Quick-Fix Southern Classics

Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Red beans and rice doesn’t get any easier than this slow-cooker version. Just chop everything in advance, and the slow cooker will do the rest of the work.

• Recipe: Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice
• Watch: Quick-Fix Red Beans and Rice

Classic Fried Catfish

Red pepper and garlic seal the flavor of the cornbread mixture that coats these catfish fillets. For an extra-crispy crust, use stone-ground yellow cornmeal.

• Recipe: Classic Fried Catfish

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

This comforting one-dish dinner is sure to fill the kids up after a long school day and it’s also a snap to prepare. Don’t worry about sneaking in the fresh-cut carrots and celery--the rich and creamy broth topped with warm oven-baked biscuits is so velvety and delicious that the kids won’t even realize they’re eating their veggies!

• Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken-fried Steak

Saltine cracker crumbs make a simple, salty breading for this classic meat dish. Serve it with our white cream gravy.

• Recipe: Chicken-fried Steak

Shrimp and Grits

This dish mixes flavor-packed shrimp, bacon, mushrooms, green onion, and garlic with creamy cheese grits. It’s perfect for brunch or for dinner. The recipe came from Bill Smith, executive chef at Crook's Corner, the landmark Southern restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

• Recipe: Shrimp and Grits

Easy Brunswick Stew

Nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of hearty Brunswick stew. Sop up every flavorful last bit with crusty bread or crispy cornbread crackers.

• Recipe: Easy Brunswick Stew

Pork Chops with Pepper Jelly Sauce

Minced jalapeño pepper adds a subtle kick to these skillet-cooked pork chops.

• Recipe: Pork Chops with Pepper Jelly Sauce

Easy Chicken Gumbo

Cajun seasonings make the flavor of this gumbo complex, but the prep work is easy enough for a weeknight dinner. The gumbo and our Okra Pilau can be ready in 48 minutes.

In step one, adding flour to hot oil creates a fast and flavorful roux.

• Recipe: Easy Chicken Gumbo

Chicken Cobbler Casserole

This dish combines the robust flavors and cheesy bread topping of French onion soup with chicken pot pie. It’s so quick and easy to make you’ll hardly notice it requires ten ingredients. Substitute an equal amount of buttermilk for wine, if desired. Serve with a green salad tossed with fresh citrus, sliced avocados, toasted pecans, and bottled raspberry vinaigrette.

• Recipe: Chicken Cobbler Casserole

Chicken-and-Artichoke Salad

For a hot weeknight supper, bake Chicken-and-Artichoke Salad spread on thick-sliced Texas toast and topped with shredded Colby-Jack cheese.

• Recipe: Chicken-and-Artichoke Salad

Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy

A savory gravy dresses up these quick, skillet-cooked hamburger steaks. Eliminate prep time by keeping prepared beef patties in the freezer for up to three months.

• Recipe: Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy

Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken

Seasoned breadcrumbs and self-rising cornmeal give Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken a crisp golden-brown crust without a skillet full of extra oil. This crispy coating is also terrific on skinned and boned chicken thighs or pork chops.

• Recipe: Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

Make your favorite creamy coleslaw to serve with or on this barbecue sandwich. Freeze any leftover meat for up to one month.

• Recipe: Slow-Cooker Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

Turnip Greens Stew

Frozen vegetables provide a shortcut to make savory Turnip Greens Stew. Sautéed ham and chicken broth give the greens plenty of flavor.

• Recipe: Turnip Greens Stew

Bacon Pimiento Cheese

Spread homemade Bacon Pimiento Cheese on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomato. Use leftover spread on crackers or celery for a snack.

• Recipe: Bacon Pimiento Cheese

Pan-Fried Pork Chops

Wafer-thin boneless pork chops can be pan-fried and ready to serve in less than ten minutes. Add seasonings from your cabinet for a made-to-order breading flavor.

• Recipe: Pan-Fried Pork Chops

Honey Barbecue Chicken

It doesn’t get much easier than barbecue chicken on the grill. Simply set the meat on the grill and baste with barbecue sauce during the last 10 minutes. Use store-bought sauce to save time.

• Recipe: Honey Barbecue Chicken

Bayou Fried Shrimp

Cajun seasoning and fish fry mix make an easy, flavorful breading for fried shrimp. Dip in tartar or cocktail sauce. Mix a package of shredded coleslaw with a simple dressing of such as the one in this recipe for an easy side.

• Recipe: Bayou Fried Shrimp

Stovetop Chicken Pie

Update your chicken pot pie with this recipe that includes buttermilk biscuits for the crust and sauteed mushrooms and baby peas. A family-size rotisserie chicken yields the perfect amount of chopped cooked chicken for this recipe.

Recipe:  Stovetop Chicken Pie

Supper Ideas from the Pros

Jump start supper in no time with more classic Southern recipe ideas from Test Kitchen Professional Shirley Harrington.
• Watch

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Do you have a great simple Southern supper recipe? If so, we'd love to try it.
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