Growing up I loved going to a diner. In fact, I still do. It was a weekly outing with my parents I always looked forward to. I’ve been thinking back on those times recently and I decided I was going to recreate a diner dinner at home one night this week. So I looked through Just A Pinch and here are some diner classics I found.
One thing I love is an open-faced sandwich. What’s an open-faced sandwich? It consists of bread with meat on top and it’s smothered in gravy. While it’s called a sandwich, you eat it with a knife and fork. So good!
Traditionally when I’m out I’ll get turkey, but Kathy Sills’ (Harrisville, MS) Open Face Hamburger Steak Sandwich is one I’ll make at home.
“Made them for supper a while back and the whole family loved it,” shares Kathy. One bite and I know why it’s a favorite. I really like the flavor Worcestershire sauce and A1 sauce add to the burger. It’s smothered in a beefy gravy full of onions. Yum!
Another diner sandwich favorite is a tuna melt. As far as they go, Family Favorites’ King’s Hawaiian Tuna Melt Supreme is pretty amazing. It may be a bit messy, but it’s very tasty.
The base of the sandwich is sweet Hawaiian bread cut into thick slices and buttered. I liked the tuna salad itself – it has many textures and flavors.
When it cooks, the melted cheese holds everything in. This seems very fancy, almost restaurant quality… no one has to know how easy it is. Just make sure to have napkins handy.
“I usually make corned beef hash with canned corned beef,” explains Tammy Bovender. “This time, I thought I would try out making it with an actual roast and not the canned stuff.” While it is more time-consuming, it does take her Corned Beef Hash recipe to the next level.
It has crispy potatoes, deliciously seasoned corned beef, and caramelized onions. Everything cooks together until the flavors marry beautifully. Add a fried egg on top for even more protein.
Diners have the best desserts. They’re old-fashioned and always delicious.
A classic is rice pudding. Kathy Mecca (Annville, PA) shared her Creamy Rice Pudding recipe with us. I remember eating rice pudding as a kid, but it was never as creamy as hers.
“This is the best homemade creamy rice pudding,” says Kathy. “I got this recipe when I was first married and it has become a family favorite – one that I make over and over and over.”
I love how this version has a sweet custard-like consistency. Thanks to egg yolks, it’s super creamy. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and top with whipped cream for a comforting dessert. Enjoy warm or cold.
There’s something special about a classic chocolate meringue pie. I can picture being a kid at the diner and seeing one behind the glass cabinet.
Debbie Thurmond’s (Shreveport, LA) My Grandmother’s Chocolate Pie takes me right back to my hometown diner.
“This was the recipe my grandmother always went to when she made a chocolate meringue pie,” reveals Debbie. “It was a hit with everyone in the family and it still is.”
Debbie’s pie has a flaky crust with homemade chocolate pudding that’s creamy and full of rich chocolate flavor. A soft and fluffy meringue on top adds a hint of sweetness. Fantastic to eat this is a simple, but elegant, dessert.
If you want to recreate diner dinner at home, try one of these Blue Ribbon recipes. What’s your go-to order when you head to a diner? Is it breakfast even if it’s dinnertime? Cheese fries and gravy? Meatloaf and mashed potatoes? Tell us below and Happy Pinching!