32 Must-Try Retro Dinner Party Recipes (2024)

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32 Must-Try Retro Dinner Party Recipes (1)Ellie Martin CliffeUpdated: Jan. 05, 2022

    Turn on the bossa nova and fire up your fondue pot. A menu filled with these retro dinner party recipes will put you on par with Don and Betty Draper. Now, if only they'd show up.

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    Salmon Mousse Cups

    I make these tempting little tarts frequently for parties. They disappear at an astonishing speed, so I usually double or triple the recipe. The salmon-cream cheese filling and flaky crust will melt in your mouth. —Fran Rowland, Phoenix, Arizona

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    Taste of Home

    Contest-Winning Chicken Cacciatore

    My husband and I own and operate a busy farm. There are days when there's just no time left for cooking! It's really nice to be able to come into the house at night and smell this wonderful slow cooker chicken cacciatore. —Aggie Arnold-Norman, Liberty, Pennsylvania

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    Cucumber Canapes

    I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts

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    Taste of Home

    Mocha Baked Alaskas

    Make these baked Alaskas ahead of time—you can torch the completed desserts and freeze them up to 24 hours before serving. —Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida

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    Seafood Bisque

    We live on the Gulf Coast, where fresh seafood is plentiful. I adapted several recipes to come up with this rich bisque. It's great as a first course or an entree, and it can be made with just shrimp or crabmeat. —Pat Edwards, Dauphin Island, Alabama

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    Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet

    The concept of an old-fashioned dates back to the early 1800s and includes whiskey, bitters, cherry juice, sugar and water. This old-fashioned recipe, which is extremely popular in Wisconsin, uses brandy in place of whiskey and lemon-lime soda instead of water for a milder co*cktail. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

    For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas

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    Mexican Shrimp co*cktail

    It's up to you how to enjoy this co*cktail—eat it with a spoon as a chilled soup, or use tortilla chips or crackers for scooping. —Erin Moreno, Arcadia, Wisconsin

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    Pina Colada Molded Salad

    My gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

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    Tuna Crescent Ring

    This is really easy to throw together, and I often use it when I am too tired to fix anything else. —Julia Bivens, Martinsburg, West Virginia

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    Taste of Home

    Marmalade-Glazed Carrots

    This side dish is ideal when you’d like to serve your vegetables in a different way for a special dinner. Cinnamon and nutmeg season baby carrots that are simmered with orange marmalade and brown sugar. —Barb Rudyk, Vermilion, Alberta

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    On holidays, a friend serves these creamy, cheesy potatoes when we gather together to celebrate with lifelong friends and grown children. —Carol Blue, Barnesville, Pennsylvania

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    Taste of Home

    A touch more lemon helped me trim the calories in our favorite shrimp scampi recipe. For those who want to indulge, pass around the Parmesan. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

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    Classic Cobb Salad

    Making this ham cobb salad is a lot like putting in a garden. I plant everything in nice, neat sections, just as I do with seedlings. —Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

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    Moist Lemon Angel Cake Roll

    Tart and delicious, this pretty cake roll will tickle any lemon lover's fancy. Its feathery, angel food texture enhances its guilt-free goodness. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    Growing my own vegetables and herbs helps keep things fresh in the kitchen, but frozen peas make this side is a breeze to prepare. —Tanna Richard, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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    Taste of Home

    Martini

    Martinis recipes can be made with either vodka or gin. Our taste panel's preference was for the gin, but try them both and decide for yourself. Be warned, this is a strong and serious drink. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    Bacon and Garlic Green Beans

    Adding white wine, lemon juice and garlic gives a little kick to green beans. It was enough to turn our old, traditional holiday side into a year-round favorite. —Shannon Reynoso, Bakersfield, California

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    Taste of Home

    Garlic-Herb Mini Quiches

    Looking for a wonderful way to impress guests? You’ve got it—and you need only five ingredients to make these tasty apps! —Josephine Piro, Easton, Pennsylvania

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    Puff Pastry Chicken Potpie

    When my wife is craving comfort food, I whip up this chicken pot pie with puff pastry. It's easy to make, sticks to your ribs and delivers soul-satisfying flavor. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

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    Taste of Home

    Deviled Egg Spread

    I tried this egg salad at a luncheon and had to have it. I punched it up with pickled banana peppers. It’s a hit with my kids and picky mother. —Lisa Easley, Longview, Texas

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    Taste of Home

    Caramelized Onion Dip

    Once you taste this fabulous caramelized onion dip, you'll never go back to store-bought french onion dip. While it takes a little longer to make, I promise it's worth every minute. —Kelly Gardner, Alton, Illinois

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    Sage Chicken Cordon Bleu

    It's nice to surprise the family with special meals like this during the week. I usually double the recipe so we can enjoy leftovers the next day. —Martha Stine, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

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    Italian Pineapple Trifle

    My grandmother made this rich, tempting trifle every year for our family’s Christmas Eve celebrations. Now I make it to carry on her special tradition. It’s an easy, delicious no-bake dessert everyone will love. —Ann-Marie Milano, Milton, Massachusetts

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    Lobster alla Diavola

    I’ve cooked lobster alla diavola (devil’s style) since I was first married. We serve lobster at family celebrations, usually with linguine or capellini. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida

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    Pickled Green Beans with Smoked Salmon Dip

    I came up with this appetizer for my son, who's big on delicious but healthy food. The lighter beans-and-dip combo has won over even finicky eaters. —Dinah Halterman, Harmony, North Carolina

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    Taste of Home

    Marinated Almond-Stuffed Olives

    Marinated stuffed olives go over so well with company that I try to keep a batch of them in the fridge at all times. —Larissa Delk, Columbia, Tennessee

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    Taste of Home

    Ring of Piggies

    This charming plate of piggies looks like a holiday wreath when I drape fresh rosemary in the center. It’s a cute display for merry get-togethers. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

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    Originally Published: December 05, 2018

    32 Must-Try Retro Dinner Party Recipes (30)

    Ellie Martin Cliffe

    Ellie has spent almost 20 years writing and editing food and lifestyle content for several well-known publishers. As Taste of Home's content director, she leads the team of editors sharing tasty recipes, cooking tips and entertaining ideas. Since joining Taste of Home 13 years ago, she has held roles in digital and print, editing cookbooks, curating special interest publications, running magazines, starring in cooking and cleaning videos, working with the Community Cooks and even handing out cookies and cocoa at local holiday events. Gluten- and dairy-free since 2017, she’s a staff go-to on allergy-friendly foods that actually taste good.If she's not in her plant-filled office, find Ellie in her family’s urban veggie garden, in the kitchen trying new GF/DF recipes or at a local hockey rink, cheering on her spouse or third grader.

    32 Must-Try Retro Dinner Party Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    What is considered old fashioned cooking? ›

    From cheese straws and biscuits to sweet tea and peach cobbler, these recipes are staples on our dinner tables. They're beloved classics that have been passed down through the generations. We learned these recipes from our mothers and grandmothers—just like they did.

    How many dishes to make for dinner party? ›

    I'd make 1 serving for each person, plus enough for half the number of people (e.g. 12 servings for 8 people). Or even double. It's better to have too much food than too little.

    What to cook for 30 guests? ›

    19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
    • Taco Bar. A taco bar is one of the best inexpensive meals for large groups. ...
    • Meatballs. ...
    • Butter Chicken. ...
    • Lasagna. ...
    • Chili. ...
    • Homemade Pizza. ...
    • Baked Pasta. ...
    • Skewers.
    Apr 4, 2023

    What is the oldest dish we still eat? ›

    The World's 10 Oldest Dishes And Where They Are Today
    • Indian curry, circa 2200-2500 B.C. ...
    • Pancakes, circa 11650 B.C. ...
    • Linzer Torte, circa 1653. ...
    • Tamales, circa 5000 B.C. ...
    • Burgers, circa 100 century A.D. ...
    • Mesopotamian Stew, circa 2140 B.C., and bone broth, circa 400 B.C. ...
    • Rice dishes, circa 4530 B.C. ...
    • Beer, circa 3500 B.C.
    Sep 2, 2023

    What is the oldest food we still eat? ›

    First found in a tomb in Ancient Egypt, honey is about 5,500 years old. Revered in ancient Egypt, honey remains edible over long periods. In 2015, while excavating tombs in Egypt, the archaeologists found about 3000-year-old honey that was fully edible.

    What are six popular Southern dishes? ›

    10 iconic dishes to try in the Southern states
    • Shrimp po'boy, Louisiana.
    • Banana pudding, Tennessee.
    • Burgoo stew, Kentucky.
    • Fried green tomatoes, Alabama.
    • Fried catfish, Arkansas.
    • Biscuits, Tennessee.
    • Beignets, Louisiana.
    Jul 18, 2023

    What meal goes well with an old fashioned? ›

    Pair with: grilled steak

    An Old Fashioned is a timeless drink. And a rich juicy steak is a can't-go-wrong order. Pair the two and you get an epic combo of good ingredients served well. Make it your own way with an orange twist or peppery steak sauce.

    What to cook for 20 people? ›

    spaghetti or order pizza- almost everyone likes them. Spaghetti is also cheap & easy & you can make the sauce ahead of time or use one from a jar. Cooking a ham or turkey is another option if you want something a bit fancier.

    How much food do you need for a 30 person party? ›

    Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet.

    What is a good meal to feed a large crowd? ›

    Gather, Share, and Eat: Easy Meals for Large Groups That Won't Break the Bank
    • The Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs. ...
    • Tantalizing Tacos. ...
    • Perfectly Baked Potatoes. ...
    • Pizza Extravaganza. ...
    • Mouthwatering Pulled Pork. ...
    • Fabulous Fajitas. ...
    • Hearty Chili. ...
    • Build-Your-Own Sandwiches.
    Oct 19, 2023

    What should I feed 20 people on a budget? ›

    Cheap tricks for the best outdoor cookouts.
    • 1 / 7. Hot Dog Snack Board. ...
    • 2 / 7. No-Cook Dip and Veggie Summer Board. ...
    • 3 / 7. Instant Pot Pulled Porchetta Sandwiches. ...
    • 4 / 7. Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers. ...
    • 5 / 7. Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad. ...
    • 6 / 7. Fish Tacos. ...
    • 7 / 7. Ice Cream Sandwiches for a Crowd.
    Apr 19, 2023

    What are three foods that were brought from the Old World to the New World? ›

    Wheat, tomatoes, chili peppers, and many other foods were transferred between the Old and New Worlds, the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, following Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas in 1492.

    What food did the Old World give to the New World? ›

    By way of crops, the Old World introduced the Western Hemisphere to bananas, grapes, oranges, peaches, grains, and olives. They also contributed luxuries such as honey, sugar, and coffee.

    What desserts came from the Old World? ›

    English sweets included many types of cakes, custards, and fritters such as funnel cake. They used strawberries, apples, figs, raisins, currants and almonds. They also made cheese-based sweets including cheesecake. A large number of English cookbooks have been found and some date back to the late 1300's.

    What did the Old World eat before 1492? ›

    European ate many of the foods they still eat today before the Columbian Exchange. For example, they ate wheat and other grains, such as oats; meats like pork, beef, and chicken; and fruits and vegetables, like carrots, onions, apples, peaches, and cherries.

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