22 Morning Favorites from the South

Jenny deRemer

Dec 03, 2025

This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy + disclosures for details.

Rise and shine, breakfast lovers—this isn’t your average start to the day. Whether you’re digging into cheddar bay breakfast casserole with sausage and eggs, flipping fluffy sourdough pancakes, or indulging in Cafe du Monde beignets, these recipes bring serious Southern comfort to your mornings. From savory classics like biscuits and sausage gravy and pimento cheese grits to sweet treats like puff pastry apple turnovers and double chocolate zucchini muffins, there’s something here for every craving. Grab a big cup of coffee—it’s time to make breakfast the best part of your day!

Table of Contents

Cheddar Bay Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Eggs

A slice of savory bread casserole topped with melted cheese and visible herbs, placed on a white plate alongside cheese shreds.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

The best part of this hearty Cheddar Bay Breakfast Casserole—aside from the fluffy eggs, savory sausage, and irresistible cheddar bay biscuits—has to be the gooey, melted cheddar cheese. For a touch of spice, toss in some shredded pepper jack cheese to kick things up a notch!

Get the Recipe: Cheddar Bay Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Eggs

Sourdough Pancakes

Looking down on a stack of pancakes with fresh fruit on the top and sides.
Photo credit: Little Spoon Farm

These light and fluffy pancakes are made with a sourdough base. It’s an easy recipe that delivers so much flavor in every bite. Add blueberry sauce for even added deliciousness.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Pancakes

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole (VIDEO)

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole served fresh
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This HAM AND CHEESE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE is our favorite make ahead breakfast for any special occasion. This breakfast casserole with ham, cheese, bread, eggs, herbs, and more is sure to please everyone and just so easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole (VIDEO)

Cafe Du Monde Beignets

A white plate filled with several powdered sugar-coated beignets, sitting on a light-colored wooden table. In the background, there is a white cup filled with coffee and a folded beige napkin. The beignets appear freshly fried and crispy.
Cafe Du Monde Beignets. Image Credit: Cooks with Soul.

Experience a slice of New Orleans with our copycat Cafe Du Monde Beignets Recipe! These pillowy, deep-fried squares are perfectly sweet and fluffy, capturing the essence of the iconic café. Each bite is not just a treat, but a celebration on a plate.

Get This Recipe: Cafe Du Monde Beignets

Eggs Benedict Casserole

Yummy Eggs Benedict Casserole picture
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Eggs Benedict Casserole has all the flavor you love from the classic dish. This easy eggs Benedict recipe is the perfect Easter brunch idea!
Get the Recipe: Eggs Benedict Casserole

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

Got lots of zucchini? Bake up a batch of these decadent double chocolate zucchini muffins! So moist and tender, with pockets of melty chocolate chips running all throughout!

Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Southern Style Fried Apples

A cast-iron skillet filled with caramelized apple slices, placed on a marble countertop surrounded by fresh green apples, a small glass jar of cinnamon sticks, and two loose cinnamon sticks. A spoon rests in the skillet, ready to serve.
Southern Style Fried Apples. Image Credit: Kylee Cooks.

These Fried Apples strike the perfect balance between tart and sweet, with a touch of spice that makes them an irresistible choice for both a side dish and a dessert! Not only are they incredibly easy to prepare, but they’re also a beloved comfort food. Enjoy them on their own, or scoop them over ice cream for an extra-special treat.

Get This Recipe: Southern Style Fried Apples

Strawberry Honey Cornbread Muffins

A close-up image of several strawberry muffins in red and white striped paper liners. The muffins are golden brown with visible chunks of strawberry, displayed in a wooden basket lined with white parchment paper.
Strawberry Honey Cornbread Muffins. Image Credit: Erren’s Kitchen.

Strawberry Honey Cornbread Muffins have a golden, crumbly texture with a touch of sweetness from sun-ripened strawberries, making them a great addition to a hearty breakfast. For an extra treat, try griddling them split with salted butter until crispy and browned!

Get This Recipe: Strawberry Honey Cornbread Muffins

Pimento Cheese Grits

A bowl of creamy yellow grits with visible pieces of red pepper, topped with a spoon. The bowl is placed on a wooden surface with a striped cloth napkin partially visible on the side.
Pimento Cheese Grits. Image Credit: The Cookie Rookie.

Cheese Grits are a Southern classic, perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a side. We’ve elevated them by adding pimento cheese, creating a creamy, cheesy, and delicious twist.

Get This Recipe: Pimento Cheese Grits

Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers

Close-up image of a plate with flaky golden-brown turnovers drizzled with a light glaze. The pastries reveal a filling of fruit compote, suggesting a sweet, juicy interior. The turnovers are attractively arranged, highlighting their crispy texture.
Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers. Image Credit: Erren’s Kitchen.

Apples and cinnamon are a match made in heaven in these Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers. Crispy and delicious, they make an ideal breakfast pastry and are perfect for a breakfast buffet, satisfying a crowd of HANGRY guests!

Get This Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers

Cornbread Muffins

Cornbread Muffins
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

These cornbread muffins whip up in a snap and they’re so moist! Put the box mix away- this recipe bakes up light and just a little sweet.
Get the Recipe: Cornbread Muffins

Cornmeal Waffles

A stack of golden-brown waffles on a white plate is being drizzled with maple syrup from a glass container. The waffles are topped with crispy bacon strips and garnished with fresh raspberries and green onion slices.
Cornmeal Waffles. Image Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Bacon enthusiasts, these Cornmeal Waffles are just what you need to kickstart your day. Combining cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, maple syrup, and crispy bacon, these sweet and savory waffles are a morning delight.

