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  5. Southern Holiday Dishes Everyone Should Know How to Make

Southern Holiday Dishes Everyone Should Know How to Make

Mary Shannon Hodes, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Mary Shannon Wells Updated April 10, 2022
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Cherry Chocolates Recipe
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Being able to eat and cook Southern food is a blessing that Southerners should never take for granted. You don't need Mama to remind you—there really is nothing like classic Southern fare. There are some comforting dishes that every Southern cook should know how to make and others that only seasoned Southern cooks can master. The holiday season is a time when experienced and inexperienced Southern cooks come together to make culinary magic. There aren't many things that bring a family together quite like a roasted turkey, some classic cornbread dressing, or a green bean casserole. These Christmas and Thanksgiving recipes are the most classic of all time. From desserts like pecan pie and pound cake, to side dishes like collard greens and mashed potatoes, these recipes are timeless. We doubt we'll live to see the day that these classic Southern holiday recipes aren't making appearances on tables during the season. Gather around and take notes—these dishes will ensure your Southern holiday meal is done right.

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Beef Tenderloin

Perfect Beef Tenderloin
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Perfect Beef Tenderloin

Beef tenderloin is a holiday mainstay because there are endless marinating, rubbing, and dipping options.

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Roasted Turkey

Roasted Herb Turkey and Gravy
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Roasted Herb Turkey

Cooking a turkey for a holiday meal can be intimidating, but roasting with simple herbs will always be a go-to method.

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Ham

Brown Sugar-Bourbon Baked Ham
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Glazed Spiral-Cut Ham

For some families, ham is reserved for Easter, but it's interchangeable with other proteins around the winter holidays, too.

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Southern Pumpkin Pie

Don't shy away from this tastey Southern Pumpkin Pie and serve it up for any special occasion this fall.

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Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Shrimp and Grits

Video: Shrimp and Grits

A dish that often ends up on Christmas Eve tables in the South is Shrimp and Grits. This recipe came from Bill Smith, executive chef at Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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Lasagna

Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna
Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna

Lasagna is a Christmas Eve tradition for many families, and this make-ahead version can help you check it off your to-do list early.

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Green Bean Casserole

Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole will always find its way on a Southern dinner table during the holiday season. Try our slow-cooker version of the classic for hands-off ease.

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Cornbread Dressing

Classic Cornbread Dressing
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Classic Cornbread Dressing

Whether you call it dressing or stuffing, it's going to be present at holidays in the South.

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Gravy

Ultimate Make Ahead Gravy
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Ultimate Make-Ahead Gravy

Video: Ultimate Make-Ahead Gravy

Whether you pour it specifically on your turkey and mashed potatoes or you prefer to mix it with everything, gravy is a staple at Southern holidays. Our Ultimate Make-Ahead gravy is the easiest way to get it there.

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Corn Pudding

50 Best Thanksgiving Tee's Corn Pudding
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding

Video: Tee's Corn Pudding

This fluffy side dish has been gracing Southern holidays with its presence for longer than we've been around.

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Mac and Cheese

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Video: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Even the pickiest kids at the holiday table will eat a full helping of mac and cheese. If you want to switch things up this season, we've got plenty of mac and cheese recipes to choose from.

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Mashed Potatoes

Rustic Mashed Red Potatoes with Parmesan
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

We can't imagine a Christmas or Thanksgiving table that doesn't have a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes on it.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Video: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Whether you top yours with marshmallows or brown sugar, the holidays wouldn't be complete without Sweet Potato Casserole in attendance.

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Squash Casserole

Old School Squash Casserole
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

You won't find a Southern church potluck, new neighbor's house, or holiday gathering that doesn't have a squash casserole on the lineup.

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Collard Greens

Southern-Style Collard Greens
Credit: Jim Franco; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Simon Andrews

Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens

Video: Southern-Style Collard Greens

Even if they don't serve collard greens at Thanksgiving or Christmas, it's a safe bet Southerners will serve them on New Year's Day for wealth in the next year. Add some black-eyed peas for good luck, and you're set.

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Cranberry Sauce

Grandma Erma's Spirited Cranberry Sauce
Credit: Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Cranberry Sauce

You know it's true: Homemade cranberry sauce is better than the canned stuff, hands down. Cranberry salad is a Southern go-to as well, and we think you'll like our updated version much better than the congealed recipes of the past.

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Dinner Rolls

Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Video: Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

We agree that frozen dinner rolls are so much easier on busy weeknights, but for holiday dinners, only homemade will do. Don't make the classic mistake of burning the dinner rolls, though!

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Cornbread

Skillet Cornbread
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Skillet Cornbread

Although cornbread is a component of many other Southern dishes, it's just fine on it's own at our holiday tables.

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Pecan Pie

Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie

Video: Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie

To Southerners, there's nothing quite like a rich pecan pie, and it's a constant at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

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Bread Pudding

Praline Bread Pudding
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Praline Bread Pudding

This decadent winter dessert is topped with a rich praline sauce. Our Test Kitchen recommends using stale, day-old bread—better for soaking up the sweet custard.

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Caramel Cake

Caramel Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caramel Cake

This recipe might be old-fashioned, but it will never go out of style.

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Fudge

Easy Swirled Fudge
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Heavenly Fudge Pie

Fudge is perfect for the holidays because it's easy to make and portable for parties, and it's an adorable gift for neighbors or hostesses. 

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Pumpkin Pie

Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever
Credit: Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Video: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

We have to admit, pumpkin pie just might beat pecan pie in the "holiday classics" category. If you're new to making it, start with this recipe.

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Trifles

Chocolate Trifle Recipe
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chocolate Trifle

Video: Chocolate Trifle

Although they look elegant and intricate, trifles are great recipes for new cooks because they're easy and quick to make.

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Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Layer Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Layer Cake

What's more festive than a cake the color of Santa's famous suit?

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Tiramisù

Lemon Tiramisù
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Lemon Tiramisu

Southerners take a tip from Italy with this classic dessert that's a holiday hit.

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Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie
Credit: Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie

Video: Sweet Potato Pie

Whether you make a creamy or sliced sweet potato pie, this recipe is Southern to its core.

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Bûche de Noël

Bûche de Noël
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Bûche de Noël

Bûche de Noël is a traditional French holiday dessert that's shaped like a log, but you've heard it called a Yule Log around here. 

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Apple Pie

Easy Skillet Apple Pie
Credit: Luca Trovato

Recipe: Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Video: Easy Skillet Apple Pie

At Thanksgiving dinners in the South, apple pie has a reserved place right next to the pecan and pumpkin pies.

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Cheesecake

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
Credit: Jim Franco

Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Video: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Although cheesecakes are delicious all year long, they can be beautiful for the holidays, and every Southern cook should know how to make a classic cheesecake.

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Pound Cake

Eggnog Pound Cake
Credit: Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Million Dollar Poundcake

Pound cakes are a Southern dessert that you can make for any holiday, and this one is worth a million dollars. 

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Homemade Cookies for Santa

Cherry Chocolates Recipe
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Basic Butter Cookie Dough

Video: Basic Butter Cookie Dough

There are countless cookie recipes for Santa that he would be happy with, but this Basic Butter Cookie Dough, which is from our December 1995 issue and was sent to us by Ellender Mills of Raleigh, North Carolina, is the most classic cookie recipe that you and your little ones can decorate any way you please.

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    1 of 32 Beef Tenderloin
    2 of 32 Roasted Turkey
    3 of 32 Ham
    4 of 32 Southern Pumpkin Pie
    5 of 32 Shrimp and Grits
    6 of 32 Lasagna
    7 of 32 Green Bean Casserole
    8 of 32 Cornbread Dressing
    9 of 32 Gravy
    10 of 32 Corn Pudding
    11 of 32 Mac and Cheese
    12 of 32 Mashed Potatoes
    13 of 32 Sweet Potato Casserole
    14 of 32 Squash Casserole
    15 of 32 Collard Greens
    16 of 32 Cranberry Sauce
    17 of 32 Dinner Rolls
    18 of 32 Cornbread
    19 of 32 Pecan Pie
    20 of 32 Bread Pudding
    21 of 32 Caramel Cake
    22 of 32 Fudge
    23 of 32 Pumpkin Pie
    24 of 32 Trifles
    25 of 32 Red Velvet Cake
    26 of 32 Tiramisù
    27 of 32 Sweet Potato Pie
    28 of 32 Bûche de Noël
    29 of 32 Apple Pie
    30 of 32 Cheesecake
    31 of 32 Pound Cake
    32 of 32 Homemade Cookies for Santa

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