20 OLD-FASHIONED CASSEROLES FROM THE 60S AND 70S THAT ARE MAKING A COMEBACK

Looking for old-fashioned casseroles like grandma used to make? Here are 20 retro classics that are just as good today.

There’s something special about the casseroles people grew up eating in the 60s and 70s.

They were simple, filling, and made with everyday ingredients that could feed the whole family without costing a lot.

These old-fashioned casserole recipes bring back those familiar flavors, from creamy baked dinners and cheesy pasta casseroles to hearty meat-and-potato favorites.

They’re perfect for family dinners, church potlucks, Sunday suppers, and cozy weeknight meals.

This list has tuna noodle casserole, John Wayne casserole, shipwreck casserole, Johnny Marzetti, King Ranch chicken, funeral potatoes and more, all with simple ingredients and steps.

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OLD-FASHIONED CASSEROLES FROM THE 60S AND 70S

1. John Wayne Casserole

This has a biscuit crust, taco-seasoned ground beef, peppers, onions and a creamy cheese topping.

It’s named after the actor, and versions of it have been passed around for decades.

It’s hearty enough to feed a hungry family with nothing on the side.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Bisquick mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Mix the Bisquick and water into a dough and press it into a greased 9×13 dish. Bake 10 minutes.
2. Brown the beef and drain. Stir in the taco seasoning with 2/3 cup water and simmer 5 minutes.
3. Spread the beef over the crust and top with the pepper, onion and tomatoes.
4. Mix the sour cream, mayo and 1 cup cheese, spread on top, sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and bake 30 to 35 minutes.

2. Shipwreck Casserole

This has layers of sliced potatoes, onions, ground beef, rice and kidney beans under a tomato soup topping.

It got its name because everything gets tossed in together.

It takes a while in the oven, but it’s almost all hands-off.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 4 potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Brown the beef, drain and season with salt and pepper.
2. Layer the potatoes, onion, beef, rice and beans in a greased 9×13 dish.
3. Mix the tomato soup and water and pour over the top.
4. Cover and bake 1.5 hours, then top with cheese and bake 10 more minutes.

💡 Tip: Many old recipes use canned pork and beans, so kidney beans keep this one pork-free.

3. Johnny Marzetti Casserole

This is pasta baked with a meaty tomato sauce and plenty of cheese.

It comes from Columbus, Ohio, where a restaurant made it famous.

It’s basically a cheesy baked pasta the whole family will eat.

Ingredients

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the pasta until just tender and drain.
2. Brown the beef with the onion and pepper and drain. Stir in the marinara and tomato sauce.
3. Mix with the pasta and half the cheese and spread in a 9×13 dish.
4. Top with the rest of the cheese and bake 25 minutes.

4. King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This is a Texas favorite with layers of tortillas, chicken, tomatoes, green chiles and cheese.

It’s a little like a creamy chicken enchilada bake.

Great for feeding a crowd at a potluck or family dinner.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 10 corn tortillas, torn
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 tsp chili powder

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Mix the soups, tomatoes, onion and chili powder.
2. Layer half the tortillas, half the chicken, half the sauce and half the cheese in a 9×13 dish.
3. Repeat the layers.
4. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until bubbly.

5. Grandma’s Hamburger Casserole

This has egg noodles, a meaty tomato sauce and a creamy layer with cream cheese and sour cream, all topped with cheddar.

It’s rich, cheesy and tastes like a lazy lasagna.

Make it a day ahead and bake it when you need it.

Ingredients

• 12 oz egg noodles
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the noodles and drain.
2. Brown the beef and drain. Stir in the tomato sauce and garlic salt.
3. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream and green onions.
4. Layer noodles, cream mixture and meat sauce in a 9×13 dish, top with cheese and bake 30 minutes.

6. Mamaw’s Chicken And Rice Casserole

This is tender chicken baked on a creamy rice base with a golden cheesy top.

It’s the kind of recipe that gets handed down on a stained index card.

Cover it tightly so the rice cooks through.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 packet dry onion soup mix
• 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 cup shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the rice, soups and broth in a greased 9×13 dish.
3. Lay the chicken on top and sprinkle with the onion soup mix.
4. Cover tightly with foil and bake 1 hour 15 minutes. Uncover, add cheese and bake 10 more minutes.

7. Funeral Potatoes

This is a cheesy hash brown casserole topped with buttery cornflakes.

It got its name from being served at family gatherings after funerals.

It’s a crowd-pleasing side for holidays and potlucks.

Ingredients

• 1 bag (30 oz) frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup melted butter, divided
• 2 cups cornflakes, crushed

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the hash browns, soup, sour cream, cheese and half the butter.
3. Spread in a 9×13 dish.
4. Toss the cornflakes with the rest of the butter, sprinkle on top and bake 45 minutes.

8. Cheesy Amish Breakfast Casserole

This is a hearty breakfast bake with hash browns, eggs, cottage cheese and lots of cheddar.

It feeds a crowd and is perfect for holiday mornings.

We use beef or turkey breakfast sausage instead of the usual bacon.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef or turkey breakfast sausage
• 1 onion, diced
• 9 eggs, beaten
• 4 cups frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1.5 cups small-curd cottage cheese
• 1.25 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 dish.
2. Brown the sausage and onion and drain.
3. Mix the eggs, hash browns, cheeses and sausage.
4. Pour into the dish and bake 45 to 50 minutes until set in the center. Rest 10 minutes before cutting.

9. Tater Tot Hotdish

This is seasoned ground beef and vegetables in a creamy sauce, covered in crispy tater tots.

It’s a Midwest classic that kids and adults both love.

Line the tots up in neat rows for that classic look.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables
• 1.5 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Brown the beef and onion and drain.
2. Stir in the soup and vegetables and spread in a 9×13 dish.
3. Sprinkle with cheese and cover with a layer of tater tots.
4. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until the tots are golden and crispy.

10. Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is egg noodles, tuna and peas in a creamy sauce with a crunchy topping.

It was a weeknight staple in a lot of homes, and it still costs very little to make.

Crushed potato chips on top is the old-school way to do it.

Ingredients

• 12 oz egg noodles
• 2 cans tuna, drained
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1.5 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 cup crushed potato chips or breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Cook the noodles until just tender and drain.
2. Mix the soup, milk, tuna, peas and 1 cup cheese, then stir in the noodles.
3. Spread in a greased 9×13 dish and top with the rest of the cheese and the chips.
4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly.

11. Vintage Chicken Divan

This is chicken and broccoli in a creamy, cheesy curry-scented sauce.

It’s named after the Divan Parisien restaurant in New York, where the dish started.

Serve it over rice or with warm biscuits.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 4 cups broccoli florets, steamed
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Layer the broccoli and chicken in a greased dish.
2. Mix the soup, mayo, lemon juice and curry powder and pour over the top.
3. Sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs.
4. Bake 30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

12. Chicken Tetrazzini

This is spaghetti and chicken baked in a creamy mushroom sauce with parmesan.

It’s named after the Italian opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini.

Rotisserie chicken makes it quick.

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup parmesan

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Cook the spaghetti and drain.
2. Cook the mushrooms in the butter, stir in the flour, then add the broth and milk and cook until thick.
3. Stir in the chicken, pasta and half the parmesan.
4. Spread in a dish, top with the rest of the parmesan and bake 25 minutes.

13. Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

This is creamy chicken topped with buttery Ritz crackers and poppy seeds.

It’s a Southern favorite that shows up at church suppers and new-baby meals.

Serve it over rice to soak up the sauce.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the chicken, soup and sour cream and spread in a baking dish.
3. Toss the crackers with the butter and poppy seeds and sprinkle on top.
4. Bake 30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

14. Impossible Cheeseburger Pie

This is a cheeseburger filling baked under a simple Bisquick batter that forms its own crust.

It’s one of Bisquick’s famous impossible pies.

Serve it with ketchup and pickles for the full cheeseburger taste.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup Bisquick mix
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and grease a pie plate.
2. Brown the beef and onion, drain and spread in the pie plate. Top with cheese.
3. Whisk the Bisquick, milk and eggs and pour over the top.
4. Bake 25 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

15. Beef Stroganoff Casserole

This is egg noodles and ground beef baked in a creamy sour cream and mushroom sauce.

It takes the classic stroganoff and turns it into an easy bake.

Top with fresh parsley before serving.

Ingredients

• 12 oz egg noodles
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the noodles and drain.
2. Brown the beef, onion and mushrooms and drain.
3. Stir in the soup, sour cream, broth and noodles.
4. Spread in a dish, top with cheese and bake 25 minutes.

16. Classic Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole

This is green beans in a creamy mushroom sauce topped with crispy fried onions.

It was created in 1955 by the Campbell’s test kitchen and became a holiday must.

Add half the onions to the mix and the rest on top.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (14.5 oz) green beans, drained
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/3 cups French fried onions

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the soup, milk, soy sauce and pepper, then stir in the green beans and half the onions.
3. Spread in a baking dish and bake 25 minutes.
4. Top with the rest of the onions and bake 5 more minutes.

17. Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

This is rice and broccoli in a creamy cheese sauce, baked until bubbly.

The original recipe used Cheez Whiz, and many families still make it that way.

It’s a classic holiday side dish.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 3 cups chopped broccoli, cooked
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 jar (8 oz) Cheez Whiz or 2 cups shredded cheddar

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Cook the onion in the butter until soft.
2. Stir in the soup and cheese until melted.
3. Mix in the rice and broccoli and spread in a baking dish.
4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until bubbly.

18. Southern Squash Casserole

This is yellow squash baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce with a Ritz cracker topping.

It’s a Southern summer favorite that works all year.

Squeeze the cooked squash dry or the casserole will be watery.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs yellow squash, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
• 3 tbsp melted butter

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Boil the squash and onion for 8 minutes, drain well and mash lightly.
2. Mix with the cheese, sour cream and egg.
3. Spread in a baking dish.
4. Top with the crackers tossed in butter and bake 30 minutes.

19. Jiffy Scalloped Corn Casserole

This is a sweet, custardy corn casserole made with Jiffy cornbread mix.

It’s somewhere between cornbread and corn pudding.

It only needs five ingredients and one bowl.

Ingredients

• 1 box (8.5 oz) Jiffy corn muffin mix
• 1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can (15 oz) cream-style corn
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix everything in a bowl.
3. Pour into a greased 9×9 dish.
4. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until golden and set in the center.

⚠️ Budget Note: This whole dish costs just a few dollars and feeds 8.

20. Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

This is mashed sweet potatoes topped with a crunchy brown sugar pecan streusel.

It’s the classic holiday side that many grandmas made every year.

It’s sweet enough to almost count as dessert.

Ingredients

• 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup butter, softened

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla and spread in a dish.
3. Mix the brown sugar, flour, pecans and softened butter into crumbs and sprinkle on top.
4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until golden.