
Baked Ravioli is a mix of old school comfort and new school convenience. Start with frozen cheese ravioli, layer it with marinara sauce, and top it off with plenty of cheese to recreate the familiar lasagna flavors in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the effort. This one-hour dish is best for busy evenings when you’re wanting a hearty meal but are pressed for time.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ravioli
Crock Pot Taco Soup
Crock Pot Taco Soup makes taco night easy, combining the rich flavors of ground beef, cream cheese, tomatoes, and spices in 4 hours and 20 minutes. This soup showcases new school appliances, letting a slow cooker work its magic. All you need to do is prep the ingredients, put them in the Crock Pot, and leave it to do its thing. This dish is perfect for those looking for a hearty meal with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup
Broccoli Casserole
Broccoli Casserole is a simplified classic that marries the traditional comfort of broccoli and cheese with the convenience of modern meal prep. This dish, ready in 50 minutes, uses frozen broccoli, cheddar cheese, and cream of mushroom soup topped with buttery cracker crumbs to deliver a heartwarming meal. It’s an updated take on a family favorite, perfect on its own or as a side dish alongside roasted chicken or pork chops for a nourishing dinner.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach creates the comforting taste of traditional casseroles but reduces prep tim with the use of modern advancement. It contains cauliflower rice and spinach for nutrition, and it can be made within 30 minutes using an oven. It stores well in the fridge, so you can reheat it for up to 3 days or even 2 months if kept in the freezer.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner brings together smoked sausage, peppers, zucchini, and broccoli for a meal that’s effortless yet delicious. Toss everything on a sheet pan, season, and bake. This dish exemplifies how traditional oven-baked meals can be updated for today’s fast-paced lifestyle, creating a hearty dinner in only 30 minutes. Serve it directly from the pan for a nutritious and delicious family meal.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Spinach Chicken Bake
Spinach Chicken Bake combines chicken, spinach, cheese, and spices in a 30-minute bake. This old school, home-cooked meal is made quick using the oven. Serve hot alongside roasted potatoes or a simple salad for an even more filling meal. You can even add mushrooms or more vegetables according to your liking.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake
Creamy Garlic Chicken
For a classic recipe in this modern day and age, make Creamy Garlic Chicken. It marries the comfort of classic flavors with the convenience of a 30-minute meal. In a single pan, combine chicken with a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce. It’s great for serving over pasta or rice, and you can incorporate vegetables like spinach or asparagus to round out this meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Italian Sausage Soup
Italian Sausage Soup delivers a hearty meal in just 30 minutes, mixing rich sausage flavors with cream cheese and tomatoes. This soup is a quick, modern nod to traditional Italian cooking, perfect for anyone who loves comfort food flavors in a meal that come together fast. It’s freezer-friendly, making it easy to store, so you can enjoy a taste of retro cooking anytime. Spice it up with hot sausage, or add kale for freshness.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage Soup
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Fried Cabbage with Bacon updates a simple, rustic dish to fit into today’s quick cooking style. With just 25 minutes and a stovetop, you can create a flavorful mix of cabbage, bacon, and onions, seasoned with a hint of vinegar or sugar, for a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. This dish is quick to prepare, making it the perfect option for a fast, hearty meal that reheats well for next-day lunches.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice is a 30-minute modern update to traditional beef and rice dishes. With cauliflower rice, this meal stays light yet filling, echoing the comforting taste of boxed dinners with a homemade touch. It’s a quick, hearty meal that’s great for leftovers, fitting seamlessly into today’s busy lifestyle.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup brings together sweet and spicy to your table, reminiscent of classic bisques but prepared more quickly for today’s busy schedules. Cook this soup in about an hour and enhance it with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of parsley to make the flavors pop. It stores and reheats well, making it a practical option for enjoying a comforting, hearty soup on demand.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Chicken Corn Soup
Chicken Corn Soup is a comforting combination of chicken, corn, and vegetables in a creamy broth, all prepared within an hour. This one-pot meal updates the old school soup with modern cooking techniques, such as using frozen corn kernels for quicker prep. Add some Parmesan cheese on top for a richer taste, or some cayenne pepper for a bit of a kick!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup