75 Essential Southern Recipes Everyone Should Make In 2024
From breakfast to dessert, and every Southern snack in between.
If you made a resolution to cook more and take out less this year, we think this collection of Southern recipes is the best place to start. We've rounded up a list of our favorite dishes that will take you from breakfast to dinner, plus snacks, appetizers, and drinks that are always needed when company's coming. Cooking your way through this list throughout 2024 will help you revisit vintage classics, such as Pineapple Casserole, Skillet Cornbread, and Fried Green Tomatoes. You might even discover new family favorites and sharpen your cooking skills. After all, we've never heard of a time when someone could turn town a slice of Tomato Pie or scoop of cobbler, no matter the fruit.
Whether you're whipping something up for the next potluck or planning a dinner party, you'll always be able to count on these classic Southern recipes for making mealtime feel more like home. It's time for some comfort cooking, y'all!
Cheese Dreams
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Just as the name implies, once you make these little bites you'll never stop dreaming about them. These are also just the thing to make ahead because they freeze (you guessed it!) like a dream.
Heirloom Tomato Pie
We took your grandmother's tomato pie recipe and updated it with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and a homemade Parmesan-Buttermilk Crust. It's almost too pretty to eat. Please note that we said almost.
Soup Beans
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
This Appalachian staple is something you'll want to add to your dinner rotation. The creamy pinto beans are best paired with some chow chow and cornbread.
Homemade Chicken Salad
Yes, you love chicken salad, but maybe this year, you'll make it totally from scratch (no rotisserie chicken this time!). It's many people's go-to recipe for a reason, so get to it!
Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding
We've shared a whole bunch of our favorite shortcuts to recipes, but there is one recipe where anything but homemade simply won't cut it. From the meringue topping to the pudding, everything (except for the vanilla wafers of course) is made from scratch, and that's just how we like it.
Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
The word "casserole" might usually fall onto deaf ears if you have a household full of picky kiddos, but that won't be the case with this Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole. This dish uses kid-friendly ingredients like ground beef, noodles and cheese to make a comforting dinner.
Over the Moon Chocolate Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
This pie was inspired by a Chattanooga-favorite, the MoonPie. It's got a perfectly sticky marshmallow meringue and a chocolate filling that is sure to bring a smile to every chocolate lovers face.
Pear Salad
You know that Southerners have a gift for putting together dishes that never dissapoint. Mama loved this salad, and the best part is that there's no cooking required.
Curried Okra Shoestring Fries
Everyone will love eating their okra when it takes on a fry-like texture. Even the die-hard okra haters can't eat just one.
Praline-Cream Cheese King Cake
We know that during certain times of year, you see this classic cake in every single grocery store and bakery, but you can make it yourself, too. We added some pecans to give that cream cheese filling a little bit of a punch.
Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast
This nostalgic recipe can be served over Texas toast or buttermilk biscuits. The best part is that you can store your Chipped Beef in the fridge for up to four days.
Mamau's Cheese Straws
This classic snack requires just five ingredients, but it's the ultimate Southern appetizer. To get the classic cheese straw look be sure to use an old-fashioned cookie press.
Chicken-Fried Steak With Cream Gravy
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
We'd eat almost anything if it was covered in this creamy, peppery gravy—but this crispy-fried cube steak is a crowd-pleaser for a reason.
Fried Deviled Eggs
Just when you thought a Deviled Egg couldn't get any better, we did this. If you want to bring Deviled Eggs to your next gathering but you want everyone to be wowed, bring these and just watch all those jaws drop to the floor.
Sock It To Me Cake
Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat, this 1960s cake offers a sweet surprise in each bite with a ribbon of brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Traditionally, this cake uses a classic yellow cake mix, but we decided to give you our own recipe.
Classic Beef Pot Roast
When shopping for this recipe, round roast or brisket are both good choices. This is a dinner that keeps on giving. Turn your leftovers into a delicious po-boy or just enjoy this dish again for dinner later in the week.
Cabbage Casserole
From a summer barbecue to Thanksgiving dinner, this nostalgic casserole belongs on your menus. You can also customize this versatile dish to your taste or diet.
Scalloped Potatoes With Ham
Ham, cheese, and potatoes are a winning combination that can be served as a side or main dish. Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Watermelon Margarita
A colorful cocktail will be your new favorite way to enjoy watermelon on a hot summer day. All you have to do is find some a ripe melon at your grocery store, farmers' market or beloved roadside stand.
Pineapple-Coconut Cake
Think of this decadent cake as a taste of the tropics for your cake stand. The canned crushed pineapple filling gives this recipe a true Southern flair.
Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
This foolproof breakfast casserole recipe is a favorite in our recipe boxes. Just be sure to drain the sausage well so it doesn't get too greasy.
Martina McBride's Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Martina McBride loves making, serving, and eating soup, and we couldn't agree more. It's the most searched soup in the South and for good reason.
