17 Dishes I Could Always Count on When Visiting Grandma

Nov 26, 2025

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Visiting my grandmother was always about more than just catching up—it meant good food was guaranteed. From Southern-Style Smothered Cabbage & Potatoes to Gooey Butter Cake and Crock Pot Chicken Pierogi Stew, these recipes are a comforting reminder of family and tradition. Each dish tells a story, bringing back memories of laughter-filled meals!

Southern-Style Smothered Cabbage & Potatoes
Anastasia’s Best Ever Baked Beans
Southern Fried Chicken
Famous Butter Chicken (aka, Ritz Cracker Chicken)
Pecan Cobbler
Crock Pot Chicken Pierogi Stew
Jailhouse Rice (Sausage & Rice Casserole)
Potato Goulash with Sausage
Grandma B’s Cucumber Salad
Homemade Creamed Corn
Hibachi Chicken & Rice Skillet Meal
Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
The BEST Ham Salad
French Onion Potatoes
Apple Pretzel Salad
Gooey Butter Cake
Pecan Pie Cake

Southern-Style Smothered Cabbage & Potatoes

A dish of cooked cabbage and potatoes mixed with slices of bacon, garnished with green onions. The food is served in a white bowl with a wooden spoon, placed on a colorful tablecloth. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

Southern-Style Smothered Cabbage & Potatoes is a homestyle dish that combines tender potatoes with fried cabbage and onions, all cooked together with crispy bacon. It’s a simple, flavorful recipe perfect for hearty, comforting meals. Serious deliciousness!

Get The Recipe: Southern-Style Smothered Cabbage & Potatoes

Anastasia’s Best Ever Baked Beans

A baked dish of beans topped with slices of browned, crispy bacon, served in a white casserole dish with a spoon. The surface is slightly caramelized around the edges. — Image Credit: Sweet Little Bluebird

Anastasia’s Best Ever Baked Beans have been our family’s go-to recipe for decades, perfect for the oven or slow cooker. A must-have at barbecues and gatherings, this easy shortcut recipe always gets rave reviews. It’s simple to make and downright delicious!

Get The Recipe: Anastasia’s Best Ever Baked Beans

Southern Fried Chicken

Close-up of a hand holding a crispy, golden fried chicken drumstick against a light background. — Image Credit: The Country Cook

I’m from the South, where fried chicken is more than just a meal—it’s a way of life. If you’re looking for a ridiculously delicious version, this recipe for The Best Southern Fried Chicken is a must-try. Crispy, flavorful, surprisingly easy, and downright divine, it’s truly a southern art form!

Get The Recipe: Southern Fried Chicken

Famous Butter Chicken (aka, Ritz Cracker Chicken)

A crispy baked chicken breast is served on a white plate, accompanied by green beans and a portion of rice mixed with herbs. — Image Credit: Sweet Little Bluebird

Today’s recipe is a tried-and-true favorite—Famous Butter Chicken, also known as Ritz Cracker Chicken! The name says it all; this is the BEST baked chicken recipe, and it’s incredibly versatile for any meal.

Get The Recipe: Famous Butter Chicken (aka, Ritz Cracker Chicken)

Pecan Cobbler

Close-up of a dessert featuring a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to caramelized apple pieces and a crumbly cake. The ice cream is melting slightly, blending with the warm apple topping on a white plate. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

This easy homemade Pecan Cobbler features a warm, gooey butterscotch-caramel sauce that forms beneath a soft, pecan-studded cake as it bakes. Each bite offers a perfect balance of rich sweetness and comforting texture!

Get The Recipe: Pecan Cobbler

Crock Pot Chicken Pierogi Stew

A creamy soup filled with thick noodles, chunks of chicken, sliced carrots, and celery in a white bowl. The dish is garnished with chopped herbs and has a rich, hearty appearance. — Image Credit: The Country Cook

Crock Pot Chicken Pierogi Stew is a rich, hearty dish that’s incredibly creamy and full of flavor. Made with tender pierogis and seasoned chicken, it’s an ideal comfort meal for kicking off your weekend and simply savoring!

Get The Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Pierogi Stew

Jailhouse Rice (Sausage & Rice Casserole)

Close-up of a spoon scooping a dish with creamy rice, ground meat, and small pieces of green vegetables. The mixture appears hearty and well-blended. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

This family-sized comfort food casserole features baked rice, ground beef, and sausage for a hearty, satisfying meal. It’s one dish you definitely don’t want to miss!

Get The Recipe: Jailhouse Rice (Sausage & Rice Casserole)

Potato Goulash with Sausage

A hearty dish featuring sliced sausages and diced potatoes cooked in a savory sauce, garnished with chopped parsley, served in a white pot. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

Smoky sausage or kielbasa, tender potatoes, and onions are slowly stewed with paprika and garlic, capturing the essence of rustic Hungarian Potato Goulash with Sausage. This hearty dish offers a comforting blend of flavors way too good and tasty to miss out on!

Get The Recipe: Potato Goulash with Sausage

Grandma B’s Cucumber Salad

A close-up of a salad in a white bowl, featuring slices of cucumber, red onion, and cherry tomatoes, sprinkled with dill. The fresh ingredients create a colorful, appetizing display. — Image Credit: Sweet Little Bluebird

A traditional, old-school classic recipe that’s refreshing, cool, and crisp—ideal for having that little added side on the table. Thanks to cucumbers being available year-round, this dish is perfect for any family dinner or event. Even better, it’s easy on the budget!

Get The Recipe: Grandma B’s Cucumber Salad

Homemade Creamed Corn

A close-up of creamy corn in a white bowl, topped with a sprinkle of black pepper. The corn appears to be in a thick, creamy sauce. — Image Credit: Sweet Little Bluebird

The BEST Quick and Easy Homemade Creamed Corn! Sweet corn is simmered in a flavorful, velvety sauce that beats any canned version. Ready in just 15 minutes with a few simple ingredients, this easy stovetop side dish is perfect for holiday tables and pairs beautifully with a variety of meals.

Get The Recipe: Homemade Creamed Corn

Hibachi Chicken & Rice Skillet Meal

A skillet filled with cooked rice topped with seasoned chicken pieces. The dish is garnished with fresh herbs and drizzled with a creamy sauce. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

My gram didn’t always have the money to take us out, so she searched for recipes like this, which she saw as the kind of dish you’d find on a restaurant menu. This one-pan meal features hibachi-style chicken and rice, made with everyday ingredients and easy to follow steps. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to take-out and dining out!

Get The Recipe: Hibachi Chicken & Rice Skillet Meal

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

A plate of creamy beef stroganoff with wide egg noodles. The rich sauce covers chunks of beef and mushrooms, served on a light-colored dish. A checkered napkin is partially visible next to the plate. — Image Credit: Sweet Little Bluebird

One of my family’s favorite go-to meals just got easier with this slow cooker recipe. Tender beef stew meat simmers in a rich, creamy mushroom gravy, then gets served over egg noodles. It’s a hearty, stick-to-your-bones dish that’s perfect for warming up and always a crowd-pleaser!

Get The Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

The BEST Ham Salad

A hand holding a cracker dipped into a bowl of creamy pink ham salad with diced ingredients. A spoon is visible in the background. — Image Credit: The Country Cook

I’ve been making this salad for over 25 years, and you just can’t beat perfection. It’s inspired by a recipe from my very first Betty Crocker Cookbook, with a few tweaks over the years to suit my taste. Classic Betty Crocker recipes are hard to top—though I’ve adjusted this one just a bit because I’m picky about my salads! One taste – you’ll understand.

Get The Recipe: The BEST Ham Salad

French Onion Potatoes

A close-up of a baked dish featuring golden-brown potatoes covered in melted cheese and garnished with chopped herbs, all in a white casserole dish. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

This super easy 5-ingredient casserole features tender potatoes baked in a savory, buttery onion soup base and topped with melted cheese. It’s a simple yet satisfying dish perfect for any occasion!

Get The Recipe: French Onion Potatoes

Apple Pretzel Salad

A fork holds a bite of dessert with peach slices, creamy filling, and crumbly topping. Below, more peach slices and creamy filling are visible. A blue and white checkered cloth is in the background. — Image Credit: The Country Cook

If you’ve ever tried Strawberry Pretzel Salad, you know how surprisingly delicious that sweet-and-salty combo can be! While it may sound unusual, the flavors blend perfectly. For a fall-inspired twist, we’re swapping the strawberry layer with apple pie filling for an Apple Pretzel Salad, adding all the cozy flavors of the season to this classic dessert!

Get The Recipe: Apple Pretzel Salad

Gooey Butter Cake

Have you ever tried making a Gooey Butter Cake? If not, you’re seriously missing out! This delicious version starts with a yellow cake mix and bakes up with a soft, gooey center and a slightly crispy, caramelized edge that’s impossible to resist!

Get The Recipe: Gooey Butter Cake

Pecan Pie Cake

Close-up of several slices of moist apple cake dusted with powdered sugar. The cake is rich in color with a slightly crispy top and visible chunks of apple and nuts, giving it a hearty, homemade appearance. — Image Credit: South Your Mouth

This snack cake delivers all the rich caramel and toasted pecan flavors of pecan pie in a simple recipe made with just a few ingredients—no cake mix needed. It’s an easy treat that feels fancy, is super moist, and just plain perfect for snacking!

Get The Recipe: Pecan Pie Cake