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During the Great Depression era in the United States (1929-1939), many families had to make do with limited ingredients and resources, leading to the creation of a variety of simple and affordable recipes. In this article, I share lists of recipes to give you food & recipe inspiration as you create recipes for yourself and your family.

Great Depression Recipes

Hi Everyone, The Great Depression Era recipes are a source of constant inspiration for me as I develop recipes for the blog. I find them to be versatile, budget-friendly, and enduring recipes that hold up to recipes of today. In this article, I share lists of recipes to give you food & recipe inspiration as you create recipes for yourself and your family.

During the Great Depression Era in the United States, many families were struggling to make ends meet, and food was often scarce. As a result, people had to get creative with the ingredients they had on hand, and many classic Depression-era recipes were born. Here are a few examples of popular recipes from this era:

Creamed chipped beef on toast: This dish, also known as "SOS" (which stood for "s**t on a shingle"!), was a staple in military mess halls during World War II. It consisted of thinly sliced dried beef in a creamy sauce served over toast.
Spam and eggs: Spam, a canned meat product made from pork shoulder and ham, was introduced in the late 1930s and quickly became popular due to its low cost and long shelf life. It was often served with scrambled eggs for a quick and easy breakfast.
Mock apple pie: This pie was made using crackers, sugar, and spices, and was designed to mimic the taste of real apple pie. It became popular during the Depression when fresh fruit was hard to come by.
Potato soup: Potatoes were a cheap and plentiful ingredient during the Depression, and potato soup was a popular way to stretch a small amount of meat or vegetables into a filling meal.
Bread pudding: Stale bread was often used in Depression-era cooking, and the bread pudding was a delicious way to use up leftover bread. It was typically made by soaking stale bread in a mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, and spices, then baking it in the oven.

These are just a few examples of popular recipes from the Great Depression Era in the United States (read below for a more comprehensive list). Despite the difficult circumstances of the time, people found creative and delicious ways to make do with what they had.

List of Great Depression Era Recipes

Here is a list of 50 unique Great Depression Era recipes (all links open in a new window):

Tomato soup
Potato pancakes
Macaroni and cheese
Apple pie
Cornbread
Fried chicken #ad
Hamburger gravy
Corned beef and cabbage
Scalloped potatoes
Apple sauce
Fried apples
Cabbage rolls
Pork and beans
Fried potatoes
Chicken and dumplings
Baked beans
Sausage and biscuits
Carrot cake
Fried rice
Beef stew
Goulash
Fried dough
Ham and potato casserole
Fried egg sandwich
Chocolate cake
Stuffed peppers
Vegetable soup
Creamed chipped beef on toast
Chili
Ravioli
Creamed corn
Lemon meringue pie
Meatballs and gravy
Beef and potato pie
Biscuits and gravy
Pea soup
Ham and beans
Beef pot roast
Chicken pot pie
Fried green tomatoes
Sloppy Joes
Chicken fried steak
Fried pork chops
Raisin bread
Fried catfish
Roast chicken
Beef and noodles
Fried okra
Welsh rarebit
Fish chowder

These recipes were popular during the Great Depression era due to their affordability, simplicity, and use of easily accessible ingredients. Many of them have continued to be beloved dishes throughout the years.

Are Depression Era recipes making a comeback?

Yes, Depression Era recipes have been making a comeback in recent years. This is likely due to a variety of factors, including a renewed interest in simple, affordable, and comforting dishes, as well as a desire to reduce food waste and use ingredients more efficiently.

Additionally, in times of economic uncertainty or hardship, people may turn to Depression Era recipes as a way to stretch their food budgets and make the most out of the ingredients they have on hand. These recipes often utilize pantry staples and less expensive cuts of meat or vegetables, making them a practical choice for many households.

Overall, the popularity of Depression Era recipes shows that even in modern times, we can still appreciate the resourcefulness and creativity of those who came before us, and find comfort in the classic dishes that have stood the test of time.

Which Great Depression Era recipes have been most popular in recent years?

Many Depression Era recipes have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years, as people have been looking for simple, affordable, and comforting meals. Some of the most popular Depression Era recipes from the list I provided earlier include:

Meatloaf
Potato soup
Macaroni and cheese
Tuna noodle casserole
Fried chicken #ad
Baked beans
Cornbread
Sloppy joes
Shepherd's Pie #ad
Cabbage rolls #ad

These recipes are often made with simple, affordable ingredients that are easy to find and require minimal preparation. They are also versatile, allowing for easy customization and adaptation to suit individual tastes and preferences.

