Food and Recipes Dish Potlucks Grandma's Favorite Family Reunion Recipes By Mary Alice Russell Mary Alice Russell Mary Alice Russell is a Southern Living fellow who is starting her career in lifestyle journalism. Primarily focused on social media and digital production, Mary Alice is excited to hone her skills and dedicate her professional life to beautiful things, from homes to hearts.A recent graduate of Washington and Lee University, Mary Alice majored in journalism and art history. At W&L, she was co-editor-in-chief of her school paper, The Ring-tum Phi, with her best friend and interned for The Welcome Home Podcast. Now based in Birmingham, Alabama, Mary Alice is a Virginia native who is proud to hail from the land of ham and peanuts. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 23, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman There are certain recipes that belong at a family reunion. And even if Grandma can't be at a family gathering in person, her spirit lives on through her recipes, from her famous fried chicken to crowd-favorite peach cobbler. We've compiled a list that we believe will make the ultimate reunion meal that the entire family will expect to see, from the Southern Sweet Tea to Ham Delights to Eclair Cake. There is something to satisfy every cousin and relative including the picky eaters that usually don't like anything as well as those who love Southern recipes that aren't as well known, like Pig Pickin' Cake. Make this year's celebration extra special by preparing a few tried-and-true Southern recipes that won't disappoint. 01 of 25 Mama's Fried Chicken Southern Living A Southern staple like Mama's Fried Chicken is a necessary part of every celebration, even the annual reunion. 02 of 25 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox No guest will go home hungry when you serve our Reunion Pea Casserole. Hidden in this multi-generational favorite are layers of sausage, black eyed peas, cheese, and just about everything else you could ever dream of. 03 of 25 Homemade Baked Beans Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Homemade Baked Beans are the very best and this recipe is no exception. We do cheat a little bit in this recipe by using 4 cans of pork and beans in the tomato sauce, but would it really be a special family recipe without a canned ingredient? 04 of 25 Ham Delights Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn The goodness of these ham rolls is in the name. Slathered in butter, covered in cheese and ham, few bites are as rich and delicious as one of a Ham Delight. 05 of 25 Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman This oven-roasted version of the summery treat is easy to make for a crowd. Simply cover the corn in a butter spread, wrap in tin foil, and let bet in the oven. 06 of 25 Old-School Squash Casserole Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman It's the most searched for casserole recipe in the South, so of course our Old-School Squash Casserole had to be on this list. A side dish that truly goes with everything, you can't go wrong when serving this favorite. 07 of 25 Heirloom Tomato Pie Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Tried-and-true, Tomato Pie makes a statement on any table, but this Heirloom Tomato Pie is a modern twist on the savory pie. Fresh basil and chives lend themselves to the elevated flavors of this dish. 08 of 25 Tee's Corn Pudding Emily Laurae/Southern Living You just can not go wrong with Tee's Famous Corn Pudding. It comes together in just three steps and we promise that everyone at the reunion will be coming back for seconds. 09 of 25 Best-Ever Macaroni And Cheese Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley We call this Best-Ever Macaroni And Cheese for a reason, but don't just take our word for it: Read the comments from our reviewers – it's a staple in many households for good reason. 10 of 25 Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad CAITLIN BENSEL; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX Out of all the recipes on this list, this one might meet Grandma's approval the most. While people from other parts of the world might be hard pressed to call this side a salad, we know in our Southern hearts that Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad is salad in its purest form. 11 of 25 Hashbrown Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Potatoes are the favorite guest at many get togethers, and Hashbrown Casserole never disappoints. Crushed cereal and melted butter add just the right touch of crunch to this cheesy dish. 12 of 25 Cheesecake Fruit Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Adding a little something extra sweet to fruit can elevate even the simplest dessert, and this Cheesecake Fruit Salad takes that sprinkle of sugar to the next level. With cream cheese, frozen whipped topping, and other tasty layers, this is a treat that is best served cold. 13 of 25 Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Planning ahead for a potluck? Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time, and is sure to please all of the seafood lovers at your party. 14 of 25 Pig Pickin' Cake Southern Living The finishing touch to any feast, Pig Pickin' Cake is a fun, fruity cake that many Southerners know and love. A secret trick that makes this cake one of the easiest you've ever made? Start with boxed cake mix. 15 of 25 Classic Macaroni Salad With Ham Jen Causey This Macaroni Salad With Ham comes together in two simple steps. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and ham prove that letuice doesn't always deserve a place in salads. 16 of 25 Southern Sweet Tea Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Christine Keely No gathering is complete without a cool glass of Southern Sweet Tea. Our recipe has a secret that makes it just a touch clearer than other versions. 17 of 25 Éclair Cake Molly Bolton/Southern Living Graham crackers, pudding, and a layer of chocolate are simple ingredients that are transformed into an irresistible cake. Make sure to make this cake ahead of time so that the layers set and the graham crackers become soft. 18 of 25 Permanent Slaw Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Slaw is a staple, and this Permanent Slaw stays around for far longer than the others. It's staying power, which relies on a combination of veggies and vinegar, has this slaw lasting for up to seven days. 19 of 25 Southern-Style Potato Salad Dotdash Meredith Our Southern-Style Potato Salad has the Grandma-approved addition of hard boiled eggs, which makes it stand out compared to most store-bought versions. A 1/2 cup of sour cream adds an extra touch of tang. 20 of 25 Million Dollar Pound Cake Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Out of all the things to bring to a potluck, Pound Cake is always a million dollar choice. Bring a side of macerated strawberries, whipped topping, and a sauce to really wow with this recipe. 21 of 25 Classic Deviled Eggs Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox From Thanksgiving to outdoor potlucks, there is one thing a Southerner knows for certain: Expect to see Deviled Eggs. This traditional take is just like a recipe from your family's recipe card. 22 of 25 Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Sometimes we need a good, old-fashioned recipe to remind us just how good something can be. Our Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding is the perfect thing to pack in your casserole carrier and take to your party. 23 of 25 Tarragon Chicken Salad Jennifer Davick An elegant addition to any gathering, Tarragon Chicken Salad has just the right amount of unique seasoning to make it a star. Fresh flavors like lemon and Granny Smith apple slices make this an extra unique dish. 24 of 25 Fresh Peach Cobbler Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman A summer potluck calls for Fresh Peach Cobbler. While, everyone might say they are full from the grand potluck dinner, you can be sure they saved room for this dessert. Serve a-la-mode or just plain. 25 of 25 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Laurey W. Glenn The Make-Ahead Yeast Roll are the perfect addition to the potluck table for layering with slices of ham or sopping up leftover slaw. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit