There’s something truly comforting about Southern cooking. It’s rich in tradition, full of flavor, and brings people together.
This week, we’re serving up a collection of 14 American Southern recipes that are sure to satisfy your taste buds. From crispy fried chicken to creamy shrimp and grits, these dishes capture the essence of Southern hospitality.
So, grab your apron and get ready to enjoy some soul-warming meals that will have you coming back for seconds!
Steps
- Classic Baked Macaroni And Cheese: Grate your cheese to ensure it melts smoothly. Cook the macaroni, then mix with a cheese sauce made from scratch. Bake until bubbly and golden.
- Buttermilk Biscuits: Combine four ingredients, grating the butter for even distribution. Stir the mixture precisely 15 times, then shape and bake on parchment paper for perfect biscuits.
- German Chocolate Cake: Prepare cake layers and allow them to cool completely. Mix a decadent Coconut-Pecan Frosting and generously spread it over the cooled layers.
- Southern Fried Green Tomatoes: Coat slices of green tomatoes in a mix of cornmeal and flour. Fry them in vegetable oil or bacon grease until crispy and golden.
- Southern Skillet Cornbread: Use a cast-iron skillet with bacon drippings instead of sugar. Quickly mix a few ingredients and pour into the hot skillet, then bake until golden.
- Tomato, Cheddar, And Bacon Pie: Layer in-season tomatoes, mayonnaise, and shredded cheese in a pie crust. Bake until the pie is set and the top is golden.
- Pimiento Cheese: Grate your cheese and mix with pimientos and other ingredients. Combine everything thoroughly for a simple, no-cook spread.
- Jessica Harris’ Red Rice: Cook rice with tomatoes, hot sauce, and your choice of seafood, sausage, or chicken. Allow the flavors to meld for a rich, fiery dish.
- Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings: Cook chicken until tender and make dumplings from scratch. Simmer in a savory broth until the dumplings are cooked through.
- Hummingbird Cake: Combine spiced cake batter with pineapple and bananas. Bake in three layers, then frost and assemble for a classic Southern dessert.
- Mama’s Fried Chicken: Soak chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least two hours. Coat and fry until the chicken is crispy and cooked through.
- Fresh Peach Cobbler: Prepare the peach filling and a simple biscuit topping. Assemble and bake until the top is golden brown and the peaches are bubbling.
- Kentucky Slow-Cooker Burgoo: Combine various meats and vegetables in a slow cooker. Cook until everything is tender and flavors are well blended.
- Classic Hoppin’ John: Cook rice and black-eyed peas with ham hocks or bacon. Serve with collard greens and cornbread for a traditional dish.
- Classic Sweet Potato Pie: Roast sweet potatoes and blend with brown sugar and spices. Pour into a pie crust and bake until set.
- Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding: Layer homemade pudding with banana slices and wafers. Top with meringue and bake until lightly browned.
- Southern Tomato Sandwich: Spread mayonnaise on thick white bread. Add slices of fresh tomato and season with salt and pepper.
- Shrimp And Okra Gumbo: Cook fresh shrimp with okra and a flavorful broth. Serve over rice for a hearty Southern meal.
- Frito Pie: Layer chili with corn chips in a baking dish. Bake until heated through and serve with your favorite toppings.
- Oyster Casserole: Mix oysters with a rich Parmesan cream sauce. Top with buttery breadcrumbs and bake until bubbly.
- Sausage Gravy And Biscuits: Cook sausage and make a creamy gravy. Serve over freshly baked biscuits for a classic breakfast.
- Sea Island Crab Fried Rice: Sauté vegetables and add pre-cooked rice and sweet crabmeat. Toss everything together until well combined.
- Smoky Mountain Brunswick Stew: Combine meats, spices, and vegetables in a pot. Simmer until everything is tender and flavors are well mingled.
- Our Best Jambalaya: Combine meats, rice, and seasonings in a pot. Cook until the rice is tender and everything is well flavored.
- Capitol Hill Bean Soup: Soak navy beans overnight, then cook with ham and vegetables. Simmer until the beans are tender and flavors meld.
- Lowcountry Shrimp And Grits: Cook shrimp with a rich tomato-based sauce. Serve over creamy, cheesy grits for a comforting dish.
- Fried Pork Chops With Potatoes And Peas: Fry pork chops until golden. Serve with cooked potatoes and peas for a complete meal.
- Congealed Salad: Blend raspberry gelatin with cranberry sauce. Chill until set for a classic Southern side dish.
