34 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression (2024)

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34 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression (1)Grace MannonUpdated: Mar. 20, 2024

    Times were tough in the 1930s and people had to be creative with the few ingredients they could find and afford. These dishes show just how inventive our ancestors could be!

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    Grandma Pruit’s Vinegar Pie

    This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always at all of the family get-togethers.—Suzette Pruit, Houston, Texas

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    2/33

    Taste of Home

    Creamy Chipped Beef Fondue

    My mother often served fondue on Christmas Eve and I've since followed in that tradition. It's nice to offer a hearty appetizer that requires very little work.—Beth Fox, Lawrence, Kansas

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    3/33

    Taste of Home

    Meat and Potato Patties

    During World War II, when meat was rationed and had to be purchased with tokens, this recipe went a long way in feeding a family. To this day, I still reach for it whenever I want something different from regular hamburgers. By the way, children really like these (just as I did when I was a child!).— Gladys Klein, Burlington Wisconsin

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    4/33

    Hearty Navy Bean Soup

    My family loves navy bean soup! Beans were a commodity you did not survive without in the '30s. This excellent navy beans and ham soup is a real family favorite of ours and I make it often. —Mildred Lewis, Temple, Texas

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    5/33

    I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, Illinois

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    6/33

    Surprise Spice Cake

    Canned tomato soup replaces some of the oil in this spice cake, decreasing the fat, boosting the color and (surprise!) enhancing the taste. —Hannah Thompson, Scotts Valley, California

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    7/33

    Taste of Home

    Spaghetti with Bacon

    As children, we always requested this dish for our birthday dinners. Our mother got the recipe from her grandmother. Now I pass on our tasty tradition. —Ruth Keogh, North St. Paul, Minnesota

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    8/33

    Taste of Home

    Country Fish Chowder

    You'll think you're on Cape Cod when you taste this thick, wholesome chowder made from a recipe I've treasured for many years. It's one of my husband's favorites. He likes it more and more because over the years I've "customized" the basic recipe by including ingredients he enjoys. —Linda Lazaroff, Hebron, Connecticut

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    Bacon Roll-Ups

    This family recipe dates back to the 1930s, when my grandmother started making these hearty breakfast rolls. —Janet Abate, North Brunswick, New Jersey

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    10/33

    Grandma Davidson's Baked Apple Pudding

    My savvy grandmother whipped up recipes like this homey cinnamon-scented apple pudding in the Depression years. Many of us still make them today. —Holly Sharp, Warren, Ontario

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    11/33

    Old-World Puff Pancake

    My mom told me her mother-in-law showed her how to make this dish, which became popular during the Depression, on their "get acquainted" visit in 1927. At that time, cooks measured ingredients in pinches, dashes and dibs. But through the years, accurate amounts were noted. My wife and I continue to enjoy this dish today, particularly for brunch. —Auton Miller, Piney Flats, Tennessee

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    12/33

    Taste of Home

    Ruby Grape Pie

    My wife, Paula, and I produce red and green seedless table grapes on our 75-acre vineyard. Our crop is wonderful eaten out-of-hand or in salads. Paula also uses them in this unusual and tasty pie.—Salvage Island Farm, Fred Smeds, Reedley, California

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    13/33

    Taste of Home

    Country Potato Pancakes

    These potato pancakes are really versatile. They can be a side dish for just about any meal or the main course for a light meal. Potato pancakes go particularly well with pork. We have them often at our house. —Lydia Robotewskyj, Franklin, Wisconsin

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    14/33

    Chocolate Cream Pie

    Our teenage son, John, has done lots of 4-H baking. This old-fashioned chocolate cream pie recipe with a flaky crust was his favorite thing to make. —Mary Anderson, De Valls Bluff, Arkansas

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    15/33

    Taste of Home

    Dandelion Salad

    This is one my favorite salads and it is so healthy for you! Guests will be surprised at how wonderful it tastes. —Frances Sheridan Goulart, Weston, Connecticut

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    16/33

    Bread Pudding with Nutmeg

    I always make this bread pudding recipe for my dad on his birthday and on holidays. He says it tastes exactly like the bread pudding with nutmeg he enjoyed as a child. —Donna Powell, Montgomery City, Missouri

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    17/33

    Taste of Home

    Best Ever Potato Soup

    You'll be surprised at the taste of this rich and cheesy easy potato soup. It really is the best potato soup recipe, ever. I came up with it after enjoying baked potato soup at one of our favorite restaurants. I added bacon, and we think that makes it even better. —Coleen Morrissey, Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania

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    18/33

    Oven-Fried Cornbread

    Nothing says good southern cooking like a crisp cornbread baked in a cast-iron skillet. This old family recipe has been passed down to each generation. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia

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    19/33

    Coconut Washboards

    This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma

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    20/33

    Creamy Skillet Noodles with Peas

    I’ve made this creamy noodle side for years. Since kids and adults go for it, I keep the ingredients on hand at all times. —Anita Groff, Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania

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    21/33

    Cheesy Hash Brown Bake

    These cheesy hash browns were so popular at the morning meetings of our Mothers of Preschoolers group that we published it in our newsletter. It's a great dish for busy moms because it can be prepared ahead of time. It's perfect for brunches or to serve on Christmas morning. It's creamy, comforting and tasty. —Karen Burns, Chandler, Texas

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    22/33

    Stovetop Goulash

    I created this recipe after trying goulash at a local restaurant. The blend of spices gives it fabulous flavor, and it’s so easy to make on a weeknight! —Karen Schelert, Portland, Oregon

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    23/33

    Sugar Cream Pie

    I absolutely love Indiana sugar cream pie; especially the one that my grandma made for me. Here, we serve it warm or chilled and call it “Hoosier” sugar cream pie. —Laura Kipper, Westfield, Indiana. Want to try out an unusual recipe? Check out this depression-era water pie that has gotten a lot of attention on social media recently.

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    24/33

    Sausage Johnnycake

    Here’s a nice hearty breakfast with plenty of old-fashioned flavor. I serve it to my bed-and-breakfast guests. They love the cake’s savory middle and maple syrup topping. It’s a fine way to start the day! —Lorraine Guyn, Calgary, Alberta

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    25/33

    Green Tomato Pie

    When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine and make this old family favorite. It's been handed down from my grandmother, and now my granddaughters are asking for the recipe.—Violet Thompson, Port Ludlow, Washington

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    26/33

    Sausage Potato Supper

    One Saturday night a few years ago, I came up with this dish on the spur of the moment. It was dinnertime, and I had to use what I had on hand. It's been a hit with my family ever since. —Nancy Russell, Englewood, Colorado

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    27/33

    Taste of Home

    Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding

    This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba

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    28/33

    Cabbage Soup

    My husband was never too fond of cabbage—until the first time he tried this cabbage soup recipe from my aunt. Now he even asks me to make this soup! —Nancy Stevens, Morrison, Illinois

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    29/33

    Shoofly Pie

    My grandmother made the best shoofly pie in the tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner. —Mark Morgan, Waterford, Wisconsin

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    30/33

    Corn Dog Casserole

    Reminiscent of traditional corn dogs, this fun main dish really hits the spot on fall days. It's perfect for the football parties my husband and I often host. It tastes especially good right from the oven.-Marcy Suzanne Olipane, Belleville, Illinois

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    31/33

    Taste of Home

    I had never made or eaten this dish before meeting my husband here in Kentucky. Now I make it at least once a week. I serve it with some homemade sweet cornbread. Delicious! —Christine Duffy, Sturgis, Kentucky

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    32/33

    Slow-Cooker Baked Apples

    Coming home to this irresistible dessert on a dreary day is just wonderful; it’s slow-cooker easy. — Evangeline Bradford, Erlanger, Kentucky

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    33/33

    Taste of Home

    Egg Drop Soup

    We often start our stir-fry meals with this fast egg drop soup recipe— it cooks in just minutes flat. There are many versions of the recipe, but we like the easy addition of cornstarch to thicken the soup and give it a rich, golden color. I got the recipe from my grandma’s old cookbook. —Amy Beth Corlew-Sherlock, Lapeer, Michigan

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    Originally Published: February 07, 2019

    34 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression (34)

    Grace Mannon

    Grace learned a ton about the nitty-gritty of food and nutrition while earning her master’s degree in food science. She worked for a well-known baby food company and a company responsible for many favorite snack foods before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. She loves writing about complicated food science concepts in an understandable way and as a Taste of Home contributor, Grace covers a little bit of everything, from vintage recipes to must-have holiday foods and treats.

    34 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression (2024)

    FAQs

    What foods were eaten during the Great Depression? ›

    13 Fascinating Foods Eaten During The Great Depression
    • Prune pudding. Ligora/Getty Images. ...
    • Potato soup. Serhii Shleihel/Getty Images. ...
    • Pasta and peas. Svetlana-cherruty/Getty Images. ...
    • Cornbread in milk. Marie C Fields/Shutterstock. ...
    • Hot dogs. ...
    • Chipped beef and cream. ...
    • Dandelion salad. ...
    • Peanut butter and pickle sandwich.
    May 16, 2024

    What are some Depression meals? ›

    Zero effort depression meals
    • Miso soup. Miso paste comes in plenty of vegan and gluten free varieties, so is a good choice even for people with dietary restrictions. ...
    • Rice and beans. ...
    • Cereal. ...
    • Pre-mixed salads. ...
    • Smoothies. ...
    • Baked potato. ...
    • Chicken pieces and vegetables.

    What did hobos eat during the Great Depression? ›

    Perhaps one hobo acquired a few carrots from a charitable person, while another stole an onion off a box car, while another had a few potatoes from a farm he worked on briefly… From this concoction, a “hobo stew,” also known as “Mulligan/Mulligatawney stew” was born and became the traditional food of the hobo.

    What dessert became popular during the Depression? ›

    Vanilla Depression Cake

    A classic that boomers might remember being served when they were kids. Its popularity rose for being so easy to make during the Great Depression when milk, butter, and eggs were scarce but also because it's such a winner.

    What served free meals during the depression? ›

    Soup kitchens and bread lines were methods of feeding the neediest people in the country during the Great Depression. Run by charities, private companies, and the government, many soup kitchens and bread lines served thousands of people a day.

    What was the most used ingredient during the Great Depression? ›

    As such, in Canada and the United States, condensed milk became very popular and this continued into the Great Depression. Many rural Canadians became reliant on condensed milk as supplies of fresh milk were often inadequate in some communities.

    What food was served at a 1930's dinner party? ›

    A 1930s dinner party menu would probably also have included dishes that mirrored what Hollywood considered sophisticated European taste with items like scones, crumpets, cucumber or watercress sandwiches, salmon croquettes, trifles, tortes and meringues.

    What to bake when depressed? ›

    The Best Things To Bake When You're Feeling Sad
    • Soft And Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. ...
    • Beer Brownies. ...
    • Homemade Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies. ...
    • Skillet Cherry Pie. ...
    • Pumpkin Pie In A Mug. ...
    • Salted Caramel Apple Pie. ...
    • Funfetti Birthday Cake. ...
    • Gooey Chocolate Skillet Cake Ice Cream Sundae.
    Sep 6, 2015

    What are the quick easy meals for depressed people? ›

    Top 20 healthy, mood-boosting recipes
    • Blueberry baked oats. ...
    • Avocado & black bean eggs. ...
    • Salsa verde salmon with smashed chickpea salad. ...
    • Indian sweet potato & dhal pie. ...
    • Lean turkey burger with sweet potato wedges. ...
    • Instant berry banana slush. ...
    • Chicken satay salad. ...
    • Banana oat pancakes.
    May 23, 2023

    What is a soup kitchen in Great Depression? ›

    During the Great Depression preceding the passage of the Social Security Act, "soup kitchens" provided the only meals some unemployed Americans had. This particular soup kitchen was sponsored by the Chicago gangster Al Capone.

    How did poor people get food during the Great Depression? ›

    Not only was access to food limited by rationing, many people had to turn to soup kitchens, which are places where people can go and get a free meal, or food stamps, which are booklets of stamps that could be used to buy food, cleaning supplies, and other necessities, to get enough food to feed their families.

    What did poor people eat during the famine? ›

    Several species of edible algae, including dulse, channeled wrack and Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), were eaten by coastal peasants during the Great Famine in Ireland of 1846–1848. Further inland, famine foods included stinging nettle, wild mustard, sorrel, and watercress.

    What was a popular meal during the Great Depression? ›

    During the Great Depression of the 1930s, homemakers stretched their food budgets with soups, rice and pasta–but beans were the commodity no household went without: cheap, high protein, and no refrigeration required until cooked.

    What was depression cake made of? ›

    Depression cake
    A modern chocolate depression-style cake.
    Alternative namesMilkless Eggless Butterless Cake, Boiled Raisin Cake, War Cake
    TypeCake
    Place of originUnited States
    Main ingredientsFlour, apples or pears, raisins or prunes, spices (cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg), nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans)

    What did poor people eat in the 1930s? ›

    Celery soup mixed with tuna fish and mashed potatoes. A salad of corned beef, gelatin and canned peas. Baked onion stuffed with peanut butter. Those are just some of the recipes Americans turned to during the Great Depression, when many families struggled to eat enough nutritious food.

    What did African Americans eat during the Great Depression? ›

    But back in the 1930s, inexpensive parcels of meat such as beef necks or pork liver would have been part of the frugal fare for African-Americans, especially in Chicago with its many stockyards. And, oh yes, there was chicken - as in chicken feet, he said. Both beans and greens of various descriptions were popular.

    What was food relief during the Great Depression? ›

    Food Stamps

    It was intended as a solution to widespread food insecurity and a growing food surplus during the Great Depression. Eligible people would buy orange stamps equivalent to what they would usually spend on food. For every two orange stamps they bought, they would receive one blue stamp for free.

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