Classic Southern Recipes
Updated: Apr. 08, 2022Bring a touch of the south to dinner tonight with these classic southern recipes. We've got you covered from the main course right through dessert.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy
[rms_recipe id="55791" title="Apple-Glazed Ham" cta_text="Go to Recipe" image="https://www.tasteofhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Apple-Glazed-Holiday-Ham_EXPS_TOHDJ22_55791_B08_03_2b.jpg" image_alt_text="Apple-Glazed Holiday Ham Recipe photo by Taste of Home" link="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/apple-glazed-holiday-ham/"]Each Christmas I’m asked to prepare this apple glazed ham. I’m happy to oblige because it is easy to assemble, bakes for a few hours unattended and is simply delicious. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia
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[rms_recipe id="120703" title="Bacon Collard Greens" cta_text="Go to Recipe" image="https://www.tasteofhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Bacon-Collard-Greens_exps120703_C2376962B11_13_1bC_RMS-10.jpg" image_alt_text="Bacon Collard Greens Recipe photo by Taste of Home" link="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/bacon-collard-greens/" slide_no="14" alt="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
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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
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Jalapeno Buttermilk Corn Bread
If you’re from the South, you have to have a good cornbread recipe. Here’s a lightened-up version of my mom’s traditional cornbread that tastes just as delicious. —Debi Mitchell, Flower Mound, Texas
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Originally Published: July 26, 2018
