42 Classic Southern Side Dishes Everyone Should Know By Heart By Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 26, 2025 Close Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Round out your meal with a little comfort food on the side. Each of these classic side dishes has its own Southern twist, from adding crispy bacon or cheese to deep-frying. From favorites like collard greens and sweet potato casserole to updates on classics like potato salad and grits, these side dishes are like scooping up a bite of nostalgia. Whether for the potluck, the cookout, or a Wednesday night dinner with your family, these Southern side dishes are comforting, easy, and crowd-pleasing. In Southern cuisine, a main dish is best complemented by a host of incredible side dishes. 01 of 42 Tee's Corn Pudding Credit: Emily Laurae/Southern Living This classic recipe has a rich, soufflé-like texture without the hassle. The result is an impressive side dish the entire family will love. Get The Recipe Save 02 of 42 Fried Green Tomatoes Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins It doesn't get much more Southern than a plate of Fried Green Tomatoes. Great on sandwiches, in salads, or plain, this is a recipe every Southern cook should master. Get The Recipe Save 03 of 42 Turnip Greens Credit: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Collard greens, even mustard greens, get more attention, but we're big fans of the peppery, slightly bitter turnip greens. Serve with a wedge of buttermilk, and it's a whole meal. Get The Recipe Save 04 of 42 Home-Style Butterbeans Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Bacon, onion, and brown sugar pack these beans with amazing flavor. Frozen butterbeans are slow-cooked until tender on the stovetop and aside from an occasional stir, this is a low-maintenance recipe is hands-off. Get The Recipe Save 05 of 42 Maque Choux with Sausage Credit: Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry This classic Louisiana dish has both Native American and Creole-French roots. This version includes a Louisiana favorite, spicy andouille sausage, along with okra, red bell pepper, thyme, and a nice amount of heavy cream for richness. Get The Recipe Save 06 of 42 Creamy Fried Confetti Corn Flecked with bits of bell pepper and crispy bacon, this is an anything but boring corn side. Creamy from a generous amount of half and half as well as cream cheese, it's a hearty complement to chicken, pork, or beef. Get The Recipe Save 07 of 42 Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith Tender blanched green beans and pearl onions are lightly caramelized in butter, garlic, tangy balsamic vinegar, and a touch of sugar in this recipe. This fragrant, syrupy mixture forms a glaze that coats the beans and works well with just about any main dish. Get The Recipe Save 08 of 42 Best-Ever Succotash Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Colorful, fresh, and bountiful during Southern summers, succotash is a staple on our tables. Want to add a bit of spice? Sprinkle the finished dish with a little bit of smoked paprika. Get The Recipe Save 09 of 42 Southern-Style Collard Greens Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Crispy bacon, sautéed onion, ham, and garlic perfect these collard greens, making them an essential part of your traditional Southern feast. Get The Recipe Save 10 of 42 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We're not sure if we've ever attended a Southern holiday that didn't have a green bean casserole on the menu. While many versions of this classic start with a can of cream of mushroom soup, this recipe uses fresh Cremini mushrooms to recreate that flavor from scratch. Get The Recipe Save 11 of 42 Homemade Baked Beans Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman If you don't have the time to start from dried beans, this recipe allows you to turn out a savory and tasty dish based on canned beans. Since most things taste better with bacon, we start these beans by frying up some and then later crumbled on top of the beans for the perfect finishing touch. Get The Recipe Save 12 of 42 Southern-Style Potato Salad Credit: Dotdash Meredith If your potato salad isn't Duke's mayo-laden, it might not be well-received at the church potluck. For the perfect texture, be sure to let the potatoes cool before adding them into the recipe. Get The Recipe Save 13 of 42 Broccoli-Cheese Casserole Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you don't prefer your veggies covered in melty cheese and crushed buttery crackers, are you even Southern? The healthy-dose of cheese in this recipe will convert even the most ardent broccoli hater. Get The Recipe Save 14 of 42 Southern Cornbread Dressing Credit: Brittany Conerly, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman If you ask most Southerners, they'll stand by "dressing" over "stuffing." Regardless what you call it, it sure is delicious. This dressing is topped with our Cornbread Crumble, specifically developed to complement the dressing with nuggets of crumbled sweet and buttery cornbread. Get The Recipe Save 15 of 42 Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox At Thanksgiving dinners in the South, sweet potato casserole is as essential as the turkey. But don't limit this recipe to just the holidays, this casserole's cornflake crunchy topping is so good, you'll want to enjoy year-round. Get The Recipe Save 16 of 42 Fresh Corn Spoonbread Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Surprise Mama with this fun twist on old-fashioned recipe she'll love. Kernels of fresh corn add a touch of sweetness to the bread, while yogurt instead of buttermilk, keeps the bread moist and tender. Get The Recipe Save 17 of 42 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas You don't have to worry about taking home leftovers of this creamy, five-ingredient potato dish. A short ingredient list and little hands-on cooking time make it a great side to throw together even when short on time. Get The Recipe Save 18 of 42 Old-School Squash Casserole Credit: Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Creamy, cheesy, buttery, and go-back-for-seconds good, squash casserole is a classic favorite Southern side. The key to this classic is making sure cook off all the liquid in the summer squash, because no one wants a watery casserole. Get The Recipe Save 19 of 42 Classic Okra and Tomatoes Credit: Monica Farber/Southern Living This essential summer side combines two of the best of late-season produce. To minimize okra's infamous textural issues, take care not to cut the stem end so closely that the pod is severed. Get The Recipe Save 20 of 42 Pineapple Casserole Credit: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall For many Southern families, the holidays just wouldn't be the same without a pineapple casserole on the table. The combination of canned pineapple chunks, Cheddar cheese, and crispy Ritz cracker crust may sound a little bizarre, but it's surprisingly tasty mix of sweet and salty. Get The Recipe Save 21 of 42 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Credit: Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Brussels sprouts and bacon are a match made in side-dish heaven. Thick-cut bacon, Panko breadcrumbs, and a touch of sherry vinegar transform Brussels sprouts into a salty and crunchy treat. Get The Recipe Save 22 of 42 Hashbrown Casserole Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There aren't many side dishes quite as easy and delicious as a cheesy hashbrown casserole. This rich side dish is so warm and comforting, it's also known as "Funeral Casserole," its creamy goodness helping soothe the bereaved for decades. Get The Recipe Save 23 of 42 Creamed-Corn Grits Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf So few ingredients, so much creamy goodness. Classic creamed corn is truly nostalgic for many Southerners and combined with grits, it doesn't get any better. Get The Recipe Save 24 of 42 Classic Candied Yams Credit: Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Although sweet potato casserole reigns supreme, candied yams are a true Southern classic at Thanksgiving. Lightly spiced and sweet, it only takes 20 minutes of cooking to turn out this instant family-favorite. Get The Recipe Save 25 of 42 Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread Credit: Brian Woodcock We call it perfect, and we stand by it. This cornbread recipe doesn't call for even a teaspoon of sugar—savory cornbread enthusiasts will be happy to know. Baked in a screaming hot skillet, this cornbread has the brown, crispy edge of our dreams. Get The Recipe Save 26 of 42 Tomato Aspic Credit: Southern Living This vintage gelatin salad was formerly the star of ladies' luncheons across the South. No need to dust off Grandma's cookbooks, use our recipe seasoned with Worcestershire, onion, celery seed, and cloves for the perfect savory dinner salad side. Get The Recipe Save 27 of 42 Hush Puppies Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox What plate of food isn't made better by the addition of a few hush puppies? Not a single one. So, grab your dutch oven and fry up these six ingredient wonders up in just about 30 minutes. Get The Recipe Save 28 of 42 Permanent Slaw Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan In a lineup of smoked meats, baked beans, mac and cheese, and other hearty barbecue dishes, a crisp, tangy cole slaw is the perfect side to add a little acid and freshness. The salad got its name because of its reputation for only getting better the longer it sits. Get The Recipe Save 29 of 42 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Reminiscent of cold layered salads you used to see at every Southern potluck, this macaroni salad tastes like a nostalgic cookout. A little bit of prep work and a short chill in the fridge makes this recipe perfect for easy summer cooking. Get The Recipe Save 30 of 42 Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We can't turn down a mess of greens, especially when they're made with ham hocks for comforting depths of flavor. Made in a slow-cooker, this side frees up the stove top for the main dish or other sides. Get The Recipe Save 31 of 42 Easy Creamed Spinach Credit: Antonis Achilleos Eating your greens is easy with this creamy, cheesy, comforting recipe. The toasted pine nuts in this recipe add just the right amount of crunch and nuttiness to the dish, and also cut through some of the richness of the cream and cheese. Get The Recipe Save 32 of 42 Classic Cranberry Salad Credit: Emily Laurae For some Southerners, canned cranberry sauce is the tradition, but we prefer it from scratch. You'll be wowed by the complexity of this salad that's both sweet and tart, and peppered with crunch from chopped celery and pecans. It hits all the right notes. Get The Recipe Save 33 of 42 Picnic Egg Salad Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele This no-fuss recipe has been a potluck party starter for years. Tailor this recipe to your tastes, swap dill for chives, or add a bit of spice with paprika, cayenne, or black pepper. Get The Recipe Save 34 of 42 Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit Credit: Will Dickey Any meal is better with a biscuit. This no-fail biscuit recipe will make you look like a pro, even if this is your first attempt at biscuit-making. A little hard work in this recipe is greatly rewarded with layer upon layer of flakey, buttery biscuit goodness. Get The Recipe Save 35 of 42 Black-Eyed Pea Salad Credit: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This no-cook pea salad is the perfect, vibrant compliment to any potluck or cookout. Get The Recipe Save 36 of 42 Broccoli Salad Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Let this salad sit and the better it gets! Crunchy broccoli, chewy cranberries and golden raisins, and bacon all come together to form this sweet and savory crowd-pleaser. Get The Recipe Save 37 of 42 Best Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Credit: Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Bringing this winner to dinner will leave everyone knocking down your door for more. This homemade mac is tossed in creamy sauce, topped with shredded cheese, then baked. The crispy-velvety mixture and secret pockets of cheese are unbeatable. Get The Recipe Save 38 of 42 Classic Deviled Eggs Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The classic is the perfect one-bite side that's sure to fly off the platter at any event. Get The Recipe Save 39 of 42 Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Crispy prosciutto and asparagus? Yes, please! This easy plate is ready in just a few minutes and gives an elegant flare to any table. Get The Recipe Save 40 of 42 Instant Pot Grits Credit: Will Dickey Unlike stovetop grits, these Instant Pot Grits turn rich and luscious in the pressure cooker. Get The Recipe Save 41 of 42 Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox This fresh twist on an old classic, pickled shrimp or 'Sea Island shrimp', will set you apart in the best way. Crunchy snap peas and shrimp with the soft pasta and zesty lemon makes for a uniquely exquisite salad. Get The Recipe Save 42 of 42 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Credit: Caitlin Bensel This green bean side has a heartiness that will keep family coming back for seconds. Get The Recipe Save Explore more: Food and Recipes Side Dishes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit