Classic Southern Recipes

Green Tomato BLT

I absolutely love tomatoes, any kind, any size. Being from the South, that includes fried green tomatoes. I created a special summer sandwich to show them off. —Hillian Holmgren, Del Rio, Texas

Sausage and Mushroom Cornbread Dressing

I learned about corn bread dressing while living in the south for a few years. I decided to combine it with a few of my favorite stuffing ingredients to give it my own spin. —James Schend, Food Editor, Taste of Home

Mrs. Ina's Corn Relish

Mrs. Ina was an older lady who came to our church for many years. She made an amazing corn relish. I whip up my own batch to give to friends at Christmastime. —Brenda Wooten, Dayton, Tennessee

Carolina Shrimp Soup

Fresh shrimp from the Carolina coast is one of our favorite foods. We add kale, garlic, red peppers and black-eyed peas to complete this wholesome, filling soup. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie

There is nothing I don't love about this pie! I adore the flavors, and I like that I can sneak some whole grains into the crust. It belongs on every holiday dessert buffet. —Mary Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Southern Cornbread Salad

To feed a crowd, especially when I want to make a good impression, I make this eye-popping cornbread salad. It’s beautiful in a trifle bowl. I love it in summer, when we can make it with our own garden produce. —Debbie Johnson, Centertown, Missouri

Southern Peach Upside-Down Cake

A dear friend from the South gave me the idea for this peachy cake. I add bourbon and top each slice with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. —Trista Jefferson, Batavia, Ohio

Strawberry-Chicken Salad with Buttered Pecans

Having lived in several states in the South, I love tossing pecans into recipes for a little added flavor and crunch. Fresh berries and other nuts round out this hearty salad. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy

Fried chicken may have been perfected in the South, but it is loved everywhere! Seasonings add a little something extra to this recipe, as does a rich gravy. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Mom's Sweet Potato Bake

Mom loves sweet potatoes and fixed them often in this creamy, comforting baked sweet potato casserole. With its nutty topping, this side dish could almost serve as a dessert. It's a yummy treat! —Sandi Pichon, Memphis, Tennessee

Southern Shrimp and Grits

A southern specialty, sometimes called breakfast shrimp, this dish tastes great for brunch or dinner, and anytime company’s coming. It’s down-home comfort food at its finest. —Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina

Sour Cream Peach Pecan Pie

Fresh peaches, good southern pecans and real vanilla make this pie a special summertime treat. —Sherrell Dikes, Holiday Island, Arkansas

Country-Fried Steaks

This down-home recipe reminds me of my mother, who was raised in the South. It calls for cube steak instead of round steak, so there's no need to pound the meat. I just dip and coat the beef, then cook it in my cast-iron skillet. -Bonnie Malloy, Norwood, Pennsylvania

Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon

A real Southern favorite, black-eyed peas are traditionally served on New Year's Day to bring good luck. The bacon and thyme in my mom’s recipe make them extra special. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana

Chicken and Okra Gumbo

We used to live in New Orleans, but our taste buds don't know we moved yet. I still make many Creole dishes, and gumbo is one of our favorites. —Catherine Bouis, Palm Harbor, Florida

Classic Red Velvet Cake

This ruby-red cake with it's lovely cream cheese frosting has become my "signature dessert." I can't go to any family function without it. The cake is very moist with a buttery chocolate taste. —Katie Sloan, Charlotte, North Carolina

Creole Jambalaya

Jambalaya is a traditional Louisiana dish, coming from our Spanish and French culture. Rice is the main ingredient, with different meats or seafood mixed in. I particularly like this variation with shrimp and ham. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

The recipe for these four-ingredient biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina

Pulled Pork Taters

This recipe is as hearty as it gets—part bbq pork, part potatoes, completely delicious. My family can't get enough of this bbq baked potato recipe. —Shannon M Harris, Tyler, Texas

Southern Sweet Potato Pie

This Mississippi sweet potato pie is very popular in the South. It's a particular favorite at our house because we always have plenty of sweet potatoes in our garden. Try it with a dollop of whipped cream. —Bonnie Holcomb, Fulton, Mississippi

Peppery Hush Puppies

For our family, a good fish dinner just isn't complete without these zesty hush puppies. You can also serve them alone as a satisfying snack. —Carolyn Griffin, Macon, Georgia

Creole-Spiced Shrimp Po'Boys

My father is Cajun, and I grew up eating Cajun food. This easy recipe makes me think of happy childhood memories. Sometimes I use oysters or crawfish instead of—or in addition to—the shrimp. —Stacey Johnson, Bonney Lake, Washington

Bacon Collard Greens

Collard greens are a staple vegetable of southern cuisine. This side dish is often eaten alongside smoked or salt-cured meats, such as ham hocks, pork or fatback. —Marsha Ankeney, Niceville, Florida

Banana Pudding

I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia

Jalapeno Buttermilk Corn Bread

If you’re from the South, you have to have a good cornbread recipe. Here’s a healthier version of my mom’s skillet cornbread. —Debi Mitchell, Flower Mound, Texas

White Sausage Gravy

A Southern specialty, this hearty pork sausage gravy uses sausage drippings, milk and flour to make a thick creamy gravy traditionally served over biscuits. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Lemon Chess Pie with Berry Sauce

This is one of those old-fashioned Southern desserts that makes everyone feel good. The easy-as-pie berry sauce gives it color and a tantalizing tang. —April Heaton, Branson, Missouri

Fried Green Tomato BLTs

You might call this Southern-inspired sandwich comfort food with a twist. The chipotle mayonnaise adds a delicious kick, while the peppered bacon really punches up the flavor. —Neilla Roe, kingston, Washington

Southern Pecan Catfish

I coat the catfish in pecans, then top it with a thick, rich cream sauce. It looks like you spent all day on it, but it's actually very speedy to prepare. Garnish it with lemon wedges, parsley or more chopped pecans if you desire. —Mary Ann Griffin, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Tex-Mex Chicken and Waffles

While visiting Texas I bought a small bottle of jalapeno pepper jelly, which inspired me to try this recipe. It's like a kicked up Southern classic, and the syrup can be used as a dipping sauce for the chicken. —Debra Goforth, Newport, Tennessee

Aunt Ione's Icebox Cookies

Whenever we went to visit my Aunt Ione in south Georgia, her icebox cookies were our favorite treat. My mother later make these cookies, and I remember begging for a slice of the raw dough—I thought the unbaked cookies tasted just as great as the baked! —Jenny Hill, Meridianville, Alabama