Find recipes for the tastiest dishes from some of our favorite diners and dives featured in Off the Eaten Path and Off the Eaten Path Second Helpings.
Related: 50 Top Rated Recipes of 2016
Pork Chop Sandwich
Recipe: Pork Chop Sandwich
This famed menu item from Snappy Lunch may be the messiest pork dish in North Carolina. A pan-fried pork tenderloin topped with chili, coleslaw, lettuce, and tomato oozes flavor with every bite, and will keep you full until suppertime. Load up the fried pork with plenty of mustard and coleslaw for a real Southern treat. Looking for variations? Try some of our favorite coleslaw recipes, like fennel slaw or Texas slaw.
For traditionalists, we might suggest sticking with South Carolina slaw. Make sure you allot at least an hour for your slaw to chill before topping the sandwich for the perfect blend of hot, crispy fried pork with cold, refreshing slaw.
Tour Snappy Lunch: Have a Meal in Mayberry
Apple Pie
Recipe: Apple Pie
Fruit pies are the most popular dishes at Greensboro's most famous eatery, PieLab. A dollop of whipped cream or sour cream is this sweet apple pie's perfect pairing.
Tour Pielab: A Delicious Equation
Beignets
Recipe: Beignets
Take charge of this sticky dough by dusting your hands and work surface with flour before rolling out the dough.
Tour Cafe Beignet: Best Beignets in the Big Easy
Benton's Bacon-Infused Cocktail
Recipe: Benton's Bacon-Infused Cocktail
The idea of a bacon-bourbon cocktail was born at a bar named PDT in—of all places—New York City. Here's Mr. Benton's version.
Tour Benton's: Smoky Mountain Bacon Sensation
Carol Fay's Famous Meatloaf
Recipe: Carol Fay's Famous Meatloaf
Named for the late great and head biscuit maker at Nashville's Loveless Cafe and Motel, this moist meatloaf recipe is a perfect bite of Southern hospitality.
Tour Loveless Cafe and Motel: Memorable Music City Dive
Colonial Stuffed French Toast
Recipe: Colonial Stuffed French Toast
This delicious recipe from Colonial Pancake House lends itself to fruit fillings, but you might also experiment with chocolate chips or even crumbled sausage.
Tour Colonial Pancake House: Colonial Pancake and Waffle House
Corn-and-Crab Chowder
Recipe: Corn-and-Crab Chowder
Loads of fresh crabmeat dress up this convenience-style soup from Richard's Seafood Patio.
Tour Richard's Seafood Patio: Succulent Seafood Deep in the Bayou
Country Smothered Pork Chops
Recipe: Country Smothered Pork Chops
This Southern staple rules the day at The Dinner Bell in Mississippi with its delicious, savory sauce and tender, home-style chops.
Tour The Dinner Bell: The Dinner Bell Rings for Lunch
Drunk Shrimp
Recipe: Drunk Shrimp
If you choose to use shrimp with the heads on, use 1 1/2 pounds.
Tour Richard's Seafood Patio: Succulent Seafood Deep in the Bayou
George Harvell's Watermelon Ribs
Recipe: George Harvell's Watermelon Ribs
These ultra-tender ribs are on the salty side. If desired, cut back on the dry rub. St. Louis-style ribs are spareribs with the top bony and fatty section trimmed off, leaving single vertical bones.
Tour Loveless Cafe: Memorable Music City Dive
Hash Brown Casserole
Recipe: Hash Brown Casserole
This heavenly casserole from Loveless Cafe and Motel challenges the mindset that hash browns only belong on a breakfast plate. Pre-shredded potatoes streamline this favorite dish. And while grammarians may argue whether it is "hash brown casserole" or "hashbrown casserole," we'll just have a second helping.
Tour Loveless Cafe: Memorable Music City Dive
Loretta's Bread Pudding
Recipe: Loretta's Bread Pudding
Thick French bread slices and plenty of sugar and cinnamon make up this irresistable bread pudding from Big John's Shake Shack.
Tour the Shake Shack: Classic 1950s Diner
Peach Pie
Recipe: Peach Pie
This easy and delicious peach pie from PieLab won't disappoint with its combination of fresh peaches and ground cinnamon.
Tour Pielab: A Delicious Equation
Pecan Pie
Recipe: Pecan Pie
Here's a tip from the recipe masterminds at Loveless Cafe and Motel: Let the pie set and keep at room temperature for perfect slices.
Tour Loveless Cafe: Memorable Music City Dive
South Carolina Shrimp Gravy and Grits
Recipe: South Carolina Shrimp Gravy and Grits
The generous amount of Low Country Seasoning leaves enough left over to use in other seafood recipes.
Tour Grits & Groceries: Small Town Southern Dive
Southern Fried Catfish
Recipe: Southern Fried Catfish
This flaky fried catfish is laced with homemade Creole Seasoning for a kick.
Tour Grits & Groceries: Small Town Southern Dive
Tomato Pie
Recipe: Tomato Pie
Drain the tomatoes on paper towels to absorb the maximum moisture before baking.
Tour Grits & Groceries: Small Town Southern Dive
Blow Fly Inn Pimiento Cheese Burgers
Recipe: Blow Fly Inn Pimiento Cheese Burgers
Creamy and spicy, the Roasted Red Pepper Pimiento Cheese adds just the right kick to this burger. Use any leftover cheese in finger sandwiches or as a dip with celery sticks and crackers.
Tour Blow Fly Inn: No Ordinary Inn
Bowens Island Lump Crab Cakes
Recipe: Bowens Island Lump Crab Cakes
Moist, salty, and fantastic, these rival anything from Maryland.
Tour Bowens Island Restaurant: A Favorite Charleston Seafood Dive
Dish's Chicken & Dumplings
Recipe: Dish's Chicken & Dumplings
Hearty and rich—these may be the best dumplings ever. To save time, you can buy a whole deli-roasted chicken instead of roasting your own.
Tour Dish: Neighborhood Dive
Dish's Vanilla-Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
Recipe: Dish's Vanilla-Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
Neither too sweet nor too boozy, this pie is still definitely an indulgence.
Tour Dish: Neighborhood Dive
Godsey's Kickin' Chicken Sandwiches
Recipe: Godsey's Kickin' Chicken Sandwiches
Spicy, smoky, and a little sweet, this pulled chicken sandwich delivers. At the restaurant, it's made with meat from whole Cajun-spiced chickens that are slowly smoked over hickory. We made it faster with hot cooked chicken from the grocery deli. Serve it with Cobra Sauce.
Tour Godsey's Grill: Jonesboro's Gem
PieLab's Butterscotch Pecan Pie
Recipe: PieLab's Butterscotch Pecan Pie
The butterscotch flavor is subtle, adding an interesting twist without overwhelming this Southern classic. And the experts at PieLab have ensured that the filling fits the piecrust perfectly.
Tour Pielab: A Delicious Equation
Uncle Lou's Caramel Icing
Recipe: Uncle Lou's Caramel Icing
As caramel icings go, this far-from-ornery one is decidedly easy to prepare.
Tour Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken: Uncle Lou's Memphis Dive
Uncle Lou's Chocolate Icing
Recipe: Uncle Lou's Chocolate Icing
Very sweet, very creamy, and a little thinner than most, this icing is ideal for a 13- x 9-inch cake.
Tour Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken: Uncle Lou's Memphis Dive
Weaver D's Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
Recipe: Weaver D's Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
Serve these moist muffins warm and with plenty of butter. They bake best in heavy-duty (heavier weight) muffin pans. Leftovers freeze well when sealed tightly in a zip-top plastic freezer bag.
Tour Weaver D's: Favorite College Town Dive
Weaver D's Squash Casserole
Recipe: Weaver D's Squash Casserole
Creamy and simple, this tastes like the sort grandmama used to make.
Tour Weaver D's: Favorite College Town Dive
