You Can’t Call It Southern Without These 21 Recipes

From flaky buttermilk biscuits to melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork, these are the kinds of dishes that feel like home on a plate. I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t call it Southern without these recipes making an appearance—especially at potlucks or Sunday suppers. They’re the real deal, passed down, perfected, and totally worth the carbs.

Southern Shrimp And Grits

A platter of shrimp and grits with two glasses of wine. — 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 Style Chicken And Biscuits

Biscuits on top of chicken pot pie in a skillet. — Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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Homemade Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits is Southern comfort food at its best. Buttermilk biscuits top a creamy chicken filling.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits

Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread

Cornbread baked in an iron skillet. — Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This sweet potato cornbread is a scrumptious Southern side dish with a creamy texture and natural sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread

Southern Candied Yams

Sweet potatoes cooking in a skillet. — Southern Candied Yams. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

You can’t beat these super simple, 3-ingredient Candied Yams. Tender and sweet with a caramelized sauce, ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Southern Candied Yams

Homemade Peach Cobbler With Pie Crust

A black bowl of peach cobbler next to a cup of coffee. — Homemade Peach Cobbler With Pie Crust. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This peach cobbler with pie crust is packed with sweet peaches, brown sugar, and warm spices and then baked until mouthwatering perfection.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Peach Cobbler With Pie Crust

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

Peach-Glazed BBQ Pork Chops

Grilled pork chops with peach bbq sauce on a plate. — Bbq Pork Chops With Peach Barbecue Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fresh peach barbecue sauce gives these grilled pork chops a fruity twist that balances smoke with summer sweetness—pure Southern comfort on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Bbq Pork Chops With Peach Barbecue Sauce

Crispy 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.

Golden, crunchy, and smothered in creamy gravy, this chicken fried chicken brings that Southern diner magic home—perfect for warm-weather cravings.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Zesty Pineapple Salsa

A platter of pork tenderloin with pineapple salsa. — Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple Salsa. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This grilled pork tenderloin is light, bright, and full of Southern flavor thanks to a tangy-sweet pineapple salsa that screams summer on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple Salsa

Southern Smothered Pork Chops with Creamy Boursin Gravy

A spoon pouring gravy over pork chops. — Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Comfort food at its finest—these tender pork chops are drenched in a silky Boursin cheese gravy that turns any summer meal into a celebration.
Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy

Crispy Buttermilk 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.

This classic fried chicken is Southern comfort at its crispiest, with a golden crust and juicy center that bring porch-sitting vibes to any summer table.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Chicken

Southern Skillet Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy

A skillet of pork chops with a spoon full of mushroom gravy. — Smothered Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Pan-seared pork chops get the Southern comfort treatment with a rich mushroom gravy—perfect for those lazy summer Sundays.
Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy

Creamy Macaroni Salad With Cheese

Creamy macaroni salad with a wooden spoon. — Creamy Macaroni Salad With Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A Southern-style macaroni salad made with a creamy mayo, sour cream and dijon mustard dressing. Mix with cheddar cheese to finish, and served chilled.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Macaroni Salad With Cheese

Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits

Close-up of a bowl of chicken and dumplings. A spoon rests in the bowl, lifting one of the dumplings. The golden broth, shredded chicken, and sprinkled herbs on top are visible, giving a savory and comforting appearance to the dish. — 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

Southern Honey Biscuit

A plate of honey butter biscuits. — Southern Honey Biscuit. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Honey biscuits are light, flaky, and deliciously sweet. With a touch of honey in the dough and a honey glaze on top.
Get the Recipe: Southern Honey Biscuit

Southern Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese

A spoon scooping out creamy mac and cheese from a black bowl. — Southern Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese from Poole’s Diner is a classic with a creamy base and crusty cheese on top. Comfort food at its BEST.
Get the Recipe: Southern Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese

Southern Baked Beans With Hamburger Meat

A skillet of baked beans with ground beef with a serving spoon. — 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 7 Layer Salad With Peas And Mayo

A bowl of seven layer salad next to individual servings. — Southern 7 Layer Salad With Peas And Mayo. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This seven-layer salad gets even more delicious after sitting overnight! It’s stacked with layers of peas, bacon, mayo, romaine lettuce, and cheddar cheese.
Get the Recipe: Southern 7 Layer Salad With Peas And Mayo

Best Southern Corn Pudding

A baked corn pudding with a serving spoon removing a portion. — Best Southern Corn Pudding. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A Southern Corn Pudding with fresh corn is an easy side that you can prep in 10 minuets. Make it ahead of time for an easy Holiday side.
Get the Recipe: Best Southern Corn Pudding

Southern Lobster Corn Fritters

Cook up a batch of lobster corn fritters as an enticing appetizer or main course. Easy to make southern corn fritters with fresh corn are certain to be a hit.
Get the Recipe: Southern Lobster Corn Fritters

Crispy Hot Water Cornbread

A rack of hot water cornbread with butter and honey. — Crispy Hot Water Cornbread. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This heavenly hot water cornbread recipe has the creamiest texture with a perfectly crisp exterior. An easy pantry staple favorite.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Hot Water Cornbread

Church Potluck Desserts

A collage of desserts you can’t call it Southern without: a frosted layered cake with walnuts, a pink frosted cake with strawberries, pink strawberry bars, nut-topped bars, and coconut-topped bars on various serving plates.

Church Potluck Desserts. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.No matter how good the main dishes are, it’s always the dessert table that gets the most attention. That’s why every church potluck needs these crowd pleasing desserts.
Get the Recipe: Church Potluck Desserts

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