- Southern-Style Potato Salad: Mix cooked potatoes with hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, and bacon. Chill before serving.
- Nashville Hot Chicken: Fry chicken pieces and coat with a spicy sauce. Adjust the heat to your preference and serve hot.
- Southern Fried Corn: Sauté fresh corn kernels in butter and bacon grease. Add onion and garlic for extra flavor.
- Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwiches: Slow cook pork until tender, then shred and mix with vinegar sauce. Serve on buns with coleslaw.
- Shrimp Boil: Boil shrimp, corn, and potatoes with Old Bay seasoning. Serve in bowls with a splash of the cooking liquid.
- BBQ Brisket: Rub brisket with spices, then cook in a slow cooker with broth. Serve with classic barbecue sides.
- Red-Eye Gravy With Ham: Fry country ham and make a gravy with coffee in the drippings. Serve over biscuits or grits.
- Heavenly Key Lime Pie: Use Key lime juice for authentic flavor in the pie filling. Chill until set and serve cold.
- Southern-Style Collard Greens: Simmer collard greens with smoky ingredients. Cook slowly to enhance flavors.
- Emily’s Red Beans And Rice: Cook red beans with sausage or pork. Serve over rice for a hearty dish.
- Classic Chess Pie: Mix cornmeal and vinegar with other ingredients for the filling. Bake in a pre-made crust until set.
- She-Crab Soup: Cook crab meat with cream and sherry. Serve warm, garnished with optional egg yolks if roe is unavailable.
Ingredients
- Macaroni pasta
- Cheese (grated)
- Milk
- Butter
- Flour
- Salt
- Pepper
FAQ
- What makes Southern cooking unique?
- Southern cooking is renowned for its diverse influences, drawing from a rich blend of cultural histories such as Cajun, Creole, Gullah, and Soul Food, among others. This diversity results in a wide array of flavors and cooking techniques unique to the region.
- What are some iconic Southern dishes?
- Some iconic Southern dishes include fried chicken, shrimp and grits, cornbread, red beans and rice, and peach cobbler. These dishes often highlight local ingredients and reflect the culinary traditions of the area.
- How do you make classic Southern cornbread?
- Traditional Southern cornbread is best cooked in a cast-iron skillet for a crispy crust. It typically skips sugar, using bacon drippings for flavor, and requires only a few basic ingredients.
- What is the secret to making perfect buttermilk biscuits?
- Perfect buttermilk biscuits require just four ingredients and some precise techniques, such as grating the butter and stirring the mixture exactly 15 times for optimal texture.
- How is German Chocolate Cake connected to Southern cuisine?
- Despite its name, German Chocolate Cake has Southern roots, dating back to the 1950s. It’s characterized by a rich Coconut-Pecan Frosting and is a beloved dessert in the region.
- What is the origin of Hummingbird Cake?
- Hummingbird Cake is a celebrated Southern dessert, popularized in community cookbooks in the early 20th century. It features spiced layers with pineapple and bananas and is a staple in Southern culinary tradition.
Tips
- For Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese, ensure you grate your own cheese for optimal melting and texture.
- When making Buttermilk Biscuits, follow the recipe precisely by grating the butter and stirring exactly 15 times to achieve the perfect texture.
- For German Chocolate Cake, allow the cake layers to cool completely before applying the Coconut-Pecan Frosting to ensure a smooth finish.
- When preparing Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, use a 50-50 blend of cornmeal and flour for the coating and fry in vegetable oil or bacon grease for the best flavor.
Equipment
- Cast-Iron Skillet – Essential for Southern Skillet Cornbread and Southern Fried Corn.
- Slow Cooker – Useful for dishes like Kentucky Slow-Cooker Burgoo and BBQ Brisket.
- Large Stock Pot – Needed for making Shrimp Boil and other large-batch recipes.
- Grater – Important for recipes that require grating cheese or butter, such as Classic Baked Macaroni And Cheese and Pimiento Cheese.
- Baking Dish – For recipes like German Chocolate Cake and Fresh Peach Cobbler.
- Pie Dish – Necessary for Tomato, Cheddar, And Bacon Pie and Heavenly Key Lime Pie.
- Food Processor – Helpful for making smooth fillings or batters, such as in Classic Chess Pie.
- Stand Mixer – Useful for mixing doughs and batters evenly, especially in recipes like Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding.
- Immersion Blender – Handy for achieving the right texture in soups like She-Crab Soup.
