19 Sweet and Savory Southern Recipes Everyone Loves

Southern food brings together comfort, flavor, and a sense of home like nothing else. These recipes span the full spread, from golden fried favorites to cool, crisp salads and rich, sweet desserts. Each dish tells a story, whether it’s a slow-cooked pot of green beans on the stove or a buttery pound cake cooling on the counter. From savory mains to indulgent sweets and refreshing sides, these recipes capture everything we love about cooking in the South.

Egg Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber Dill Spread – Southern Luncheonette Recipes

A close-up of an egg salad sandwich on leafy lettuce with a Southern Luncheonette Recipe twist, served alongside sliced cucumber and whole radish, all beautifully arranged on a decorative plate. — Egg Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber Dill Spread – Southern Luncheonette Recipes. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

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Chopped eggs are mixed with mayonnaise and seasoning, then layered with a crisp cucumber dill spread. Served on soft bread, it’s a throwback to old-school diners and church luncheons. The dill adds a fresh contrast to the rich filling. These sandwiches are simple, cool, and packed with charm.
Get the Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber Dill Spread – Southern Luncheonette Recipes

Southern Green Beans

Green beans with sausage on a white plate. — Southern Green Beans. Photo credit: Keto Cooking Wins.

Cooked on the stovetop with onions and pork fat, these green beans are tender and deeply seasoned. They’re not meant to be crisp, they’re meant to be comforting. A long simmer brings out the full flavor of the broth and meat. This dish feels like something passed down from Grandma’s kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans

Southern Style Pickled Shrimp

Cold shrimp are marinated in vinegar, oil, onions, and spices until tangy and flavorful. It’s served chilled, often as an appetizer or on a bed of greens. The pickling liquid gives it a sharp bite that balances well with the shrimp’s sweetness. It’s unexpected, refreshing, and full of Southern flair.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Pickled Shrimp

Southern Chicken and Dumplings

This one-pot dish features tender chicken simmered in broth with soft, doughy dumplings. The broth thickens slightly as it cooks, creating a stew-like consistency. Each dumpling soaks up the flavor while holding its shape. It’s a cozy, filling meal that feels like it’s been made with care.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken and Dumplings

Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Mashed sweet potatoes are blended with eggs, sugar, and warm spices, then baked in a buttery crust. The filling sets smooth and custard-like, with a flavor that’s both cozy and bold. It’s often made in the fall but welcomed any time of year. This pie is a must at many Southern tables.
Get the Recipe: Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Southern Tomato Pie

Sliced fresh tomatoes are layered with mayonnaise, cheese, and herbs in a savory crust. Baked until bubbly and golden, it’s a warm-weather favorite. The tomatoes turn soft and rich, while the topping browns into a creamy, tangy layer. It’s served slightly warm or at room temperature.
Get the Recipe: Southern Tomato Pie

Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

A pile of crispy fried onion rings rests on parchment paper, accompanied by a small bowl of red dipping sauce in the background. — Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Thick onion slices are soaked in buttermilk and coated in seasoned flour before frying. The outside crisps up golden while the inside stays tender and sweet. These are best served hot with a dipping sauce. They’re great as a side or a snack all on their own.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Southern Buttermilk Onion Rings

Pear Salad – An Old-fashioned Southern Favorite

This chilled salad features pear halves topped with mayonnaise, shredded cheese, and a cherry. It’s served on lettuce and often appears at holiday meals or potlucks. The combination is quirky but beloved in many Southern homes. It’s a blend of sweet, savory, and creamy that defies trends.
Get the Recipe: Pear Salad – An Old-fashioned Southern Favorite

Southern Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli is mixed with a creamy base and topped with cheese and crushed crackers or breadcrumbs. It’s baked until bubbling and golden on top. The mix of textures makes every bite satisfying. This side dish always disappears fast at family dinners.
Get the Recipe: Southern Broccoli Casserole

Southern Strawberry Cobbler

Juicy strawberries bubble under a cake-like topping that turns golden in the oven. The fruit thickens into a syrupy base while the crust rises and browns. It’s best served warm with a spoonful of whipped cream or ice cream. This cobbler brings a bright burst of flavor to the table.
Get the Recipe: Southern Strawberry Cobbler

Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans

Green beans with pork on a black plate. — Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

These green beans simmer low and slow with bits of bacon or ham for a smoky, savory finish. Cooking them in the slow cooker allows the flavors to build without any fuss. The beans soften just enough while soaking up the broth. It’s a no-fail side that works with nearly any meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans

Southern Cheese Straws

These buttery, cheesy bites are crisp, salty, and have just the right kick of spice. They’re made with sharp cheddar and shaped into straws or twists. Often served at parties or alongside cocktails, they’re a Southern staple. One batch never seems to last long.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cheese Straws

Best Southern Ham Gravy With Cheesy Biscuits And Eggs

A biscuit sandwich filled with scrambled eggs and covered in thick, creamy gravy with chunks of sausage. In the background, there's part of a stovetop and a yellow item. — Best Southern Ham Gravy With Cheesy Biscuits And Eggs. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Salty ham drippings are turned into a silky gravy and poured over fresh biscuits. The biscuits are loaded with cheese, adding an extra layer of flavor. Served with eggs, this makes for a hearty breakfast that sticks with you. It’s Southern comfort food from the first bite to the last.
Get the Recipe: Best Southern Ham Gravy With Cheesy Biscuits And Eggs

Southern Fried Corn

Fresh corn kernels are sautéed in butter or bacon fat until golden and slightly caramelized. A touch of cream or sugar may be added, depending on family traditions. The texture is both juicy and crisp with every bite. It’s a simple side with deep flavor.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Corn

Southern Pecan Pie

This classic pie has a gooey, sugary filling topped with crunchy pecans in a flaky crust. It’s rich, sweet, and deeply flavored with hints of vanilla and brown sugar. Often served during holidays, it’s a dessert that defines Southern tradition. A small slice goes a long way.
Get the Recipe: Southern Pecan Pie

Southern Caramel Cake

Fluffy yellow cake layers are slathered with thick, slow-cooked caramel icing. The icing sets into a sweet, rich coating that melts into the cake. It takes time to get right, but the result is worth every minute. Each slice delivers deep flavor with a tender crumb.
Get the Recipe: Southern Caramel Cake

Best Southern Corn Pudding

A baked corn casserole with chopped peppers and herbs is presented in a white oval dish on a wooden surface, with a patterned cloth nearby. — Best Southern Corn Pudding. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

This side dish is soft, creamy, and full of sweet corn kernels in every bite. It’s baked until set, with a custard-like texture that holds its shape. Some versions add sugar for extra sweetness, while others keep it more savory. Either way, it’s rich and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Best Southern Corn Pudding

Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake – Old Fashioned Recipe!

Round cake with white icing drizzled on top, sitting on a wooden surface. Cake has a cracked texture on the sides and a hole in the center. — Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake – Old Fashioned Recipe!. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Dense and moist with a slight tang, this cake is made with cream cheese blended right into the batter. It bakes with a golden crust and soft, buttery center. It’s ideal with berries, whipped cream, or just on its own. This is the kind of cake that keeps well and tastes even better the next day.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake – Old Fashioned Recipe!

Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken

Air fryer fried chicken legs and thighs in a pile on a wooden cutting board. — Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This version keeps the crunch of classic fried chicken but with less oil and mess. Seasoned well and coated in flour, the chicken crisps up beautifully in the air fryer. The meat stays juicy, and the crust holds its texture. It’s a modern take on a Southern favorite.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken