Family-Friendly Southern Dinner Wins

Jenny deRemer

Jun 18, 2025

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Busy weeknights don’t stand a chance against these family-friendly Southern recipes that bring bold flavor, easy prep, and pure comfort to the table. From crispy Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwiches and saucy French Onion Salisbury Steak with Gravy to creamy Turkey (or Chicken!) Tetrazzini, every dish is built to please picky eaters and tired cooks alike. Let the slow-cooked magic of Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Sandwiches or the cozy charm of Homemade Meatloaf with Creamy Onion Gravy do the heavy lifting, while Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks and Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole guarantee clean plates and happy sighs. Whether it’s breakfast-for-dinner or a classic comfort meal, these recipes make you look like a weeknight wizard!

Table of Contents

Smoky Oven-Braised Pulled Pork Sandwiches

A pulled pork sandwich with melted cheese, pickled vegetables, and coleslaw on a bun is served on brown paper. In the background, there is a glass of beer and a yellow drink.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Sandwiches bring the smoky-sweet comfort of barbecue indoors, no smoker required. Each juicy bite is a slow-braised triumph—especially when paired with Carolina mustard sauce and a heap of creamy slaw.

To learn more: Smoky Oven-Braised Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Chicken-Fried Chicken with Creamy Country Gravy

A piece of chicken fried chicken topped with gravy sits on a mound of mashed potatoes on a patterned plate, accompanied by a gold fork and knife.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Chicken-Fried Chicken takes everything you love about classic fried chicken and gives it a boneless, gravy-smothered upgrade. Think crispy edges, tender meat, and just enough old-school Southern charm to make you feel like you’re cheating at comfort food.

To learn more: Chicken-Fried Chicken with Creamy Country Gravy

Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole Recipe

The image shows a dish with golden-brown cheesy biscuits on top, placed on a light wooden surface next to a towel and an onion.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

This hearty Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole layers crumbled sausage, creamy gravy, and fluffy biscuits into one bake-worthy brunch dish. It’s comfort food with diner-style nostalgia, perfect for lazy weekends or breakfast-for-dinner nights.

To learn more: Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole Recipe

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Baked spaghetti topped with diced tomatoes and peppers in a rectangular white dish, set on a wooden surface with kitchen utensils nearby.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Baked Spaghetti Casserole is a cheesy, crowd-pleasing favorite that’s always a hit with kids (and grown-ups, too). It bakes up with a crispy top and creamy center—just enough time to pour a drink and set the table.

To learn more: Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwiches

Sandwiches with chopped chicken, pickles, and creamy white sauce on toasted buns, arranged on a decorative plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwiches serve up smoky pulled chicken drenched in creamy white sauce with a vinegary kick. Piled onto toasted buns with pickles, it’s a bold barbecue detour that’s anything but ordinary.

To learn more: Alabama Chopped Chicken Sandwiches

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 are packed with sizzling peppers, caramelized onions, and melt-in-your-mouth beef for a build-your-own dinner everyone gets excited about. Add some avocado and let the fajita night fun begin!

To learn more: Tender Shaved Beef Fajitas

Chicken Enchilada Recipe with Three Cheese Chipotle Sauce

Enchiladas in a casserole dish, with chicken and cheese and a serving spoon.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Three Cheese Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas bring bold flavor and melty goodness to the dinner table with minimal effort. Just roll up some tender chicken in warm tortillas, cover in cheese, and watch them disappear fast.

To learn more: Chicken Enchilada Recipe with Three Cheese Chipotle Sauce

School Cafeteria Mac and Cheese (A Lunch Lady Throwback)

A rectangular baking dish filled with macaroni and cheese topped with a golden breadcrumb crust.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

School Cafeteria Mac and Cheese is the ultimate creamy, baked comfort food kids and grown-ups both devour. Finished with a golden breadcrumb topping, it’s just as perfect as a main dish as it is alongside your favorite Southern staples.

To learn more: School Cafeteria Mac and Cheese (A Lunch Lady Throwback)

Turkey (or Chicken!) and Noodles Tetrazzini

A creamy turkey tetrazzini garnished with chopped herbs and topped with breadcrumbs, with a partially visible metal fork in the dish.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Turkey (or Chicken!) Tetrazzini turns those holiday or rotisserie leftovers into a bubbly, cheesy casserole the whole family will race to the table for. Creamy, cozy, and packed with noodles, it’s an easy win on busy nights.

To learn more: Turkey (or Chicken!) and Noodles Tetrazzini

French Onion Salisbury Steak

A plate of meatloaf with gravy, served with mashed potatoes and corn on the side, garnished with parsley. The plate is set on an orange-patterned napkin.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

French Onion Salisbury Steak with Gravy turns humble ground beef into a weeknight dinner that feels extra special. Smothered in rich onion gravy, it’s perfect over mashed potatoes and guaranteed to get cleaned plates all around.

To learn more: French Onion Salisbury Steak

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak

Country fried steaks on a platter smothered in white gravy.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak brings home all the crispy, gravy-covered goodness of a roadside favorite—without the road trip. In under an hour, you’ll have tender steak with a golden crust and classic country gravy worth licking the plate for.

To learn more: Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak

Country Captain Chicken

A plate of white rice topped with a tomato-based chicken stew, garnished with herbs and slivered almonds. A fork rests on the side, with bowls of extra rice and stew nearby.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Country Captain Chicken blends Lowcountry comfort with warm curry spices for a dish that’s both familiar and far-flung. Tender chicken, tomatoes, and a hint of sweetness make this storied Southern staple a flavorful standout.

To learn more: Country Captain Chicken

Southern Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Herb Crust

Sliced roast pork tenderloin arranged on a wooden board with sprigs of fresh herbs, beside a jar of yellow sauce or jelly.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin is easy to love—marinated overnight, seared, and roasted until perfectly tender. Add a little Jezebel sauce on the side, adults find it just the right hint of sweet heat; add mashed potatoes and you’ve got a kid-approved dinner!

To learn more: Southern Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Herb Crust

Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich

A fried chicken sandwich with lettuce and mayonnaise in a bun, served with potato chips on a patterned plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwiches are a hit with everyone at the table—crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of flavor. Tucked into toasted buns with lettuce and mayo, they’re easy to make and even easier to love.

To learn more: Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Homemade Meatloaf with Creamy Onion Gravy

Slices of meatloaf, mashed potatoes topped with white gravy and a sprig of rosemary arranged on a plate; beside the plate are a fork, knife, and a small sauce pitcher.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Homemade Meatloaf with Creamy Onion Gravy serves up two juicy loaves—one for dinner, the other perfect for packing into next-day lunches or freezing for later. Each slice is rich, tender, and smothered in savory onion gravy your whole crew will crave.

To learn more: Homemade Meatloaf with Creamy Onion Gravy

Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Golden-brown fried chicken drumsticks garnished with fresh dill, arranged on a decorative green and white plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks come out crispy, golden, and gloriously mess-free—no deep fryer in sight. Just brine, bake, and enjoy the crunch that turns any cook into a weeknight hero.

To learn more: Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Creamy One-Pot French Onion Rigatoni

A bowl of rigatoni pasta with creamy sauce, topped with herbs, sits on a wooden table. A fork rests in the bowl. Nearby are piles of shredded cheese and whole onions.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

French Onion Pasta turns your favorite soup into a creamy, cheesy one-pot pasta dream loaded with sweet, caramelized onions and rich broth. Rigatoni soaks up every bit of Gruyère-laced sauce—and yes, seconds are non-negotiable.

To learn more: Creamy One-Pot French Onion Rigatoni

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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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