The Best Classic Recipes Your Grandma Used to Make — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Grandma’s recipes are some of the best recipes around. They are classic, comforting, and full of flavor. Grandma’s recipes are often simple, yet delicious, and they often use ingredients that are easy to find. In this article, we will explore some of the best classic recipes your grandma used to make. We will look at recipes that are easy to make, yet still full of flavor. We will also provide tips on how to make them healthier, so you can enjoy them without feeling guilty. So, let’s get cooking and explore the best classic recipes your grandma used to make!

The Best Classic Recipes Your Grandma Used to Make

Grandma’s cooking was always special. Whether it was her famous apple pie or her Sunday roast, her recipes were always full of flavor and love. Here are some of the best classic recipes your grandma used to make that you can recreate in your own kitchen.

Grandma’s Apple Pie

Grandma’s apple pie was always a favorite. The secret to her delicious pie was the combination of tart apples, a flaky crust, and a hint of cinnamon. Here’s how to make it:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Mix together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a bowl.
  • Cut in 1 cup of cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Add 6 tablespoons of cold water and mix until the dough comes together.
  • Roll out the dough and place it in a 9-inch pie plate.
  • Mix together 6 cups of peeled and sliced apples, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.
  • Pour the apple mixture into the pie plate.
  • Roll out the remaining dough and place it over the top of the pie.
  • Crimp the edges of the dough together.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Grandma’s Sunday Roast

Grandma’s Sunday roast was always a hit. The secret to her delicious roast was the combination of tender beef, flavorful vegetables, and a rich gravy. Here’s how to make it:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Season a 3-pound beef roast with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the beef roast to the skillet and brown on all sides.
  • Transfer the beef roast to a roasting pan.
  • Add 1 cup of chopped carrots, 1 cup of chopped celery, 1 cup of chopped onions, and 1 cup of chopped potatoes to the roasting pan.
  • Pour 1 cup of beef broth over the vegetables.
  • Cover the roasting pan with foil and bake for 2 hours or until the beef is tender.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
  • Remove the beef roast and vegetables from the roasting pan and keep warm.
  • Strain the pan juices into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Whisk in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1/4 cup of cold water and cook until thickened.
  • Serve the beef roast and vegetables with the gravy.

Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies were always a favorite. The secret to her delicious cookies was the combination of buttery dough, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a hint of vanilla. Here’s how to make them:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Cream together 1 cup of butter and 1 cup of brown sugar in a bowl.
  • Add 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
  • Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
  • Stir in 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
  • Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

These classic recipes are sure to bring back fond memories of your grandma’s cooking. So, the next time you’re in the kitchen, why not try your hand at recreating one of these delicious dishes?

Nothing, and we mean nothing, beats Grandma’s cooking. And it’s safe to say that this is something everyone agrees with. Our editors at Eat This, Not That! spent a few moments reminiscing about some of our grandmother’s favorite dishes, so we decided to round up a few. From spaghetti and meatballs to homemade chocolate chip cookies, here’s what our editors—and even a few of our grandmothers—had to say about grandma’s favorite recipes.

And for more, check out these 16 Old-Fashioned Chocolate Desserts That Everyone (Secretly) Loves.

RELATED: 22 Meals to Melt Belly Fat in 2022

Oatmeal with peanut butter and banana recipe
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

There’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of oatmeal from grandma! One of our editors says no matter how hard she tries, her oatmeal is never as good as her grandmother’s.

Get our recipe for Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Banana. 

Potato salad
Shutterstock

One of our editors said that her grandmother’s potato salad was so good, people even offered her money for it. She never took the money, of course, she was far too nice.

Get our recipe for Potato Salad. 

cream cheese cucumber lemon dill toast on grey plate marble counter
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

While the idea of a cucumber sandwich sounds odd, for one of our editors, it was the comfort food that he looks fondly to from his grandmother.

Get our recipe for Cucumber Toast. 

Trail mix popcorn
Jason Donnelly

Grandma always makes the best popcorn, especially when it’s mixed with other sweet and salty treats!

Get our recipe for Trail Mix Popcorn.

close up of Italian meatballs plate
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Nothing beats a pot of steaming Italian meatballs with homemade sauce, all made by hand from grandma herself. This recipe is even from one editor’s grandma who shared her secret tips for the best Italian meatballs!

Get our recipe for Classic Italian Meatballs. 

RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.

Healthy split pea soup
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Grandma sure does love her pea soup, especially when she gets to add other filling, hearty vegetables to it!

Get our recipe for Split Pea Soup. 

Copycat cracker barrel pancake recipe for breakfast with butter and syrup
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Throwing together a pile of pancakes is grandma’s favorite way to spend Saturday morning with her grandchildren. It’s certainly one of grandma’s all-time favorite recipes to make.

Get our recipe for Copycat Cracker Barrel Pancakes. 

Healthy spinach sausage pepper pizza
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Grandma loves to cook with Italian sausage, especially if it means adding it to a homemade pizza for dinner!

Get our recipe for Homemade Spinach, Sausage, and Pepper Pizza. 

vegan sausage sheet pan
Carlene Thomas/Eat This, Not That!

Another great way grandma loves to cook sausage is roasted on a sheet pan with some fresh vegetables.

Get our recipe for Vegan Sausage and Vegetables. 

Healthy orecchiette broccoli rabe
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This dish is full of grandma’s favorite things: Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, pasta, and fresh grated cheese.

Get our recipe for Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe. 

Healthy chicken parm
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Nothing beats the comforting dish of homemade chicken parm! Pair it with a healthy serving of sauteed spinach for a well rounded meal.

Get our recipe for Chicken Parm with Spinach. 

Vegan garlic lemon spinach in a bowl
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

When it comes to cooking up vegetables, grandma loves cooking up an entire bag of spinach. It’s especially delicious with toasty garlic and juicy lemon!

Get our recipe for Garlic-Lemon Spinach. 

Paleo teriyaki pork chop with apple
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

The combination of apples and pork chops are always a favorite for grandma, especially if it means making a pot of homemade apple sauce.

Get our recipe for Teriyaki Pork Chops with Sautéed Apples. 

Paleo roast pork loin with white beans
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Roasting a pork loin is an easy way for grandma to get dinner on the table for the entire fam! Pair it with some white beans and spinach for an easy dinner for the whole fam.

Get our recipe for Roast Pork Loin. 

Beef stew recipe in black lined glass bowl
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This hearty stew is a comforting meal that soothes every soul—just like grandma does.

Get our recipe for Beef Stew in Red Wine. 

Healthy chicken and dumplings
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Chicken and dumplings are a classic comfort food, especially for one of our editors who always loves digging into a bowl of her grandma’s chicken and dumplings.

Get our recipe for Chicken and Dumplings. 

boneless barbecue ribs and broccoli on plates on wooden background
Jason Donnelly

One editor says that her grandmother loves to make BBQ ribs so much, it’s a classic any time they’re together.

Get our recipe for Boneless BBQ Ribs. 

Low-calorie smokey ribs with peach bbq sauce
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Prefer bone-in ribs? This easy ribs will do the trick, and grandma will certainly approve!

Get our recipe for Smoky Ribs in a Peach BBQ Sauce. 

Two bowls of copycat Olive Garden pasta fagioli with parsley and parmesan cheese
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

This recipe was inspired by a grandma who always loves to throw together a bowl of her famous “bean stew” for her family. Not one, but two Eat This, Not That! editors said that Pasta Fagioli is easily one of grandma’s favorite recipes.

Get our recipe for Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli. 

Chicken and Dumplings served with traditional Cracker Barrel sides
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Another comforting plate of chicken and dumplings that you can easily make in one pot!

Get our recipe for Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings. 

Slices of meatloaf on a plate with sides.
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

While nothing beats grandma’s meatloaf, this meatloaf recipe will taste just like home.

Get our recipe for Copycat Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. 

Copycat Cracker Barrel mac and cheese in a skillet
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

You can’t go wrong with a pan of homemade mac and cheese, especially if grandma makes it!

Get our recipe for Copycat Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese. 

Low-calorie bourbon glazed ham with peach chutney
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

One editor says her grandma likes to make ham steaks baked with pineapple rings. While this ham recipe is slightly different, pairing it with a peach chutney will still give the ham that sweet/savory combo that grandma loves.

Get our recipe for Bourbon-Glazed Ham with Peach Chutney. 

Healthy oatmeal–chocolate chip cookies
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

If you didn’t try sneaking a few chocolate chip cookies from grandma’s cookie jar, did you even visit her? Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are easily one of grandma’s favorite recipes to make!

Get our recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

Low-calorie ricotta cheesecake with warm blueberries
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Cheesecake is an easy dessert that grandma loves to throw together, especially when paired with some warm berries.

Get our recipe for Ricotta Cheesecake with Warm Blueberries. 

Low-calorie apple pie with crunch topping
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

A grandma with an apple pie will surely solve any problem! This apple pie lightens the dessert a smidge, and is delicious when topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Get our recipe for Apple Pie. 

Healthy apple-sausage stuffing
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

When Thanksgiving rolls around, nothing beats enjoying turkey with grandma’s famous apple-sausage stuffing.

Get our recipe for Apple-Sausage Stuffing. 

apple cranberry crisp in while bowls with spoons and red gingham napkin on wooden background
Jason Donnelly

After a long summer day, nothing beats a bowl of grandma’s warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Get our recipe for Apple Cranberry Crisp. 

Maple cashew apple toast
Jason Donnelly

Sure, grandma makes a great supper, but a simple piece of toast with peanut butter is just as comforting—and easily one of grandma’s favorite recipes. Especially when it’s topped with a few slices of fresh apples.

Get our recipe for Maple Cashew Apple Toast. 

Low-carb vanilla-bourbon french toast
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Why throw out good bread when you can easily save it with some homemade french toast? It’s one of grandma’s favorite recipes, especially when it means saving a stale loaf of bread!

Get our recipe for Vanilla-Bourbon French Toast. 

Chocolate pudding with olive oil and sea salt
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

You can’t mess with simplicity, and grandma loves whipping up some homemade chocolate pudding!

Get our recipe for Chocolate Pudding with Olive Oil and Sea Salt. 

Paleo swedish meatballs
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Whether it’s a hearty appetizer or the main course, grandma is always game for making a steaming pot of Swedish meatballs.

Get our recipe for Turkey Swedish Meatballs. 

Healthy sunday roast chicken
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

If the family is coming over for dinner, grandma knows best: a delicious roast chicken with hearty vegetables will fill everyone up.

Get our recipe for Sunday Roast Chicken. 

Vegan sweet potato fries
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

What better way to use up sweet potatoes than to make a bowl of sweet potato fries that the grandchildren can munch on?

Get our recipe for Sweet Potato Fries. 

Vegan roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Dinner is never really the same without a bowl of grandma’s homemade mashed potatoes, is it?

Get our recipe for Garlic Mashed Potatoes. 

Gluten-free crispy rosemary potatoes
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Or if grandma was more into crispy potatoes, this recipe for rosemary potatoes will taste just like the ones grandma makes.

Get our recipe for Crispy Rosemary Potatoes. 

Low-calorie tiramisu
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

If grandma isn’t making canniolis, she’s making a homemade tiramisu for the family.

Get our recipe for Tiramisu. 

Low-calorie sausage lasagna
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Lasagna is a great meal for a crowd hanging at grandma’s house, and can be stuffed with all kinds of ingredients.

Get our recipe for Chicken Sausage Lasagna. 

Healthy baked ziti
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Or if you prefer smaller shaped pasta, this baked ziti recipe is just like the one grandma used to make.

Get our recipe for Baked Ziti. 

Healthy mom's chicken noodle soup
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food, especially when it comes from grandma.

Get our recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup. 

Crock pot chicken noodle soup with bread on a table.
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Easily make a pot of chicken noodle soup in the slow cooker if you’re feeding a crowd!

Get our recipe for Crock-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup. 

wendy's copycat chili in three bowls on a marble counter with cheese and sour cream
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Need something spicy for the family? Grandma loves throwing together a big pot of chili, and serves it with homemade cornbread.

Get our recipe for Copycat Wendy’s Chili. 

finished milkshakes with straws
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Why have ice cream when grandma can take it up a notch and make homemade milkshakes?

Get our recipe for Milkshakes. 

homemade old fashioned donuts with sprinkles on a plate
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Making homemade donuts is always a fun way to hang out with the grandchildren, especially if it means decorating them with all kinds of colorful frosting and sprinkles later.

Get our recipe for Donuts. 

finished sugar cookies on a cooling rack
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Are donuts too hard? Make some sugar cookies and decorate them like grandma always does around the holidays!

Get our recipe for Sugar Cookies. 

chicken piccata
Shutterstock

Need dinner fast? Grandma loves throwing together a pan of chicken piccata for the family on those busy weeknights.

Get our recipe for Chicken Piccata. 

Homemade gravy recipe in a gravy boat on a marble counter
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Roasting up a turkey or chicken for the holidays is grandma’s specialty, which always means a delicious boat of homemade gravy will also be made to pair!

Get our recipe for Homemade Gravy. 

Asparagus with cheese and lemon and pine nuts
Shutterstock

For a lighter spring side, grandma loves to make roasted parmesan asparagus, topped with crumbly or grated fresh cheese.

Get our recipe for Roasted Parmesan Asparagus. 

Healthy pork chop with balsamic honey glaze
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

If there’s a new way to make pork chops, grandma will try making it! Especially if it means whipping up a pork chop with balsamic-honey glaze.

Get our recipe for Pork Chops with Balsamic-Honey Glaze. 

Vegetarian caprese tomato towers
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Before grandma brings out the spaghetti and meatballs, she loves to share a few fresh slices of Caprese salad with tomatoes and basil straight from the garden.

Get our recipe for Caprese Salad. 

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