Our editors test and approve all recipes featured in our magazine, but these picks stand out above the rest.
Maple-Pecan Sticky Buns
Recipe: Maple-Pecan Sticky Buns
Enjoy these morning glories without skimping on size. The secret? A low-fat roll mix creates extra-indulgent (and easy) sticky buns. To make ahead, assemble unbaked rolls in pans, cover with plastic wrap, and chill overnight. Let stand 1 1/2 to 2 hours to rise; bake as directed.
Sautéed Greens with Olive Oil-Fried Eggs
Recipe: Sautéed Greens with Olive Oil-Fried Eggs
The key here is to fry the eggs fast (listen for the sizzle) and baste the yolks with the hot oil until they're opaque. Serve over Sautéed Greens and with a side of crusty bread.
Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto
Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs with Pasta and Pesto
This stovetop-to-oven method yields crisp, dark-golden skin and juicy, tender meat.
Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Recipe: Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies
For an even chewier texture, substitute 1/2 cup hazelnut or almond flour for 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.
Lemon Bar Cheesecake
Recipe: Lemon Bar Cheesecake
This indulgent recipe marries two delicious desserts: lemon bars and cheesecake. Using a dark springform pan ensures a golden brown crust without having to bake before adding the filling.
Collards and Kimchi
Recipe: Collards and Kimchi
Edward Lee, chef and owner of 610 Magnolia (Louisville, KY), celebrates two humble ingredients, using sautéed country ham and onions to create a robust harmony of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors.
Piña Colada Icebox Pie
Recipe: Piña Colada Icebox Pie
Forget the rolling pin and tricked-out lattice topping—just pat the crust in the pan, add a little tropical flair (we're talking a delicious pineapple-coconut filling here), then bake and chill.
Roasted Carrots with Avocado and Feta Vinaigrette
Recipe: Roasted Carrots with Avocado and Feta Vinaigrette
In this salad, char, spice, and creaminess meld. The key to roasting veggies is to use similarly sized pieces. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet, and roast in a very hot oven until just tender.
Pepper Jelly and Ginger Glazed Ham
Recipe: Pepper Jelly and Ginger Glazed Ham
You can use any supermarket bone-in or semi-boneless smoked ham for this recipe, but choose one brined in natural juices. Or order from one of our favorite small Southern producers. (For a list, visit southernliving.com/ham).
35th Anniversary Hummingbird Cake
Recipe: 35th Anniversary Hummingbird Cake
Over-ripe bananas (yellow peels splotched with brown flecks) are best for baking. You won't get the same depth of flavor or moistness without them.
Strawberries and Cream Cake
Recipe: Strawberries and Cream Cake
We used 6 (8-inch) disposable aluminum foil cake pans, so we could fill all the pans at once. This way, if you bake the layers in batches, the second batch is ready to go in the oven as soon as the first is done.
Woodshed Margarita
Recipe: Woodshed Margarita
This backyard cocktail gets its smoky flavor from cedar-infused tequila.
Biscuit BLTs
Recipe: Biscuit BLTs
Try this Southern twist on a classic. Basil pesto gives a fresh spin on these tried-and-true flavors.
Sweet Onion Stacks
Recipe: Sweet Onion Stacks
Salty strips of bacon and a tart Champagne vinaigrette play against the layered richness of sweet char-grilled onions and creamy goat cheese. Feel free to mix and match the stacks, maybe even slip in a sliced peach or two.
Caramelized Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin
Recipe: Caramelized Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin
For maximum flavor, use a high-quality brand of frozen puff pastry dough that tastes of butter and gives rise to crisp, flaky layers.
Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip
Recipe: Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip
If you've never tried homemade ricotta, then you're in for a tasty surprise. This will change the way you think about the store-bought kind. Be sure to stir only when indicated in the recipe.
Watch Us Make It: Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip
Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars
Recipe: Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars
Looking for a party-perfect treat that's a cut above the classic fruit-filled cobbler? Consider it found.
Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie
Recipe: Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie
We raised the ante on classic tomato pie with a sour cream crust studded with bacon, layers of colorful tomatoes, and plenty of cheese and herbs to tie it all together. For best results, seed the tomatoes and drain the slices before baking.
Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad
Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad
Bragging rights for this flavor-packed, perfectly balanced favorite (from The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook) go to Blair Hobbs of Oxford, Mississippi.
Cooking Video: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad
Candied Jalapeños
Recipe: Candied Jalapeños
This is our new go-to summer condiment. Chill at least 48 hours ahead so the jalapeños have time to take on a fiery-sweet crunch.
Watch Us Make It: Candied Jalapeños
Patchwork Cobbler
Recipe: Patchwork Cobbler
Topped with squares of sugar-crusted pastry, this cobbler shows off summer fruits in a rich, just-sweet-enough-filling.
Watch Us Make It: Patchwork Cobbler
Two-Step Fresh Peach Pound Cake
Recipe: Two-Step Fresh Peach Pound Cake
Turn out a high-rise cake with a moist, tender crumb by layering the ingredients in the bowl in the order specified. Don't have a stand mixer with a 4-qt. bowl and paddle attachment? Prep the batter the traditional way.
Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Recipe: Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Blister and burst tomatoes under the broiler to hide imperfections and concentrate flavor. Use extras to fill omelets or sandwiches.
Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad
Recipe: Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad
Build the base of this sweet, salty, and crunchy salad with any melon.
Chicken-Vegetable Kabobs with White BBQ Sauce
Recipe: Chicken-Vegetable Kabobs with White BBQ Sauce
Swap new veggies to transform the meal. Go Mediterranean with cauliflower florets and eggplant.
Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake
Recipe: Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake
Top a showstopping crown of Mascarpone Frosting with swirls of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce and a scattering of salty-sweet Spiced Pecans. Caramel sauce, rather than fosting, sandwiches together the moist cake layers.
Grill-Roasted Chicken
Recipe: Grill-Roasted Chicken
Grilling over the indirect heat of a two-zone fire mimics oven heat. An aromatic rack of early fall apples and vegetables catches all the chicken’s flavorful juices.
Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders
Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sliders
For a cool, crunchy slider topping, toss thinly sliced celery and fresh parsley leaves with a splash of Champagne vinegar and drizzle of olive oil. Season with table salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Pork-and-Green Bean Stir-Fry
Recipe: Pork-and-Green Bean Stir-Fry
The key to this dish is developing a nice char on the green beans. To do so, heat the oil in your skillet until it almost smokes before adding the beans. Let them sear, stirring every 20 to 30 seconds, and they'll take on color. Feel free to sub thinly sliced strips of red bell pepper instead of hot chiles.
Skillet Cornbread
Recipe: Skillet Cornbread
Quickly incorporate the hot bacon drippings into the batter with a fork. When you pour it back into the hot skillet, listen for the sizzle. That sound means your crust will be dark golden and crisp.
Tex-Mex Chicken Chili with Lime
Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Chili with Lime
Store-bought rotisserie chicken shortcuts the cook time, while white ale adds spice, body, and flavor.
Buttermilk-Glazed Mini Fig Cakes with Vanilla Hard Sauce
Recipe: Buttermilk-Glazed Mini Fig Cakes with Vanilla Hard Sauce
Muffin pans make the perfect baking vessels for these little fig cakes. Gussy them up by spooning a dollop or piping a silver dollar of hard sauce on top, and then garnish them with halved fresh figs, fresh herbs, or even pecan halves.
Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie
Recipe: Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie
A cross between a fudge pie and pecan pie, you can experiment with different looks by arranging the pecans however you like.
Cooking Video: Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie
Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Recipe: Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Make and refrigerate without the topping a day ahead. Whip and add the topping before serving.
Naughty Olives
Recipe: Naughty Olives
This spirited olive garnish makes a tasty and delightful food gift.
Package Them In: Weck Tall 9.8-oz. Glass Jar ($3.50; westelm.com)
Download the Tags: Naughty Olives
Pecan-and-Dill-Crusted Salmon
Recipe: Pecan-and-Dill-Crusted Salmon
This refined whole side of salmon takes only 10 minutes to prep and makes for a stunning presentation. Whether you serve it for a holiday dinner, casual brunch, or Sunday supper you and your family will definitely want to keep this one on the rotation.
Pizza Casserole Deluxe
Recipe: Pizza Casserole Deluxe
Win over all of the kids and grown-ups in your house with this new instant classic that feeds more than two everything pizzas. Fresh and packaged mozzarella give it the best melty consistency.
Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake
Recipe: Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake
The trick to creating looping swirls is to gently layer the batter around the Bundt pan with a small cookie scoop. No need to swirl with a knife; it will marble as it bakes. Finish it off with a Snowy White Vanilla Glaze.
Red Velvet-White Chocolate Cheesecake
Recipe: Red Velvet-White Chocolate Cheesecake
Whimsy meets elegance in all five layers of this red velvet-white chocolate wonder.
