21 Vintage Sides Too Good to Leave in the Past

And you won’t need a time machine!

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published November 17, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
A wooden spoon lifting a serving of twice baked potato casserole from a baking dish

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Retro, vintage, classic, old-fashioned: These are the words we lovingly use to refer to the recipes we grew up with. They’re the dishes that have been passed down for generations, the ones you’ll find in old church cookbooks and handwritten on recipe cards.

This collection of recipes pays tribute to those nostalgic side dishes. Cheesy casseroles made with potatoes, broccoli, or onions, and those salads that blur the line between side and dessert. These dishes may be downright quirky at times, but each bite provides instant comfort and familiarity.

If you’ve never heard of any of these recipes, get ready to take a fresh trip to the past. And remember, they’re classics—which means they never go out of style.

Join MyRecipes to save, search, and sort recipes all in one place! To start saving, click on a recipe below, then tap the heart ❤️ icon.

  • Tennessee Onions

    Tennessee Onions (Casserole) from above in a casserole dish with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel

    “Though this dish gets its sweet and savory flavor from onions grown in Georgia, many believe that the casserole originated in Tennessee. Hence, the name!”  —Marianne Williams, Recipe Developer

  • Cabbage Casserole

    Casserole dish with cabbage casserole and a serving spoon next to a plate with a portion of the dish

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Abby Armstrong

    “You can prepare the cabbage mixture the day of and store it in the baking dish until ready to bake (cover and refrigerate if you plan to wait more than two hours to bake it). Leave the cracker topping off until ready to bake, as it will get soggy if it sits.” —Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor

  • 3-Ingredient “Minnesota” Grape Salad

    Bowl of grape salad with a spoon on the side topped with a creamy mixture and crumbled toppings

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “It’s a cool, creamy, three-ingredient side dish with lots of history.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans

    Sweet potato casserole with pecan crumb topping in a baking dish a serving spoon rests inside
    Lisa Lin

    “We could eat this every week! I also do it with butternut but leave the milk out since squash naturally has more liquid than sweet potato.” —Janet Schweizerhof, Reader

    Continue to 5 of 21 below

  • Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

    Classic Green Bean Casserole made from scratch
    Megan Keno

    “I am coming back to find this recipe for the 3rd or 4th year in a row! I won't have Thanksgiving without it! I have emergency canned fried onions if I run out of time. Making the main casserole 3 days ahead of time! It's the best!” —Kellie, Reader

  • Mississippi Mud Potatoes

    Baked casserole with diced ingredients melted cheese and garnished with green onions in a rectangular dish

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “5 stars for sure. Third time making this side. When my daughter comes for dinner this is the requested side always.” —Patti, Reader

  • Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

    Closeup of scalloped potatoes in a dish showing a baked browned and creamy texture
    Elise Bauer

    “I finally got around to trying this recipe and it was a big hit! I used leeks that were in my produce box this week instead of the onions. Didn't peel the potatoes (I like the texture and the extra nutrients).” —Susan, Reader

  • Classic Glazed Carrots

    Overhead view of a serving bowl of glazed carrots.
    Michelle Becker

    “My mom made glazed carrots as I was growing up & I make them the same way. Slice evenly yes & we boil them in salted water til tender & drain. Add butter, a little brown sugar & pepper to taste!! A taste of home!!!” —Christine, Reader

    Continue to 9 of 21 below

  • Ambrosia Salad

    A bowl of ambrosia salad with fruit and a cherry on top

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

    "This is so dreamy and refreshing! I love the mix of soft and juicy textures, and the sour cream and bit of salt keep it from being overly sweet." —Sarah Crowder, Senior Art Director

  • Twice Baked Potato Casserole

    A wooden spoon lifting a serving of twice baked potato casserole from a baking dish

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    “Once the casserole is assembled (leaving the bacon and green onions off), cover it with plastic wrap and hold in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to bake, take it out 30 minutes before cooking, remove the plastic wrap, then bake according to the recipe instructions.” —Brianne Ross, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Generation Potato Salad

    A bowl of potato salad with herbs and dressing

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “Loved this! My husband prefers a vinegar potato salad but this felt like a good sub. I love a mayo based so we were truly happy with this, would certainly make again. The boil, then slice isn't a way I've made potato salad before but made for an interesting texture that I found satisfying. Tastes like deviled eggs!” —Heather N, Reader

  • Potato Kugel

    Serving of Potato Kugel on a Plate with a Fork, and Surrounding It, Another Plate with Another Serving, a Small Saucer with Herbs, a Kitchen Linen, and the Casserole Dish with More

    Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

    “The perfect potato kugel should be crispy and crunchy on the outside, with a fluffy, creamy filling on the inside, like a giant potato latke that you slice, share, and enjoy alongside your main dishes (like beef brisket).” —Micah Siva, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 21 below

  • Classic Carrot Salad With Apples, Raisins, and Mayo

    Classic Carrot Salad in a bowl with wooden serving spoons.
    Michelle Becker

    “The proportions of this recipe are flexible, depending on what you have on hand. Many traditional carrot salad recipes also call for crushed pineapple, but I think with the apples, raisins, and carrots, it's sweet enough.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Cheesy Potato Casserole

    A cheesy potato casserole being served from a baking dish with a wooden spoon
    Nick Evans | Art Banner Credit: Andy Christensen

    “I liked it. It reminds me of funeral potatoes, which uses hash browns. It's a good potluck entrée for a church event. It tastes good cold for lunch the next day. It freezes well. It's a typical cheesy comfort food entrée our guests will love.” —Linda Yorkshire, Reader

  • Grammy's Orange Creamsicle Salad

    Orange creamsicle salad served in small glass bowls topped with whipped cream and marshmallows

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    “While I adore elaborate cakes and desserts of all kinds, there is nothing that will beat the nostalgia of orange creamsicle salad. (Yes, you heard that right!)” —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

  • Cheesy Grits Soufflé Bake

    A ceramic baking dish with cheesy grits casserole topped with seasoning and garnished with a serving spoon next to it on a rustic table
    Sally Vargas

    “This is one of my family's most favorite thing to eat. We have made it many times following the recipe." —Y K, Reader

    Continue to 17 of 21 below

  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    Broccoli Cheese Casserole - an easy broccoli casserole you'll love!
    Elise Bauer

    “10 out of 10. I used all cream instead of cream and milk. Delicious. Made it twice and again for Thanksgiving.” —Baba, Reader

  • Corn Soufflé

    An image of a dark blue baking dish of corn soufflé with a spoon scooping out a serving

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    “The pull of nostalgia brought me back to it, and I’m so glad it did. It’s the perfect side dish for holidays or any chilly evening when you want something cozy.” Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Rosa Marina Fruit Salad

    Rosa marina salad garnished with cherries in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “As a kid, I became well acquainted with Rosa Marina fruit salad during summer car rides. Picture me and a huge salad bowl in the back seat, heading to some sort of picnic. My mom got her version of this recipe from a friend’s mom in 1989, and after testing, I’ve worked to improve its basic process.” —Lou Perseghin, Recipe Developer

  • German Potato Salad

    Bowl of German potato salad with chives bacon and diced onions
    Coco Morante

    “For German potato salad, sliced potatoes are tossed with bacon, sautéed onions, fresh herbs, and a mustardy white wine dressing. It’s a nice change-up from the classic mayonnaise-based version, and you can serve it warm or chilled.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 21 of 21 below

  • Mom's Easy Macaroni Salad

    A bowl of macaroni salad with vegetables and seasoning
    Elise Bauer

    “Wow, this totally takes me back to my childhood. My mom made something very similar...” —Stephanie Weaver, Reader

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