Classic Southern Recipes Every Home Cook Needs

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Classic Southern Recipes are the heart of Sunday dinners, holiday gatherings, and casual weeknight meals. Sharing a meal with family is a time-honored tradition, especially in the South. Dinner isn’t just about eating; it’s about connecting, sharing stories, and creating memories. Every Southern family has favorite dishes and meals, passed down through generations.

A collage image headed with "30+ Classic Southern Recipes everyone should know how to make" showing various Southern dishes, including dips and casseroles.

Classic Southern recipes like fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, and biscuits are staples every home cook should know. These dishes are simple, comforting, and packed with flavor. Learning to cook them ensures you can bring people together and keep those cherished family traditions alive.

For any home cook looking to build their recipe collection, Southern comfort food is a must. Not only are these meals delicious, but they also create a sense of warmth and togetherness that reflects the importance of family and food in the South. From gumbo to pecan pie, mastering these classics will help you make every dinner a special occasion.

Classic Southern Recipes

Below are classic Southern recipes. Click on ‘make this recipe’ or the title for the full recipe that you can either save to your recipe box or print.

pimento cheese

Pimento Cheese Recipe

Processed cheese shreds much easier when it’s very cold! A 8 ounce block of processed cheese will yield just over 2 cups shredded. Use this Pimento Cheese recipe on sandwiches, burgers, as a dip or spread.
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Classic Deviled Eggs

Best Damn Deviled Eggs

Best Damn Deviled Eggs are creamy and tangy. Deviled or “Stuffed” Eggs are the perfect addition to any party or gathering and a staple at our family dinners!
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Remoulade

Easy Remoulade Sauce

Simple sauce that's great on sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and salads.
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Panko Crusted Baked Fried Green Tomatoes with Lulus Wow Sauc

Panko Crusted Baked Fried Green Tomatoes with Lulus Wow Sauce

Panko Crusted Baked Fried Green Tomatoes with Lulus Wow Sauce are crispy and crunchy on the outside just like you find with deep-fried green tomatoes. Don't forget to dip it in Lulus Wow Sauce, it's simply amazing.
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Sausage Breakfast Casserole

The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe

The Best Breakfast Casserole is an easy, delicious, and hearty breakfast casserole loaded with eggs, sausage. It’s a cheesy comfort food casserole that takes minutes to assemble. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, and potlucks!
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chocolate gravy on biscuits.

Southern Chocolate Gravy

A Southern favorite, Chocolate Gravy is a rich, sweet sauce served over hot biscuits for breakfast.
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3 Ingredient Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits, there is nothing better than hot biscuits right out of the oven.

3 INGREDIENT BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

3 Ingredient Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits. There is nothing better that hot biscuits. Learn how to make the best tender, fluffy biscuits with just 3 ingredients.
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Best Broccoli Salad

Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (Easy, Make-ahead recipe)

This salad is crunchy and satisfying with a sweet and tangy dressing. Low-carb, delicious, refreshing cold salad recipe made with broccoli, bacon, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.
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potatoes in a bowl

Famous Potato Salad

Famous Potato Salad is a classic. It’s creamy and smooth and always a favorite.
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Bacon Ranch Twice Baked Potato Salad Recipe

Bacon Ranch Twice Baked Potato Salad Recipe

Potato salad is a Southern staple much like pimento cheese and fried chicken is. My Bacon Ranch Twice Baked Potato Salad Recipe is a new take on potato salad. It’s a cross between Twice Baked Potatoes and potato salad. Loaded with ranch seasoning, cheese, and bacon this is always a crowd-pleaser!
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A quick Shrimp and Grits recipe for weekday meals. This simple dinner idea is full of flavor. OH So Easy Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits

Creamy, cheesy, and buttery grits are topped with tender shrimp and salty bacon in this easy weekday dinner recipe.
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Frito Chili Pie

Frito Chili Pie Recipe

Frito Chili Pie Recipe is classic comfort and gameday food. It's simple, hearty, delicious, takes just minutes to make, and the whole family loves it!
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Creamy Pimento Chicken Spaghetti

Best Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

This family favorite recipe is a creamy, saucy, comfort food that you'll crave.
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Cracker Barrel Chicken Dumplings

CRACKER BARREL CHICKEN DUMPLINGS

This classic comfort food dinner is cozy and satisfying making it perfect for cold nights.
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Mac and Cheese

MAC AND CHEESE {No Roux & No Flour}

An easy recipe for mac n cheese doesn't start with a roux and doesn't have flour. However, it's creamy and satisfying!
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Best Hoecakes Recipe {Fried Cornbread}

Best Hoecakes Recipe {Fried Cornbread}

Best Hoecakes Recipe {Fried Cornbread} are light, fluffy cornmeal pancakes. They can be eaten as an alternative to pancakes or as a side instead of cornbread.

