24 Easy Great Depression Recipes That Make Do and Make It Delicious

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Hard times didn’t stop people from eating well—they just got more creative with what they had. These easy great depression recipes are proof that simple ingredients and a little know-how can go a long way. They’re resourceful, no-nonsense, and surprisingly good, even by today’s standards. Many of them rely on pantry staples, low-cost swaps, and smart cooking methods that stretch a dollar without skimping on flavor. If you’re looking to cook smarter without losing the plot, these recipes still hold up.

Homemade Applesauce + Free Printable

A jar of applesauce surrounded by whole and sliced apples and cinnamon sticks.
Homemade Applesauce + Free Printable. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

This no-fuss applesauce skips the fancy steps and still brings big flavor. It checks all the boxes for easy great depression recipes because it uses simple ingredients and zero waste.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Applesauce + Free Printable

Three Sisters Soup

A bowl of soup with corn, beans, potato chunks, and red peppers in a seasoned broth.
Three Sisters Soup. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Beans, corn, and squash join forces in this budget-friendly bowl that feels like a warm hug. It’s one of those easy great depression recipes that feeds a crowd without breaking the bank.
Get the Recipe: Three Sisters Soup

Corned Beef Hash And Eggs

A plate of corned beef hash with diced potatoes, red peppers, and a sunny-side-up egg, garnished with chives. A fork is positioned at the edge.
Corned Beef Hash And Eggs. Photo credit: Quiche My Grits.

If you’ve got leftovers and a skillet, you’re halfway there. This is a classic example of how easy great depression recipes turned scraps into something worth waking up for.
Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Hash And Eggs

Cast Iron Dutch Baby With Apples

Cast iron skillet with baked apple slices, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Cast Iron Dutch Baby With Apples. Photo credit: Hey, Snickerdoodle!.

This puffy pancake turns pantry staples into breakfast magic. It’s a smart pick when you want something warm and filling, and still stick to easy great depression recipes.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Dutch Baby With Apples

Northern Hearty Venison Stew Recipe

Close-up of a ladle lifting hearty beef stew with chunks of meat, carrots, and potatoes from a red pot.
Northern Hearty Venison Stew Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

When meat was scarce, wild game stepped up—and this stew shows you why. It’s cozy, uses what you’ve got, and fits right in with easy great depression recipes.
Get the Recipe: Northern Hearty Venison Stew Recipe

Non Alcoholic Apple Cider in the Slow Cooker

A glass of apple cider sits on a wooden surface with two apples and a cinnamon stick next to it. A beige cloth is in the background.
Non Alcoholic Apple Cider in the Slow Cooker. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

All it takes is a few apples and patience to fill your kitchen with the smell of fall. This one’s perfect for the easy great depression recipes list because it’s cheap, simple, and stretches ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Non Alcoholic Apple Cider in the Slow Cooker

Strawberry Syrup Recipe

Three jars of red jam with striped ribbons are placed on white cloth, with a small plate of strawberries nearby.
Strawberry Syrup Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Got extra berries? Turn them into syrup and suddenly plain pancakes feel fancy. This fits the easy great depression recipes vibe with its thrift and charm.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Syrup Recipe

Easy Spicy Dill Pickle Spears Recipe

A jar of whole pickled cucumbers on a countertop, surrounded by various spices in small containers.
Easy Spicy Dill Pickle Spears Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

When you grow your own or stock up on sale, pickling keeps it from going to waste. These crunchy spears are proof that easy great depression recipes can still have bite.
Get the Recipe: Easy Spicy Dill Pickle Spears Recipe

Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe

Vegetable soup in a pot with sliced carrots, parsley, and yellow squash in broth.
Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Nothing cleans out a fridge like a pot of veggie soup. It’s a top-tier choice for easy great depression recipes since it’s flexible, hearty, and always budget-conscious.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe

Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

A jar filled with yellow mango puree sits on a wooden surface, next to a spoon.
Easy Lemon Curd Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

When citrus was a treat, people still found ways to stretch it. This lemon curd keeps it old-school with minimal fuss—just right for your easy great depression recipes stash.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Curd Recipe

Baked Sausage and Sauerkraut

A cooked sausage sits atop a bed of sauerkraut in a pan, garnished with chopped green herbs.
Baked Sausage and Sauerkraut. Photo credit: Low Carb No Carb.

This one’s salty, tangy, and surprisingly hearty. It checks the easy great depression recipes box by making a little meat go a long way.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sausage and Sauerkraut

Homemade Dumplings

Two dumplings in a light broth, garnished with herbs, in a white bowl on a cloth napkin.
Homemade Dumplings. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska .

Got flour and water? Then you’ve got dumplings. This is one of the most classic easy great depression recipes around, and it still holds up.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Dumplings

Easy Crockpot Pumpkin Butter Recipe

A jar of brown spread on a wooden board with a spoon beside it. A white dish with mashed orange contents and a closed jar lid are also visible. An orange cloth is on the left.
Easy Crockpot Pumpkin Butter Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Cheap pumpkins and slow cookers are a match made for stretching groceries. This spread proves that easy great depression recipes can still feel special.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crockpot Pumpkin Butter Recipe

Artisan Sourdough Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

A loaf of bread with a golden crust on a white plate.
Artisan Sourdough Dutch Oven Bread Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Long before bread machines, folks baked like this. It’s one of those easy great depression recipes that makes you look skilled without doing much.
Get the Recipe: Artisan Sourdough Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

Dutch Oven Blueberry Bread

Sliced blueberry bread with swirls on a white plate and wooden table, accompanied by a blue cloth.
Dutch Oven Blueberry Bread. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

If you’ve got frozen berries and basic baking supplies, you’re in business. This bread is perfect for easy great depression recipes that feel like a treat.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Blueberry Bread

Old-Fashioned Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits Recipe

A plate with three golden biscuits stacked on a wooden surface. Nearby are a stick of butter, a dark jar, and a blue striped cloth.
Old-Fashioned Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Nothing went to waste—not even sourdough starter. These biscuits fit the easy great depression recipes style by using every last scrap.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Easy Sourdough Discard Biscuits Recipe

Easy Mason Jar Soup Mix Recipe

Two jars filled with layered dry ingredients, including lentils, split peas, rice, oats, and pasta, are displayed against a textured background.
Easy Mason Jar Soup Mix Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Layer it up, stash it on the shelf, and you’ve got meals ready when things are tight. It’s peak easy great depression recipes energy right here.
Get the Recipe: Easy Mason Jar Soup Mix Recipe

Chicken Jerky Recipe

Two black plates with crispy fried meat strips on a striped tablecloth. Nearby are two garlic cloves, a wooden spoon with seasoning, and a small bowl of red pepper flakes.
Chicken Jerky Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

When fridges were iffy, drying meat kept it safe and handy. This jerky nails the easy great depression recipes goal of lasting food with no fluff.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Jerky Recipe

Easy Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe

A jar of apple butter sits on a woven mat, with two red apples in the background.
Easy Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

You throw in apples, walk away, and come back to something you’ll want on everything. This one belongs in any list of easy great depression recipes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe

Southern Sausage Gravy Recipe

Biscuits topped with sausage gravy on a green plate, with a wooden spoon pouring more gravy.
Southern Sausage Gravy Recipe. Photo credit: Tessie’s Table.

A little sausage plus a lot of gravy fed big families fast. That’s why it earns its spot on the easy great depression recipes roster.
Get the Recipe: Southern Sausage Gravy Recipe

Depression Era Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

Two slices of homemade bread on parchment paper, placed on a wooden surface.
Depression Era Peanut Butter Bread Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

No eggs, no milk, no problem. This loaf was built for hard times and still checks all the boxes for easy great depression recipes today.
Get the Recipe: Depression Era Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

Northern Rabbit Stew and Dumplings

A bowl of chicken stew with chunks of chicken, potatoes, carrots, and green vegetables in a clear broth.
Northern Rabbit Stew and Dumplings. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

When store meat was too expensive, folks turned to what they could catch. This stew fits right in with easy great depression recipes that used what was around.
Get the Recipe: Northern Rabbit Stew and Dumplings

Frugal Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe

Two loaves of freshly baked bread cooling on a wire rack.
Frugal Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

This soft loaf stretches a buck and skips the fuss. It’s everything easy great depression recipes are meant to be: practical, no-waste, and foolproof.
Get the Recipe: Frugal Homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe

Buttermilk Pancakes with Cinnamon Apples

A stack of pancakes topped with diced apples and cinnamon on a white plate, with a fork beside them.
Buttermilk Pancakes with Cinnamon Apples. Photo credit: 100 Days of Real Food.

These pancakes turn boring into something worth flipping over. They nail the vibe of easy great depression recipes by using pantry basics in a clever way.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Pancakes with Cinnamon Apples

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