In addition to the above recipes, Depression Era desserts such as bread pudding, apple pie, and gingerbread have also been enjoying a resurgence in popularity. These comforting treats make use of basic ingredients such as flour, sugar, and eggs, and are perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee.

Overall, the popularity of Depression Era recipes is a testament to their enduring appeal and the ingenuity of those who created them during difficult times.

Let us know in the comments if you have tried any of these Great Depression Era recipes or if you have one to share; Thank you for reading and following along.

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Great Depression Recipes

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned Beef and Cabbage is a classic Irish-American family dinner popular to serve on St. Patrick’s Day. This savory, delicious, and complete meal is cooked in a Dutch Oven on the stovetop with corned beef brisket, baby red potatoes, green cabbage wedges, and carrots.

Homemade Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Homemade Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting has cinnamon, vanilla, and 3 cups of finely shredded carrots throughout this delicious cake. It is a 2-tiered cake with smooth and sweet homemade cream cheese frosting. It’s topped with optional chopped pecans and decorated with fresh, peeled little carrots.

Fried Dough

This is a classic Fried Dough recipe that can be made right at home with a few basic ingredient staples.

Wacky Cake

Wacky Cake is a vintage, Great-Depression era, from scratch, a recipe that makes a dense, incredibly moist chocolate cake without the use of eggs, butter, or milk! This delicious cake recipe is topped with vanilla frosting and sprinkles to make a perfectly sweet snacking cake that can also be used for special occasions. It makes a wonderful Science/STEM activity to do with kids as well as a great history lesson. vegetarian

How to Roast a Chicken

This Roasted Chicken is juicy, savory and delicious. It’s a classic family dinner staple that can be combined with most any side dish and salad. All you need is a whole fresh chicken, kosher salt, pepper and optionally any favorite herbs, garlic and or citrus to customize – it is that easy!

Chicken Pot Pie Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

This Chicken Pot Pie Tater Tot Casserole Recipe is a savory and comforting one-dish recipe, perfect for dinner with your family or bring to a gathering. It has chicken, pie crust, tater tots, and mixed vegetables all combined into one lovely dish! makes 2, 9-inch round casserole pies

Fried Green Tomatoes

These Fried Green Tomatoes have a crunchy, panko bread crumb coating with tuxedo sesame seeds.

Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

This Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe is a family favorite with garden-fresh flavors and fully satisfying for dinner. Customize them with ground chicken, beef, turkey, or pork!

Scalloped Potatoes

This Scalloped Potatoes recipe has thinly sliced potatoes, and sliced onions, with a creamy sauce of half-and-half (or whole milk or cream), with flour, butter, and simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and aromatic thyme or other optional seasonings. It is baked in a 9x13-inch casserole dish and perfect for serving as a vegetarian side dish on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and any holiday and/or gathering! (makes 12 servings)

Tuna Noodle Casserole

This Tuna Noodle Casserole is made-from-scratch (no canned soup!), it has buttery Light ‘n Fluffy® Extra Wide Egg Noodles (12 oz), fresh vegetables like onions, garlic, celery, and peas and seasoned with dill, lemon, fresh Italian parsley salt, and pepper. This Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole is the ultimate comfort food!

Jiffy Cornbread Johnny Cake

Photo Credit: www.lifeslittlesweets.com

Jiffy Cornbread Johnny Cake – This recipe post has the ingredients and directions for making the classic Johnny Cake recipe on the Jiffy Cornbread mix box! This is a family favorite recipe that can be further customized. It goes great as a snack, with soup or chili, a recipe for Thanksgiving, Independence Day/4th of July, or any meal in between.

Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding is an ultimate sweet (yet not too sweet) comfort food with nourishing rice, milk (or vegan milk), nutmeg, vanilla, and optional add-ins like fresh seasonal fruit or berries, dried fruit, or berries, and cinnamon. Have it customized to your tastes for breakfast, snack, or dessert! Non-dairy/lactose-free/vegan option available.

Gingerbread Spice Cake

This Gingerbread Spice Cake is flavorful, with aromatic spices, molasses, and honey & maple agave nectar! It has a dairy-free & vegan option, so everyone can enjoy this moist & delicious cake 🙂 Spice up things with a warm slice topped with Vanilla Coconut Icing.

Chipotle Turkey Chili #ad

Chipotle Turkey Chili is savory, flavorful and so perfectly warming on a cold, Winter day. You can use up leftover turkey meat or substitute the same amount of lean ground turkey. This recipe uses flavorful and smokey, TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce.

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

A straightforward and delicious one-pot chili mac and cheese that's sure to feed a large family. Best of all, it can be made in one pot!

Easy Crock-Pot Turkey Chili with Egg Noodles

This Easy Crock-Pot Turkey Chili with Egg Noodles recipe is perfect for when you want hot comfort food that satisfies every food group. Let your Crock-Pot/slow cooker do all the work for you!

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chicken Chili

This Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chicken Chili is the perfect bowl of Winter comfort food. This recipe can be made quick and easy in your instant pot. Make this warm and savory chili in advanced to have for the week. It is sweet from the sweet potatoes and comforting from the chicken. They are paired together perfectly to satisfy! Add any additional topping of your choice to top it off.

Chili Recipes Collection

Chili season is here and waiting to be eaten! Beat the cold this winter with our delicious chili recipes. These recipes can be made in a slow cooker, stovetop, or instant pot.

Incredible Homemade Apple Pie

This classic, Incredible Homemade Apple Pie has an incredible flavor with a buttery, crisp crust one can only dream about. Bring this epic homemade pie to your next holiday gathering and get ready for the fanfare it brings!

Vegetarian Mac n Cheese

Vegetarian Mac ‘n Cheese is a baked mac ‘n cheese recipe, made with vegan shredded cheeses, vegan butter, elbow macaroni, and topped with Panko breadcrumbs. Try out this cheesy, vegetarian side dish that has an easy way to make it vegan too.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls on SoFabFood

Filled with either lean ground turkey or beef, these Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are served with tomato sauce and are sure to impress a dinner crowd. This simple weeknight meal is popular in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of Asia. This classic comfort food is a hit every time!

Naturally Sweet Cornbread

Naturally Sweet Cornbread uses one bowl to make, has only 8 ingredients, and is naturally sweetened with Madhava Coconut Sugar.

Honeyed Cornbread

This type of bread, apart from the previous bread recipes I’ve shared, uses baking powder instead of yeast for leavening. This recipe is no fuss – you can just throw the ingredients together and part of the appeal (aside from the ease of making) is how down-home and rustic it is, in short: comfort food.

Cornbread

This Cornbread recipe is a classic, fluffy cornbread recipe that tastes great topped with butter and honey. This recipe is also perfect for making Cornbread Muffins.

Cornbread Muffins

Cornbread Muffins are light and fluffy, great for breakfast, snack, or meal prep. You can have these simple, homemade cornbread muffins on their own or topped with butter or jam. (dairy-free option, makes 12 muffins)

Yellow Split Pea Soup

Yellow Split Pea Soup is a hearty soup filled with protein, veggies and carbs, perfect for sustaining you during cold weather. Enjoy this classic, family, comfort food, soup recipe which is a meal in an of itself!

Split Pea Soup Recipe

Split Pea Soup is hearty soup filled with protein, veggies and carbs, perfect for sustaining you during cold weather. Enjoy this classic, family soup recipe which is a meal in an of itself!

Easy Shepard's Pot Roast Pie #ad

This Easy Shepard’s Pot Roast Pie takes only 6 ingredients or less to make, and has a STOUFFER’S® Complete Skillets Yankee Pot Roast topped with homemade mashed potatoes.

Crispy Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

Crispy Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders are savory, juicy, and tender on the inside and crispy-crunchy on the outside. They are made with buttermilk, Argo® Corn Starch, some all-purpose flour, and seasoned with smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper, kosher salt onion powder, and garlic powder then deep fried in a vegetable-based oil. Try these delicious chicken tenders out for your family!

Footnotes

Source: Wikipedia: The Great Depression

First published: 4/3/2023
Updated & republished:

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Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Life’s Little Sweets is a seasonal cooking and local food blog featuring farm-to-table recipes, CSA inspiration, and creative ways to enjoy what’s fresh and in season.

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