Easy Southern Living Recipes

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas

One recipe is from scratch and the other is easy enough for your busiest day.

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Mama's Way: Tomato Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart Stayner

Tomato pie is a summer favorite that combines farmers' market favorites—tomatoes and fresh herbs. Pair it with a flaky sour cream pastry crust and you won't be able to resist this dish!

Why We Love Mama's Way

Classic recipe made with simple ingredients
Homemade sour cream pastry crust
Pretty presentation

Recipe: Tomato Pie

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Your Way: Herbed Tomato Tart

Photo: Becky Luigart Stayner

This updated tomato pie is served pizza-style on a puff pastry with a combination of feta and mozzarella cheese. An assortment of herbs along with colorful fresh tomatoes gives this tomato tart its wonderful flavor.

Why We Love Your Way

Great finger food for entertaining
Can use any combination of spices
Frozen puff pastry makes it easy

Recipe: Herbed Tomato Tart

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Mama's Way: Classic Apple Dumplings

Photo by Jennifer Davick, Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Apple Dumplings

Made from scratch, with fresh Rome apples, tender homemade dough, and rich, spiced syrup, Classic Apple Dumplings are definitely worth your time and effort.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Tender, homemade dough
Rich spiced syrup
40-minute bake time

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Your Way: Quick Apple Dumpling Bundles

Photo by Jennifer Davick, Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Quick Apple Dumpling Bundles

Short on time? You can still enjoy the flavors of this classic, comforting dessert. To make Anne’s Quick Apple Bundles you only need 6 ingredients, including refrigerated piecrust, frozen spiced apples, and jarred caramel sauce.

Why We Love Your Way

Only 6 ingredients
Uses a refrigerated piecrust
20-minute bake time

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Mama's Way: Southern-Style Collard Greens

Photo by Jim Franco

It’s the slow cooking method that really brings out that mouth-watering smoky pork flavor and the tender texture of these collards. But, the best part is dipping a piece of cornbread in all that leftover potlikker.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Smoky pork flavor
Tender texture
Delicious potlikker

Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens

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Your Way: Sautéed Greens

Photo by Jim Franco

Ready in just 26 minutes, Sauteed Greens are packed with fresh flavor from chopped ginger and spicy serrano peppers. (And without all the pork usually found in classic collards, it’s a lot better for you!)

Why We Love Your Way

Speedy preparation
Better for you
26-minute cook time

Recipe: Sautéed Greens

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Mama's Way: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

This mouthwatering casserole will satisfy lovers of crunchy pecans and cornflakes as well as marshmallows.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Baked sweet potatoes
Two irresistible toppings
Served family style

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Your Way: Maple Sweet Potato Cups

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Swing by the freezer section for one of our favorite convenience items―frozen sweet potatoes. If you want to skip the meringue, top with miniature marshmallows instead.

Why We Love Your Way

Frozen mashed sweet potatoes
Updated presentation
10-minute bake time

Recipe: Maple Sweet Potato Cups

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Mama's Way: Classic Chicken and Dumplings

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Chicken and Dumplings

This from-scratch favorite makes for luscious comfort food.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Tender homemade dumplings
One-dish family meal
Makes enough to share

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Your Way: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Deli-roasted chicken, cream of chicken soup, and canned biscuits make a quick-and-tasty version of this favorite. One roasted chicken yields about 3 cups of meat.

Why We Love Your Way

Only 7 ingredients
Easy enough for weeknights
Rich, flavorful broth

Step-by-Step Video: Our Easiest Chicken and Dumplings

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Mama's Way: Bev's Famous Meatloaf

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Bev's Famous Meatloaf

This recipe comes from country music star Miranda Lambert's mama. “My mom and I have cooked together as far back as she could bring a stool to the kitchen counter, and her meatloaf has always been my favorite recipe,” she says.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Irresistible home-cooked flavor
Ground beef-and-pork combination
Tender texture

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Your Way: Better-for-You Turkey Meatloaf

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Better-for-You Turkey Meatloaf

We made this healthier version of meatloaf for Miranda Lambert to take on the road. Serve it on a sandwich with chips for a quick meal on the go or with veggies on the side for a meal a bit more mama's way.

Why We Love Your Way

Uses leaner meats
Contains fiber-rich oats
Rich tomato topping

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Mama's Way: Luscious Lemon Bars

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

Bake these classic bar cookies from scratch with Trisha Stevens' recipe. Make them ahead of time and freeze up to 1 month.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Buttery shortbread crust
Rich, fresh lemon filling
Classic dusting of powdered sugar

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Your Way: Lemon Drop Squares

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lemon Drop Squares

This simple yet tasty take on lemon bars has strong weeknight appeal. Jarred lemon curd saves you from squeezing lemon juice and help cuts the prep time for this recipe down to 10 minutes.

Why We Love Your Way

Easy-to-mix crust
No-measuring lemon filling
Hint of brown sugar taste

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Mama's Way: Honey-Bourbon Glazed Ham

Photo: Beau Gustafson

Recipe: Honey-Bourbon Glazed Ham

Roasting ham with cloves makes for a showstopping Southern classic. Your family and friends are sure to love the flavorful sweet glaze. For a twist, try Honey-Bourbon Boneless Glazed Ham.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Delicious hot or cold
Bone-in delivers exceptional flavor
Beautiful on a holiday buffet

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Your Way: Orange Glazed Ham

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Orange Glazed Ham

This savory ham cooks in half the time of a traditional recipe, and the sweet orange glaze will get rave reviews just as strong. Simply spoon the glaze on a smoked, fully cooked boneless ham and stick it in the oven.

