Recipes We Stole From the Family Reunion

Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs

Is it even a family gathering without a plate of deviled eggs? Never.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recipe: Tee’s Corn Pudding

Corn pudding is a classic Southern side that will always have a spot on Thanksgiving and potluck tables.

Recipe: Mama’s Fried Chicken

When Mama makes fried chicken, you better believe she does it well.

Recipe: Potato Salad with Sweet Pickles

Classic Southern potato salad gets a welcome zip from sweet pickles.

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.

Recipe: Poppy Seed Chicken

Poppy seed casseroles are a staple of Southern potlucks, whether filled with turkey, chicken, or ham.

Recipe: Squash Casserole

Fresh summer squash, butter, cheddar cheese, and buttery crackers on top taste like summer nostalgia to us.

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.

Recipe: Skillet Cornbread

Southerners know the best homemade cornbread comes straight from a cast-iron skillet.

Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad

This lightened up, brightened up version of old-school tuna pasta salad will still delight Maw Maw, we promise.

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.

Recipe: Home-style Green Bean Casserole

Of all the vegetable casseroles Southerners love to serve at holidays and beyond, green bean casserole is king.

Recipe: Baked Beans

Backyard family reunions require a piping hot dish of baked beans with bacon.

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.

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.

Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

Pasta salad is a must at family reunions, and this recipe will taste like pure nostalgia.

Recipe: Permanent Slaw

A heaping bowl of coleslaw belongs right alongside the baked beans at a Southern cookout.

Recipe: Turkey Tetrazzini

Mama has had this recipe for years, and no one ever complains when it shows up to the family reunion.

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.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie is summer perfection thanks to garden fresh tomatoes and herbs.

Recipe: Chubba Bubba’s Broccoli Salad

Southerners know that “salad” is a fluid term, and this is one of our favorite iterations of it.

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.

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.

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.

Recipe: Banana Pudding

One of the South’s most beloved desserts, banana pudding is a cookout staple.

Recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies

Why bring plain chocolate chip cookies when you can offer wow-worthy cookies full of sweet and salty goodness?

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.

Recipe: Heavenly Key Lime Pie

Your relatives will insist that this key lime pie was sent straight from heaven.

Recipe: Hello Dolly Bars

Southern grandmothers know there’s much to be done with a can of sweetened condensed milk, including this favorite bar recipe.

Recipe: Easy Peach Cobbler

Even beginner cooks can pull of a classic peach cobbler recipe, just don’t forget the vanilla ice cream.

Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge

Easy to make and easier to pick up at parties, indulgent chocolate fudge will never last long.

Recipe: Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is basically the queen bee of the dessert table.

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

There always needs to be an option for non-chocolate lovers, and more often than not, it’s a plate full of beautifully bright lemon bars.

Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna

Who else’s grandmother had a layered chocolate-and-whipped cream dessert? All hands should go up.

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

No one will hesitate to add one of these bite-size cookies to their already-full plate.

Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies

If you’re wary of making a complicated layer cake or homemade piecrust, warm, gooey brownies will always satisfy a crowd.