18 Seasonal Southern Classics You Should Be Making Now

Jenny deRemer

Updated Nov 14, 2024

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Browse this brief showcase of the South’s finest fall fare! From thick cut pork chops roasted with autumn pears to a Southern as Southern gets pumpkin spice pound cake, this slideshow is your ticket to experiencing the warm, hearty flavors that make autumn Southern cooking a ‘comfort thing.’ Get ready to meet the dishes that have hosted countless family gatherings and fueled traditions for generations.

Table of Contents

Best Southern Corn Pudding

A spoonful of creamy baked corn casserole.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

Southern Corn Pudding is a versatile, farm-to-table classic that pairs well with everything from grilled steak to Thanksgiving turkey. This creamy dish bakes to a golden brown and complements any holiday spread, from ham to green bean casserole.

Get This Recipe: Corn Casserole

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

A close-up of cheesy spinach and artichoke pasta bake, with melted cheese and pasta.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

In the American South, where casseroles reign supreme, Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole stands out as an easy, cheesy comfort food perfect for busy weeknights—a true crowd-pleaser.

Get This Recipe: Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Close-up image of pecan cookies stacked on each other. The cookies are golden-brown and studded with whole pecans, displaying a crunchy texture and some coarse sugar sprinkled on top. The photo highlights the delicious, freshly baked appearance of the cookies.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

This classic Butter Pecan Cookie recipe makes 18 melt-in-your-mouth treats, perfect for sharing or to keep all to yourself!

Get This Recipe: Butter Pecan Cookies

Close-up of several freshly baked apple cinnamon cookies cooling on a wire rack. The cookies are golden-brown with visible chunks of apple, and the rack sits on a light-colored surface. The cookies have a slightly crumbled texture, emphasizing their homemade look.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

This Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookie recipe, bursting with autumnal flavors, could be crowned as utterly “applicious”! It’s a modern twist on a 1971 Betty Crocker Kitchens classic for Old-Fashioned Apple Cookies.

Get This Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Fall Cookies

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak

Three pieces of fried chicken topped with creamy white gravy and garnished with parsley are served on a rustic brown plate. The chicken appears crispy with a golden-brown coating, and the gravy adds a rich, smooth texture to the dish.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

This Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak recipe delivers Southern comfort to your kitchen in 45 minutes! Known as chicken-fried steak, it pairs seasoned cube steak with a crispy crust and creamy sawmill gravy for a truly satisfying meal.

Get This Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake

A bundt cake on a white plate with several slices cut and arranged. The cake is decorated with cranberries and small white flowers. A silver spoon is placed beside the cake. In the background, there are glasses filled with a light orange beverage and a light colored cloth.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

This Southern-inspired Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake captures the essence of autumn with tart cranberries, warm cinnamon, aromatic cardamom, and a luscious cream cheese center.

Get This Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Apple pie bars lined up on a counter top.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

You know it’s peak apple season in the South when Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars make their debut in the bakeries and coffee houses!

Get This Recipe: Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

Pan Seared Pork Chops with Maple Roasted Pears

A white oval plate with baked chicken and pears, seasoned with herbs, on a rustic wooden table beside a carving fork and a beige napkin.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

As summer wanes and we edge into almost-fall, get a head start on transitional flavors with these Pan Seared Pork Chops paired with Maple Roasted Pears. These succulent chops are a perfect match for the subtle sweetness of pear and maple.

Get This Recipe: Pan Seared Pork Chops with Maple Roasted Pears

Amish Apple Fritter Bread

A sliced loaf of bread with white glaze, placed on a floral-patterned plate.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

This Amish Apple Fritter Bread is an easy autumn quick bread, perfect for gifting. It’s topped with a unique sour cream drizzle that sets it apart.

Get This Recipe: Amish Apple Fritter Bread

Traditional Irish Cottage Pie

The image shows a plate of shepherd's pie with minced meat and creamy mashed potatoes, accompanied by a side salad.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

As the days grow shorter and evenings turn chilly, warm up with Traditional Irish Cottage Pie—a hearty cousin to shepherd’s pie, made with ground beef instead of lamb. This comforting dish is perfect for cozy nights in.

Get This Recipe: Traditional Irish Cottage Pie

Turkey and Noodles Tetrazzini

A baked casserole dish filled with breadcrumb and herb-topped pasta rests on a white kitchen towel with yellow stripes.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Explore the delight of crafting easy Turkey and Noodles Tetrazzini with this simple recipe guide—ideal for transforming leftover turkey into a culinary masterpiece. This method will revolutionize your approach to leftovers and works equally well for creating a scrumptious Chicken Tetrazzini with leftover rotisserie chicken!

Get This Recipe: Turkey and Noodles Tetrazzini

Snickerdoodle Muffins with Apples

A hand holding a muffin with a bite taken from it.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Snickerdoodle Muffins with Apples transform the classic cookie into a muffin bursting with fall’s favorite fruit. This recipe makes twelve moist muffins or about 36 minis, using sweet chopped apples for a delightful twist.

Get This Recipe: Snickerdoodle Muffins with Apples

A Pear Tart with Shortbread Crust

A freshly baked apple tart on a colorful striped towel next to a large knife with a red handle.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

Mid fall, when I’m ready for a break from all things pumpkin, I switch to pears—my next favorite autumn fruit—and bake a delightful Pear Tart with Shortbread Crust.

Get This Recipe: A Pear Tart with Shortbread Crust

Four Cheese Stuffed Shells

Baked pasta shells topped with melted cheese and garnished with herbs.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

A super easy and so comforting Four Cheese Stuffed Shells dish made with jumbo shells smothered in cheesy goodness and finished in the South’s favorite creamy white sauce, Béchamel with fresh herbs!

Get This Recipe: Four Cheese Stuffed Shells

Smoky Blue Cheese and Pear Tart Puff Pastry

A close-up of a golden puff pastry topped with sliced pears, melted blue cheese, sliced almonds, and fresh thyme leaves.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

Smoky Blue Cheese and Pear Tart Puff Pastry offers a divine blend of sweet pears and savory blue cheese, creating a deliciously harmonious flavor profile.

Get This Recipe: Smoky Blue Cheese and Pear Tart Puff Pastry

Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy

A plate of breaded and fried chicken cutlet topped with brown gravy sits on a bed of white rice. The dish is garnished with chopped fresh herbs and accompanied by a sprig of parsley. A striped yellow and white napkin is placed beside the plate on a wooden table.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy epitomizes Southern comfort. This simple dish pairs golden-brown breaded cutlets with savory pan gravy and aromatic rice, creating a heartwarming meal that sings with tradition.

Get This Recipe: Fried Chicken

Best Southern Ham Gravy with Cheesy Biscuits and Eggs

The image shows a biscuit sandwich filled with scrambled eggs, topped with creamy gravy and bacon pieces, all arranged on a white plate.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

Enjoy Best Southern Ham Gravy with Cheesy Biscuits and Eggs, a quick Southern breakfast that just feels like comfort in every bite. This easy favorite, perfect for weekends, brings everyone together to savor a hearty meal.

Get This Recipe: Ham Gravy

Beef Stew

The image depicts a bowl containing beef stew with chunks of meat, potatoes, and carrots in a broth. A spoon is placed next to the bowl. There is also a plate with a roll and butter on an orange cloth.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

Craving a taste of Southern comfort with a twist? This farm-to-table Thick Beef Stew boasts classic ingredients simmered to perfection in a red wine and whole-grain mustard-infused broth. Get ready for a heartwarming and delicious experience that’s perfect for any occasion.

Get This Recipe: Beef Stew

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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!

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