10+ Southern Recipes to Warm Your Heart and Kitchen

Southern recipes—they’re all about bringing people together. These dishes carry flavors and traditions that have stuck around for good reason.

Simple ingredients, rich and cozy tastes. That’s the magic.

You’ll find that southern cooking offers a warm and satisfying way to enjoy food with family and friends.

Maybe you’re new to these recipes, or maybe you just want to shake up your usual routine. Either way, Southern food brings a sense of community and flavor that’s hard to beat.

1) Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried green tomatoes—now there’s a classic. You take firm, unripe tomatoes, slice them up, and coat them in a cornmeal crust.

Once you fry them, they’re golden and crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside. Dip the slices in buttermilk first so the coating actually sticks.

Toss them in hot oil and fry until they’re crunchy. These make a fun snack or a side dish that disappears fast.

Try them with ranch or a spicy Cajun dip if you want to mix it up. They’re quick and honestly perfect for those hot summer days.

Ingredients

• 4 green tomatoes
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Cooking oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick pieces.
2. Dip slices in buttermilk.
3. Mix cornmeal, flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
4. Coat tomato slices in the cornmeal mixture.
5. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
6. Fry tomatoes 3-4 minutes per side until golden.
7. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Learn more about making this dish at Southern Living’s Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe.

2) Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits and gravy—could breakfast get any cozier? Start with flaky buttermilk biscuits, homemade if you’re feeling ambitious, or grab some from the store.

The real magic is in that sausage gravy. Cook up ground pork sausage, then make a creamy white sauce right in the same pan.

Thicken it with flour, season with salt and pepper, and pour it over warm biscuits. This comes together pretty quick—perfect for busy mornings or lazy weekends.

Try making your own biscuits for extra fluffiness, or just use the jumbo kind if you’re in a rush. Either way, the sausage gravy brings all the flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground pork sausage
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups whole milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 buttermilk biscuits (homemade or store-bought)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned, breaking it into small pieces.
2. Sprinkle flour over the sausage and stir well to combine. Cook 1-2 minutes.
3. Slowly add milk while stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
4. Cook until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Warm biscuits according to package or recipe.
6. Serve gravy poured generously over warm biscuits.

More details can be found in a Biscuits and Sausage Gravy recipe.

3) Smothered Chicken with Gravy

Smothered chicken with gravy—there’s just something about it. The chicken turns out tender, swimming in a gravy made from onions, garlic, and all those tasty pan drippings.

It’s perfect over rice or mashed potatoes, honestly. Start by pan-frying the chicken until it’s golden.

Make the gravy right in the same pan, soaking up all the flavor left behind. The gravy’s thick and comforting, soaking into the chicken and making every bite count.

Easy to make and ready in under an hour. This one always feels like home.

Ingredients

• 4-6 bone-in chicken thighs
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk or cream
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil or butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper; brown on both sides (about 5-7 minutes each). Remove chicken.
3. In the same pan, cook onions and garlic until soft.
4. Sprinkle flour over onions, stir and cook for 1-2 minutes.
5. Slowly add chicken broth and milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
6. Return chicken to the pan, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until cooked through.
7. Serve hot with gravy poured over the chicken.

For more tips on smothered chicken, visit this smothered chicken and gravy recipe.

4) Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Southern baked macaroni and cheese is just pure comfort. It uses a custard base of eggs and milk, so it sets up nice and firm when you bake it.

You get that rich cheese flavor—usually a mix, like cheddar and smoked cheddar. The top bakes up golden and a little crispy.

This dish works as a side for pretty much any Southern meal. Make it ahead if you want, then bake it right before serving so it stays gooey.

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup smoked cheddar cheese
• 2 cups evaporated milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook macaroni according to package directions, then drain.
3. In a bowl, whisk eggs, evaporated milk, cream, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix cooked macaroni with cheeses and pour in the egg mixture.
5. Pour into a greased baking dish and sprinkle paprika on top if using.
6. Bake for 45-50 minutes until set and golden on top.

This recipe is a classic, creamy treat you’ll enjoy every time.

For more details, see this Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

5) Hush Puppies

Hush puppies—if you’ve never had them, you’re missing out. These are little deep-fried balls made from a cornmeal batter.

They usually show up next to fried fish or barbecue. The batter’s got cornmeal, flour, and a touch of sugar.

Chopped onions or peppers give them a little extra kick. Fry them up and you get a crunchy outside, soft inside.

Heat your oil to about 350°F (175°C) and fry until golden. Drain on paper towels so they don’t get soggy.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• Vegetable oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Stir in the onions.
3. Whisk the egg and milk together, then add to dry ingredients.
4. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
5. Drop spoonfuls of batter carefully into the hot oil.
6. Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
7. Remove and drain on paper towels before serving.

For a detailed recipe, you can check southern hush puppies here.

6) Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler is just one of those desserts that feels like summer. Juicy peaches and a soft, sweet topping baked until golden—what’s not to love?

Start by cooking the peaches with sugar and a splash of water. Get them soft and syrupy.

Pour the peaches into a baking dish, then add the batter or crust on top. Once it’s baked, you get that warm, gooey filling and a crisp, golden crust.

It’s easy, and works with fresh or canned peaches. Top with ice cream or whipped cream if you want to go all out.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sliced peaches (fresh or canned)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a saucepan, mix peaches, half the sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer 10 minutes.
3. Melt butter in a baking dish in the oven.
4. Mix flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk to make the batter.
5. Pour batter over melted butter.
6. Spoon peach mixture evenly on top.
7. Bake 40-45 minutes until crust is golden.

For a tried-and-true recipe, check this Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe.

7) Red-Eye Gravy

Red-eye gravy is about as simple as it gets. You use the drippings from pan-fried country ham and mix in strong black coffee.

That’s it. The coffee gives the gravy its red tint and a bit of a bitter edge.

It’s salty, a little smoky, and works great over ham or biscuits. You really only need a couple of ingredients, but you want real country ham and good, strong coffee for the best flavor.

Ingredients:

• Pan-fried country ham drippings
• Strong black coffee

Cooking Instructions:

1. Fry your country ham until you have pan drippings.
2. Pour off some fat if there is too much, leaving about 2 tablespoons of drippings in the pan.
3. Add ½ cup of strong black coffee to the pan.
4. Simmer on low heat until the gravy thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
5. Serve hot over ham or biscuits.

Learn more about this recipe at Southern Living.

8) Black-Eyed Peas

Black-eyed peas are a classic Southern dish that adds warmth and comfort to any meal. You can cook them with smoky bacon or smoked turkey wings for a deep, rich flavor.

Many folks like to throw in sautéed onions, bell pepper, and garlic, keeping things balanced and not too overpowering. The peas turn tender and creamy if you let them simmer slowly.

Serve them over rice or as a hearty side—your call. On New Year’s Day, lots of people eat black-eyed peas for good luck.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
• 4 cups water or broth
• 4 slices bacon or 1 smoked turkey wing
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the peas and soak them for 4 hours or overnight.
2. In a large pot, cook the bacon or turkey until browned.
3. Add onions, bell pepper, and garlic, and sauté until soft.
4. Drain the peas and toss them into the pot with water or broth.
5. Bring everything to a boil, then let it simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, until the peas are nice and tender.
6. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

9) Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is a Southern classic you’ll want all year long. The filling is gooey and rich, made with corn syrup, sugar, and eggs.

Toasted pecans on top add crunch and a nutty kick. The buttery pie crust holds everything together, and a splash of vanilla or cinnamon gives the filling that extra something.

Bake it until the center is just set and the pecans are golden. Let the pie cool before slicing so you don’t end up with a runny mess.

Serve it plain, or go all out with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Honestly, it’s hard to beat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups corn syrup (half dark, half light)
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1 pie crust (9-inch)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk eggs, sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla, and cinnamon in a bowl.
3. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
4. Sprinkle pecans evenly over the top.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until the filling is set.
6. Let it cool before cutting and serving.

You can check out a detailed recipe for Southern pecan pie here.

10) Banana Pudding

Banana pudding is a Southern dessert that’s simple, sweet, and a little nostalgic. You just layer vanilla pudding with fresh banana slices and vanilla wafers.

It’s creamy and smooth, with a nice crunch from the cookies. Lots of people use a no-cook pudding mix, so it comes together fast.

Some folks mix in cream cheese or whipped cream for extra richness. If you’re feeling fancy, add a topping of meringue or whipped cream.

You’ll find endless easy recipes online, including versions with sweetened condensed milk and fresh bananas for that extra creamy texture. This dessert tastes best after chilling for a few hours so everything melds together.

Ingredients

• 3 cups vanilla pudding (store-bought or homemade)
• 4-5 ripe bananas, sliced
• 1 box vanilla wafers
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (optional)
• 8 oz cream cheese (optional)
• Whipped topping or meringue (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Make the vanilla pudding. Just follow the package or your favorite recipe.

2. Grab a dish. Start with a layer of vanilla wafers at the bottom.

3. Add banana slices on top of the wafers. Then spoon on some pudding.

4. Keep layering—wafers, bananas, pudding—until you run out of stuff.

5. If you want, mix a bit of cream cheese or sweetened condensed milk into the pudding before you start layering. It’s not a must, but it’s tasty.

6. Want to top it off? Go for whipped cream or even meringue.

7. Pop the dish in the fridge. Let it chill for a couple hours, maybe 2 or 3.

8. That’s it. Serve it cold and dig in.