Food and Recipes 50 Classic Southern Side Dishes Everyone Should Know By Heart By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 29, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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 three-bean salad and dirty rice, 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 50 Tee's Corn Pudding Jennifer Davick Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding This classic recipe has a rich, soufflé-like texture without the hassle. The result is an impressive side dish the entire family will love. 02 of 50 Fried Green Tomatoes Jennifer Davick Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes 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. 03 of 50 Home-Style Butterbeans William Dickey Recipe: Home-Style Butterbeans 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. 04 of 50 Southern-Style Collard Greens Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman 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. 05 of 50 Fried Pecan Okra Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Fried Pecan Okra Crushed pecans and baking mix form the crisp breading for this classic Southern-style side. Don't skip toasting the pecans, this tiny step is the reason the breading is so flavorful. 06 of 50 Rob McDaniel's Baked Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Breadcrumbs Southern Living Recipe: Rob McDaniel's Baked Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Breadcrumbs These tomatoes look just as impressive as they taste. The tomatoes are marinated in sherry vinegar, garlic, and anchovies, roasted, topped with goat cheese, and finished with homemade breadcrumbs for the ultimate savory side. 07 of 50 Maque Choux with Sausage Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Maque Choux with Sausage 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. 08 of 50 Creamy Fried Confetti Corn Recipe: 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. 09 of 50 Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions 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. 10 of 50 Twice-Baked Potatoes Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Twice-Baked Potatoes There's nothing like a classic twice-baked potato loaded with cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions. These potatoes are so rich, pair them with a hearty green salad, and they're a meal all by themselves. 11 of 50 Best-Ever Succotash Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash 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. 12 of 50 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole 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. 13 of 50 Homemade Baked Beans Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Homemade Baked Beans 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. 14 of 50 Southern-Style Potato Salad Southern Living Recipe: Southern-Style Potato Salad 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. 15 of 50 Broccoli-Cheese Casserole Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole 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. 16 of 50 Southern Cornbread Dressing Lee Harrelson Recipe: Southern Cornbread Dressing 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. 17 of 50 Field Pea and Pasta Salad Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Julia Levy Recipe: Field Pea and Pasta Salad Pasta salads are ideal for Southern gatherings because they're filling and can be served cold or at room temp. This salad uses red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, a trio of fresh herbs, and field peas, to make a summer side full of flavor and texture. 18 of 50 Classic Sweet Potato Casserole Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole 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. 19 of 50 Black-Eyed Pea and Grain Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kaye E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Black-Eyed Pea and Grain Salad Black-eyed peas are an essential part of a Southern diet, and this fresh salad is a beautiful summer side dish. It comes together in only 30 minutes and thanks to the hearty bulgar wheat, is super filling and also vegetarian. 20 of 50 Fresh Corn Spoonbread Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoonbread 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. 21 of 50 Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad Crunchy, fresh, and with a little bacon and cheese, this broccoli salad recipe is our favorite. The salad also keeps well in the refrigerator, making it a great make-ahead side to have on hand, as also goes with variety of Southern dishes. 22 of 50 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes 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. 23 of 50 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole 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. 24 of 50 Classic Okra and Tomatoes Southern Living Recipe: Classic Okra and Tomatoes 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. 25 of 50 Pineapple Casserole Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle,Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Pineapple Casserole 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. 26 of 50 Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots 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. 27 of 50 Hashbrown Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole 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. 28 of 50 Hot Water Cornbread Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Hot Water Cornbread Although many prefer cornbread straight from the cast-iron skillet, hot water cornbread is an old-school method we love. It's a particularly great side for anything saucy, or soups and stews, as it sops up every last bit of delicious goodness. 29 of 50 Creamed-Corn Grits Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Creamed-Corn Grits 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. 30 of 50 Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes There's nothing more reminiscent of Mama's cooking than a steaming hot pot of mashed potatoes. These potatoes are so rich and buttery, gravy isn't necessary. 31 of 50 Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese If you're eating macaroni and cheese out of a box, you're doing it wrong. What makes this the best-ever version? Cubes of Cheddar cheese that melt as the pasta bakes, creating pockets of gooey goodness in every bite. 32 of 50 Classic Candied Yams Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Candied Yams 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. 33 of 50 Basic Deviled Eggs Southern Living Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs No one was ever mad at the person who showed up with a tray of deviled eggs. Our filling is made with just the basics, the yolks, a little sweet pickle relish, mustard, and mayo, for a simple but satisfying side. 34 of 50 Wild Rice with Mushrooms Iain Bagwell Recipe: Wild Rice with Mushrooms Budget-friendly and delicious, wild rice is a longtime favorite for Southern casseroles and side dishes. Just six ingredients transform wild rice mix into a hearty rice side for chicken, pork chops, or even fish. 35 of 50 Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread Brian Woodcock Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread 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. 36 of 50 Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Jennifer Causey Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Pretty enough for company but easy enough for weeknights, bacon-wrapped is our favorite way to eat asparagus. The bacon not only adds smoky, savory, salty flavor, but it holds the asparagus together in cute little bundles. 37 of 50 Tomato Aspic Southern Living Recipe: Tomato Aspic 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. 38 of 50 Hush Puppies Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Annette Joseph; Food Styling: Cynthia Grose Recipe: Hush Puppies 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. 39 of 50 Permanent Slaw Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Permanent Slaw 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. 40 of 50 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Jen Causey Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham 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. 41 of 50 Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks 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. 42 of 50 Perfect Pot of Grits Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Perfect Pot of Grits The perfect pot of grits is a Southern staple, although we're always obliged to add cheese. Even if skipping the cheese, remember to stir in a few tablespoons of butter at the end. 43 of 50 Creamed Spinach Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Creamed Spinach 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. 44 of 50 Classic Cranberry Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Cranberry Salad 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. 45 of 50 Potato-Bacon Hash Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Potato-Bacon Hash Every Southern cook has an easy, versatile hash recipe in his or her back pocket. This one, full of bell pepper and spinach, sneaks the veggies in alongside crispy potatoes and bacon. 46 of 50 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Picnic Egg Salad 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. 47 of 50 Collard Green Creole Dirty Rice Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton Recipe: Collard Green Creole Dirty Rice Collard greens add some good-for-you benefits to Creole classic dirty rice. This side is so hearty, with a wedge of cornbread it could be a meal on its own. 48 of 50 Three-Bean Pasta Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Three-Bean Pasta Salad Old-school favorite three-bean salad meets pasta salad in this potluck-perfect side dish. Don't skip celery in this salad, it lends the salad a great crunch and bright green pop of color. 49 of 50 Southern-Style Green Beans Southern Living Recipe: Southern-Style Green Beans Green beans are best when cooked with a ham hock, in our humble opinion. Cooked low and slow, this isn't the crunchy, bright green type of green bean side, but it more than makes up for it with a deep, smokey, meaty flavor. 50 of 50 Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit Will Dickey Recipe: Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit