20 Southern Recipes
If you’re craving comfort food, try these delicious Southern recipes. From classic sides to desserts, this list has something for everyone.
The dishes are perfect for special occasions or when you’re craving some Southern favorites for dinner. Some of these recipes are traditional, while others are inspired by Southern-style cooking.
Pan-Fried Okra
Okra is battered with a flavorful seasoning and pan-fried. Serve it with dipping sauce for a classic side dish everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra
Southern Peach Cobbler
It wouldn’t be a selection of Southern recipes without including a tasty peach cobbler. Add a scoop of ice cream to make it even tastier.
Get the Recipe: Southern Peach Cobbler
Southern Fried Catfish Nuggets
These catfish nuggets are coated in a buttermilk and flour batter and fried until perfectly golden. Cayenne is optional, but it adds a nice kick.
Instead of chicken nuggets for dinner, try these catfish nuggets. You won’t regret it.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Catfish Nuggets
Southern Cornbread Dressing
This homemade cornbread dressing combines a mix of spices, cornbread, and white bread. Bring this cornbread dressing to any potluck or gathering, and you’ll come home with an empty dish.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread Dressing
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Chenée shares her secret tips for making the best Southern mac and cheese, including first coating the cooked pasta in butter. This recipe has received many great reviews and will be your new go-to.
Get the Recipe: Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Southern Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
A Southern classic, these collard greens come out perfectly tender. Ham hocks, also known as pork knuckles, are a mouthwatering combo with the collard greens.
Get the Recipe: Southern Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Charleston-Style Shrimp and Grits
Easy enough to be a busy workweek meal, this Charleston-style shrimp and grits is a dish you’ll always want to make.
Get the Recipe: Charleston-Style Shrimp and Grits
Southern Fried Chicken
Tender, juicy chicken is surrounded by a crispy, crunchy outside to bring you one of the best Southern recipes for fried chicken. This Cracker Barrel copycat recipe has authentic Southern fried chicken ingredients, including buttermilk.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Chicken
Southern-Style Black-Eyed Peas
Traditionally, Southern black-eyed peas are made with ham hocks, not bacon. This recipe uses bacon instead, which is a great option if you can’t find ham hocks at the grocery store and don’t want to make an extra trip to your local butcher.
This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prep and is so tasty, served with a side of cornbread.
Get the Recipe: Southern-Style Black-Eyed Peas
Creamy Southern Coleslaw
Homemade coleslaw is a staple for Southern dinners and gatherings. It’s made with simple ingredients and is a must-make side for fried chicken, BBQ dishes, and more.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Southern Coleslaw
Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Sausage gravy with biscuits is the ultimate comfort food breakfast. These biscuits are made from scratch and served with a generous amount of creamy sausage gravy—yum!
Get the Recipe: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Coca-Cola Cake
Coco-Cola cake is a classic Southern dessert that’s always a crowd-pleaser. The homemade icing is made with butter, Coca-Cola, and chocolate. Plus, it’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake
Candied Sweet Potatoes
The ultimate Southern side dish, these candied sweet potatoes are easy to make and oh so sweet.
They’re impressive enough to serve for holidays and special occasions but also delicious enough to serve with a weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Candied Sweet Potatoes
Southern Fried Potatoes and Onion
Pan-fried and seasoned, these Southern fried potatoes and onions are a flavorful dish you can enjoy for breakfast or as a dinner side.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Potatoes and Onion
Mississippi Sin Dip
This dip is made with ham, cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and green onions. Serve it in a bread bowl for an appetizer that’ll have everyone raving.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Sin Dip
Chicken Fried Chicken
Southern comfort food at its finest, this chicken fried chicken is a delicious dinner the entire family will love. Pair it with mashed potatoes or your favorite vegetables for a filling meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Chicken
Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
Boiled peanuts, sometimes called the caviar of the South, are a classic snack that will be your new favorite. When boiled, peanuts become soft and chewy, making them the best snack.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes get covered in a cornmeal mixture and fried in oil until the tomatoes are nice and crispy.
Fried green tomatoes are tasty dipped in ketchup or ranch, and are so good in BLT sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Baked Banana Pudding Casserole
Banana pudding is an old-fashioned Southern dessert, and this dessert casserole is a fun twist on the classic recipe.
Vanilla wafers, bananas, and meringue come together to make this treat that’ll have everyone clamoring for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Baked Banana Pudding Casserole
Southern Green Beans
Southern green beans are a classic side dish for any meal. They are made with green beans, bacon , fresh garlic, and other ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans
