79 Best Traditional Southern Comfort Food Recipes
Find all the best traditional southern comfort food recipes right here! You’ll find everything you need to create delicious, mouth-watering dishes your family will love.
I’ve been cooking and learning about traditional Southern recipes for at least 50 years. These are the recipes that I watched my mother, grandmothers, and aunts cook when I was a child and that I’ve cooked for my family throughout the years.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
🥜 Appetizers and Snacks
1. Alabama Fire Crackers
Perk up your favorite soup or chili with these flavor-filled spicy Alabama Fire Crackers. This fiery, buttery combination of very ordinary ingredients is always a hit at parties and perfect alongside salads and soups.
2. Cheddar Pecan Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves
If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer recipe for any occasion, you have to try Rosalynn Carter’s Cheddar Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves. I’ve been serving this since the 1970s and people are still talking about it!
3. Warm Turnip Green Dip
Warm Turnip Green Dip with Bacon. We’ve all had warm spinach and artichoke dip, right? Well, this is that dip’s southern first cousin. It’s a taste-tempting mixture of cream cheese, bacon, and turnip greens. Great for game day or just because it’s Thursday!
4. Puff Pastry Cheese Straws
Serve this vintage recipe for the famous Rich’s Department Store (Atlanta) Puff Pastry Cheese Straws for any occasion where a little nibble is called for. The straws are composed of sharp cheddar and Parmesan encased in light, flaky puff pastry.
5. Texas Caviar
Texas Caviar combines black-eyed peas, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro for a light yet substantial summer dip or salad.
6. Boiled Peanuts
Boiled Peanuts – green peanuts cooked in a salty brine. They’re a little salty, a little earthy, a lot delicious! A real southern delicacy.
7. Classic Southern Pimiento Cheese
Homemade Southern Pimiento Cheese is a true classic. With simple ingredients of sharp cheddar cheese, pimiento peppers, and mayonnaise it can be whipped up in minutes and used as a sandwich filling or a spread. Once you try my recipe, you may never want store-bought again.
8. Cheese Pinwheels with Mayhaw Jelly
Cheese Pinwheels with Mayhaw Jelly – a twist on the southern cheese straw made into a wafer and filled with chopped pecans and Mayhaw jelly.
🍵 Beverages
9. Southern Sweet Iced Tea
Southern Sweet Tea, a strong infusion of black tea that is sweetened and served over ice, is as essential to southern cuisine as fried chicken and collard greens. Depending on personal preference, it may also include a squeeze of lemon juice. And it’s never limited to warmer weather here, it appears on our tables every day of the year!
Must Have Iced Tea Glasses
What southern household doesn’t have iced tea glasses? They’re meant to be easy to hold and to show off the color of the tea!
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10. Southern Spiced Tea (Russian Tea)
Old Fashioned Southern Spiced (Russian) Tea is a mixture of warm black tea, orange and lemon juice, infused with cloves and cinnamon. It’s a soul-warming winter tea that’s all about comfort.
🍞 Breads
11. Lacy Cornbread
Southern Fried Lacy Cornbread is thin and oh so crispy! This flat cornbread is perfect for serving with southern vegetables or with soups and stews. Made with only four simple ingredients, it’s sure to become a family favorite.
12. Old Fashioned Cornbread
My best and most basic recipe for Old Fashioned Cornbread. Made with finely ground white cornmeal, buttermilk, and no sugar (!) it’s the perfect accompaniment for everything from fried chicken to chili.
Must Have Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet is a purchase that will last your lifetime. I’m not sure how I’d manage to cook without mine!
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13. Southern Hush Puppies
Crispy and crunchy on the outside with a tender, moist spicy interior, these Southern Hush Puppies with jalapeno are an absolute must with any kind of fried fish. Give me a plate of fish with french fries, onion rings, and hush puppies and I’m in heaven with an ocean view!
14. Southern Cornbread Muffins
Any time of day is perfect for these quick and easy Southern Cornbread Muffins. You can have these ready for the table in under 30 minutes. They’re perfect to serve plain or add a pat of butter and a drizzle of honey!
15. Easy Hot Water Cornbread
Light and fluffy on the inside with a crispy, crunchy exterior, this rustic and easy Hot Water Cornbread recipe is a classic southern treat! All you need are four ingredients and about 15 minutes to make the best cornbread you ever put in your mouth!
16. Corn Dodgers
Corn Dodgers are a very old Southern recipe served as an accompaniment to turnip, mustard, or collard greens. They are similar to a cornmeal dumpling.
17. Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits
These Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits are one of my favorite memories from childhood. Served with butter and syrup for breakfast or filled with a slice of ham or sausage, they’re moist, substantial, and totally delicious! Now, if you’re thinking of the kind of homemade buttermilk biscuits that rise high and turn out flaky, then this is not that recipe. These biscuits are made with oil, not butter and the result is incredible!
🥞 Breakfast
18. Cheese Grits
If you’re looking for the perfect southern side dish then I have the recipe you need! Classic Southern Cheese Grits go with any meal from breakfast to supper and are fabulous with anything from chicken to fried fish to shrimp. They’re always the right answer to the which side dish to serve dilemma.
19. Tomato Gravy
An old fashioned, southern recipe for Homemade Tomato Gravy. Delicious served over hot buttermilk biscuits and topped with an over-easy egg.
20. New Orleans Beignets
Enjoy these light as a feather and sweet as sugar New Orleans Beignets with a café au lait to feel like you’re right there in Jackson Square. An excellent choice for either breakfast or dessert.
21. Country Ham with Red Eye Gravy
Country Ham with Red Eye Gravy – Salty, dry cured country ham with red eye gravy flavored with strong black coffee served with a side of cheese grits.
22. Sausage Gravy
Sausage Gravy and Biscuits with Tomatoes – A hearty country breakfast of sausage gravy served over biscuits with baked, herbed tomato slices on the side.
23. Fried Red Tomatoes with Bacon Gravy
My Fried Red Tomatoes with Bacon Gravy recipe is a delicious way to feature winter tomatoes as the star of the meal. These cornmeal battered ripe tomatoes are pan-fried and topped with homemade gravy and crispy, diced bacon. Serve them on top of an English muffin, a bagel, or toasted bread.
🫙 Condiments, Sauces, and Dressings
24. Comeback Sauce
What’s the most perfect dipping sauce ever invented? Without a doubt, it’s Comeback Sauce! We use it for everything from chicken fingers to onion rings and fries to sandwiches. Once you try it, you’ll use this stuff on everything, too!
25. Jezebel Sauce
Classic Southern Jezebel Sauce is a sweet and spicy combination of apple jelly, pineapple preserves, and tangy dry mustard with a kick of horseradish. Serve it alongside ham, pork, shrimp, or grilled chicken. You can also serve it with a block of cream cheese and crackers for an easy appetizer.
🍰 Desserts
26. Pecan Pralines
Enjoy a taste of the south with these Homemade Southern Pecan Pralines. They’re perfect little treats loaded with creamy, caramelized sugar and just the right amount of toasty pecan crunch.
27. Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe is a creamy dessert combination of eggs, whipping cream, and whiskey. Traditionally served at Christmas and holidays.
Must Have Stand Mixer
I use mine for everything from whipping cream to mixing bread dough!
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28. Chinese Chews
Dating from 1917, Chinese Chews, with their crispy tops and chewy centers, are a very old traditional bar cookie featuring nuts and dates. Bake a batch and enjoy the same treat your grandmothers probably had for the holidays.
29. Chocolate Little Layer Cake
A heritage recipe for Chocolate Little Layer Cake, a regional specialty from southwest Georgia. Tiny yellow cake layers filled with boiled chocolate frosting.
30. Mama’s Ambrosia
Mama’s Ambrosia is a simple mix of Navel oranges and coconut with clean, bright flavors. A Christmas tradition in our family.
31. Caramel Layer Cake
This Old Fashioned Southern Caramel Layer Cake with its moist yellow cake layers topped with an easy homemade caramel frosting is a long-time favorite of everyone in our family. It’s sure to be a hit with your family, too!
32. Southern Tea Cakes
Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes is a classic, vintage recipe. It’s a bit of a cross between a cookie and cake, not too sweet, and utterly delicious. Tea cakes are the perfect ending to any meal or a great mid-afternoon snack with coffee, tea, or milk.
Must Have Biscuit/Cookie Cutters
Makes creating uniform sizes of biscuits and cookies so easy!
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33. Mississippi Mud Cake
A vintage recipe for Mississippi Mud Cake – a brownie cake base topped with melted marshmallows and drizzled with chocolate frosting.
34. Homemade Peach Ice Cream
Creamy, cold, and delicious homemade Peach Ice Cream with sweet, fresh Georgia grown peaches.
Must Have Ice Cream Churn
For the best ice cream, treat yourself to an electric churn!
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35. Texas Sheet Cake
Texas Sheet Cake is a rich chocolate sheet cake spread with a delicious chocolate and pecan icing.
36. Pecan Tassies
Pecan Tassies are a traditional southern holiday recipe. These two-bite mini pecan pies make a delicious addition to your dessert tray.
Must Have Tart Tamper
In the south, we call this a “tassie tamper” and it makes getting the dough into the pan so easy!
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37. Never Fail Pound Cake
Never Fail Pound Cake – a classic old southern recipe for pound cake with the tang of buttermilk.
38. Red Velvet Cake
This classic Red Velvet Cake features chocolate layers colored red and slathered with loads of cream cheese frosting studded with pecans.
39. Chocolate Meringue Pie
This old-fashioned southern Chocolate Meringue Pie is the ultimate chocolate lovers’ dessert for any occasion. This decadent dessert with its flaky, buttery crust, rich chocolate custard filling, and fluffy homemade meringue is a treasured family recipe we’ve enjoyed for years.
40. Biscuit Pudding
Use the leftover breakfast biscuits to make a Biscuit Pudding for the evening’s dessert. Very old-fashioned Southern recipe.
41. Egg Custard Pie
Egg Custard Pie is one of those traditional Southern heritage recipes that I love so much. It may be made from plain, simple pantry ingredients but it’s so worth getting out the fine china to serve it. Who would think that a few eggs, some sugar, vanilla, and milk could conjure up such strong childhood memories!
42. Classic Southern Pecan Pie
This Classic Southern Pecan Pie checks all the boxes! It’s flaky and nutty with a subtle caramel flavor. The only embellishment it needs is a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
🍽️ Main Dishes
43. Shrimp and Grits
This recipe for an old southern favorite, Shrimp and Grits, is the perfect thing for a quick weeknight supper or your next Sunday brunch. It’s a heavenly combination of sauteed shrimp, bacon, bell pepper, and onion served over creamy, stone-ground grits with cheddar cheese. You’ll want to lick the plate clean and ask for a second helping!
44. Southern Fried Quail
Southern Fried Quail are a delicacy straight out of my childhood. Simply seasoned, deep fried, and served with cheese grits on the side for an authentic southern dinner.
45. Chicken Pie
This fantastic vintage recipe for Chicken Pie contains no peas, no carrots, no vegetables of any kind. It’s just tender shredded chicken in a rich, delicious gravy topped with a batter crust and cooked until golden brown and irresistibly delicious!
46. Streak o’ Lean
Somewhere between bacon and lard, you’ll find Streak o’ Lean. It has a long and varied history in traditional southern foodways having been used for everything from seasoning to rendering for fat. This recipe showcases it on its own, dredged in flour and fried. One of the tastiest recipes from my childhood!
47. Oxtail Stew
My Southern Style Oxtail Stew is a simple, easy-to-prepare recipe. Oxtails are cooked low and slow with carrots, onions, and spices, then served over hot, fluffy rice.
Must Have Dutch Oven
An absolute kitchen workhorse for soups, stews, fricassees, etouffees, and gumbos!
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48. Shrimp Creole
Recreate the flavor and spirit of New Orleans in your own kitchen in just 30 minutes. This Louisiana Shrimp Creole with its spicy tomato-based sauce is going to be your new favorite weeknight dinner!
49. Fried Chicken
Real Simple Fried Chicken – My simplest and most authentic recipe for real southern fried chicken. Quick and easy for a family dinner or special occasion.
50. Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and Dumplings – the traditional southern way with rolled dumplings. Almost as good for a cold as chicken soup!
51. Red Rice
My Charleston Red Rice is a one-pot meal of rice, chicken, and tomatoes, based on the famous Charleston, South Carolina recipe. Low country cooking at its finest!
52. Chicken Country Captain
Chicken Country Captain is a true old South classic. Chicken, onions, garlic, peppers, and curry powder with raisins and toasted almonds.
53. Red Beans and Rice
Part of the foundation of New Orleans’ culinary style, this recipe for Red Beans and Rice uses canned beans to shorten the cooking time.
54. Chicken a la King
This homemade, from scratch, Chicken a la King is a recipe straight out of my childhood. It’s tender, moist chicken cooked in a creamy mushroom and pimiento sauce.
55. Fried Catfish
Crispy, golden brown Fried Catfish fillets served with a side of creamy cheese grits. The centerpiece of any southern fish fry.
Must Have Fish Fryer
Hosting a fish fry for the neighborhood? You’ll definitely want to do the cooking outdoors with one of these!
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56. Chicken Jallop
Chicken Jallop is a very old, traditional southwest Georgia recipe and is essentially a southern chicken stew served over toasted hamburger buns. It’s not made very often these days, but in the past, you’d find this recipe served at many church and social gatherings.
57. Country Fried Steak
Old Fashioned Country Fried Steak is a southern comfort food classic. Cubed round steak is seasoned, then dredged in flour and fried to a golden brown.
58. Georgia BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes
Georgia BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes – A classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich with a twist. My version blows the regular BLT out of the water!
59. Sausage and Rice Casserole
This Easy Sausage and Rice Casserole is an old fashioned supper recipe that will quickly become a family favorite. It’s full of flavor, is easy to prepare, and can serve as an entree or as a side dish!
🥗 Southern Salads
60. Southern Potato Salad
What’s the perfect dish to bring to any potluck? Why, this Classic Southern Potato Salad Recipe, of course! With its steamed, tender potatoes, celery, pickle relish, and a dressing made from mayonnaise and yellow mustard, this recipe goes with nearly anything and is great year round.
61. Raspberry Jello Mold
This Raspberry Jello Mold (“Polly’s Pink Stuff”) is a festive retro recipe that was my grandmother’s specialty served for every holiday dinner.
62. Blueberry Pineapple Congealed Salad
This Blueberry Pineapple Congealed Salad is an old-fashioned southern recipe. It features whole blueberries and crushed pineapple suspended in a jello base topped with a mixture of sweetened cream cheese, sour cream, and walnuts for a wonderfully sweet and tart dish.
63. Copper Pennies
Old fashioned, vintage recipes are the very best in my book! One of my favorites from years gone by is this recipe for Old Fashioned Copper Pennies. It’s a simple combination of marinated sweet and sour carrots, onions, and bell peppers that may be served as either a side dish or salad.
64. Sunshine Salad
This classic southern recipe is great to make year-round whenever you need a treat that is light and delicious and bursting with color! Sunshine Salad is a traditional gelatin salad, or congealed salad, made with a base of lemon jello mixed with crushed pineapple, shredded carrots, and chopped nuts lending it loads of flavor and delightful textures.
65. Black Eyed Pea Salad
My southern marinated Black Eyed Pea Salad is a versatile and effortless side dish for your next picnic or potluck dinner. It takes 15 minutes to make and lasts for days in the fridge. You’ll love the earthy flavor from the peas combined with the bright, tangy marinade!
66. Fire and Ice Tomatoes
This vintage recipe for Fire and Ice Tomatoes is a sweet-tart salad with late summer tomatoes, bell peppers, and sweet Vidalia onions.
67. Texas Caviar
Texas Caviar combines black-eyed peas, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro for a light yet substantial summer dip or salad.
68. Lime Congealed Salad
This Lime Congealed Salad is an old-fashioned Southern favorite! It’s a mix of lime jello, cream cheese, pineapple, nuts, celery, and marshmallows that stands in as a fantastic salad, side dish, or dessert.
69. Strawberry Banana Jello Mold
This Strawberry Banana Jello Mold is a refreshing summer-y jello salad with strawberries, bananas, and pineapple.
🥕 Side Dishes
70. Brunswick Stew
If you’re looking for the perfect, most delicious side dish for your next barbecue, then I have the solution for you right here. This is the best Old Fashioned Brunswick Stew recipe! Not only is it a Georgia staple, it’s an iconic Southern barbecue side dish containing the most delicious combination of meat and vegetables you’ve ever tasted.
71. Hoppin’ John
Hoppin’ John is a traditional recipe of rice and peas enjoyed throughout the Southern states every New Year’s Day. Add it to your menu for good luck!
72. Sweet Potato Casserole
This delicious heritage recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole starts with a smooth, buttery layer of cooked sweet potatoes and is topped with a crunchy pecan and brown sugar streusel. It’s a side dish worthy of supporting the turkey and cornbread dressing at any Southern Thanksgiving table.
73. Curried Fruit
Who says all your side dishes need to be savory? This traditional southern Hot Baked Curried Fruit recipe features a mix of canned fruits topped with a rich butter, brown sugar, and curry mixture that’s baked into sweet, fruity perfection. It’s a great classic side dish for either Thanksgiving or Christmas.
74. Southern Cornbread Dressing
Try this recipe once and your mouth will start to water every time you think of it! My cherished family recipe for Southern Cornbread Dressing is wonderfully moist and seasoned with onions, celery, and sage. It puts stuffing to shame!
75. Southern Butter Beans
Fresh or frozen Southern Butter Beans cooked to melt in your mouth tender in the slow cooker. Serve with fried chicken, fried okra, and cornbread for a very traditional southern dinner.
76. Southern Fried Okra
Southern Fried Okra is a summer dinner favorite! Tender fresh okra is dredged in a light coating of finely ground white cornmeal and fried to a crispy, golden brown in hot peanut oil.
77. Turnip Greens and Corn Pone
A combination as Southern as it gets. Turnip Greens and Corn Pone. Tender greens served with crispy, golden brown corn pone.
78. Southern Green Beans
My low and slow method for cooking Old Fashioned Southern Style Green Beans with its beautiful, smoky ham hock broth for flavoring, will take you straight to the country no matter where you live!
79. Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
Southern Stewed Okra and Tomatoes – two Southern classics even more delicious when paired. The perfect side dish for almost any traditional southern meal.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this collection of my best Southern comfort food recipes. Check back as I add to the list!
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