The Best Southern Comfort Food
When it comes to comfort food, nobody does it quite like the South. Southern cooking is all about tradition passed down through generations – and the whole world appreciates the rich tastes. Here are 35 Southern comfort dishes you can easily make at home, regardless of whether you’re Southern yourself.
Cornbread
Whether it’s sweet or savory, cornbread is always welcome at a Southern dinner table. Whisk together cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, eggs, and a little sugar if you like it sweet. Bake in a cast-iron skillet for that signature crispy edge. It makes a great dessert if dunked in milk!
Gumbo
This Louisiana classic is all about awesome flavors. Start with a dark roux, then add onions, celery, and bell pepper. Stir in sausage, chicken, or seafood, then let it simmer with broth and Cajun spices. Serve over rice, and don’t forget the hot sauce.
Biscuits and Gravy
Fluffy biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy never fail in a Southern household. Bake buttermilk biscuits until golden, then make gravy by browning breakfast sausage, adding flour, and whisking in milk until thick. Season with black pepper and pour over the biscuits. Delicious!
Fried Chicken
Crispy, golden fried chicken is enjoyed all over the world, but it came from the South. To make it, start by soaking chicken pieces in buttermilk for a few hours, then dredge in seasoned flour. Fry in hot oil until crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Serve with mashed potatoes or biscuits.
Shrimp and Grits
Who doesn’t love shrimp-based meals? To make this Southern dish, first cook stone-ground grits with milk and butter until smooth. Then, sauté shrimp with garlic, bacon, and a splash of lemon juice, then spoon them over the grits. You can add a sprinkle of green onions if you like.
Chicken and Dumplings
Nothing warms you up like a bowl of chicken and dumplings. Simmer chicken in broth with carrots, celery, and onion, then drop in spoonfuls of biscuit dough. Let them puff up while the broth thickens into a stew. It’s a great simple meal to eat if you’re suffering from the common cold!
Pimento Cheese
Pimento Cheese actually spring into being in North America, but Southerners soon adopted it. To create it for yourself, mix sharp cheddar with mayo, cream cheese, pimentos, and a dash of cayenne. Spread it on crackers, sandwiches, or even burgers. Every bite is more delicious than the last.
Collard Greens
Slow-cooked collards are as Southern as it gets. All you need to do is simmer greens with smoked ham hock, onion, and a splash of vinegar until tender. You get a result that’s hearty, savory, and packed with flavor. Don’t forget a slice of cornbread to soak it all up.
Red Beans and Rice
This dish is filling, budget-friendly, and traditionally cooked on a Monday in Southern homes! Simmer red beans with smoked sausage, onion, garlic, and spices until creamy. Serve over fluffy rice with a sprinkle of green onions.
Hush Puppies
No, not the shoes. These little fried cornmeal balls are crispy on the outside and soft inside. Mix cornmeal, flour, onion, egg, and buttermilk into a thick batter, then drop spoonfuls into hot oil. They’re the perfect sidekick to fried fish if you happen to be extra hungry.
Chicken Fried Steak
A true Southern diner favorite, chicken fried steak is all about that crispy crust and creamy gravy. To make it, pound cube steak til it’s thin, dredge it in seasoned flour, and fry until golden. Top with white pepper gravy made from the pan drippings.
Mac and Cheese
Southern mac and cheese is baked, not stovetop. Mix cooked macaroni with a rich cheese sauce - usually cheddar, eggs, and milk - then bake until bubbly with a golden crust. Some add a sprinkle of paprika or a breadcrumb topping for extra deliciousness.
Sweet Potato Casserole
This dish walks the line between side and dessert. Mash sweet potatoes with butter, sugar, and a splash of vanilla, then top with marshmallows, pecans, or cornflakes. Bake until golden and gooey. It’s a Thanksgiving classic, but true Southerners will eat it all year round.
Jambalaya
Want a true taste of Louisiana culture? It’s time to try some Jambalaya. Start with onions, celery, and bell pepper, then stir in rice, tomatoes, sausage, chicken, shrimp, and Cajun spices. Let everything simmer until rich and flavorful.
Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs didn’t actually originate in the South, but they’re still a Southern picnic staple. To make them, boil eggs, cut them in half, and mash the yolks with mayo, mustard, and a little relish. Spoon or pipe the filling back into the whites and dust with paprika.
Pulled Pork BBQ
Another Southern dish that’s popular all around the world. Just rub pork shoulder with spices, then smoke or slow-cook until it shreds easily. Mix with tangy barbecue sauce and pile it high on a bun with coleslaw. Every bite is smoky, juicy, and finger-licking good.
Okra and Tomatoes
This dish is simple but bursting with flavor. Sauté fresh okra with onions and garlic, then add diced tomatoes and simmer until tender. Season with a little salt, pepper, and cayenne. It’s a classic Southern side that pairs perfectly with the old favorites of rice or cornbread.
