16 Civil War Recipes Made for Soldiers (2024)

Home Recipes Cooking Style Comfort Food

The staple ration for Union soldiers was hardtack, a rock-hard biscuit. But other simple Civil War recipes, like soups, stews and hash, could be made with whatever ingredients the soldiers had on hand.

Yankee Red Flannel Hash

Hash is a classic diner dish. With potatoes and pastrami, this one's easy to make at home. The beets give it fabulous color and flavor. —Nancy Mock, Colchester, Vermont

New England Baked Beans

For a potluck or picnic, you can’t beat this classic side that starts with a pound of dried beans. Molasses and maple syrup give it a slight sweetness. —Pat Medeiros, Tiverton, Rhode Island

Cajun Baked Catfish

This well-seasoned fish nets me compliments from family and friends whenever I serves it. The fish is moist and flakey, the coating crisp, crunchy and flecked with paprika. —Jim Gales, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Green Tomato Pie

When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine and make this old family favorite. It's been handed down from my grandmother, and now my granddaughters are asking for the recipe.—Violet Thompson, Port Ludlow, Washington

Beef Barley Soup with Roasted Vegetables

The beauty of this soup is that you can roast the vegetables separately in the oven while it's simmering away. Then simply add them in during the last minutes on the stovetop. I love that the roasted vegetables keep their own bright flavors that add to this earthy bowl of warmth. —Gayla Scott, West Jefferson, North Carolina

Quick Buttermilk Cornbread

The tattered recipe card for this buttermilk cornbread proves it's been a family favorite for years. It's my daughter's top request. —Judy Sellgren, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hearty Navy Bean Soup

My family loves navy bean soup! Beans were a commodity you did not survive without in the '30s. This excellent navy beans and ham soup is a real family favorite of ours and I make it often. —Mildred Lewis, Temple, Texas

Giant Molasses Cookies

My family always requests these soft molasses cookies. These chewy cookies are also perfect for shipping as holiday gifts or to troops overseas. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York

Sausage Johnnycake

Here’s a nice hearty breakfast with plenty of old-fashioned flavor. I serve it to my bed-and-breakfast guests. They love the cake’s savory middle and maple syrup topping. It’s a fine way to start the day! —Lorraine Guyn, Calgary, Alberta

Classic Beef Stew

This easy beef stew recipe is my favorite. The rich beef gravy helps the hearty flavor of the potatoes and carrots to come through. It's the perfect homemade dish for a blustery winter day. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

The recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina

Bacon-Potato Corn Chowder

I was raised on a farm, so a warm soup with homey ingredients, like this corn chowder with bacon, was always a treat after a chilly day outside. My hearty chowder nourishes the family. —Katie Lillo, Big Lake, Minnesota

Easy Cheesy Biscuits

I'm a big fan of homemade biscuits, but not the rolling and cutting that goes into making them. The drop-biscuit method solves everything! —Christina Addison, Blanchester, Ohio

Pickled Eggs with Beets

Ever since I can remember, my mother served this pickled egg recipe at Easter. It was a tradition that my family expected. I made them for my granddaughter the last time she visited and they were all gone before she left. —Mary Banker, Fort Worth, Texas

Beef Vegetable Soup

This nicely seasoned soup tastes so good. It's convenient, too, since it simmers all day in the slow cooker. —Jean Hutzell, Dubuque, Iowa

Lara is a senior editor for Taste of Home who manages a supremely talented community of freelancers. She assigns and edits content about cooking techniques, kitchen tools and, of course, food trends. Prior to her work at Taste of Home, Lara spent a decade in the marketing field as a brand storyteller, content curator and project manager.In her nonwork life, Lara loves to read, garden and cook. (Not all at the same time!) Look for her at home in Milwaukee, keeping an eye on her mischievous flock of backyard chickens.