67 Juneteenth Recipes Worth Celebrating

Crispy Fried Chicken

If you’ve wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep-fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana

Smoked Brisket

This smoked brisket recipe is always a favorite—it really melts in your mouth! —Jodi Abel, La Jolla, California

Strawberry Cooler

During the dog days of summer, my family looks for a cold, thirst-quenching drink. I like this strawberry cooler because it’s sparkling, refreshing and fast and easy to make. —Judy Robertson, Southington, Connecticut

Red Velvet Cheesecake

Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina

Black-Eyed Peas with Collard Greens

Time to gather round the table, y’all! This dish has special meaning to Southerners. —Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina

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

Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad

I love the velvety taste and texture of sweet potatoes. A friend served sweet potatoes cooked with peppers, and they tasted so delicious together. I took those flavors and developed them into this creamy, smoky potato salad. —Carolyn Eskew, Dayton, Ohio

How to Grill Ribs

Grilling ribs soon? Learn how to grill ribs as we share our step-by-step recipe and secret to grilling the best-ever baby back ribs.

Fried Chicken and Waffles

Chicken and waffles as a culinary tradition has origins in both Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine and soul food, with some variations. This version features fried chicken in a flavorful coating that is crispy outside, tender inside, and a spongy, chewy waffle with some crisp ridges. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Lisa's All-Day Sugar & Salt Pork Roast

My family loves this tender and juicy roast, so we eat it a lot. The sweet and salty crust is so delicious mixed into the pulled pork. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama

Strawberry Cake

Looking for the perfect strawberry cake recipe? We use fresh strawberries and strawberry jam to create a cake that is full of juicy berry flavor and looks totally pretty in pink.

Juicy Watermelon Salad

This fruit salad has such a surprising yet fabulous mix of flavors that friends often ask for the recipe. Combine seedless watermelon varieties in yellow, red and pink for a colorful twist. —Heidi Haight, Macomb, Michigan

Buttermilk Biscuits

These biscuits are made from a recipe that’s been in our family for years. They’re simple to make and smell so good when baking! The wonderful aroma takes me back to those days when Mom made this meal—it’s like I’m there in our family’s kitchen again, with her busy at the stove. —Jean Parsons, Sarver, Pennsylvania

Strawberry-Lavender Infused Water

A little bit of lavender goes a long way, so be sure not to overdo it! This pretty combo screams summer, but you can also dry out the lavender and enjoy this anytime. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Tangier Island Virginia Crab Cakes

I grew up eating these crab cakes, which are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. They're absolutely delicious every time I make them. —Ann Girucky, Norfolk, Virginia

Succotash

This succotash recipe has everything that makes Southern cooking irresistible: ham hocks, beans, vegetables and herbs. It's easily customizable too, so you can add pretty much anything from your vegetable garden.

Red Velvet Pound Cake

This red velvet pound cake is moist, flavorful and finished with a layer of rich and tangy cream cheese frosting. For extra crunch (and good looks), sprinkle crushed pecans on top.

Maple Pulled Pork Buns

Maple syrup is my sweet secret to these irresistible buns. Slow-cooking the flavor-packed pork couldn’t be easier, and the buns are quick to roll up. We love them for parties. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad

I love the velvety taste and texture of sweet potatoes. A friend served sweet potatoes cooked with peppers, and they tasted so delicious together. I took those flavors and developed them into this creamy, smoky potato salad. —Carolyn Eskew, Dayton, Ohio

Pecan Cobbler

On those days when you can't decide between cobbler and pie, try this pecan cobbler recipe for the best of both worlds. It's gooey and delicious!

Easy Fried Green Tomatoes

My grandmother came up with her own version of easy fried green tomatoes years ago. Our family loves it. It’s a traditional taste of the South that anyone anywhere can enjoy! —Melanie Chism, Coker, Alabama

Southern Black-Eyed Peas

I find pork the secret to a good black-eyed pea recipe. A double dose of ham for flavor and slow and gentle cooking creates this perfect side dish. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia

Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Sandwiches

These fabulous Dutch-oven pulled pork sandwiches have a sweet, tangy flavor. If you want a smokier taste, add a little liquid smoke to the pulled pork before returning it to the Dutch oven. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Cast-Iron Cherry-Berry Peach Pie

I had an overabundant supply of cherries one year, so I adapted several recipes to use them up. I knew this one was a keeper when I received phone calls from my mother and grandmother complimenting me on this pie. —Amy Hartke, Elgin, Illinois

Simmered Smoked Links

A tasty sweet-sour sauce glazes bite-size sausages in this recipe. Serve these effortless appetizers with toothpicks at parties or holiday get-togethers. —Maxine Cenker, Weirton, West Virginia

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

Smooth Sweet Tea

A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it’s not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste of Home Community Member

Red Velvet Cookies

These red velvet cookies are thick, chewy, rich and cakey. A layer of cream-cheese frosting and optional sprinkles turn these cookies into tiny cakes that will wow.

Flaky Bumbleberry Pie

When you want to make an impression, make this pie! The recipe produces one of the flakiest crusts ever, and the combination of rhubarb and different berries in the filling is delicious. —Suzanne Alberts, Onalaska, Wisconsin

Red Potato Salad

This creamy red potato salad recipe is a classic crowd-pleaser for cookouts, potlucks and any festive get-togethers.

Chicken Strips

Here's how to deep-fry or bake crispy, golden chicken strips, plus tons of ideas for how to serve them.

Sparkling Rhubarb Spritzer

Folks with a rhubarb plant or two will love this recipe. It's a nice change from the usual lemonade—we enjoy it all summer long. —Sue Rebers, Campbellsport, Wisconsin

Pulled Pork Parfait

I tried a version of this meaty parfait at Miller Park, the then-home of my favorite baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers. I take it up a notch by adding layers of corn and creamy mac and cheese. It truly is a full barbecue meal you can take on the go. —Rachel Seis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Molded Strawberry Salad

This refreshing salad has two layers—a pretty pink bottom that includes sour cream, and a ruby red top with strawberries and pineapple. For years, Mom has included this salad in meals she prepares for our family. —Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan

Southern Potato Salad

This potato salad with a southern twist is perfect for an outdoor celebration. The pickles add extra sweetness. —Gene Pitts, Wilsonville, Alabama

Strawberry Cheesecake

Our strawberry cheesecake is a dressed-up classic cheesecake with a glossy strawberry glaze and fresh berries.

Mom’s Molasses Ham and Beans

This is a recipe my mom made frequently while I was growing up, but I tweaked it to include navy beans instead of lima beans. It’s perfect for a cold day when you don’t want to bother with lots of cooking. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Caribbean Jerk Chicken

Get ready to rock the grill with this wonderfully fragrant, spicy chicken. The bold marinade includes hints of cinnamon, cayenne and thyme. —Judy Kamalieh, Nebraska City, Nebraska

2-Ingredient Biscuits

With a scoop of self-rising flour and heavy whipping cream, you can whip up eight tender, flaky biscuits in no time at all.

Black-Eyed Peas with Ham

Here's a regional favorite I grew to love after moving to the South. Serve the dish as a side with grilled chicken, or make it your main course and round out the meal with greens and cornbread. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina

Catfish Parmesan

Mississippi is the nation's largest producer of farm-raised catfish. My family loves this dish, and asks for it often. One reason I like it is it's so simple to prepare. —Mrs. W.D. Baker, Starkville, Mississippi

Chocolate-Strawberry Celebration Cake

Chocolate strawberry cake looks and tastes like luxury, but this recipe only takes one hour, from start to finish.

Corn Pone

Corn pone is an old-fashioned Southern recipe that seemingly never goes out of style. We suspect it has something to do with the fact that it’s fried in bacon fat until it’s crispy and perfectly golden brown.

Watermelon Cupcakes

My granddaughter and I bake together each week. She was inspired by all of her mom's flavored syrups, so we came up with this watermelon cupcake. If you have watermelon syrup, it can replace some of the lemon-lime soda in the cake batter and frosting, but the gelatin adds a lot of watermelon flavor on its own. If you are not going to pipe the frosting, you can reduce the amount of frosting by half. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington

Ghost Pepper Popcorn Cornbread

I love popcorn and lots of spice and heat. Recently, I have been dabbling with ghost peppers and came up with this twist on classic cornbread. Try adding corn kernels for more texture. —Allison Antalek, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Grilled Stone Fruits with Balsamic Syrup

Get ready to experience another side of stone fruits. Hot off the rack, these grilled nectarines practically melt in your mouth. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

Smoked Mac and Cheese

I found this smoked mac and cheese recipe, and I kept working with the ingredients until I discovered the perfect combination. You can bake it in the oven, too. —Stacey Dull, Gettysburg, Ohio

Rhubarb Cherry Pie

As a young girl, I dreamed of being able to make pies like my mother. (Her rolling pin, which I inherited, was 2 ft. long and 8 in. wide!) In fact, this is Mom’s rhubarb strawberry pie recipe with cherries instead. I first made this pie for a church gathering 20 years ago—ever since, everyone’s looked for it at every get-together! —Eunice Hurt, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon

Black-eyed peas are a real Southern favorite. The bacon and thyme in my mom’s recipe make them extra special. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana

Caribbean Chipotle Pork Sliders

Our favorite pulled pork sliders combine the heat of chipotle peppers with a cool tropical coleslaw. The robust flavors make these a big hit with guests. —Kadija Bridgewater, Boca Raton, Florida

Roasted Strawberry Sheet Cake

My Grandma Gigi loved summer berry cakes. Almost any time I’d call her during the warmer months, she’d invite me over to taste her latest masterpiece. This cake is a tribute to her. —Kristin Bowers, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Tender Barbecued Chicken

After a long day at work, a slow-cooked meal is a great help. One of my family's favorites is this moist slow-simmered chicken. For an appealing look, choose a darker brown barbecue sauce. —Jacqueline Blanton, Gaffney, South Carolina

Spiced Sweet Potato Fries

A spicy homemade seasoning blend shakes up everyone’s favorite finger food in this rendition of sweet potato fries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Cheesy Cajun Cornbread Biscotti

This savory cookie is the bestseller at our Christmas cookie bazaar. Everyone requests the tasty biscotti every year. They're simple but very delicious. I will also serve them year-round as an appetizer. —Paula Marchesi, Auburn, Pennsylvania

Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Family and friends can’t seem to get enough of this deliciously different cheesecake that combines my two favorite desserts—sweet potato pie and cheesecake. I think the dessert tastes best if made 24 to 48 hours prior to serving. —Melanie Bauder, Manlius, New York

Black-Eyed Pea Sausage Stew

I always wanted to try black-eyed peas. I happened to have smoked sausage on hand one night, so I invented this full-flavored stew. It's the perfect way to heat up a cold night without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. I usually double the seasonings because we like our food spicier. —Laura Wimbrow, Bridgeville, Delaware

Mamaw Emily's Strawberry Cake

My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky

Pork Loin with Strawberry-Rhubarb Chutney

I love strawberry-rhubarb pie, so I thought the same flavor combination could work as a chutney—and it does! This makes a delicious and festive accompaniment to a succulent pork roast. The chutney can be made a day ahead and kept in the refrigerator. —Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska

Watermelon Cups

This lovely appetizer is almost too pretty to eat! Sweet watermelon cubes hold a refreshing topping that showcases cucumber, red onion and fresh herbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Cheddar Skillet Cornbread

Here's a tasty spin on traditional cornbread. It may become your new favorite! —Terri Adrian, Lake City, Florida

Strawberry-Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

I prepare this colorful dessert quite often in the late spring or summer when fresh rhubarb is abundant. I make this rhubarb cake with cake mix and take it to church potlucks. People actually line up for a piece. —Bonnie Krogman, Thompson Falls, Montana

Sparkling Peach Bellinis

Folks will savor the subtle kiss of peach flavor in this elegant brunch beverage. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Watermelon Sherbet

Refreshingly sweet and pretty in pink, this watermelon sherbet is surprisingly simple to make at home. It’s a treat on hot summer days when watermelon is in peak season.

Deep-Fried Mac & Cheese Shells

I created this deep fried mac and cheese recipe for my husband. He describes this recipe as unbelievably delicious because of the crispy deep-fried coating on the outside and the creamy richness on the inside. —Shirley Rickis, The Villages, Florida

Peach-Glazed Ribs

For a fruity alternative to the usual barbecue sauce for ribs, try this slightly spicy recipe at your next picnic. The peaches add just the right touch of sweetness and a lovely color to this special sauce. —Sharon Taylor, Columbia, South Carolina

Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes

My grandmother always served this sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving. The puffy marshmallow topping gives the dish a festive look, and spices enhance the sweet potato flavor. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana