Nothing Too Fancy, Just Real Southern

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Get cozy with the down-home flavors of true Southern cooking—nothing too fancy, just real Southern classics. From a comforting bowl of creamy Southern Chicken Salad Sandwich to the sweet charm of Hummingbird Cake, these dishes bring a warm, familiar taste of the South. Enjoy the lively notes of Vintage Watergate Cake, the rich, cheesy goodness of Creamy Mac and Cheese, and other timeless treats like Salted Burnt Caramel Custard, Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding, and a tangy Potato Salad that’s as inviting as a front porch on a sunny afternoon!

Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Tasty Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe on display
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Quick and easy to make, this Chicken Salad recipe is perfect as is or for a chicken salad sandwich. Easy chicken salad makes the best lunch.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Peanut Butter Burgers

Peanut Butter Burgers in all its glory
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Make this peanut butter burger with bacon for a unique twist on the nostalgic Guber burger. It’s the most craveworthy burger you’ll eat!
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Burgers

Pistachio-Cardamom Bundt with Rosewater Glaze

A Bundt cake is topped with white icing and sprinkled with chopped pistachios. The cake is presented on a white plate, with a yellow cloth and a decorative piece of pottery in the background on a dark surface.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Elegant and aromatic, Pistachio-Cardamom Bundt with Rosewater Glaze offers a unique flavor that elevates any dessert spread. The warm spices make it a standout among Southern-inspired sweet treats.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio-Cardamom Bundt with Rosewater Glaze

Tuna Salad

Scrumptious Tuna Salad photo
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Made with canned tuna, walnuts, apples, mayo, and onions, this creamy Tuna Salad is easy, delicious, and perfect for weekday lunches!
Get the Recipe: Tuna Salad

Egg Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber Dill Spread

The image features egg salad on pieces of bread, accompanied by leafy greens, sliced cucumbers, and a red radish.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Enjoy a taste of the Southern luncheonette with these Egg Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber Dill Spread. Ditching the usual sweet pickle relish, this recipe adds a refreshing twist with creamy cucumber, green onion, and dill in a yogurt and cream cheese spread. Easy to make, they’re perfect for a classy, cool lunch.

Get the Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches with Cucumber Dill Spread

Grape Salad

A beautifully presented photo of Grape Salad
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This creamy grape salad recipe is about to be your new favorite salad or side dish. Grapes, sour cream, cream cheese, brown sugar, & nuts.
Get the Recipe: Grape Salad

Vintage Watergate Cake Recipe

A close-up of a cake with light green frosting and a nutty outer layer. The cake sits on a silver plate, and the background includes a pink cloth.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average

This classic Watergate Cake is an irresistibly easy pistachio treat topped with a creamy whipped frosting, making it perfect for any gathering! The cake is tender and full of pistachio flavor, and, best of all, it’s served chilled, thanks to the whipped frosting that needs a bit of refrigeration. Light and airy, with a delightful crunch from chopped pistachios and walnuts, this cake is a true vintage favorite.

Get the Recipe: Vintage Watergate Cake Recipe

Tricolor Pasta Salad

Tricolor Pasta Salad served fresh
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Simple, easy and delicious – this Tricolor Pasta Salad is perfect for BBQ’s, parties or as a vibrant side! As yummy as it is gorgeous!
Get the Recipe: Tricolor Pasta Salad

Turkey Club Sandwich

A plate of club sandwiches cut into quarters, with layers of turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, garnished with potato chips. Skewers hold the sandwiches together, and the plate is set on a speckled countertop.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average

The ultimate Turkey Club Sandwich takes the BLT to new heights, layering on cheeses, deli chicken or turkey, sometimes ham, and a middle slice of bread for that classic triple-decker touch.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Club Sandwich

Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe

A slice of layered cake with creamy frosting, topped with whole pecans and lavender sprigs, rests on a wooden surface. A fork and some greenery are positioned beside the cake.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Combining pineapple, bananas, and pecans, Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe delivers a moist, fruity flavor that’s beloved across Southern tables. This classic cake’s tropical sweetness makes it unforgettable.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake Recipe

Pimento Cheeseburgers

Pimento Cheeseburgers at its finest
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Perfectly seasoned ground chuck patties, topped with an addictive cheese spread, Pimento Cheeseburgers – ultimate homemade burgers!
Get the Recipe: Pimento Cheeseburgers

Homemade Creamy Mac and Cheese

The image shows creamy macaroni and cheese topped with crispy breadcrumbs.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Loaded with layers of melty, gooey cheese, Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort dish for any family dinner. This recipe’s rich and creamy texture embodies the heart of Southern home-cooking.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Creamy Mac and Cheese

Country-Style Potato Salad with Eggs

A bowl of creamy potato salad garnished with paprika and fresh parsley. The salad is placed on a colorful checkered cloth with a spoon beside it.
Image Credit: Sense & Edibility

Featuring creamy russet potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, Country-Style Potato Salad with Eggs is a backyard classic. This Southern-inspired side is a hearty, flavorful addition to cookouts or holiday meals.
Get the Recipe: Country-Style Potato Salad with Eggs

Tender Shaved Beef Fajitas

A cast iron skillet with hot beef fajitas and seared vegetables alongside bowls of lime wedges, tomatoes, and tortillas.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Tender Shaved Beef Fajitas bring together ultra-thin, juicy slices of beef with vibrant sweet peppers, caramelized onions, and creamy avocado, creating a fresh, restaurant-quality Mexican dish right at home. When dinner needs to be quick and effortless, these fajitas are a go-to favorite—one of the easiest meals in my lineup!

Get the Recipe: Tender Shaved Beef Fajitas

Pizza Pasta Salad

Pizza Pasta Salad
Photo credit: Budget Bytes

Repurpose your leftover pizza toppings into this deliciously simple Italian style pizza pasta salad. Including a simple homemade Italian dressing!
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad

Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Trifle

A glass bowl filled with banana pudding. The pudding is topped with a layer of whipped cream, crumbled cookies, and surrounded by whole vanilla wafers.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding is a classic Southern trifle, layered with creamy vanilla pudding, soft bananas, Nilla Wafers, and fluffy Cool Whip! This no-bake, make-ahead dessert uses simple ingredients and is perfect for feeding a crowd. With just minutes of prep, you’ll have a delicious treat ready for any occasion!

Get the Recipe: Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Trifle

Air Fryer Hamburgers

Air Fryer Hamburgers served fresh
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Air Fryer hamburgers are so quick & easy! Make juicy air fryer burgers (or cheeseburgers) in the air fryer in just 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Hamburgers

Salted Burnt Caramel Custard

A spoon holds a caramel-colored clove of black garlic above a jar filled with more cloves on a light marble surface.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Salted Burnt Caramel Custard is the rich, velvety Southern take on a grown-up butterscotch pudding. These luxurious pots de crème, baked in clear glass jars, showcase their warm, dusky color, offering a glimpse of the indulgence to come. It’s a decadent dessert that’s smooth, creamy, and oh-so-southern in its charm.

Get the Recipe: Salted Burnt Caramel Custard

7up Pound Cake with Citrus Glaze

A beautifully decorated bundt cake topped with white icing and garnished with lemon and lime slices. It sits on a white plate with a gold cake server nearby. A bowl of fresh lemons and limes is in the background.
Image Credit: Sense & Edibility

Bursting with lemon-lime flavor, 7up Pound Cake with Citrus Glaze brings a tangy twist to traditional pound cake. Moist and rich, it’s a delightful choice for anyone who loves Southern-style baking.
Get the Recipe: 7up Pound Cake with Citrus Glaze

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Delicious Ham and Cheese Sliders ready to be enjoyed
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These ham and Swiss cheese sliders are so delicious and easy to make. Just 6 ingredients on sweet Hawaiian rolls, a sure crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Sliders

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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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