The 1970s were a wild time for party food, with dishes that often leaned heavily on gelatin molds, canned goods, and questionable combinations. While some of these culinary curiosities hold a special place in our memories, let’s be honest—most of them were more about presentation than taste. Get ready to cringe and laugh as we revisit the dishes that graced every buffet table but rarely got devoured.
1. Ham and Banana Hollandaise
This one still leaves people scratching their heads. A slice of ham wrapped around a banana, smothered in hollandaise sauce, then baked. It was supposed to be “elegant,” but it mostly just made people wonder who thought it up.
2. Aspic (a.k.a. Jello with Meat)
The 70s loved gelatin so much, someone decided to trap meat, seafood, and vegetables inside it. Aspic looked like a colorful science experiment gone wrong, and the texture? Let’s just say it wasn’t for the faint of heart.
3. Fondue Overload
Cheese fondue was a party staple, but let’s be real—by the time everyone double-dipped their bread cubes and veggies, it was less appetizing and more a bubbling germ stew. And don’t even get us started on chocolate fondue with weird dippers like marshmallows and pickles.
4. Seven-Layer Salad
This layered concoction featured iceberg lettuce, bacon, peas, mayonnaise, and cheese in a trifle bowl. It looked impressive but often tasted like soggy vegetables drowning in mayo. The top layer was great—if you got there first.
5. Vienna Sausage Pineapple Porcupines
A party wouldn’t be complete without a half pineapple covered in toothpick-skewered Vienna sausages and maraschino cherries. It was supposed to look festive, but let’s face it—nobody really wanted to eat the “porcupine.”
6. Tuna Noodle Casserole
Made with canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, and crushed potato chips, this dish was the epitome of comfort food gone wrong. The smell alone was enough to clear the room.
7. Ambrosia Salad
A mix of canned fruit, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and sour cream, ambrosia was supposed to be dessert—but it always felt like a bizarre mix of textures that didn’t quite work.
8. Stuffed Celery
Whether filled with pimento cheese or peanut butter, stuffed celery was a party tray regular. It sounded healthy-ish, but let’s be honest—most of us just ate the filling and left the celery behind.
9. Spam and Pineapple Skewers
Canned Spam paired with chunks of pineapple and grilled to “perfection.” While the sweet and savory combo wasn’t the worst idea, the Spam’s salty, spongy texture was a tough sell.
10. Deviled Ham Spread
This mushy, overly salty concoction came straight from a can and was slathered on crackers or bread. It had a weird metallic taste and a smell that lingered long after the party ended.
11. Cheese Balls with Mystery Ingredients
Every party had a massive cheese ball coated in nuts, but the real surprise was inside—often a strange mix of processed cheese, cream cheese, and canned pineapple. It was oddly sweet, tangy, and salty all at once.
12. Jello Salads with Suspicious Add-Ins
Lime Jello with shredded carrots, orange Jello with cottage cheese—these “salads” turned dessert into something you dreaded. They were bright, jiggly, and entirely unappetizing.
13. Mock Apple Pie (Made with Ritz Crackers)
A pie that tasted sort of like apples but had no actual apples in it? This oddity used Ritz crackers, sugar, and lemon juice to mimic the taste and texture of apple pie. It worked in a pinch but always left you longing for the real thing.
The 70s were a time of bold experimentation in the kitchen, and while some dishes became nostalgic classics, others earned their place as punchlines. Did you try any of these at a party—or better yet, serve them yourself? No judgment here—just fond (and funny) memories of a deliciously quirky decade.
