Recipes We Stole From the Family Reunion
Basic Deviled Eggs
Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs
Is it even a family gathering without a plate of deviled eggs? Never.
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Sausage Balls
Recipe: Sausage Balls
There always seems to be a basket of sausage balls at the family reunion, and it always seems to be empty by the end of it.
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Cocktail Meatballs
Recipe: Cocktail Meatballs
Even if the family reunion is planned for the middle of summer, there’s always a batch of cocktail meatballs sitting in a slow cooker to stay warm.
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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
Recipe: Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
We bet you can’t find a family reunion in the South that doesn’t have a basket of warm rolls on the buffet.
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New Tuna Casserole
Recipe: New Tuna Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole has been gracing Southern tables for decades. This recipe has all the comforting flavors you love with a lighter calorie count.
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Tee's Corn Pudding
Recipe: Tee’s Corn Pudding
Corn pudding is a classic Southern side that will always have a spot on Thanksgiving and potluck tables.
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Mama's Fried Chicken
Recipe: Mama’s Fried Chicken
When Mama makes fried chicken, you better believe she does it well.
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Potato Salad with Sweet Pickles
Recipe: Potato Salad with Sweet Pickles
Classic Southern potato salad gets a welcome zip from sweet pickles.
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Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese
Recipe: Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese
No one would ever dare show up to the family reunion with boxed mac and cheese in tow—only a cheesy, creamy, baked version will do.
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Poppy Seed Chicken
Recipe: Poppy Seed Chicken
Poppy seed casseroles are a staple of Southern potlucks, whether filled with turkey, chicken, or ham.
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Squash Casserole
Recipe: Squash Casserole
Fresh summer squash, butter, cheddar cheese, and buttery crackers on top taste like summer nostalgia to us.
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Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad
Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad
People get heated about what does and doesn’t belong in chicken salad (Grapes, apples, nuts? None of the above? All of the above?), but this simple, old-school recipe will keep everyone at the reunion happy.
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Skillet Cornbread
Recipe: Skillet Cornbread
Southerners know the best homemade cornbread comes straight from a cast-iron skillet.
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Tuna Pasta Salad
Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad
This lightened up, brightened up version of old-school tuna pasta salad will still delight Maw Maw, we promise.
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Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Recipe: Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
If someone is bringing fried chicken (which they will), then someone has to bring mashed potatoes to go with it.
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Home-style Green Bean Casserole
Recipe: Home-style Green Bean Casserole
Of all the vegetable casseroles Southerners love to serve at holidays and beyond, green bean casserole is king.
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Baked Beans
Recipe: Baked Beans
Backyard family reunions require a piping hot dish of baked beans with bacon.
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Hashbrown Casserole
Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole
Even novice cooks are expected to show up to the family reunion with a homemade dish in tow, and this classic is the easiest way to get a crowd-pleasing result.
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Pineapple Casserole
Recipe: Pineapple Casserole
To those outside the South, “pineapple casserole” might sound bizarre, but to many, it’s just as much a potluck staple as fried chicken.
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Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham
Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham
Pasta salad is a must at family reunions, and this recipe will taste like pure nostalgia.
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Permanent Slaw
Recipe: Permanent Slaw
A heaping bowl of coleslaw belongs right alongside the baked beans at a Southern cookout.
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Turkey Tetrazzini
Recipe: Turkey Tetrazzini
Mama has had this recipe for years, and no one ever complains when it shows up to the family reunion.
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Classic Fresh Field Peas
Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas
Summer brings an abundance of fresh veggies, including field peas. We love to prep them old-school style with smoked ham hocks for rich flavor.
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Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie
Recipe: Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie
Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie is summer perfection thanks to garden fresh tomatoes and herbs.
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Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad
Recipe: Chubba Bubba’s Broccoli Salad
Southerners know that “salad” is a fluid term, and this is one of our favorite iterations of it.
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Au Gratin Potato Casserole
Recipe: Au Gratin Potato Casserole
Whether your family prefers potatoes au gratin or scalloped, we can bet one of the two will show up at the reunion.
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Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal
Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal
Although you usually receive deep-fried okra in restaurants, Southern grandmothers have been pan-frying it like this for years.
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Recipe: Strawberry-Pretzel Salad
Is it a dessert? Is it a side dish? The beauty of this classic gelatin salad is that no one really knows, but we enjoy it nonetheless.
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Banana Pudding
Recipe: Banana Pudding
One of the South’s most beloved desserts, banana pudding is a cookout staple.
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Kitchen Sink Cookies
Recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies
Why bring plain chocolate chip cookies when you can offer wow-worthy cookies full of sweet and salty goodness?
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Coca-Cola Cake
Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake
Southerners have been cooking with Coca-Cola for years, and it’s one of the most popular ways to make chocolate cake even more delicious.