26 Simple Southern Recipes Making a Comeback

Jenny deRemer

Oct 21, 2025

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This fall, Southern cuisine is all about revisiting comfort foods with a fresh twist. Dishes like creamy chicken pot pie, buttery buttermilk biscuits, and hearty cheeseburger soup are making a resurgence. Nostalgic favorites such as pineapple casserole and chicken spaghetti are back, offering a mix of familiar flavors and modern upgrades. With the chill in the air, Southern favorites like red beans and rice and white chicken chili are perfect for cozy meals. These trending recipes bring warmth, flavor, and a touch of nostalgia to your table.

Table of Contents

How to Make Fried Green Tomatoes

A plate of golden-brown fried green tomatoes arranged on a black wire cooling rack. One tomato has a bite taken out of it, showcasing the crispy texture. A small bowl of creamy dipping sauce with green herbs is placed beside the plate.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

These golden Fried Green Tomatoes, coated in a crispy flour and cornmeal mixture, are sweet, tender, and absolutely irresistible—especially when served with my creamy garlic aioli dipping sauce.

Get the Recipe: How to Make Fried Green Tomatoes

Easy Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe

A delightful Easy Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This easy buttermilk biscuits recipe is made with a handful of ingredients, and they come together so easily. These fluffy biscuits are a great side dish
Get the Recipe: Easy Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe

Jerk Seasoned Collard Greens

Jerk Seasoned Collard Greens
Photo credit: Budget Bytes

Sweet, spicy, and savory, these Jerk Seasoned Collard Greens are a hearty and flavorful side dish that also makes great leftovers!
Get the Recipe: Jerk Seasoned Collard Greens

Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

A bowl containing a mixture of red beans and sliced sausage, garnished with herbs, with a mound of white rice in the center. A spoon is placed in the bowl. The bowl is on a light-colored surface next to a folded beige napkin.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Using a slow cooker makes preparing Red Beans and Rice incredibly simple since it handles the heavy lifting! The red beans become soft and creamy as they cook slowly with flavorful spices, smoked sausage, and ham, resulting in a rich and satisfying dinner.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Chicken Spaghetti

Mouthwatering Chicken Spaghetti
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This creamy Chicken Spaghetti is a delicious and hearty baked spaghetti casserole. It’s so simple to make, an easy weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti

Green Beans with Bacon

A black cast iron skillet filled with cooked green beans and small bits of bacon sits on a stove. A wooden spoon is placed on the white stove surface nearby. The green beans appear to be freshly sautéed and seasoned.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Green Beans with Bacon is a popular side dish because bacon brings out the best in green beans! This simple recipe requires just 2 ingredients and under 20 minutes of cooking. Pair it with roasted chicken and cornbread for an effortless weeknight meal.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Bacon

Chicken, Crab and Andouille Sausage Gumbo Recipe

A bowl of gumbo topped with white rice and chopped green onions. The gumbo includes okra, diced tomatoes, sausage, and chicken. Surrounding the bowl are ingredients such as fresh green onions, a red chili, and a white napkin on a light-colored surface.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

Chicken and andouille sausage are staples in any classic gumbo, but when you add crab, it elevates the dish from delicious to extraordinary. Take for example this Chicken, Crab and Andouille Sausage Gumbo. Yep.

Get the Recipe: Chicken, Crab and Andouille Sausage Gumbo Recipe

Turkey Gumbo with Sausage

A red-handled pot filled with a hearty soup containing sliced sausage, diced vegetables, chunks of meat, and okra. A wooden spoon is placed in the pot, which rests on a marbled white surface.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Turkey Gumbo is an excellent way to make use of leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Large, tender turkey pieces and smoky sausage are slow simmered with spices, creating a flavorful and hearty bowl of Southern comfort!

Get the Recipe: Turkey Gumbo with Sausage

Pimento Cheese

A platter with a bowl of orange dip in the center, surrounded by sliced cucumbers, radishes, colorful carrots, round crackers, and square crackers, all arranged neatly on a white oval serving dish. A spoon rests in the dip. The background is a marble surface.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

This Pimento Cheese recipe uses two varieties of sharp cheddar and a secret ingredient—pickle brine—for an extra burst of flavor, making it ideal as a snack, appetizer, or spread for sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Pimento Cheese

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Tasty Creamy White Chicken Chili on display
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This creamy white chicken chili recipe is so easy to make, and you can thank the cream cheese for that silky texture!
Get the Recipe: Creamy White Chicken Chili

Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Pie

A person wearing a striped apron holds a peanut butter pie with a golden crust and a creamy filling. The pie is garnished with chopped peanuts on top and is placed on a green-rimmed plate.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Pie is made completely from scratch with creamy peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy cream. These ingredients are whipped together and poured into a buttery pie crust, creating a silky-smooth peanut butter treat that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Pie

Cheeseburger Soup

Cheeseburger Soup served fresh
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This easy Cheeseburger Soup is filled with ground beef, bacon, Velveeta, potatoes, and more for the most comforting soup recipe!
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Soup

Slow Cooker White Beans and Ham

A bowl of ham and bean soup with a spoon resting inside, garnished with herbs. The soup is served in a white bowl with a brown rim, set on a white surface. To the side, there is a plate with three slices of cornbread. The atmosphere looks cozy and inviting.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Slow Cooker White Beans and Ham is the ultimate way to make the most of leftover holiday ham! This dish is warm, comforting, and incredibly easy to prepare. Just toss everything into your slow cooker and let it handle the rest. Pair it with some stoneground skillet cornbread for a perfect family dinner!

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker White Beans and Ham

Southern Pineapple Casserole

Southern Pineapple Casserole
Photo credit: Simply Stacie

This classic Southern Pineapple Casserole is the perfect mix of sweet and savory, with an irresistibly buttery topping that’s addicting.
Get the Recipe: Southern Pineapple Casserole

How to Make the BEST Cornbread

A slice of cornbread topped with a dollop of butter and drizzled with honey, sitting on a white marble surface. The honey is visibly flowing over the cornbread edges, creating a glossy, appetizing effect. Crumbs are scattered around the slice.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

This Skillet Cornbread has a tender, moist interior and a perfectly crispy crust, ready to serve in less than 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: How to Make the BEST Cornbread

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

A bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese, topped with a sprinkle of black pepper, sits on a marble countertop. The macaroni is coated in a rich, orange cheese sauce, making it appear warm and comforting. A fork is partially visible to the right.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is a no-fuss recipe that comes together right in your slow cooker—no need to boil the noodles first. Just toss everything into the pot for a rich, cheesy dish everyone will enjoy!

Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Chicken and Waffles Sliders

A sandwich made with waffles as the buns, featuring a fried chicken patty and a sunny-side-up egg with the yolk dripping. The golden yolk runs down the chicken and onto the waffles, creating a visually appetizing and indulgent dish.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

An overnight soak in buttermilk and hot sauce gives these Chicken and Waffles Sliders a flavorful, juicy kick. Perfect for a bold breakfast!

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Waffles Sliders

Deviled Eggs

A round plate features a neatly arranged selection of deviled eggs. Each halved egg is filled with a creamy yolk mixture and topped with a sprinkle of paprika, creating a visually appealing appetizer. The background is a plain white surface.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Deviled Eggs are a crowd-pleasing appetizer perfect for any gathering. Whether you’re hosting a party, attending a potluck, firing up the BBQ, or celebrating Easter, this classic recipe is always a hit!

Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs

Maple Turkey Sausage

A breakfast plate with two browned sausage patties, a slice of toasted bread, and scrambled eggs garnished with parsley. A fork rests on the plate near the sausage patties. The food is arranged on a white plate with a brown rim.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

This Homemade Maple Turkey Sausage recipe may be light on calories, but it’s packed with bold flavor! Real maple syrup, along with sage and thyme, transforms lean turkey into a deliciously healthy breakfast sausage that tastes as good as it is nutritious.

Get the Recipe: Maple Turkey Sausage

Shrimp Boil

A large white platter filled with a seafood boil, featuring shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob, and boiled potatoes, garnished with fresh herbs. Lemon wedges and dipping sauces surround the platter. A hand is taking a piece of shrimp from the dish.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

Also called a Lowcountry Boil, this classic Shrimp Boil is quick to prepare and perfect for an interactive dinner, whether you’re on vacation or hosting a summer party.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Boil

Chicken Pot Pie

A golden-brown pie with a slice missing is displayed in a white ceramic pie dish. The pie's flaky crust is marked with four slits in the center. Fresh parsley and a beige cloth napkin are visible in the background.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Easy Chicken Pot Pie delivers ultimate comfort with its double layer of buttery, flaky crust and a filling of tender chicken and vegetables, all enveloped in a rich, creamy homemade sauce. Perfect for a cozy family meal or a special gathering!

Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

Heavenly Funeral Potatoes

A rectangular white baking dish filled with hash brown casserole topped with crispy cornflakes, partially scooped out with a spoon. Next to it is a plate with a serving of the casserole and pieces of roasted chicken. A white cloth is in the background.
Image Credit: Foodie Crush

Funeral Potatoes are a simple, crowd-pleasing comfort food casserole that’s irresistibly delicious and practically divine.

Get the Recipe: Heavenly Funeral Potatoes

Pecan Pie

A close-up image of a slice of pecan pie on a plate. The pie has a flaky crust, a gooey, caramel-colored filling, and a dense layer of pecan pieces on top. A fork with a bite of the pie is placed next to it, revealing the pie's texture.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

If you’re after an easy Pecan Pie recipe that sets perfectly and isn’t runny, this is the one! With just a few simple steps, you can make it ahead of time for dinner. It’s a classic dessert that’s both straightforward and a crowd favorite everyone will look forward to.

Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie

Easy 5 Bean Salad

A bowl filled with a colorful bean salad placed on a wooden surface. The salad includes kidney beans, white beans, green bell peppers, corn, red onions, and diced green beans. Parsley sprigs and loose beans are scattered around the bowl.
Image Credit: Averie Cooks

This Easy 5 Bean Salad features a mix of five different beans, artichoke hearts, red onions, and fresh veggies, and it comes together in just 10 minutes! Everything is tossed in a tangy, savory, and slightly sweet vinaigrette, making it the perfect protein-packed side dish for dinner, picnics, potlucks, or even a healthy lunch on its own.

Get the Recipe: Easy 5 Bean Salad

Tomato Pie

A savory pie with a golden-brown crust is topped with large tomato slices and fresh basil leaves, served in a white pie dish. A slice is missing, revealing the creamy filling. Sliced tomatoes, chopped basil, and a blue cloth are nearby on the white surface.
Image Credit: Little Spoon Farm

Classic Southern Tomato Pie is a savory summertime dish, featuring layers of fresh tomatoes, basil, green onions, garlic, and gooey cheese, all baked to bubbly, golden perfection.

Get the Recipe: Tomato Pie

Dr Pepper Baked Beans

A cast iron skillet filled with baked beans, garnished with chopped green onions and herbs. A spoon rests in the skillet, and a portion of beans has been served. A can of Dr Pepper soda lies nearby.
Image Credit: Averie Cooks

Dr Pepper Baked Beans take your classic baked beans to the next level with the addition of bacon, onions, peppers, and the bold flavor of Dr Pepper. Sweet, tangy, savory, and hearty, this easy recipe is sure to become your new go-to for baked beans!

Get the Recipe: Dr Pepper Baked Beans

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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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