'90s Kids Are Dying For These 20 Nostalgic Recipes To Make A Comeback
The title of “'90s kid” comes with a certain prestige, and for good reason. The '90s were a time of pop culture boom before everything became quite so tied to technology and the Internet—though Google, AIM, and the N64 did wrap the decade up in an exciting new bow. Nirvana released Nevermind and grunge took over fashion as well as the airwaves. Clueless and Friends and hip hop all took part in shaping the way we spoke—as if! And there were no shortage of food trends either. There was a time when it seemed every brand had at least one strawberry-kiwi product, pizza buffets were nothing short of holy, and fast food became “super-sized.” Here at Delish, we see food as a way to mainline nostalgia, and what better way than to dive into this list of 20 hand-picked recipes, sure to take you back down memory lane. I promise, this list is all that and a bag of chips.
While the '90s was more than just snacks and freezer aisle miracles, I would be totally buggin not to include some of the decade’s classics. Check out our twist on Dunkaroos, Hot Pockets, and Toaster Strudels.
We’ve got all your weeknight favorites too. Like chicken cordon bleu casserole, sun-dried tomato pasta, and everyone’s favorite show-stopping, pan-sizzling chicken fajitas. If fajitas aren’t quite your thing, don’t worry, we have plenty of other great Tex-Mex recipes to sort through. From dessert to appetizers and dinners, this list has a little bit of everything. So check it out, aiight?
Dunkaroos No-Churn Ice Cream
This easy-to-make Dunkaroos-inspired no-churn ice cream will bring you back to the '90s! Adding cream cheese to the base creates a slight tang that is reminiscent of Dunkaroos frosting. It’s chock-full of sprinkles and Annie’s bunny grahams, so every bite is filled with nostalgia.
Get the Dunkaroos No-Churn Ice Cream recipe.
Chinese Chicken Salad
I fell in love with the dish in eighth grade—it made me feel grown-up and sophisticated. Twenty-something years later, I still find the salad delicious. It's sweet, savory, refreshing, and extremely crunchy. (I'm a huge sucker for iceberg lettuce.) The key ingredient in this summer salad? Uncooked ramen noodles for that irresistible crunch.
Get the Chinese Chicken Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Hot Pockets
Hot pockets are a delicious convenience that never fail to remind me of childhood. The bread-like wrap somehow works with every ham and cheddar, bacon, egg, cheese, or copycat pizza combination, giving you plenty of options for quick and easy meals at home or on the go.
Get the Air Fryer Hot Pockets recipe.
Copycat Kudos Bar
If you were a kid in the '90s, the thought of a Kudos Bar likely brings back memories of a chocolatey, peanut buttery, crisp yet chewy, after-school treat (and maybe some lunchtime bartering). While you can’t find them in stores anymore, my no-bake copycat Kudos Bars are even better than I remember.
Get the Copycat Kudos Bar recipe.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper comes in a wide variety of flavors (one of my faves was the four cheese lasagna), but for this recipe I'm keeping it classic with the original cheeseburger macaroni. Hold on to your noodle for this one and let this hamburger help ease all your worries and help you rejuvenate your childhood memories.
Get the Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.
Copycat Hawaiian Punch
Hawaiian Punch is a tropical fruit punch, different from a classic fruit punch—they list their main fruit flavors as pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, and guava—so that’s where I started in recreating one of my beloved childhood favorites. Get ready for big smiles and red mustaches!
Get the Copycat Hawaiian Punch recipe.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
As much as we love a fresh, juicy tomato, it’s best eaten during peak summer. Thankfully, sun-dried tomatoes have all those same flavors concentrated, allowing us to enjoy the vegetable (or fruit?) year-round. If you're looking for an easy dinner (ready in under an hour!) for weeknights or date nights, this is the pasta dish you should turn to.
Get the Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta recipe.
Chocolate Lava Cake
If you're looking for a show-stopping dessert to impress the chocolate lover in your life, this is it. Warm and gooey, these mini cakes are the perfect dessert to present for any special or romantic occasion (Valentine's Day anyone?).
Get the Chocolate Lava Cake recipe.
