25 Classic Southern Recipes Every Home Cook Should Know By Heart

Recipe: Mama's Fried Chicken

The best thing about fried chicken? It doesn't ask for much. All you need is a simple coating of seasoned flour after two hours of letting the chicken soak in buttermilk. (That step, however simple, is imperative.) Then, crispy fried perfection.

Recipe: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

There's really no excuse not to know how to make this three-ingredient recipe that bolsters any blissful Southern breakfast. When in doubt, our classic Buttermilk Biscuits make a delicious base for breakfast.

Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese​​​​​​​

Is it really a party without pimiento? We think not. Southerners know that just a few dashes of Worcestershire, or a couple sprinkles of cayenne, make the difference between basic and out-of-this-world.

Recipe: New Orleans Red Beans and Rice
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Louisianan by origin, red beans and rice should be a dinner staple throughout the South. Starting with the same aromatics as most—onion, bell pepper, celery—it's a heavenly free-for-all after that. For some, ham hocks, andouille sausage, or bacon are a must; for others, it's pickled or salt pork. Some serve it with fried pork chops; others omit the smoked sausage in the pot and serve it with a link instead.

Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs

This favorite Southern snack and side doesn't always get the credit it's due. Sure, it's never the star of the spread, but well-seasoned deviled eggs disappear quicker than any casserole. Don't forget the heirloom deviled egg tray.

Recipe: Chicken Bog

You might know this old-fashioned recipe by any number of names, but regardless, it's always a delicious pot full of chicken and rice. At the heart, it calls for cooking rice in chicken stock, adding shredded chicken, and going heavy on the pepper. 

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

To Southerners, squash casserole is king. As much so as its sibling, the green bean casserole. (Here's our favorite recipe for that.) These are dishes you'll cook your entire life, so why not master them now?

Recipe: Red Rice

Lowcountry cooks have been making red rice for nearly 300 years, a dish that draws primarily from Gullah-Geechee culture. Essentially a pilaf (also known as pilau, perloo, perlou, and so forth), red rice is a regional delicacy that lets you play around with ingredients. Tomatoes are the must-have ingredient!

Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws

These might be the hallmark of Southern hosting. In fact, a batch of these simple cheese straws can carry an entire party on its back. Learn it, and learn it well.

Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens

Collard greens make it easy. Don't separate them from their favorite friends—ham hocks and bacon—and we won't have any problems. Apple cider vinegar, sugar, and garlic give a nice touch.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Here's a Mama-approved hack: Use refrigerated piecrust for the dumplings. It's the time-saving tip that'll get chicken and dumplings on the dinner table a little bit faster.

Recipe: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo
Recipe: Chicken-and Sausage Gumbo

In the realm of Louisiana cooking, gumbo is Mama's specialty. A Southern cook can conjure this stew with whatever's on hand—be it Andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, or okra. (Okra is the ideal thickening agent.) The base requires aromatics like onion, bell pepper, and celery. Hot sauce is always appreciated.

Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread

A skillet of perfect cornbread will come together every single time if you learn this simple ratio. Browned butter is the extra step that gives this cornbread its "perfect" title.

Recipe: Vera Stewart's Egg Salad

Egg salad is the most nostalgic of spreads. For this recipe, we recommend adding a dab or two of Dijon mustard to the hard-boiled eggs, Duke's, and seasonings. Tack on chicken salad and ham salad to your list, and you'll have mastered the Southern spread trio.

Recipe: Traditional Chicken-Fried Steak

Much like fried chicken, the magic of this Southern classic lies in its humble simplicity. Seasoned, dredged in flour, dipped in egg-milk mixture, and pan-fried in oil—that's about it. Oh, but don't dare forget about the pepper-cream gravy, which is made from the drippings.

Recipe: Fried Delacata Catfish

Frying up fresh catfish is something Southerners do when feeling frisky—or during Lent. Stone-ground cornmeal makes for the crispiest crust you've ever tasted, and hearty seasoning will steer you home.

Recipe: Shrimp and Grits

The moment that a coast-dwelling Southerner decided to combine creamy grits with fresh shrimp should go down in history. If you've lived in the South long enough, a good pot of grits should basically manifest on command—then layer it with shrimp, bacon, and its dressed-up drippings.

Recipe: Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie, though comforting and classic, is a little involved. A couple Southern-loved shortcuts? Use biscuit dough for the topping, store-bought if you're in a pinch, and frozen veggies are your friends.

Recipe: Smoky Mountain Brunswick Stew

Just like what they say about Kentucky's burgoo: "If it walked, crawled, or flew, it goes in Brunswick stew." Each Southern cook has a secret combination of ingredients, but most agree that corn, butter or lima beans, and tomatoes are essential. There's still debate whether this dish hails from Georgia or Virginia.

Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad
Recipe: Southern-Style Potato Salad

Potato salad doesn't like being overwhelmed with ingredients. A simple, no-fail combination: potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, mustard, celery, onion, sweet pickle relish, and of course mayo. The rest is personalized seasoning.

Recipe: Banana Pudding

Though we love our cakes and pies, nothing is easier to know and love than this classic banana pudding. It takes a page straight from grandmother's recipe box. (Note: You can rebel by using that vanilla pudding packet in your pantry.)

Recipe: Easy Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler is the ultimate classic. Even if you practically burn water on the stove, you can make this easy six-ingredient recipe.

Recipe: Death by Chocolate

Layers of moist chocolate cake, milky chocolate pudding, slightly salty chocolate crumbles, and freshly whipped cream make this scoopable dessert (that you'll hear by different names) a fitting companion for any chocolate lover.

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

This boozy confection is a Southern holiday favorite worth knowing. We'll vouch for any recipe that features one ingredient from the bar cart, while the other three ingredients are gloriously store-bought.

Recipe: Million Dollar Pound Cake

This is as timeless as it gets. A basic pound cake can fit in anywhere from bridal showers to big potlucks. Serve with toppings of your choice, including fruit and whipped cream.