These tried-and-true beef recipes have stood the test of time—and for good reason. From crowd-pleasing casseroles that start with a pound of ground beef to classic comfort food dinners that spotlight stewed or dried beef, you’ll find a new (old) favorite in this collection of our best vintage beef recipes.
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Swiss Steak
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
“An old family favorite salvaged from our 30-plus-year-old cookbook. We like this served over egg noodles.” —Chuck Schmahl
Grandma’s Hamburger Casserole
Meredith Food Studios
“My grandmother’s hamburger casserole is classic comfort food! Featuring ground beef, noodles, and a creamy cheese sauce, this simple recipe dates back to the 1940s.” —LaDonna Langwell
John Wayne Casserole
fabeveryday
“I made this John Wayne casserole on a lark and it ended up being one of the best one-pan meals I’ve discovered!” —EAForsythe
Retro Ground Beef Casserole with Biscuits
Lela
“A retro ’50s favorite dish my mom made all the time. The ground beef casserole is topped with biscuits.” —Lela
Ground Beef and Cabbage
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This ground beef and cabbage recipe was my mother’s. She was a country cook, plain and simple. But as I have traveled and worked and experienced foods from around the world, I look back and realize that many of the dishes she prepared, while simple, were perfect for that moment. Sometimes we have to put emotion and love in a dish to make it extra-special.” —mtgraham2
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Homemade Sloppy Joes don’t have to be difficult to eat. Despite the name of this iconic retro dish, the secret to a great Sloppy Joe is a thick, rich, almost dry consistency, which allows the sandwich to be eaten with your hands. Serve on hamburger buns.” —Chef John
Grandma Flo’s Shipwreck
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This shipwreck recipe was given to my husband by a friend at work who brought it for lunch often. You can’t go wrong with meat and potatoes, and this recipe combines them in one dish. I usually double it for my family; my husband works in a giant tire factory and has an appetite to match. The smell of the delicious potatoes makes it hard to wait for the meal to finish baking.” —Sue
Hamburger Potato Casserole
“This hamburger potato casserole is a recipe that my grandmother used to keep me and my finicky cousins well-fed! It is very kid-friendly, and adults like it too!” —GRAVYCLAN
Ground Beef and Rice with Cheese
fabeveryday
“I made this recipe quite a few years ago and it’s still one of my husband and my favorites. My husband calls it heaven on a spoon!” —CAMIMCC
I Don’t Know
fabeveryday
“I would always ask my mom ‘What’s for dinner?’ and the response would be ‘I don’t know.’ I said I was going to make up a dish called ‘I don’t know’ dish. It turned out pretty good. Ground beef, potatoes and cheese are layered with a few vegetables in this simple one dish meal.” —KRISTEN5
Simple Beef Stroganoff
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This creamy beef stroganoff is easy to make with ground beef and served with egg noodles. It’s ready to serve in under 30 minutes making it a great choice for busy weeknights. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.” —Brenda
Easy Mini Ale and Meat Pies
“A traditional meat and ale pie. Superb flavor, inexpensive to make, and absolutely delicious and filling.” —Bella V.
Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Tasty hamburger ‘steaks’ smothered in gravy and onions. Serve with hot rice or potatoes for an easy-to-make dinner classic. It’s a great way to dress up a pound of ground beef and you probably have all the ingredients on hand!” —Anne Marie Sweden
Tater Tot Casserole
ALLRECIPES/VICTORIA JEMPTY
“This Tater Tot casserole is a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love. Just four basic ingredients come together for this comforting dish.” —barryzimm
Old Mama’s Fashioned Chili
Rock_lobster
“It’s good with a touch of cumin! I made it according to the recipe and it came in 2nd place at a church chili cook off!” —DM Gibson
Old-Fashioned Beef Stew
mommyluvs2cook
“I took my Grandmother’s recipe, trimmed the fat and enhanced the flavor.” —CORWYNN DARKHOLME
Salisbury Steak
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Salisbury steak with a savory onion sauce. This yummy recipe has been in my family for years. It’s easy to cook but tastes like it took hours to make! I usually make enough extra sauce to pour over mashed potatoes.” —Kelly Berenger
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This chipped beef recipe is straight from my mom. We called it SOS (Same Ole Stuff), and it’s great comfort food! It’s easy to make and tastes great with a cold beer.” —Lisa
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This slow cooker pot roast always turns out moist and juicy. It’s cooked with carrots, onion, celery, and potatoes.” —Marie Bongiovanni Thomas
Classic Goulash
Stacy Allen / Food Stylist: Julian Henserling / Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
“Easy and common ingredients [that are] usually in my kitchen to create a delicious family pleaser.” —sknight1954
