Food and Recipes 30 New Southern Classics To Make in 2021—Inspired By the South's Most Iconic Dishes By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South.She earned a B.A. in Journalism at the University of Georgia. She hopes to inspire your travel bucket list with her features on road trips through Texas Hill Country, bourbon tours in Kentucky, and the best beach getaways on the Gulf Coast. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on February 6, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Whether you grew up eating casseroles straight from your grandmother's recipe box or discovered the buttery, cheesy, and sometimes deep-fried delicacies later in life—hey, it's never too late to pledge allegiance to tomato pie or red beans and rice!—there's a magic to classic Southern dishes that can't be replicated. While many say that there's no reason to change a good thing, we're also not afraid to embrace fresh and modern takes on these iconic Southern recipes that make dinner even easier to throw together on any night, as well as offer a slightly healthier spin on your favorite indulgent food. (Looking at you, smothered pork chops.) We've rounded up new versions of everyone's most beloved Southern recipes that make them feel totally refreshed for any occasion, including classic desserts in unexpected forms like our Banana Pudding Cheesecake and quick-and-easy hacks like our buttermilk drop biscuits that will take you only a fraction of the time required to bake our traditional buttermilk biscuits—but are just as delicious. Tick your way through all 30 of these new Southern classics every month of 2021 to get a taste of both old-fashioned and brand-new. 01 of 30 Fried Deviled Eggs Micah A. Leal Recipe: Fried Deviled Eggs This bite-sized Southern delicacy gets a funky deep-fried makeover that we never knew we needed. The added crunch is everything. 02 of 30 Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Buttermilk Drop Biscuits While flaky buttermilk biscuits are the ultimate Southern classic, these drop biscuits are much easier and faster to accomplish in less than an hour from start to finish. Plus, whole-grain mustard gives a delicious kick. 03 of 30 Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans Bet you didn't think that this deep-fried favorite could be made way healthier (but just as delicious) by baking in the oven with a crunchy panko crust? 04 of 30 Banana Pudding Cheesecake Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake Let's face it: You'll never top your grandmother's banana pudding. However, we do venture to say that this cheesecake take on the Southern dessert never disappoints. 05 of 30 Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese If you never thought about making macaroni and cheese on a sheet pan, consider yourself unlucky. This recipe not only turns out melty pasta with a perfectly crispy top, but it also adds butternut squash into the mix for a healthy touch of sweetness. 06 of 30 Instant Pot Fried Chicken Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Instant Pot Fried Chicken There's the old-school way of making fried chicken, and then there's this way that takes way less time and makes a fraction of the greasy mess. 07 of 30 Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes This Sunday night staple gets a healthy lift that makes the dish creamier than ever before. Riced cauliflower in addition to potatoes creates a fluffy, velvety side. 08 of 30 Peach Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Peach Custard Pie This might be one of our most standout reader-loved desserts of the past year—and for good reason. It combines two Southern icons, peach cobbler and custard pie. 09 of 30 Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls Old-fashioned sausage balls meet the ultimate Southern spread, pimiento cheese. The result? A cheesy bite-sized nibble with just enough kick. 10 of 30 Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs Photographer: Greg DuPree Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Recipe: Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs Ribs in the oven? Some may call it heresy, while we just call it weeknight smart. 11 of 30 Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits This country breakfast icon doesn't need much tweaking, but we'll always accept a crowd-pleasing casserole makeover that lets us dish out helpings of warm, creamy, sausage-studded, biscuit-topped deliciousness. 12 of 30 Jalapeño Cornbread Sticks Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Jalapeño Cornbread Sticks After you dunk one of these spicy cornbread sticks into a big bowl of chili, you'll never go back. Trust us. 13 of 30 Hummingbird Bundt Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Hummingbird Bundt Cake No fussing over icing three layers? We'll always take that deal. This reader-loved Bundt turns to a gratuitous drizzle cream cheese glaze instead. 14 of 30 Fried Green Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Fried Green Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing Who knew that fried green tomatoes could be in the same sentence as salad? This recipe makes any green veggie bowl feel way more special. 15 of 30 Sloppy Joe Casserole with Dinner Rolls Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole with Dinner Rolls These aren't your cafeteria's sloppy Joes. It's cheesy, savory, a little sweet, topped with toasty Hawaiian rolls, and ready in just 30 minutes. 16 of 30 Air Fryer Okra Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Air Fryer Okra Less oil, less time, less stress—just as much crunch and flavor. Air-fried okra is about to be your new favorite side dish. 17 of 30 Chili Cheese Enchiladas Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chili Cheese Enchiladas Tex-Mex just got even more seriously appealing thanks to this cross between Frito pie and enchilada casserole. 18 of 30 Purple Sweet Potato Pie Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Recipe: Purple Sweet Potato Pie You've never before seen sweet potato pie quite like this one, but you'll be so glad you're now in the know. The filling is made with purple sweet potatoes (we prefer North Carolina-grown Stokes Purple) and coconut milk for a super creamy, just-sweet-enough treat. No food coloring required. 19 of 30 Creamy Collard Green Soup with Bacony Croutons Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Creamy Collard Green Soup with Bacony Croutons Collards and pork are a tale as old as time, but not always in this unique form. This creamy soup is warm and cozy for any night—just make sure to add plenty of the bacon-flavored croutons. 20 of 30 Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas Enchiladas are the ultimate Tex-Mex crowd-pleaser, and this recipe turns it on its head by using tangy buffalo chicken, blue cheese dressing, Monterey Jack cheese, and celery. 21 of 30 Memphis-Style BBQ Nachos Greg DuPree Recipe: Memphis-Style BBQ Nachos Turns out, that characteristic melt-in-your-mouth Memphis barbecue doesn't only belong on a sandwich bun. Make your own nacho plate instead. 22 of 30 Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Combining two Southern delicacies, this recipe is a juicy bite of crunchy chicken and creamy pimiento cheese. In other words, totally tasty. 23 of 30 Spiced Pecan Pie Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Spiced Pecan Pie Bars Turn this festive pie into a grabbable snack complete with a flavorful twist courtesy ground cinnamon and ginger. Serve with ice cream and caramel sauce. 24 of 30 Muffin Tin Meatloaf Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Prissy Lee Recipe: Muffin Tin Meatloaf Meatloaf just got even more weeknight-friendly by making miniature "loaves" right in your muffin tin. These caramelized bites are best served on their own with mashed potatoes and vegetables or on bread the next day like a meatball sub. 25 of 30 Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes Quickly pan-frying for a crisp, crunchy exterior is the key to this lightened-up fried chicken that's finished in the oven for a super juicy interior. 26 of 30 Instant Pot Collard Greens Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Instant Pot Collard Greens Collard greens usually need plenty of time and loving to make dinner-ready, but this modern take lets you whip up a mouthwatering batch in just 40 minutes. 27 of 30 Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake The trick to this pretty upside-down dessert? Using real pineapple—as opposed to canned—and fresh ginger to add a welcome zingy kick to the old-fashioned dish. 28 of 30 Deviled Grits Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar Recipe: Deviled Grits This unique recipe will surprise you, so don't knock it until you try it. It combines grits, eggs, brown sugar bacon, and orange juice—yep, you read that correctly—for a perfectly balanced brunch dish. 29 of 30 Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese Greg DuPree, Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese Bet you didn't see that one coming. You won't be missing any of the lactose after tasting this renowned vegan recipe for macaroni and cheese. 30 of 30 Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Recipe: Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream Right when you thought that a slice of traditional Key lime pie couldn't be topped, this big-batch slab pie with cheery strawberry whipped cream just slides right into those taste buds. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit