If You’ve Eaten These 22, You’ve Definitely Lived in the South

There’s just something special about the way Southern food feels like a warm hug on a plate. From crispy fried chicken to creamy grits and biscuits smothered in gravy, every bite tells a story of comfort, family, and tradition. If a few of these dishes have graced your table, then you’ve definitely lived in the South—and your taste buds have been all the better for it. Grab a sweet tea and let’s take a delicious stroll down memory lane.

Chili Topped with Grits

Close-up of a baked dish in a casserole, featuring a golden, herb-speckled topping. A serving has been scooped out, revealing layers of ground meat in a chili poblano tomato-based sauce underneath. The dish looks hearty and freshly made. — Chili Poblano Topped with Grits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Cheesy Grits with Chili Poblano offers spicy poblano gravy and rich, baked grits. A comforting dish with Southern-inspired flavors.
Get the Recipe: Chili Poblano Topped with Grits

Easy Southern Tomato Pie

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. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

My All-American Summer Menu 🇺🇸

FREE EMAIL BONUS: Delicious summer recipes just in time for the season

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

Smothered 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.

Smothered pork chops with mushroom gravy are rich, satisfying, Southern comfort food. Thick, savory homemade gravy and tender mushrooms!
Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

A bowl of chili made in a slow cooker topped with cheese and sour cream — Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Slow cooker chicken chili with pablano peppers comes together in no time. Just dump in the ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work. A healthy dinner the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Baked Mac and Cheese with Tender Pulled Pork

A spoon full of mac and cheese with pulled pork. — Baked Mac and Cheese with Tender Pulled Pork. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

My pulled pork mac and cheese recipe is smoky, savory, and incredibly easy to make at home. It’s made with juicy slow-cooked pulled pork.
Get the Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Tender Pulled Pork

Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits

A close-up of a creamy chicken and biscuit casserole, with a spoon lifting a biscuit topped with herbs to reveal the savory filling underneath—perfect for fans of comfort food recipes. — Southern Style Chicken And Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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

Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes

A platter of roast beef with carrots and potatoes. — Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This fall apart, melt-in-your-mouth slow cooker pot roast recipe is complete with veggies and gravy. Classic recipe for weeknights or Sunday supper.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes

Baked Mac and Cheese Like Grandma Made

A spoon scooping out creamy mac and cheese from a black bowl. — Baked Mac and Cheese Like Grandma Made. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

If you grew up in the South, this baked mac and cheese was probably on your Sunday table—creamy inside, crispy on top, and full of love.
Get the Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese Like Grandma Made

Southern Supper Tater Tot Casserole

A wooden spoon in a skillet of tater tot casserole. — Southern Supper Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This creamy, beefy tater tot casserole has the kind of cozy flavor that reminds Southerners of weeknight dinners and family chatter around the table.
Get the Recipe: Southern Supper Tater Tot Casserole

Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits

A platter of shrimp and grits with two glasses of wine. — Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

No dish says “Southern” like shrimp and grits. Creamy, smoky, and rich—this one’s pure Lowcountry comfort on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits

Sweet Potato Skillet Cornbread

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

Every Southerner knows cornbread isn’t just bread—it’s tradition. This sweet potato twist adds warmth and soul to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Skillet Cornbread

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy the Southern Way

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

Golden-fried, smothered in creamy gravy, and best with mashed potatoes—this Southern staple is a true taste of home.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy the Southern Way

Weeknight Mac and Cheese with a Southern Twist

A spoon full of baked mac and cheese with spinach. — Weeknight Mac and Cheese with a Southern Twist. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy, creamy mac and cheese gets a Southern touch with rich cheeses and a golden bake—comfort food in half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Mac and Cheese with a Southern Twist

Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

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. — Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Nothing says “Southern kitchen” like chicken and dumplings simmered to perfection. Fluffy, hearty, and full of comfort.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Honey Butter Biscuits from the Heart

A plate of honey butter biscuits. — Honey Butter Biscuits from the Heart. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Light, buttery, and kissed with honey—these biscuits taste like something your Southern grandma baked on a Sunday morning.
Get the Recipe: Honey Butter Biscuits from the Heart

Classic Southern 7-Layer Salad

A bowl of seven layer salad next to individual servings. — Classic Southern 7-Layer Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This potluck favorite layers crisp lettuce, peas, bacon, and creamy dressing—the kind of dish every Southern church supper needs.
Get the Recipe: Classic Southern 7-Layer Salad

Grandma’s Sweet Corn Pudding

A baked corn pudding with a serving spoon removing a portion. — Grandma’s Sweet Corn Pudding. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Soft, buttery, and sweet—Southern corn pudding is that creamy side every family reunion couldn’t go without.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Sweet Corn Pudding

Crispy Hot Water Cornbread Cakes

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

Golden on the outside and tender inside—these fried cornbread patties have been a Southern kitchen staple for generations.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Hot Water Cornbread Cakes

Southern-Style Collard Greens

A plate of cooked leafy greens, topped with seeds, nuts, and shredded coconut, served on a white hexagonal-patterned plate—an elegant option for your Thanksgiving dinner ideas. — Southern-Style Collard Greens. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Slow-simmered collard greens with smoky flavor and a splash of vinegar—no true Southern feast is complete without them.
Get the Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens

Southern Chili Mac Supper

A Dutch oven with chili mac and cheese. — Southern Chili Mac Supper. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A hearty mix of chili and mac and cheese, this one-pot wonder feels like something you’d find bubbling away in any Southern kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chili Mac Supper

Southern Creamy Macaroni Salad

This chilled macaroni salad is a Southern picnic classic—tangy, creamy, and always the first bowl to empty at a potluck.
Get the Recipe: Southern Creamy Macaroni Salad

Sausage and Cheese Cast Iron Cornbread

A slice of sausage cornbread on a plate. — Sausage and Cheese Cast Iron Cornbread. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Loaded with sausage, cheddar, and Southern flair, this hearty cornbread could easily be a meal all on its own.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Cheese Cast Iron Cornbread

Explore Recipes

MSN Slideshows