Get This Recipe: Cornmeal Waffles

Sweet Potato Hash

A skillet filled with a colorful dish featuring four sunny-side-up eggs nestled among sautéed sweet potato cubes, chopped kale, and various seasonings. The mixture is warmly cooked, giving a vibrant look with green, orange, and yellow hues.
Sweet Potato Hash. Image Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Sweet Potato Hash is a hearty, nutritious breakfast that’s sure to please any crowd. Picture a generous serving of tender sweet potatoes, flavorful ham, and onions, all topped with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg.

Get This Recipe: Sweet Potato Hash

Sweet Potato Bread

A loaf of freshly baked pumpkin bread topped with a glaze and chopped pecans is sliced and placed on a wooden cutting board. Bowls and plates are in the background, alongside a black and white checkered cloth. The bread appears moist and filled with nuts and raisins.
Sweet Potato Bread. Image Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Sweet Potato Bread is the essence of fall, featuring warm pumpkin spice and a moist texture. This Southern classic, packed with plump raisins and chewy pecans, is a perfect addition to your autumn breakfast table.

Get This Recipe: Sweet Potato Bread

Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole Recipe

A white plate holding scrambled eggs and a serving of casserole topped with melted cheese. A fork rests on the plate next to the food. A small shaker, possibly for pepper or other spices, is partially visible on the top right. All items are on a light-colored wooden surface.
Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuits Casserole. Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

This Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy Recipe, layered with refrigerated biscuits in a hearty casserole, is so delicious it’ll have everyone coming back for seconds!

Get This Recipe: Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole Recipe

Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Souffle Recipe

A plate with two poached eggs sprinkled with chopped green onions, two slices of brown toast, and a small bowl filled with mashed potatoes topped with crumbled cheese and chopped greens. A fork is placed on the plate next to the eggs.
Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Souffle Recipe. Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

My Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Soufflé recipe, topped with savory carrot green pesto, makes four individual savory soufflés, perfect as a main dish or a delightful side for a big, hearty breakfast.

Get This Recipe: Creamy Grits and Goat Cheese Breakfast Souffle Recipe

Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

A plate featuring three split biscuits smothered in sausage gravy rests on a table. The gravy is creamy with visible pieces of sausage, and the biscuits are golden brown and flaky. The dish is served on a decorative blue plate.
Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. Image Credit: Cooking Classy.

Indulge in Biscuits and Gravy—the ultimate breakfast comfort food! Imagine buttery, flaky homemade biscuits topped with rich, creamy sausage gravy that’s both delicious and easy to make.

Get This Recipe: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

Smoked Catfish

A white oval plate holds three pieces of seasoned, pan-fried fish fillets garnished with slices of lemon. The fillets are golden brown and arranged neatly, making the dish visually appealing. Black chopsticks rest beside the plate on a white surface.
Smoked Catfish. Image Credit: Cooks with Soul.

This Smoked Catfish recipe, seasoned with soul food spices and drizzled with a delicious lemon butter sauce, is a Southern breakfast staple. If you’re questioning fish for breakfast, know that you absolutely will find this on a true Southern breakfast menu or buffet, as catfish is the soul of the south!

Get This Recipe: Smoked Catfish

Johnny Cakes {Cornbread Pancakes}

A stack of golden-brown pancakes topped with a pat of melting butter and drizzled with honey, captured against a white background.
Johnny Cakes. Image Credit: Erren’s Kitchen.

Say goodbye to bland and hello to grand with Johnny Cakes! These Southern cornbread pancakes offer a perfect blend of crispy edges and a fluffy, flavorful center. A cherished recipe passed down through generations, they make for a breakfast that’s both delicious and satisfying.

Get This Recipe: Johnny Cakes {Cornbread Pancakes}

Chicken and Waffle Casserole

A plate of French toast casserole topped with crispy bacon slices drizzled with maple syrup. The casserole has a golden-brown crust and is sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar. Two forks are visible in the background, along with a light blue cloth napkin.
Chicken and Waffle Casserole. Image Credit: Easy Chicken Recipes.

Breakfast — NEXT LEVEL — with this Chicken and Waffle Casserole! Belgian waffle pieces and chicken strips are baked with honey and a seasoned egg mixture, then topped with crumbled bacon and drizzled with maple syrup for a comforting and delicious twist.

Get This Recipe: Chicken and Waffle Casserole

Best Southern Ham Gravy with Cheesy Biscuits and Eggs

A plate with two biscuits topped with scrambled eggs and covered in sausage gravy.
Best Southern Ham Gravy with Cheesy Biscuits and Eggs. Image credit: Not Entirely Average.

Southern breakfast just wouldn’t be complete without a rich, smoky Southern Ham Gravy poured over cheesy biscuits and soft scrambled eggs. This gravy adds a flavorful, savory touch that turns a simple breakfast into a true Southern delight!

Get This Recipe: Best Southern Ham Gravy with Cheesy Biscuits and Eggs

Cornmeal Biscuits with Country Sausage and Watermelon Rind Preserves

Two country biscuits with sausage and pickled watermelon rinds preserves.
Cornmeal Biscuits with Country Sausage and Watermelon Rind Preserves. Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Cornmeal Biscuits with Country Sausage and Watermelon Rind Preserves are hands-down the best breakfast biscuits this side of the Mason-Dixon!

Get This Recipe: Cornmeal Biscuits with Country Sausage and Watermelon Rind Preserves

Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you'll get new recipes from us every week!

Categorized as:

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

Read More About Me

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *