Emily Flores
This year, Thanksgiving is all about bringing retro flair to the table. Classic recipes with playful charm and bold flavors are stealing the spotlight, turning ordinary meals into festive adventures. Expect plates that surprise and delight with every bite. Here’s your inside look at the retro favorites making holiday gatherings more fun than ever.
Corn Casserole
Corn casserole, also called corn pudding in some regions, blends creamed corn, whole kernels, and a bread or muffin mix into a creamy, custard-like dish. Its golden, baked top makes it irresistible. This nostalgic side is returning to Thanksgiving tables, cherished for its comforting flavor and retro appeal.
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
This classic combines mashed sweet potatoes with sugar and spices, topped with toasted marshmallows. Popularized by an early-20th-century marshmallow company recipe. Some families opt for a pecan streusel topping instead. Either way, it remains a sweet, cozy side that sparks memories of past holiday feasts.
Thanksgiving Cobb Salad
In the 1930s, the Cobb salad was invented at Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant from leftover kitchen ingredients. Packed with chicken, bacon, eggs, avocado, and veggies, it’s hearty and bright. These days, it’s making Thanksgiving tables more lively with its nostalgic look and simple, crowd-pleasing flavors.
Fondue
Fondue, a fun, interactive appetizer, features melted cheese served with bread cubes. Earned widespread appeal in the 1960s and 1970s, fondue sets were common gifts and entertaining staples. Chocolate versions add a sweet, interactive dessert, thereby giving families a cozy, hands-on dish everyone can enjoy together.
Cheese Balls
These creamy, savory appetizers blend cream cheese and spices, then roll in nuts or herbs. Once a hit at mid-century holiday parties, cheese balls can take fun shapes like turkeys or pumpkins. They’re perfect for sharing at gatherings, thereby letting guests scoop or nibble while adding a festive touch to the table.
Classic Jell-O Mold
Jell-O molds are made by setting flavored gelatin in decorative shapes, usually layered with fruit or whipped cream. Some vintage recipes even included vegetables or seafood, showing the creative ways people experimented with flavors. Their bright colors and wobbly texture make them a fun and whimsical addition to Thanksgiving tables.
Green Bean Casserole
Back in 1955, Dorcas Reilly, a home economist at Campbell’s test kitchen, created green bean casserole. Using green beans and fried onions, it was meant to be quick and easy. Today, families love its creamy filling topped with crunchy onions—a classic that’s cozy and practically synonymous with holiday feasts.
Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad combines the likes of mandarin oranges and mini marshmallows into a creamy, sweet treat. The combination of sweet, fruity flavors quickly earned it a spot at festive gatherings. Its fluffy texture and bright colors make it visually appealing, often served in clear bowls to show off its layers.
Candied Yams
This classic Southern side, candied yams, is made by baking yams with butter and brown sugar until tender and sweet. Most families add marshmallows for extra indulgence. While yams and sweet potatoes aren’t the same, both deliver the cozy, familiar flavors that families cherish during the holidays.
Oyster Dressing
Oyster dressing, a savory bread stuffing with oysters and herbs, dates back to the 18th century. It was popularized by British colonists as it became a Southern and East Coast Thanksgiving favorite. Some families serve both oyster and traditional bread dressing for variety, preserving the dish’s historic roots and rich, coastal flavors.