34 Okra Recipes That Prove It's Not Just for Gumbo

Stuffed Okra Poppers
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Whether fried, pickled, or grilled, no other vegetable tastes quite like okra. Every Southerner has their favorite okra dish, and we've rounded up the best okra recipes we could find to showcase this traditional Southern veggie. Try pickled okra for an addictive, tangy treat you can add to a cheese board or in your favorite Bloody Mary recipe. Add another popular Southern ingredient and you have our Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal, which uses cornmeal to make a crisp outer coating. Get out the grill and make an easy and delicious appetizer with our recipe for Stuffed Okra Poppers.

From main dishes to sides, our best okra recipes offer creative, tasty options for every day of the week. With the help of these okra ideas—and a few inspired flavors—we think you'll find a new family-favorite recipe to share at your table this summer. In addition to these recipes, we've included some expert advice on cooking okra to perfection.

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Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal Recipe
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Cooking in two skillets, or two batches, will allow the okra to get extra crispy.

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Okra and Rice Casserole

Okra and Rice Casserole
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

This casserole is simple to make, but is still packed with an amazing amount of flavor.

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

Two Southern classics come together to create one delicious dish.

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Classic Okra and Tomatoes

Classic Okra And Tomatoes
Southern Living

Recipe: Classic Okra and Tomatoes

This essential summer side is the perfect pair.

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Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

A mixture of lemon juice, hot sauce, and melted butter pack these kebabs with flavor.

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Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce

Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce

A tangy tomato sauce lightly covers the fresh ingredients in this recipe.

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Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Shrimp and Okra Gumbo
Southern Living

Recipe: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Even though this dinner is made in one pot, it makes 12 servings.

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Smashed Fried Okra

Smashed Fried Okra
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Smashed Fried Okra

What a revelation! Use a meat mallet to smash okra and create more surface area for crispy-brown goodness. Try this at home.

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Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra

Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra
Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Creole Chicken and Okra

Use your grill to elevate the flavor of these fresh ingredients.

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Okra Creole

Cajun Recipes: Okra Creole

Recipe: Okra Creole

Serve flavorful Okra Creole with bacon, veggies, and spices as a side or over rice for an easy entrée.

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Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

Okra can be enjoyed year-round.

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Best-Ever Succotash

Best-Ever Succotash
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash

The ultimate summer side: succotash.

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Cajun Chicken Cassoulet

Cajun Chicken Cassoulet
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cajun Chicken Cassoulet

Your family will love this one-pot, spiced-up version of the French meal.

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Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp

Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp

Honor South Carolina Gullah cuisine with this colorful soup from Food Network star Kardea Brown.

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Bourbon-Brined Pickled Peppered Okra

Bourbon-Brined Pickled Peppered Okra
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Bourbon-Brined Pickled Peppered Okra

Two Southern staples—bourbon and okra—are an unlikely pair that were actually meant to be.

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Maque Choux with Sausage

Maque Choux with Sausage
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Maque Choux with Sausage

This Louisiana classic comes together in just one skillet and 25 minutes.

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Curried Okra Shoestring Fries

Curried Okra Shoestring Fries
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Curried Okra Shoestring Fries

If you thought the only way to fry okra was diced or whole, this addicting recipe will totally change your mind.

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Fried Shrimp-and-Okra Po'Boys

Fried Shrimp-and-Okra Po’Boys
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Fried Shrimp-and-Okra Po'Boys

Leave it to Test Kitchen Pro Ann Taylor-Pittman to take one of our favorite Southern sides and put it on one of our favorite Southern sandwiches.

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Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

Shrimp-and-Sausage Gumbo
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

Our Test Kitchen deemed this one of the best pots of gumbo they've ever put out.

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Deviled Eggs with Pickled Okra

Deviled Eggs with Pickled Okra Recipe
Jennifer Causey, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Pickled Okra

Of all the yummy deviled egg recipes we've come up with, this is a new go-to that's perfect for potlucks.

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Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing

Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing

This summer salad is a beautifully delicious and new way to showcase fresh okra.

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Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Casserole

This is one of our go-to ways to serve up a flavorful casserole to friends in need.

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Air Fryer Okra

Air Fryer Okra
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Air Fryer Okra

We've found dozens of fun ways to make Southern classics in our new Air Fryers, and this is a Test Kitchen favorite.

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Zesty Pickled Okra

Zesty Pickled Okra
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Zesty Pickled Okra

We wouldn't even dare to whip up a batch of bloody Marys without a spear or two of homemade pickled okra.

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Limpin' Susan

Limpin’ Susan
Peter Frank Edwards

Recipe: Limpin' Susan

Hoppin' John's secret girlfriend is no secret in our Test Kitchen.

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Fried Okra

Fried Okra
Southern Living

Recipe: Fried Okra

You need just four ingredients to serve up this absolute staple of a Southern side dish.

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Shrimp-and-Andouille Gumbo Dip

Shrimp-and-Andouille Gumbo Dip
Brian Woodcock; Styling: Rachael Burrow

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Andouille Gumbo Dip

Imagine the coziest bowl of gumbo…in dip version. Proceed to heaven!

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Simple Roasted Okra

Simple Roasted Okra
Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Simple Roasted Okra

Instead of turning to the deep-fryer, we cook this okra on high heat in the oven.

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Grilled Okra-and-Tomato Salad

Grilled Okra-and-Tomato Salad
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Grilled Okra-and-Tomato Salad

Instead of your standard green okra, we use purple okra in this pretty monochromatic dish.

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Chile-Rubbed Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Grilled Okra

Chile-Rubbed Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Grilled Okra
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chile-Rubbed Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Grilled Okra

This simple and fresh supper is ideal for summer nights on the patio.

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Easy Summer Appetizer Board

Easy Summer Appetizer Board
Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Easy Summer Appetizer Board

Pickled okra is an essential component to any Southern charcuterie and cheese board.

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Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice

Skillet Rice with Shrimp and Chicken
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice

Flavorful rice suppers are a natural part of any Southern cook's repertoire.

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Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce

Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce

Okra and peppers bring color to the grill with these veggie-forward skewers.

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Stuffed Okra Poppers

Stuffed Okra Poppers
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Stuffed Okra Poppers

Swap your favorite jalapeño popper recipe for this summer-ready version.

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