Classic Southern Condiments Everyone Should Love as Much as We Do

Alison Miksch

We Southerners know our condiments. We also know that few meals can be considered complete without the addition of a favorite dressing or two. That’s why we’ve not only mastered the art of selecting choice condiments, mixing them ourselves, and dressing our dishes, but we’ve also passed that art on to other generations. From the sweet to the savory, these classic spreads and sauces elevate even the blandest of mains and sides.

For this list we’ve rounded up our favorites—the time-tested condiment recipes we turn to again and again to help add flavor to the dinner table. They’re easy enough to re-create at home in your kitchen, and they’ll quickly become reliable staples in your pantry or refrigerator. Included here are apple butter, relish and chutney; barbecue sauce, mayo, and honey mustard; and comeback sauce, dressing, and pepper jelly. There’s a condiment here for every occasion, from afternoon teas to tailgate parties and every event in between.

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Apple Butter

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Have you heard? It’s Time To Make Apple Butter (And Put It On Everything). This sweet spread is a classic; just add biscuits.

Get the recipe: Easy Apple Butter

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Barbecue Sauce

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Slather this sauce on anything that comes off your grill during the summer—your meats will thank you.

Get the recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Barbecue Sauce

Watch the video: How to Make Barbecue Sauce

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Buffalo Sauce

Southern Living

This sauce has the perfect heat quotient for both chicken wings and crisp celery stalks—do you drizzle or dip?

Get the recipe: Spicy Buffalo Sauce

Watch the video: How to Make Spicy Buffalo Sauce

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Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Photo: Alison Miksch

When in doubt, put ranch on it. A pour of our Herbed Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is better than any bottle you’ll find at the grocery store.

Get the recipe: Herbed Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

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Caramel Apple Dip

Jennifer Davick

No autumn season is complete without a taste of caramel apple. When the craving strikes, whip up a batch of this Southern-favorite recipe.

Get the recipe: Caramel Apple Dip

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Chocolate Gravy

Southern Living

It’s a rite of Southern passage.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Gravy

Watch the video: How to Make Chocolate Gravy

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Chutney

Victor Protasio

Chutney is the fruity, spiced recipe that’s always ready to celebrate the holidays.

Get the recipe: Spiced Plum Chutney

Watch the video: How to Make Cranberry-Pecan Chutney

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Comeback Sauce

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Double batches, always.

Get the recipe: Comeback Sauce

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Ranch

Southern Living

Are you Team Ranch? You definitely are if you think most dishes could be improved with a dollop of ranch dressing.

Get the recipe: Cool Ranch Sauce

Watch the video: How to Make Cool Ranch Sauce

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Cucumber-Basil Dressing

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Drizzle it over a salad or dunk veggies—this dressing does it all.

Get the recipe: Cucumber-Basil Dressing

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Fiery Sweet Dipping Sauce

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This craveable sauce will have everyone dipping by dinnertime.

Get the recipe: Fiery Sweet Dipping Sauce

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Fig Jam

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

This jam is easy as can be, and as a bonus, it will impress all your guests.

Get the recipe: Fig and Lemon Refrigerator Jam

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Green Goddess Dressing

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Legend has it this dressing originated in San Francisco in the 1920s. We’re fans of its bold flavors and bright-as-springtime hue.

Get the recipe: Green Goddess Dressing

Watch the video: How to Make Green Goddess Dressing

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Honey Mustard

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

We’ve never met a meat that can't be improved by a dunk into a ramekin full of honey mustard.

Get the recipe: Creamy Honey Mustard

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Hummus

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Some of our absolute favorite recipes take dippable, spreadable hummus and add something new, like sweet potatos or boiled peanuts, to make something different, fresh, and delicious.

Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus

Watch the video: How to Make Boiled Peanut Hummus