Peach Cobbler
Modern-day peach cobbler has its origins in African-American cuisine. Toss fresh (or canned) peaches with sugar and cinnamon, then pour over a buttery batter. Bake until the top is golden and the fruit is bubbling. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got one of the best fruity desserts in the world.
Boiled Peanuts
The ultimate Southern snack, boiled peanuts are salty, soft, and addictive. Simply simmer raw peanuts in heavily salted water (sometimes with Cajun seasoning) for several hours until tender. Then eat them warm, straight from the shell.
Banana Pudding
Layers of vanilla wafers, bananas, and creamy pudding make this delicious-looking dish, well, delicious. Alternate layers in a dish, then top with whipped cream or meringue. Chill before serving so the layers soften into cake-like bites.
Fried Green Tomatoes
A Southern classic made famous by the movies, fried green tomatoes are delicious and so easy to make. Simply slice firm green tomatoes, dip them in buttermilk, dredge in cornmeal, and fry until golden. Serve with a spicy remoulade sauce for dipping.
Country Ham With Red-Eye Gravy
This salty breakfast favorite is a part of Southern food history. Fry slices of country ham in a skillet, then make “red-eye” gravy by deglazing the pan with coffee. It’s thin, smoky, and has a hint of bitterness. Sounds unusual, but it’s a bold flavor combo that Southerners swear by.
Grits Casserole
Take breakfast grits up a notch by turning them into a casserole. Mix cooked grits with cheese, eggs, and butter, then bake until set. Some folks add sausage or bacon for extra heartiness, while others add vegatables.
Catfish Po’ Boy
Straight from Louisiana, this sandwich is all about crispy fried catfish piled on French bread. Slather with mayo or remoulade, add lettuce, tomato, and pickles, and you’ve got yourself a po’ boy. It’s messy to eat, but it’s totally worth it.
Black-Eyed Peas
Traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day for luck, black-eyed peas are one of the most popular Southern staples. Simmer them with onion, garlic, and a smoked ham hock until tender. Season with a little hot sauce, and serve with cornbread for soaking up the broth.
Corn Pudding
This creamy side dish hits the sweet-savory balance just right. Mix creamed corn, eggs, milk, sugar, and butter, then bake until it’s set and slightly golden. It’s tasty, rich, and you can add that old favorite of green onions on top.
She-Crab Soup
This soup is decadent and delicious, and it’s thought it was originally created by Scottish immigrants to the Southern states. Start with a creamy base of butter, milk, and sherry, then stir in lump crab meat and crab roe if you can find it. Season with Old Bay and you’ve got yourself a beloved seafood dish.
Brunswick Stew
This hearty stew has roots in both Virginia and Georgia. To make it, simmer chicken (or pork) with lima beans, corn, tomatoes, and barbecue sauce until thick and smoky. It’s filling, flavorful, and often served at barbecue joints as a side dish.
Chess Pie
This one is really easy to make, so no wonder it’s so beloved. Whisk together sugar, butter, eggs, and a splash of vinegar, then pour into a pie crust and bake. The result is a sweet, custardy pie with a caramelized top that pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee.
Pralines
These sweet Southern candies melt in your mouth. Combine sugar, butter, cream, and pecans in a saucepan, then cook until thick and caramel-like. Spoon onto parchment to cool and set. They make great gifts for people!
Hot Water Cornbread
Another cornmeal one –Southerners love the stuff. For this, mix cornmeal with boiling water, shape into patties, and fry until golden. The outside gets crispy while the inside stays tender. It’s a rustic side dish that tastes amazing with beans, greens, or a drizzle of honey.
Chicken Bog
It doesn’t have the most appetizing name in the world, but Southern chicken bog is a cozy mix of chicken, rice, and sausage. Simmer chicken with onion and spices, shred the meat, then cook the rice in that flavorful broth. Stir in sliced smoked sausage, and you’ve got a hearty one-pot meal that’s simple but deeply satisfying.
Cracklin’ Cornbread
This twist on classic cornbread is packed with crunch and flavor. Mix your cornbread batter as usual, then fold in crispy pork cracklings before baking in a cast-iron skillet. The result is a rich, savory bread with delicious bursts of salty crunch in every bite.
Bisque With Crawfish
Creamy crawfish bisque is something all visitors to Louisiana should try. To create it, start with a roux, add onions, celery, and bell pepper, then stir in crawfish tails and broth. Finish with cream. Ladle into bowls and serve with crusty bread.
Derby Pie
Derby pie is a chocolate-and-walnut filled dessert that tastes like a cross between a brownie and pecan pie. Mix sugar, eggs, butter, chocolate chips, and nuts, then bake in a pie crust until gooey. It’s best enjoyed warm with whipped cream or ice cream – and at the Kentucky Derby!
