Food and Recipes Dish 30 Old-Fashioned Southern Recipes You Should Learn How to Make By Southern Living Editors Updated on July 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Brian Woodcock There are some dishes that every Southerner should know how to make. From cheese straws and biscuits to sweet tea and peach cobbler, these recipes are staples on our dinner tables. They're beloved classics that have been passed down through the generations. We learned these recipes from our mothers and grandmothers—just like they did. If any of these dishes aren't already in your repertoire, bring out the blank recipe cards. There's nothing like mastering a new dish, trying it out on family and friends, and tweaking the recipe until you know it's finally perfect. Whether you're cooking for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, these classic Southern dishes are bound to have a special place on the table and in your heart. 01 of 30 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole Squash casserole is a staple dish found at meat-and-three diners and at church covered-dish suppers. 02 of 30 Fried Green Tomatoes Jennifer Davick Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes This hyper-Southern dish is so popular that there have been books and films dedicated to it. 03 of 30 Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits Will Dickey Recipe: Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit When in doubt, whip up a batch of classic buttermilk biscuits. They're perfect perched on the edge of your dinner plate or served for dessert alongside a warm cobbler or a scoop of jam. 04 of 30 Classic Sweet Tea Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Classic Sweet Tea If you arrive for a Southern-style meal, a glass of sweet tea is sure to be on offer. 05 of 30 Deviled Eggs Southern Living Recipe: Deviled Eggs Every Southerner should have a deviled eggs recipe. Add your own flourishes, or borrow one of our recipes and make it your own. Any backyard barbecue, shower, or luncheon should have plenty of deviled eggs on the menu. 06 of 30 Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese No matter the day or occasion, pimiento cheese is an easy choice. 07 of 30 Tomato Tea Sandwiches Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches You just can't have an elegant Southern luncheon or shower without an array of dainty tea sandwiches. 08 of 30 Skillet Cornbread Brian Woodcock Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread The best way to make classic Southern cornbread? In a skillet—with browned butter. Hands down. 09 of 30 Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding You can never have too many servings of this delicious dessert. It's just indulgent enough. 10 of 30 Southern Shrimp and Grits Iain Bagwell Recipe: Southern Shrimp and Grits You don't have to be on the Gulf Coast to enjoy shrimp and grits—but it sure helps. 11 of 30 Mama's Fried Chicken Southern Living Recipe: Mama's Fried Chicken Who knows fried chicken better than a Southern mama? We rest our case. 12 of 30 Classic Mint Julep Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Rachael Burrow Recipe: Classic Mint Julep Mint Juleps aren't just for the Derby. They're a refreshing cocktail choice for any and all hot summer days down South. 13 of 30 Fresh Peach Cobbler Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Fresh Peach Cobbler Once peaches come into season in the summertime, you know that peach cobbler is soon to follow. 14 of 30 Chicken Pot Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pies When a meal begins with a scoop of chicken pot pie—flaky on top and steaming inside—you know it's going to be one for the books. 15 of 30 Caramel Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Caramel Cake Every Southern baker needs an old-fashioned cake recipe for those occasions when they want to impress. This one does the trick. 16 of 30 Chicken and Dumplings Recipe: Chicken and Dumplings Arguably the ultimate comfort food, this meal is a perennial cold-weather favorite. 17 of 30 Hummingbird Cake Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Hummingbird Cake No Southern celebration is complete without a slice of heavenly Hummingbird Cake. 18 of 30 Shrimp and Okra Gumbo Southern Living Recipe: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo Every Southerner should have a good gumbo recipe at their fingertips. You know, just in case. 19 of 30 Pound Cake Recipe: Million Dollar Pound Cake No one says no to pound cake. This recipe is so popular, it's practically an heirloom. 20 of 30 Crispy Andouille Hush Puppies Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Crispy Andouille Hush Puppies If you have seafood on the table, you need a few hush puppies, too. Make a double batch of this recipe, because they'll disappear quickly. 21 of 30 Tee's Corn Pudding Jennifer Davick Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding It's not just for Thanksgiving. Corn pudding is welcome at any special occasion. 22 of 30 Southern-Style Collard Greens Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens When the weather turns cool, we know that the collards are soon to follow. 23 of 30 Key Lime Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Heavenly Key Lime Pie Take a trip to breezy Key West with one bite of this classic Southern pie. 24 of 30 Sausage Gravy and Biscuits Southern Living Recipe: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits Two of our favorite things combine to create this comfort breakfast food. 25 of 30 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie It'd be a shame to make it through autumn without running into a pecan pie or two. This skillet version is a "deadly" delicious variation. 26 of 30 Fried Okra Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal How do you make your okra? Whether grilled, fried, or pickled, it is a classic of the highest order. 27 of 30 Cheese Straws Southern Living Recipe: Spicy Cheese Straws These are the quickest thing to disappear in the house, at all times. Luckily, they're easy to make. 28 of 30 Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese This dish goes from weeknight dinner to the holiday table, and that's true versatility. 29 of 30 Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad When barbecue is on the grill, potato salad needs to be on the table. It's practically a commandment. 30 of 30 Southern Barbecue Greg DuPree Recipe: Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwiches While every Southerner does barbecue differently, this is a great starter recipe for anyone new to the dish. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit