If You Know These 18 Dishes, You Definitely Grew Up In The South

If you grew up in the South, there’s a good chance your childhood memories are tied to the kitchen just as much as the front porch. Certain dishes weren’t just meals—they were traditions passed down, served at every Sunday dinner or family gathering. From crispy fried chicken to gooey casseroles, these plates practically raised us. Let’s take a little trip down memory lane (and maybe get a little hungry while we’re at it).

Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy

A plate of chicken fried steak topped with creamy white gravy, served beside mashed potatoes, garnished with cracked black pepper and chopped herbs—a classic from southern recipes. A fork and knife rest on the plate. — Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crunchy, crispy Chicken Fried Chicken with a double-dipped coating and rich gravy is a Southern comfort food classic you’ll love!
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy

Southern-Style Sausage And Grits Casserole With Egg

Grits casserole with a serving spoon. — Southern-Style Sausage And Grits Casserole With Egg. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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Sausage and Grits Casserole is an easy recipe you’ll love. It’s cheesy and flavorful, with fresh herbs, smoked sausage and plenty of cheddar.
Get the Recipe: Southern-Style Sausage And Grits Casserole With Egg

Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits

A bowl of hearty chicken and dumplings soup is shown. The bowl contains shredded chicken, vegetables like carrots, and two large, fluffy dumplings. The dish is garnished with chopped parsley and fresh ground black pepper, and a spoon rests on the side. — Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Make this classic Southern Chicken and Dumplings. It’s made with chicken thighs, veggies, a rich broth, and steamed biscuits.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits

Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy

A casserole dish with a biscuit covered in sausage gravy. — Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fresh biscuits get an upgrade when smothered with Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy. Breakfast sausage adds loads of flavor to this Southern staple.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Sausage Gravy

Southern Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole (No Rice)

A plate of rice covered with poppy seed chicken. — Southern Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole (No Rice). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Chicken poppy seed casserole made with a homemade creamy filling and a crispy poppy seed cracker topping is great for a potluck or weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Southern Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole (No Rice)

Southern Style Baked Mac And Cheese With Pimentos

Two plates of pimento mac and cheese. — Southern Style Baked Mac And Cheese With Pimentos. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Pimento mac and cheese is an easy, baked pasta dish made with zesty pimentos in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with even more golden cheddar.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Baked Mac And Cheese With Pimentos

Southern Shrimp And Grits

A black platter topped with creamy grits and shrimp and sauce. — Southern Shrimp and Grits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Southern Shrimp and Grits are a classic with andouille sausage and shrimp added to a wine and cream sauce served over cheesy grits.
Get the Recipe: Southern Shrimp And Grits

Southern Baked Beans With Hamburger Meat

A spoon full of baked beans with hamburger. — Southern Baked Beans With Hamburger Meat. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

These easy baked beans with ground beef are a perfect side dish for cookouts. Smoky with a sticky sweet sauce, they’re a classic.
Get the Recipe: Southern Baked Beans With Hamburger Meat

Southern Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy

A bite of chicken fried steak on a fork. — Southern Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Tender, juicy, and crispy chicken fried steak is served with creamy white gravy and all of your favorite sides.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy

Southern Fried Chicken

A bowl lined with parchment paper holds several pieces of crispy, golden-brown fried chicken, reminiscent of old school southern recipes, placed on a white surface near a red and gold napkin. — Southern Fried Chicken. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Crispy, golden, and full of flavor, this Southern Fried Chicken is soaked in buttermilk for tenderness and coated in a perfectly seasoned crust.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Chicken

Southern Ghoulash

A plate of cheesy macaroni with ground beef, corn, diced tomatoes, and melted cheddar cheese, topped with a dollop of sour cream. — Southern Ghoulash. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Southern Ghoulash is a hearty one-pot meal the whole family will enjoy. It’s a quick, economical dinner with a hearty tomato meat sauce and pasta.
Get the Recipe: Southern Ghoulash

Southern Low Country Seafood Boil (Instant Pot)

A plate featuring crab legs, corn on the cob, red potatoes, garlic cloves, and a metal cup of melted butter makes this a standout among one pot dinner recipes, with a yellow and white striped cloth nearby. — Southern Low Country Seafood Boil (Instant Pot). Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Easy Southern Instant Pot Low Country Boil recipe takes under 10 min. of prep time & turns out a slightly spicy, very juicy one-pot dinner.
Get the Recipe: Southern Low Country Seafood Boil (Instant Pot)

Mississippi Pot Roast (In The Crock Pot)

Shredded pot roast served over mashed potatoes, garnished with fresh parsley and whole pepperoncini peppers. — Mississippi Pot Roast (In The Crock Pot). Photo credit: On My Kid’s Plate.

Enjoy flavorful and tender Mississippi Pot Roast slow cooked to perfection in the crockpot. This is the best beef roast you will ever taste!
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Pot Roast (In The Crock Pot)

Easy Southern Tomato Pie Recipe

A close-up of a tomato pie in a white dish, with a slice being lifted out, showing layers of tomatoes, cheese, and herbs in a golden, flaky crust—a true nod to southern comfort food classics. — Easy Southern Tomato Pie Recipe. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Tomato Pie is one of the best ways to use up some of your fresh garden tomatoes. Enjoy as a savory side dish, appetizer or main dish!
Get the Recipe: Easy Southern Tomato Pie Recipe

Southern Salmon Patties

A close-up of two golden-brown, crispy crab cakes served on a bed of mixed greens, with slices of fresh lemon in the background. — Southern Salmon Patties. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

Southern Salmon Patties are an easy, inexpensive meal that’s high in protein. Made from canned salmon and pan-fried until crispy.
Get the Recipe: Southern Salmon Patties

Butter Beans Recipe With Smoked Pork Shank

A bowl of cooked lima beans in a broth, topped with shredded ham and garnished with a sprig of fresh thyme, evokes the comforting flavors of old school meals, with a spoon resting in the bowl. — Butter Beans Recipe With Smoked Pork Shank. Photo credit: Savor the Best.

This butter beans recipe with smoked pork shank is rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. A slow-simmered, cozy, Southern style dish that only gets better with time.
Get the Recipe: Butter Beans Recipe With Smoked Pork Shank

Mini Pimento Cheese Balls With Bacon And Pecans

Four cheese balls coated with chopped nuts and herbs are arranged on a dark serving surface, next to a bowl of pickles and a glass mug—perfect as savory NYE party foods for an elegant appetizer presentation. — Mini Pimento Cheese Balls With Bacon And Pecans. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

One of the most famous of Southern treats, these Pimento Cheese Balls are tangy, cheesy, and creamy—and the perfect appetizer for any event.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pimento Cheese Balls With Bacon And Pecans

Sweet Potato Pudding With Grated Potatoes

Sweet potato pudding in a casserole dish next to serving spoons. — Sweet Potato Pudding With Grated Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Baked Sweet Potato Pudding is a rich and flavorful Southern classic. Made with grated sweet potatoes for a delicious custard based side dish.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pudding With Grated Potatoes

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