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Tomato Pie

Traditional Southern Tomato Pie

Make the most of those fresh tomatoes with a savory Traditional Southern Tomato Pie. It's full of flavor from two kinds of cheeses, fresh sun-ripened tomatoes, and a buttery pie crust.
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Side dish recipe

Baked Creamed Corn Casserole Recipe

Baked Creamed Corn Casserole Recipe has no ‘Cream of’ soup.
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Squash Casserole

Old Fashioned Southern Squash Casserole

A classic recipe, Old Fashioned Southern Squash Casserole, has tender squash cooked with onion and a buttery cracker top.
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Homemade Chicken Tenders

Homemade Fried Chicken Tenders

Kid favorite, now you can make chicken tenders at home and save money!
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A plate of shredded beef garnished with yellow peppers and parsley, served with mashed potatoes.

Dutch Oven Mississippi Pot Roast

This Mississippi Pot Roast is cooked low and slow in the Dutch oven with scratch-made ingredients for the perfect taste and none of the extra additives. Your family will be drooling for hours while the aroma fills the house. The wait is worth it.
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Braised Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Kale Slaw

Braised Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Kale Slaw

Braised Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Kale Slaw is fall-apart tender,  juicy, and packed with flavor from the perfect seasoning!
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Stovetop Bourbon Bacon and Sausage Baked Beans

Stovetop Bourbon Bacon and Sausage Baked Beans

Hearty, flavorful, nutritious, and healthy, Stovetop Bourbon Bacon and Sausage ‘Baked’ Beans recipe thick and meaty. They make the perfect complement to your game day table, potluck, or barbecue all year.
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Cajun Sausage Dirty Rice

CAJUN SAUSAGE DIRTY RICE

This budget-friendly recipe has bold and flavorful ingredients. It can be served as a side dish or main entree.
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Three slices of cornbread on a white plate with honey being drizzled on top, next to a jar of honey. Background shows additional cornbread in a cast iron skillet. Text reads "Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread.

Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

Made in a 10″ skillet with yellow cornmeal, this semi-sweet cornbread is served fresh and hot ready to pair with dinner or honey as dessert. The secret to moist, crumbly, thick cornbread is here.
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Buttermilk Pie

PMc’s Buttermilk Pie

Buttermilk Pie is an old-fashioned Southern classic. It's the best of the best, crème de la crème, the bee's knees and it's very, very good!
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dessert

Chocolate Chess Pie

Chocolate is added to the popular Southern chess pie, making this dessert recipe a favorite at potlucks. Great with a dollop of whipped cream!
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Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake

Old Fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake

Old-fashioned Blue Ribbon Pound Cake is dense, moist, buttery, and sweet. It has that outer crusty edge with a smooth, creamy, small crumb inside that makes pound cake distinctive. One taste and this will be your new favorite cake recipe!
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Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe

Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe

Always a crowd-pleaser, Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe is soft, moist and buttery.
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Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe is tender and moist. It's sweet and simple with a buttery flavoring that melts in your mouth!

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe is tender and moist. It’s sweet and simple with a buttery flavoring that melts in your mouth!
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Magnolia bakery banana pudding

Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Recipe

Quick, easy & delicious, Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Recipe is always a hit at a cookout or potluck. This easy banana pudding can be whipped up in just 10 minutes!
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Easy Peach Cobble

1 cup Peach Cobbler (with canned peaches and self-rising flour)

This is easy and super quick to mix together in less time than it'll take your oven to preheat!
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Pecan Pie

Granny’s Classic Southern Pecan Pie

Granny’s Classic Southern Pecan Pie is a super simple crowd-pleasing dessert recipe. This delicious pie is a holiday staple in most Southern celebrations with the crunchy pecans, caramel-like nougat, and buttery flaky crust. 
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A slice of key lime pie sits on a plate, topped with whipped cream and a lime wedge. A whole pie and limes are visible in the background.

Better Than Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Pie

This pie is a classic dessert that never fails to impress. Its unique combination of tart and sweet flavors makes it a refreshing treat and the quick make-ahead recipe gives it an edge over others for potlucks and parties.
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Classic Southern Recipe Collection Conclusion

Ultimately, Southern recipes are more than just food—they represent family, tradition, and the joy of coming together around the dinner table. By mastering these classic dishes, every home cook can create meals that taste great and bring loved ones closer. Whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a holiday feast, these recipes help keep traditions alive and make every gathering memorable. So, embrace the rich flavors and timeless comfort of Southern cooking, and make these dishes a part of your family’s story.

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