Why We Love Your Way

Faster cook time
Perfect size for small families
Easy to carve

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Mama's Way: Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Cheddar and Parmesan combine forces with summery yellow squash for this creamy casserole. For a tasty and colorful twist, substitute sliced zucchini for half of the yellow squash.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Pairs Parmesan and Cheddar
Rich, oven-baked flavor
Feeds a crowd

Recipe: Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

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Your Way: Summer Squash Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Davick

This updated twist on classic yellow squash casserole cooks quickly in the microwave while still delivering all the luscious flavor.

Why We Love Your Way

Buttery-crisp crumb topping
Microwave-quick cook time
Weeknight easy

Recipe: Summer Squash Casserole

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Mama's Way: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Perfect summer peaches by cooking them in a juicy, pastry-topped cobbler. This recipe makes enough for a crowd. Serve hot or cold with sweetened whipping cream or vanilla ice cream.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Fresh peach flavor
Pecan-filled crust
Family reunion favorite

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Your Way: So-Easy Peach Cobbler

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: So-Easy Peach Cobbler

This super-quick recipe serves the traditional blend of cooked peaches and sugar in individual ramekins topped with a crisp round of pie crust. It provides all the delectable taste of peach cobbler you love but is perfect for a weeknight treat or small dinner party.

Why We Love Your Way

Uses less sugar
Fast prep time
Individual party servings

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Mama's Way: Classic Fried Catfish

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Fried Catfish

The secret to this recipe is maintaining an oil temperature of 360˚ to ensure a crispy, golden crust. Serve with lemon slices and your favorite tartar sauce.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Deep-fried goodness
Peppery cornmeal coating
Moist, tender interior

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Your Way: Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

Cornflakes are the secret to a crisp baked coating for this updated classic. Serve with sautéed mixed veggies, such as squash, zucchini, and carrots, and a green salad. For an extra touch of heat, add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce to the buttermilk before chilling the fillets.

Why We Love Your Way

Easy cleanup
Crispy, low-fat crust
Hands-free cooking

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Mama's Way: Zesty Lemon Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Zesty Lemon Pie

Impress your guests or family with the goodness of classic lemon icebox pie. This recipe features from-scratch crust and lemony-rich baked filling.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Fresh-squeezed flavor
Buttery crust
Homemade whipped cream

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Your Way: Lemonade Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lemonade Pie

Prep this no-cook cool pie in just 15 minutes. It's easy to make ahead of time and pull out of the fridge for guests. For a homemade look, freeze crust for five minutes, and then slip it into your favorite pie plate before adding filling.

Why We Love Your Way

No cooking required
Uses simple convenience items
Cheesecake-like texture

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Mama's Way: Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

This classic creamy pasta with chicken, mushrooms, and almonds is pure Southern comfort.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Made-from-scratch Mornay sauce
Toasted almond-and-Parmesan cheese topping
Freezes beautifully

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Your Way: Chicken Marsala Tetrazzini

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Chicken Marsala Tetrazzini

This contemporary twist on classic tetrazzini tosses pasta with Italian proscuitto and peas.

Why We Love Your Way

Light and creamy Parmesan sauce
Sautéed fresh mushrooms and Marsala
Weeknight-easy shortcuts

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Mama's Way: Cinnamon-Pecan Rolls

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Cinnamon-Pecan Rolls

Simple enough for a beginning baker, this easy yeast-roll dough rises in just 30 minutes.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Feather-light yeast dough
Buttery, brown sugar-pecan filling
Rich and creamy vanilla glaze

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Your Way: Bite-Size Cinnamon-Pecan Twirls

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Bite-Size Cinnamon-Pecan Twirls

This miniature twist on pecan sticky buns delivers big homemade flavor in little time.

Why We Love Your Way

Refrigerated crescent-roll dough
Decadent caramel-pecan topping
Ready to bake in 15 minutes

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Mama's Way: Tee's Corn Pudding

Photo: Jennifer Davick

This classic recipe has a rich, soufflé-like texture without the hassle. The result is an impressive holiday side dish the entire family will love.

Why We Love Mama's Way

Fresh corn flavor
Delicate texture
Family-gathering favorite

Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding

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Your Way: Parmesan Corn Pudding

Photo: Jennifer Davick

The tasty side dish takes a quicker approach to classic corn pudding. You'll love the cheesy Parmesan twist.

Why We Love Your Way

Uses less dairy and eggs
Fast prep time
Baked cheese top

Recipe: Parmesan Corn Pudding

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Mama's Way: Game Day Chili

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Game Day Chili

These meaty favorite is perfect for a football party. It freezes beautifully for a super quick meal another day.

Why We Love Mama's Way

A cold-weather classic
Rich flavor from the beer
Easy, on-hand ingredients

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Mama's Way or Your Way?

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Mama's Way: Tomato Pie

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Your Way: Herbed Tomato Tart

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Mama's Way: Classic Apple Dumplings

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Your Way: Quick Apple Dumpling Bundles

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Mama's Way: Southern-Style Collard Greens

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Your Way: Sautéed Greens

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Mama's Way: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

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Your Way: Maple Sweet Potato Cups

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Mama's Way: Classic Chicken and Dumplings

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Your Way: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

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Mama's Way: Bev's Famous Meatloaf

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Your Way: Better-for-You Turkey Meatloaf

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Mama's Way: Luscious Lemon Bars

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Your Way: Lemon Drop Squares

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Mama's Way: Honey-Bourbon Glazed Ham

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Your Way: Orange Glazed Ham

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Mama's Way: Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

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Your Way: Summer Squash Casserole

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Mama's Way: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

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Your Way: So-Easy Peach Cobbler

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Mama's Way: Classic Fried Catfish

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Your Way: Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish

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Mama's Way: Zesty Lemon Pie

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Your Way: Lemonade Pie

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Mama's Way: Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

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Your Way: Chicken Marsala Tetrazzini