The Ultimate Southern Comfort Food Collection – 21 Old Fashioned Recipes!

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Ready for a taste of good ol’ Southern comfort? I’ve got a batch of delicious recipes that’ll take you back to grandma’s kitchen. From old favorites like Country Fried Steak to timeless classics like a sweet and spicy Bourbon Glaze, these dishes are sure to hit the spot and warm your heart. Whether you’re craving a hearty meal (Deviled Crab!), a sweet treat (Blueberry Pie!), or something in between, this list has something for everyone. So come on in and enjoy the warm, comforting flavors of the South – your taste buds will be glad you did!

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak

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Chicken fried steak with country gravy.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak Recipe brings the South straight to your home kitchen in just 45 minutes! Commonly known as chicken-fried steak in the Southern United States, this dish features seasoned cube steak coated in a golden-brown crust, perfectly complemented by a rich and creamy white sawmill gravy that’ll have you craving seconds and thirds!

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken Fried Steak

Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits

A strawberry shortcake.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

This easy Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits recipe is a game-changer, made completely from scratch that promises to outshine any store-bought version. Once you experience the fresh, buttery flavor of homemade biscuits combined with the sweet juiciness of ripe strawberries, you’ll be convinced to make them yourself every time. Perfect for a summer dessert or a special treat, this recipe shows just how rewarding baking from scratch can be. Give it a try, and you might find yourself saying goodbye to pre-packaged options for good!

GET THE RECIPE: Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits

Best Meatloaf Recipe

Meatloaf on a platter with a saucy topping.
Best Meatloaf Recipe. Photo credit: Grandbaby Cakes.

Offering a timeless take, this meatloaf recipe promises tender and juicy results every time, making it a classic favorite. Ideal for those wanting a reliable and flavorful meatloaf experience. It’s straightforward to prepare with common ingredients, perfect for any home cook.
Get the Recipe: Best Meatloaf Recipe

The Best Easy Potato Salad with Spring Onions

A bowl of creamy potato salad topped with chopped green onions and crispy bacon bits. A spoon rests inside the bowl, and the dish is placed on a surface with a hint of a cutting board and a striped napkin visible in the background.
The Best Easy Potato Salad with Spring Onions. Photo credit: Bless this Meal.

This potato salad brings a fresh twist to the classic side dish with the crisp flavor of spring onions. The creamy dressing makes it a perfect addition to any potluck, balancing out the flavors beautifully. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up!
Get the Recipe: The Best Easy Potato Salad with Spring Onions

Easy Layered Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Trifle

Layers of banana pudding, Nilla wafer cookies, and whipped cream.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Ask any self-respecting Southerner, and they’ll tell you that the ultimate Southern comfort dessert is Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding, a delicious scratch-made layered trifle boasting creamy vanilla pudding, Nilla Wafers, and luscious Cool Whip! This make-ahead, no-bake dessert is a breeze to whip up, utilizing simple ingredients sure to please a crowd. With just a few minutes of prep time, you can create a delicious masterpiece perfect for any occasion.

GET THE RECIPE: Banana Pudding

Easy Homemade Corn Muffins

Cornbread muffins on a wire cooling rack.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

This Easy Homemade Corn Muffins recipe is truly a standout! These muffins boast a delightfully crusty exterior while maintaining a soft, tender cornbread interior, striking the perfect balance of textures. Simple to make, they are ideal for anyone looking to whip up a quick batch of muffins that taste like homemade perfection. Enjoy them as a warm, comforting side dish or a treat all on their own.

GET THE RECIPE: Easy Homemade Corn Muffins

Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake

A pound cake with sugar glaze.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Serve a slice of nostalgia with Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake, a timeless recipe that delivers a big, beautiful, moist cake perfect for any occasion! With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can quickly whip up an easy cake batter that transforms into the BEST old-fashioned cream cheese pound cake you can imagine. And here’s the best part – it’s all achieved through a two-step method! Yes, you read that right – two simple steps stand between you and a delectable pound cake that rivals those crafted by any Southern baker. So why wait?

GET THE RECIPE: Pound Cake

{Best Ever} Easy Crab Cakes

Crabcakes on a plate with a lemon wedge.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

This {Best Ever} Easy Crab Cakes recipe offers the ultimate in flexibility by allowing you to use either fresh or canned crab meat. This versatility means you can enjoy making these delicious crab cakes anytime without needing a special trip to the store. Whether you opt for the convenience of canned or the freshness of just-caught crab, this recipe promises a delightful seafood experience that’s straightforward and satisfying.

GET THE RECIPE: Crab Cakes

Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy

A dinner plate filled with rice and topped with a fried chicken cutlet and scratch-made country gravy.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

There’s nothing quite as comforting as breaded cutlets fried to a perfect golden brown and served alongside a savory pan gravy. Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy is pure homey goodness. While this dish may not boast extravagant flavors or elaborate presentation, it captures the heart and soul of Southern American cooking in every forkful. Bringing together crispy fried chicken and American-grown rice, each element may seem ordinary. However, when plated together and paired with scratch-made pan gravy, they form a harmony that whistles Dixie.

GET THE RECIPE: Fried Chicken

5-Ingredient Meatloaf {Without Breadcrumbs}

A hand-formed loaf of meatloaf and a knife to cut into it.
5-Ingredient Meatloaf {Without Breadcrumbs}. Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

This minimalist meatloaf requires only five ingredients, making it incredibly simple and quick to prepare. Perfect for busy nights, it offers a streamlined dinnertime approach. Despite its simplicity, it delivers full-bodied flavor that meatloaf lovers will appreciate.
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Meatloaf {Without Breadcrumbs}

Classic Blueberry Pie Recipe

Chicken and dumplings in a bowl.
Image Credit: Ally Roomberg for Baking A Moment

Introducing a tried-and-true Classic Blueberry Pie Recipe! Whether using fresh or frozen berries, paired with a homemade or store-bought crust, this recipe ensures a blueberry pie filling that’s consistently thick and never watery!

GET THE RECIPE: Blueberry Pie

Carolina BBQ Sauce

A spoon dipping into barbecue sauce.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

Experience the unique flavor of authentic Carolina BBQ sauce, known for its tangy, mustard-infused taste that can truly transform your grilling. This delicious sauce blends the zestiness of mustard with a touch of sweetness and a hint of smokiness, making it perfect for basting on chicken, pork, or beef. It’s an essential for any barbecue enthusiast looking to add a distinctive Southern flair to their dishes.

GET THE RECIPE: Carolina BBQ Sauce

Pecan Pie Bars

A large shrimp in gravy over cheese grits.
Image Credit: Ally Roomberg for Baking A Moment

Pecan Pie Bars mean you get to enjoy all the flavors of traditional pecan pie in a convenient grab-and-go bar. These treats feature a rich, caramel-like pecan filling atop a buttery shortbread base, all crafted without any corn syrup!

GET THE RECIPE: Pecan Pie Bars

Coconut Cake

A spoonful of creamy baked corn casserole.
Image Credit: Ally Roomberg for Baking A Moment

Coconut Cake features three stunning layers, each filled and frosted with a light, marshmallow-like cream and generously sprinkled with heaps of sweet, shredded coconut on top. Oh-so-SOUTHERN!

GET THE RECIPE: Coconut Cake

How To Make the Best Damn Wagyu Meatloaf

A loaf of Wagyu meatloaf sliced in a chafing dish.
How To Make the Best Damn Wagyu Meatloaf. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Using Wagyu beef elevates this meatloaf to a new level of richness and flavor, perfect for special occasions. Easy to prepare despite the premium ingredients, it’s accessible for home cooks. The result is a succulent and deeply flavorful dish.
Get the Recipe: How to Make the Best Damn Wagyu Meatloaf

Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

A bowl of creamy mashed sweet potatoes with butter.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

Mashed Sweet Potatoes offer a scrumptious alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. This recipe creates a creamy, smooth texture with a rich, buttery taste that serves as the perfect complement to any meal. Ideal for adding a touch of sweetness to your dinner table, these mashed sweet potatoes are not only flavorful but also bring a vibrant color and nutritional boost to your plate. Enjoy them as a cozy side dish that pairs wonderfully with a variety of main courses!

GET THE RECIPE: Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Cherry Crumble

A woman spooning cherry cobbler from a dish.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

There’s truly something special about a warm, freshly-baked cherry crumble. The combination of sweet and tart cherries with a crisp, crunchy topping comes together to form a delightful dessert. Each bite is a perfect balance of fruitiness and textured sweetness, making it a favorite for any occasion. Enjoy it on its own, or elevate the experience with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat.

GET THE RECIPE: Cherry Crumble

Creamy Sweet Potato and Muenster Gratin

A casserole of sweet potatoes layered with Muenster cheese.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

The epitome of southern comfort food might be this Creamy Sweet Potato and Muenster Gratin. This rendition of potato gratin takes the beloved Southern staple sweet potato to unparalleled heights of richness with minimal effort required. This dish embodies the perfect marriage of creamy and cheesy, offering a savory counterpart to the iconic Southern sweet potato casserole. This potato bake effortlessly steals the spotlight, giving even your main course a run for its money in the flavor department.

GET THE RECIPE: Potatoes Au Gratin

Fried Potatoes and Onions

Country fried potatoes and onions.
Image Credit: Erren Hart for Erren’s Kitchen

Pan-fried potatoes and onions truly are a classic combination that can enhance any meal, from a hearty breakfast to a comforting dinner. This versatile side dish, with its crispy golden potatoes and sweet, caramelized onions, brings simple ingredients together for a flavor that’s hard to beat. It’s perfect for pairing with everything from eggs at breakfast to a main course of meat or fish for dinner. Easy to prepare and universally loved, this dish is a staple in many southern kitchens for good reason.

GET THE RECIPE: Fried Potatoes and Onions

Stuffed Deviled Crab: A South Carolina Lowcountry Classic

A brush basting deviled crab with sherried butter.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Check out this easy Stuffed Crab recipe, a luxurious blend of super-rich crab meat stuffing that promises to whisk you away to the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Serve this quintessential Gullah dish in retro crab tins, or contact your local fishmonger to get intact crab shells for an authentic way to showcase this dish. Often referred to as Deviled Crab, this dish resembles traditional crab cakes, lovingly basted with warm butter and sherry sauce, but offers a little heat and an eye-catching presentation. 

GET THE RECIPE: Deviled Crab

Sweet Sticky Spicy Bourbon Glaze

A spoon holding a thick, glossy sauce with seeds and spices hovers over a pot.
Sweet Sticky Spicy Bourbon Glaze. Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Elevate your grill game with a game-changing glaze! This Sweet, Sticky, Spicy Bourbon Glaze packs a punch of sweet, salty, and savory flavors that will leave you speechless. It’s the ultimate “umami” flavor bomb that will transform your grilled meats, fish, and shellfish into show-stopping dishes. Get ready to WOW your family and friends with this addictive condiment that’s sure to become a staple in your grilling repertoire!

Get The Recipe: Bourbon Glaze


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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