Perfect Pot Roast
When it comes to stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, it’s difficult to beat tender, flavorful pot roast. The shredded beef meal comes complete with tender potatoes and carrots and a sauce you’ll want to spoon over everything. You’ll need some time and patience, but trust us—the result is more than worth it.
Get the Perfect Pot Roast recipe.
Best Grilled Cheese
This grilled cheese is all about the crust. Choose a hearty bread, butter it up, and shred your favorite cheddar for the best grilled cheese ever: crispy-crunchy on the outside and melty in the middle. My recipe relies on shredded, rather than sliced, cheese for a quicker melt and the world’s most impressive cheese pull.
Get the Best Grilled Cheese.
Chicken Fajitas
When a sizzling plate of fajitas goes by you, it’s impossible to ignore. The signature smell, the trail of steam—this classic Tex-Mex dish is a showstopper. As iconic as they are when ordered out, fajitas are ridiculously easy to make at home, just how you like them.
Get the Chicken Fajitas recipe.
Apple Toaster Strudel
Toaster Strudels were one of those classic freezer isle breakfasts that could just have easily been branded as a dessert—but I thanked all that was holy each time my mom let me start my day with one of these sweet, fruity, icing covered treats.
Get the Apple Toaster Strudel recipe.
Pizza Rolls
What if you could have homemade pizza, but in a bite-sized roll form? Sign us up! These pizza rolls are the best of both worlds: all the flavor you love of pizza but made into a handheld snack. No need for a fancy pizza oven—all you need is cheese, pepperoni, sauce, and a simple homemade dough to create these bites.
Get the Pizza Rolls recipe.
Grilled Tuna Steak With Scallion Sauce
Those who say that good things take time have clearly never grilled a tuna steak. Once the grill is preheated, tuna steaks take around 5 minutes to grill. The secret to a steak that’s beautifully rare on the inside is a ripping hot grill, so be patient as it heats up. This ensures that when the fish hits the hot grates, it'll sear, not stick.
Get the Grilled Tuna Steak With Scallion Sauce recipe.
Nutella Pops
A nostalgia bomb somewhere between a Fudgesicle and a Push-Up, these 3-ingredient pops will be your new fave easy summer treat. Nutella, whipped topping, and milk combine to create a frozen, fudgy treat that kids and adults will go crazy for.
Get the Nutella Pops recipe.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
All the flavors you love in chicken cordon bleu are here in this cozy casserole. There's ham, Swiss cheese, a hint of Dijon, and, of course, chicken, without any of the stuffing, dredging, and searing of the original. Instead, this effortless chicken casserole comes together all in the same pot—it’s comfort food taken to a whole new level.
Get the Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole recipe.
Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
When I was a kid you couldn't possibly convince me there was a fancier restaurant than Red Lobster. Beyond the tank of live lobsters up front, the thing that always kept you coming back were the biscuits. They were simultaneously pillowy soft and endlessly flaky, and covered in a garlicky butter, and now, you can enjoy them at home.
Get the Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits recipe.
Classic Homemade Waffles
When it comes to beloved breakfast food, waffles are right up at the top with the other brunch legends (we're talking about you, pancakes and French toast). That's why, when developing this recipe, we didn't mess around—these classic waffles are crispy, fluffy, and just begging to be drowned in maple syrup.
Get the Classic Homemade Waffles recipe.
Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
Dairy Queen’s classic ice cream cake is king in the realm of frozen desserts, but my copycat recipe is coming for the crown. Starring that signature ribbon of fudge and chocolate cookie crunchies sandwiched between vanilla and chocolate ice cream, this homemade version of this iconic treat is equally easy to make and delicious to eat.
Get the Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Cheesy Stuffed Artichokes
Cooking whole artichokes may seem intimidating, but it really couldn’t be easier. Stuff the artichokes with the cheesy mixture, then broil until the cheese melts and the breadcrumbs are toasted. You can serve these stuffed artichokes with warm marinara for the fanciest-looking mozzarella stick you’ve ever seen, a simple garlic aioli, or go for the liquid gold with just melted butter.
Get the Cheesy Stuffed Artichokes recipe.
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