Creamy Peach Icebox Cake
It's no secret: Southerners rely on cool icebox pies and cakes to get through sweltering summers, and this is the latest recipe to add to your repertoire. You don't really have to make anything for this recipe except for the whipped cream.
Instant Pot Potato Salad
We've adapted the recipe for classic potato salad to fit newer kitchen appliances while still delivering the same delicious flavor. Of course, we add hard boiled eggs to give it that extra Southern flair, too.
Caramelized Onion Dip
Forgo reaching for a store-bought dip and serve this homemade recipe at your next tailgate. The hardest thing you have to do is caramelize the onions and they're oh-so worth it.
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Get that cinnamon roll taste you love without kneading a single piece of dough. Now that's a win. We'll take ours with a few dollops of icing.
German Chocolate Cake
German Chocolate Cake originated in Dallas in the 1950s and has continued to appear in Southern homes since. It's the Coconut-Pecan Frosting that really puts this dessert into a league of its own.
Cowboy Casserole
If you're in search of a kid-friendly dinner recipe, we've got you covered with this casserole. It's cowboy and kiddo approved.
Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers
Your cast-iron skillet, plus ingredients like mustard and Worcestershire sauce, will give your homemade burgers more flavor than we ever thought possible. Before you put those patties down, fry some bacon and onions so the skillet's well seasoned and ready for your burgers.
Coconut Pound Cake
A slice of this pound cake can fix problems on even the worst days. Like many Southern desserts, this recipe calls for a little bit of Bourbon folded in to deliver signature rich flavor.
Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables
We gave old-school chicken pot pie a speedy weeknight upgrade with puff pastry and your handy skillet. It's just as dreamy as it looks.
Smoky Field Pea Hummus
Iain Bagwell
We're big on small Southern heros like the Field Pea, and this refreshing hummus is perfect for those sweltering summer nights. And yes, that's ham hock you see as garnish.
Dutch Baby Pancake
Get acquainted with the Dutch baby, because it's going to be your new favorite Saturday morning brunch treat. It's one pancake that can feed your whole family, and that sounds pretty impressive to us!
Georgia-Style Boiled Peanuts
Take me out to the ballgame, take me out with the crowd. These boiled peanuts will make you feel like you're in the stadium stands, munching on your favorite ballpark snack.
Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins
Southern-favorite sorghum and pecans star in this sweet breakfast recipe that your guests will love. This recipe uses premade frozen bread dough, which makes it even more appetizing to us.
Croissant Breakfast Casserole
If you need a make-ahead breakfast to serve a crowd, trust us and make this one. The light, butter croissant perfectly compliments any and all the ooey, cheese goodness you throw at it.
Shrimp and Grits Casserole
You can enjoy this Southern classic casserole at brunch or dinner. It also comes together in just about an hour, perfect for busier weekend mornings.
Favorite Strawberry Shortcake
At least once a year we aspire to make homemade strawberry shortcake with fresh fruit from the farmers market. The sprinkle of sanding sugar adds the perfect golden-luster that makes homemade shortcakes so special.
Ham and Noodle Casserole
Whether for a potluck or busy weeknight supper, this comforting casserole uses pantry staples that you probably have on hand. Just make sure you're stocked up on cheese!
Egg Custard Pie
This vintage pie recipe is so delicious, we think it will live on forever. Originally created as a "make-do dessert" this nostalgic treat is a welcome surprise all year long.
Spiced Pecan Pie Bars
When the holidays roll around, surprise guests with this twist on pecan pie that's anything but boring. A swirl of cinnamon and some ground ginger really make the pecans shine.
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Southern luncheons, showers, and picnics are practically required to have an egg salad recipe on the lineup, and you're going to love this finger-sandwich version. The secret for this recipe is the dried salad seasoning, it brings a little something extra to this dainty finger food.
Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham
If you like vintage recipes, this cold pasta salad is reminiscent of popular layered salads of the past. It was practically made for those hot summer days when the last thing you want to do is stand over a hot stove.
Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
Your grandmother might have a recipe for classic Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake, but wait until you introduce the family to this on-the-go version. To make these cookies super easy, we used boxed chocolate cake mix.
Smashed Baby Red Potatoes
Emily Laurae / Southern Living
Baby Red Potatoes are basically the little engine that could. The spuds can transform any everyday meal into a delicious one, but we think this will be your new favorite way to eat them.
Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
This easy sheet pan supper gets you crispy fried pork chops plus sides in less than an hour. Really, the most complicated part of this recipe is peeling the sweet potatoes!
Sweet Potato-Topped Southwestern Cottage Pie
We love a good Cottage Pie as much as the next person, but Southwestern flavors add a fun twist on the dish. It really packs the heat, which makes it just right to our Southern taste buds.
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel
We Southerners take our soup pretty seriously, but this easy, short-cut filled recipe has our hearts. It's a no-fuss recipe that deserves all the praise.
Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw
Fried catfish is a Southern mainstay, but we lightened it up by oven "frying" it and pairing it with a light slaw for a tasty Southern taco. Don't worry, we still soak the catfish in buttermilk before breading.
Smoky Mountain Brunswick Stew
Cozy up on a cold winter's night with a Southern classic (no matter where you think the recipe was born). In this version, we use a whole chicken and barbecued pork.
Mrs. Floyd's Divinity
One you master the recipe, this classic candy will become a holiday staple. It'll quickly become the only thing you want for Christmas every year.
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings with Pepper Jelly Glaze
Calling all football fans: Here's a way to spice up your at-home tailgate. Bake your chicken wings with a tangy red pepper jelly glaze for a Southern spin.
Dry-Brined Beer-Can Chickens
Every Southerner needs a Beer Can Chicken recipe for summer cookouts—it's just a fact. This recipe makes two whole grilled chickens which is perfect for a party or for tomorrow's lunch.
Chess Pie
Who knew only butter, milk, eggs, and sugar could taste so good thrown together in a pie? The gooey, sweet result speaks for itself.
Whole Roast Chicken
It's the staple on Sunday suppers for a reason. If you've been intimidated by this classic protein in the past, we essentially hold your hand throughout this entire recipe. We know you can do it!
Brisket Sandwich With Texas BBQ Sauce
Tender brisket meets classic white bread and Texas barbecue sauce, creating a sandwich few could resist. Don't skip out on the thin sliced onion and dill pickle chips.
Slow-Cooker Peach Cobbler
There's a high chance that a cobbler of any sort is in every Southerner's recipe tin, but we have to say, there's not quite anything like a warm bowl of Peach Cobbler on a summer evening.
Classic Fried Catfish
Take this recipe up a notch by catching your own fish. The addition of yellow cornmeal is our secret to a crispy, satisfying crust. Serve with lemon and tartar sauce.
Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits
Creamy grits provide a contrast to briny shrimp and savory cheese in this beloved Southern dish—we might even say it's comfort food at its finest.
Fried Okra
It's not a proper Southern meal without Fried Okra, and you know it. You can make this meat-and-three special at home with just four ingredients.
Fried Green Tomatoes
The secret to success is an unripe tomato—while they aren't palatable on their own, they'll hold up much better than a ripe tomato in the fryer. The end result is a hot, crispy, and tangy tomato you won't be able to get enough of.
Southern Skillet Cornbread
It's a staple on our tables, and no matter the claims elsewhere, we know Southerners do it best. Make sure you heat that skillet in the oven before pouring in the batter to make a crisp, flavorful crust.
New-School Pineapple Casserole
With just a few ingredients, you have a sweet, cheesy, crunchy—and slightly unconventional—casserole. Yes, your mama and grandma have been making it for decades one way, but this slightly more up-to-date version is sure to win everyone over.
Texas Ranch Water
Trust us when you say you'll be sipping on this all summer. It's so simple, made with only four ingredients, and proves that you aren't messing around when it comes to making a good drink.
Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs
Is there anything more beautiful than a rack of ribs? We sure don't think so. Every minute of preparation for these ribs is worth the wait.
Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake
If you've never had a slice of our Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake before, bless your heart. This recipe requires skill, but it's worth making at least once this year.
Chicken And Rice Casserole
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Dinner that's made in just one dish is the key to happiness. This isn't a fancy dish, but it sure is satisfying and that's all that matters.
Ivy's Favorite Pound Cake
Frederick Hardy II; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mat Gibilisco
The secret to the best ever pound cake starts with a cold oven, we're serious. It's the recipe developer Ivy Odom's method to get a more tender crumb.
Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise
Every Southerner loves a good tomato sandwich, but we decided to get a little fancy with it. You might know your favorite tomato sandwich combination by heart, but you'll want to commit this recipe to memory, too.
Chocolate Delight
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
The word delight in the title should maybe give you an inkling that this recipe is just that. Erin Napier shared this recipe straight from her grandmother's kitchen and it has to be on your to-make list this year.
Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
Hannah Zimmerman
Mississippi Pot Roast is loved by Mississippians, but we firmly believe that love should go beyond state lines. With just the right amount of heat from the pepperoncini salad peppers and some ranch dressing mix, this recipe satisfies just about every Southern tastebud.
Pickled Peaches
Yes, yes, your mama made these, but you can, too! Pickling is a big part of Southern life, and these sweet, spiced peaches are the perfect place to start.
Mississippi Chicken
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Made in the style of the classic Mississippi Roast, chicken is the star in this slow-cooker dish instead, with peppers adding tang and texture.
Conecuh Sausage Pigs In Blankets
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch
We upped the ante on this classic appetizer with smoky Alabama-based Conecuh-brand sausage and buttery, flaky puff pastry.
Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls
Jennifer Causey
Take your traditional sausage balls to a new level with pimiento cheese.
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