A down-home plate usually needs more than one good dish to feel complete. This collection pulls together 15 Southern-style recipes with fried mains, creamy sides, classic breads, potluck casseroles, and rich desserts that all bring something useful to the table. You’ll find dishes for family dinners, holiday spreads, weekend breakfasts, and meals that need a little extra staying power.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Soaked in buttermilk before frying, Buttermilk Fried Chicken uses 6 chicken drumsticks, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper for a crisp coating in 1 hour total. The recipe fries the chicken in hot oil until the crust turns golden and the inside reaches 165°F. Pair it with mashed potatoes, cornbread, or cabbage when the plate needs a strong main.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Cheese Grits
Creamy and simple, Cheese Grits turns stone-ground, quick-cooking, or regular grits into a 40-minute side with chicken broth, butter, garlic powder, black pepper, and sharp cheddar. The broth gives the grits more depth than water, while the cheese melts in at the end for a smooth finish. Set them beside shrimp, sausage, bacon, or fried eggs when the meal needs something soft and rich.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Grits
Chicken Fried Steak
Pounded thin and coated in seasoned flour, Chicken Fried Steak turns 1 pound of round steak filets into a 40-minute main with evaporated milk, paprika, garlic powder, and a milk gravy made from pan drippings. The steaks fry for about 2 minutes per side before the gravy comes together in the same pan. Spoon the gravy over the top and add potatoes or greens for a full plate.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak
Chess Pie
Made with a 9-inch pie crust, sugar, cornmeal, butter, eggs, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla, Chess Pie bakes into a sweet custard-style dessert in 1 hour and 5 minutes. The cornmeal gives the filling structure without making it heavy, while lemon juice balances the sugar. Let it cool before slicing so the filling holds cleanly. Serves 8, which makes it easy to add to a holiday or Sunday table.
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Southern Cornbread
Baked in a 9-inch dish or cast-iron pan, Southern Cornbread uses yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in 35 minutes. The batter goes into a hot oven until the top turns golden and the center comes out clean. Slice it beside fried chicken, cabbage, beans, or grits when the plate needs bread.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread
Fried Cabbage
Cooked low after a quick start with bacon, Fried Cabbage brings together green cabbage, diced onion, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne in 55 minutes. The bacon fat coats the cabbage as it softens, while the covered finish gives the thicker pieces time to turn tender. It works beside corned beef, sausage, meatloaf, or fried fish.
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Hush Puppies
Fried in spoonfuls, Hush Puppies mix flour, yellow cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, egg, milk, chopped onion, and vegetable oil into a 20-minute side. The batter drops into 350°F oil and cooks until the outside is crisp and the center is tender. Put them with fish, barbecue, fried chicken, or a cookout plate when you want something small but filling.
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Southern Potato Salad
Tossed with a mustard-mayo dressing, Southern Potato Salad combines russet potatoes, mayonnaise, sweet pickles, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, celery salt, garlic powder, celery, green onions, and hard-boiled eggs in 35 minutes. The potatoes cook until fork-tender before everything gets folded together. It belongs beside fried chicken, barbecue, sandwiches, or a holiday plate.
Get the Recipe: Southern Potato Salad
Hoppin John
Made in the Instant Pot, Hoppin John turns black-eyed peas, bacon, onion, celery, jalapeño, carrot, garlic, cumin, bay leaf, chicken broth, smoked sausage, and cilantro into a 40-minute dish. The peas soak up the smoky broth while the sausage and bacon make it hearty enough to sit near the center of the plate. Serve it over rice for a filling Southern-style meal.
Get the Recipe: Hoppin John
Southern Pineapple Casserole
Sweet, savory, and baked with a cracker topping, Southern Pineapple Casserole uses canned pineapple chunks, pineapple tidbits, flour, sugar, shredded cheddar, Ritz crackers, and melted butter in 45 minutes. The filling bakes until bubbly while the crushed crackers brown on top. It works well with ham, holiday mains, or potluck plates that need one unexpected side.
Get the Recipe: Southern Pineapple Casserole
Mississippi Mud Pie
Layered with an Oreo crust, brownie filling, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and toasted pecans, Mississippi Mud Pie needs 4 hours and 30 minutes total, including chill time. The brownie layer uses chocolate, cocoa powder, espresso granules, eggs, sugar, flour, and pecans before the pudding goes on top. Keep it cold until serving so the layers slice neatly.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Mud Pie
Buttery Southern Mashed Potatoes
Built for a larger table, Buttery Southern Mashed Potatoes use 5 pounds of russet potatoes, garlic, onion, butter, half and half, cream cheese, salt, and pepper in 40 minutes. The potatoes simmer until soft before the butter, dairy, and cream cheese turn them smooth and rich. Add them under gravy, next to fried steak, or beside chicken when the meal needs a creamy side.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Southern Mashed Potatoes
Shrimp and Grits
Ready in 35 minutes, Shrimp and Grits pairs corn grits cooked in chicken broth with sharp cheddar, butter, heavy cream, shrimp, bell pepper, green onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, and hot sauce. The grits create a creamy base while the shrimp mixture brings spice, vegetables, and sauce. Serve it as a main when you want one bowl to carry the whole meal.
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Southern Farmhouse Feta & Veggie Salad
Fresh but still sturdy, Southern Farmhouse Feta & Veggie Salad combines cucumber, green bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, feta, red onion, black olives, fresh mint, and an oregano-Dijon vinaigrette in 30 minutes. The vegetables stay crisp, and the feta gives each bite a creamy, salty edge. Use it to lighten a plate with fried mains, casseroles, or rich sides.
Get the Recipe: Southern Farmhouse Feta & Veggie Salad
Biscuits and Gravy
Made from scratch in 40 minutes, Biscuits and Gravy pairs flaky biscuits with sausage gravy using flour, baking powder, cold butter, half and half, breakfast sausage, milk, salt, and black pepper. The biscuits bake until golden while the gravy thickens on the stovetop with browned sausage. Split the warm biscuits and spoon the gravy over the top for a filling breakfast or brunch plate.
Get the Recipe: Biscuits and Gravy