17 Classic Dinner Recipes You Might've Forgotten

Some dinner recipes never really leave us, they just get lost in the shuffle of modern meals. These 17 classic dinner recipes are the ones grandma kept in rotation for good reason. Each one brings back the kind of comfort, familiarity, and timeless flavor that deserves a place at the table again. If you’re ready for food that feels like home, this is where to start.

A lamb shepherd's pie served in a glass dish. — Lamb Shepherd’s Pie. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy

Gravy being poured over sausages and mashed potatoes. — Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy brings back a dinner recipe that once filled old family kitchens with rich, hearty smells. This classic dinner recipe is made with sausage and mashed potatoes, then smothered in a deep, flavorful Guinness gravy. It’s the kind of dish grandma wouldn’t let fade from memory, especially when feeding a crowd. The earthy stout flavor in the gravy makes this comfort meal hard to forget once it hits the table.
Get the Recipe: Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy

Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy

A chicken pot pie in a skillet, with a portion scooped out, showing chicken, peas, and sauce. A silver spoon rests inside. — Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy is one of those classic dinner recipes that always carried weight on the family table. The creamy tarragon-scented filling wrapped in flaky pastry is something many grew up with but few make these days. It’s the kind of recipe that showcases why grandma never needed takeout on a cold night. The subtle tarragon gives this old favorite just enough character to keep it from getting lost in time.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Tarragon Gravy

Buttermilk Brined Turkey

A buttermilk brined roasted surrounded by festive holiday side dishes. — Buttermilk Brined Turkey. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Buttermilk Brined Turkey reminds us how classic dinner recipes used to be an all-day event, with care in every step. The buttermilk brine keeps the turkey juicy, while herbs like rosemary and sage bring that familiar, time-honored flavor. Grandma never waited for the holidays to make a bird like this — it was about feeding people well, no matter the day. This recipe keeps that legacy alive with every perfectly roasted bite.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Brined Turkey

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables is a dinner recipe that proves grandma knew how to do more with less. With just a whole chicken, garlic, herbs, and a tray of vegetables, this dish delivers the kind of balance that defined many of her weeknight meals. It’s slow-roasted and simple, yet never dull — something we may have forgotten in our rush to eat fast. This one brings the quiet comfort of home back to the table.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Stuffed shells in a cast iron skillet. — Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta brings a meatless dinner recipe back into focus, just the way grandma used to stretch ingredients without losing flavor. Cheesy, saucy, and baked until bubbly, it’s the kind of meal that filled casserole dishes and bellies at family gatherings. While we might turn to frozen meals now, grandma had this bubbling in the oven before we even asked what was for dinner. Each bite tastes like it came from someone who knew what mattered.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

Sliced breaded chicken on a wooden cutting board next to a serrated knife. — Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast is the kind of dinner recipe that reminds us how grandma added festive touches without fuss. The nutty crust is simple but memorable, transforming an everyday protein into something you’d find on a holiday table. It’s a classic way of dressing up food without overcomplicating it — a forgotten art for many today. This dish quietly speaks to a time when even weeknight meals had a sense of occasion.
Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Crusted Turkey Breast

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Two lasagna roll-ups filled with spinach and ricotta cheese, topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, garnished with a fresh basil leaf—dishes every foodie should try before you die. — Spinach Lasagna Rolls. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Spinach Lasagna Rolls are the kind of dinner recipe that kept grandma’s oven working overtime on Sundays. Rolled noodles filled with cheese and spinach, layered in red sauce, and baked until golden — they’re a hearty nod to family dinners of the past. It’s a forgotten favorite that’s easy to prepare and easier to remember once you’ve had it. The portion-friendly shape makes it perfect for leftovers that taste even better the next day.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Two bowls of butternut squash soup on a wooden table. — Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings taps into one of grandma’s most trusted classic dinner recipes — thick soups that could stand as a full meal. The squash brings gentle sweetness, while the dumplings turn it from soup into supper. It’s a filling and familiar dish that once simmered on stovetops before we all relied on store-bought. Each bowl brings back the kind of meal that didn’t need meat to feel complete.
Get the Recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy

A plate with sliced pork topped with creamy mushroom sauce, a fork holding a piece above, and a wine bottle in the background. — Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy is a reminder of how grandma turned pantry basics into classic dinner recipes that felt special. Bone-in pork, seared and simmered in a sharp mustard gravy with shallots, made its way onto more tables than we tend to remember. This recipe is bold, straightforward, and steeped in tradition. It tastes like something passed down, even if it’s your first time making it.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Grilled pork pieces with brown gravy served on a bed of mashed potatoes, presented on a decorative plate with a colorful floral pattern. A meal even the most picky eaters will enjoy, making moms' lives easier at dinnertime. — Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes reflects the kind of dependable dinner recipe that grandma had ready with one pan and a little time. The hearty mix of meat and potatoes seasoned with garlic and herbs needs no modern reinvention. It’s a forgotten favorite that’s easy to bring back into your routine. The kind of plate that doesn’t need explaining — just a fork.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup

A white bowl of soup with a spoon and basil. — Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup is a classic dinner recipe that calls back to immigrant kitchens and time-tested flavors. White beans, paprika, and tomatoes simmer into a meal that’s light in prep but rich in comfort. It’s the kind of soup grandma made to stretch the pantry and warm the soul on quiet evenings. A true heirloom recipe hidden in plain sight.
Get the Recipe: Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Close up on 3 matzo balls in soup. — Homemade Matzo Ball Soup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup is a dinner recipe grandma would never let go of — especially during cold months or holidays. The matzo balls are tender and filling, floating in a broth that’s equal parts savory and sentimental. It’s not just soup — it’s tradition in a bowl that sticks with you long after the last spoonful. This one belongs in your recipe box, not just your memories.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks on a plate. — Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks channel the kind of bold, flavorful dinner recipes grandma might have learned from her neighbors or heritage. The marinade of garlic, lime, and spices creates juicy, crispy drumsticks that were often served with rice and a sense of pride. It’s one of those recipes that might get lost in time if we don’t bring it back to the table. This chicken has a way of reminding you where you came from.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

Ajiaco Colombiano (Colombian Chicken and Potato Soup)

Bowl of chicken Ajiaco soup. — Ajiaco Colombiano (Colombian Chicken and Potato Soup). Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Ajiaco Colombiano is a dinner recipe filled with the depth and care that classic meals used to have. Combining chicken, potatoes, corn, and herbs in one pot, it’s nourishing and meant to be shared. Grandma might not have called it a superfood, but she knew it would keep everyone full and happy. This soup sticks to your ribs and to your roots.
Get the Recipe: Ajiaco Colombiano (Colombian Chicken and Potato Soup)

Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel

A plate of pasta with mushrooms and sprigs of dill. — Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel is a baked pasta dinner recipe that feels straight out of grandma’s Shabbat kitchen. The mix of mushrooms, leeks, and dill baked into noodles creates a texture and flavor that’s hard to replicate with newer trends. It’s an old standby that deserves space in today’s kitchen again. This kugel holds more history than most casseroles ever could.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel

Oven-Baked Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes

Buttermilk chicken and potatoes on a plate. — Oven-Baked Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Oven-Baked Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes brings back a dinner recipe that never needed deep-frying to make it worth remembering. The buttermilk marinade keeps the chicken tender, while the oven-crisped skin pairs beautifully with golden potatoes. It’s a meal that gave grandma plenty of compliments and even more leftovers. This one brings flavor, ease, and memories to the same plate.
Get the Recipe: Oven-Baked Buttermilk Chicken and Potatoes

Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

Lamb Shepherd’s Pie is a classic dinner recipe that carried many families through long winters and busy weeks. Made with tender lamb and vegetables under creamy mashed potatoes, it’s a dish that stuck around for good reason. Grandma’s version may have been rustic, but it never lacked heart. This pie fills both the plate and the past.
Get the Recipe: Lamb Shepherd’s Pie

17 Classic Dinner Recipes You Might’ve Forgotten (But Grandma Never Did)