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  1. Southern Living
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  3. 30 Classic Comfort Food Recipes That Can't Be Beat

30 Classic Comfort Food Recipes That Can't Be Beat

By Southern Living Editors
Updated November 02, 2020
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Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Some of the best recipes seen on Southern tables aren't new and shiny, but instead old and time-tested—handed down from generation to generation on stained recipe cards and in tattered notebooks. These passed-down recipes include the hard-working comfort foods we turn to again and again. We're talking cheesy casseroles, traditional stews, fried bites, and even gooey desserts. These are the weeknight staples for anyone wanting a hearty meal and a little taste of home, as well as standout centerpieces for holidays and family celebrations. One thing's for sure: You cannot go wrong with one of these classic comfort food recipes.

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Mama's Fried Chicken

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mama's Fried Chicken

Skip the bucket of fast-food fried chicken and remember what it's like to eat "real" fried chicken like Mama used to make. 

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Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pies

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pies

Lose the big casserole dish for the day. These adorably mini pot pies are packed with major flavor.

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Southern-Style Collard Greens

Credit: Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens

Crispy bacon, sautéed onion, ham, and garlic perfect these collard greens, making them an essential part of your traditional Southern feast.

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Classic Beef Pot Roast

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Classic Beef Pot Roast

You can almost hear the dinner bell calling you in for this comforting meat-and-potatoes meal. 

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Classic Lasagna

Recipe: Classic Lasagna

This classic lasagna recipe perfectly matches traditional Italian ingredients with a homemade sauce. Layers of cheese, meat, and pasta make the tastiest trio. 

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Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

As the name suggests, this is an old-school staple that will be sure to satisfy the whole family. It's a simple recipe that delivers every time.

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Smoky Mountain Brunswick Stew

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Smoky Mountain Brunswick Stew

Nothing is more satisfying than a big bowl of hearty Brunswick stew. Using frozen vegetables and prepared meats make it super easy to throw together. 

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Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Freshly-grated Parmesan adds the cheesiest flavor to this casserole recipe that's great for making ahead and freezing.

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Old-fashioned Meatloaf

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Old-fashioned Meatloaf

This Southern meatloaf recipe features Creole and Greek seasonings and a hint of garlic. A few tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce spice up the traditional ketchup topping.

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Best Pecan Pie

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Best Pecan Pie

Any way you serve it―warm or cold, with or without ice cream―pecan pie is always a favorite. Feel free to use store-bought pie crust if in a pinch, because the filling is the star here anyway.

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Southern Skillet Cornbread

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Southern Skillet Cornbread

Great slathered with butter or for sopping up stews, cornbread is a must with hearty meals. Try this classic recipe and you'll never go back. 

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Traditional Chicken Fried Steak

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Traditional Chicken Fried Steak

Chicken-fried steak is quintessentially Southern. Using saltine crackers for the coating helps maintain the crispy texture. Serve with creamy, peppery gravy and enjoy.

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Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Showcase two of the South’s most beloved products—peaches and pecans—in this old-fashioned peach cobbler recipe.

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Pam Lolley’s Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pam Lolley’s Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy

You won't find a better weeknight meal than crispy chicken drenched in a savory pan gravy and herby rice. 

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Fried Pork Chops with Potatoes and Peas

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Fried Pork Chops with Potatoes and Peas

Any dish with hearty potatoes and tasty gravy is bound to stay in the weeknight rotation, and these pork chops are no exception.

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Chunky Beef Chili

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Chunky Beef Chili

This hearty beef chili features boneless chuck roast and a medley of traditional chili seasonings. Serve with these cast-iron cornbread sticks for a complete meal.

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Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Yukon gold potatoes yield a texture that's just right for holding a pool of flavorful turkey gravy or melted butter. 

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Classic Fried Catfish

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Fried Catfish

Catfish is an extremely popular fried treat throughout the South, and our fried catfish recipe is simple and oh-so crispy.

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Two-Step Pound Cake

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Two-Step Pound Cake

This recipe is so easy you may start serving this classic dessert with every meal. Top with ice cream or seasonal fruits for a tasty combination.

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Packed with egg noodles, sour cream, cream cheese, and a delicious tomato-beef mixture, this might be our heartiest dinner casserole ever.

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Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce

You won't find a more Southern side dish to include on any spread, from brunch to dinner. 

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Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans

Credit: Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans

Flavored with thick-cut bacon, these barbecue beans are a surefire way to jazz up any cookout. 

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Beef Tamale Pie

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Beef Tamale Pie

A sauced-up ground beef mixture with tomatoes and black beans is made even better when topped with traditional corn muffin topping and jalapeños. 

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Pretzel Pie

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Pretzel Pie

A dynamic duo in the Southern baking world, strawberries and rhubarbs are a tart-and-sweet match made in heaven.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

Southerners cannot get enough of buttery, creamy, cheesy squash casserole in all of its glory.

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Kettle Chip-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes with Tasso Tartar Sauce

Credit: Cedric Angeles; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Kettle Chip-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes with Tasso Tartar Sauce

Watch these disappear from the snack plate or serve them on top of crusty white bread for the best po'boy ever. 

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Egg Custard Pie

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Egg Custard Pie

This Depression Era pie is simple and perfect every time. Serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or fresh peaches or berries. 

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Classic Beef Stroganoff

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Classic Beef Stroganoff

We'll take this warm and comforting meal on any weeknight. This recipe is homemade and special without trying to be too fancy.

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Easy Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Easy Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

We love a vintage casserole, and this one has all the makings of a filling family meal. Feel free to use store-bought rotisserie chicken in lieu of cooking your own. 

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Cowboy Casserole

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Cowboy Casserole

It doesn't get any more tried-and-true than a tater tot-topped casserole, especially this recipe that includes a seasoned beef mixture with beans, corn, chiles, sour cream, and cheese. 

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