The Heart and Soul of Southern Cooking

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Nothing captures the taste of the South quite like a table full of time-honored favorites and bold, comforting flavors. From Alabama White Sauce and Lowcountry Boil to Sweet Potato Biscuits, Crispy Chicken with Herbed Carolina Gold Rice & Scratch Pan Gravy, and Coconut Cake, this roundup serves up classic Southern goodness with soul. Whether you’re after buttery sides, coastal seafood, or heirloom sweets, these recipes bring the charm and heart of Southern kitchens straight to yours.

Alabama White Sauce

A spoon lifting creamy, pepper-speckled dressing from a mason jar.
Photo Credit: Dishes with Dad.

Alabama White Sauce is a unique, tangy Southern mayonnaise-based BBQ sauce that’s a must-try for any grilling enthusiast. It’s perfect for drizzling over grilled chicken or using as a dipping sauce for veggies. Its creamy texture and bold flavor make it a standout at any BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Alabama White Sauce

Lowcountry Boil Recipe

Shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage slices, potatoes, seasoned with herbs and spices.
Photo Credit: Britney Breaks Bread.

This Lowcountry Boil is a seafood lover’s dream with shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes all in one pot. The seasoning mix of Old Bay and Cajun spices makes it a flavorful hit at any gathering. Plus, it’s as simple to clean up as it is to cook!
Get the Recipe: Lowcountry Boil Recipe

Coosaw Island Creamy Cold Crab Dip

A bowl of food on a plate, with Cream and Crab dip.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Experience the transformative power of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where a visit can shift your perspective on, well, everything! And what better way to accelerate this newfound enlightenment than with a refreshing cold beer and a decadent bowl of Coosaw Island Creamy Cold Crab Dip? Trust us, clarity has never tasted so good!

Get the Recipe: Coosaw Island Creamy Cold Crab Dip

Peach Cobbler in a Jar (Gluten Free + Vegan)

Mason jars filled with delicious peach cobbler and topped with vanilla ice cream.
Photo credit: Organically Addison.

Enjoy the essence of the South with this Peach Cobbler in a Jar. This dessert combines juicy peaches with a crumbly, gluten-free, and vegan topping, making it perfect for anyone at your gathering. It’s easy to make and even easier to share!
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler in a Jar (Gluten Free + Vegan)

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes in a bowl topped with a swirl of brown sauce.
Image Credit: Jacqueline Piper for PiperCooks

These aren’t your average Mashed Potatoes! Brown butter and fresh thyme add a touch of gourmet to this creamy and comforting dish. With just 4 ingredients, it’s easy enough for a weeknight meal but special enough to grace your holiday table.

Get the recipe: Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

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

Hummingbird Poke Cake

A dinner plate filled with rice and topped with a fried chicken cutlet and scratch-made country gravy.
Image Credit: Lyuba Brooke for Will Cook for Smiles

Indulge in this irresistibly tender Hummingbird Poke Cake, perfect for the blossoming seasons of spring and summer. In this rendition, we enhance the ease factor by transforming it into a poke cake, infusing each crumb with an extra layer of lusciousness courtesy of a velvety, sweet sauce. Topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting, its flavors and textures are bound to captivate your senses!

Get the Recipe: Hummingbird Poke Cake

Slow Cooker Brunswick Stew

Southern Brunswick Stew in a white bowl with okra, tomatoes, lima beans, and pieces of chicken.
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

Brunswick Stew is a Southern classic that’s sure to warm your soul. This slow cooker version uses chicken, pork, and beef, combined with corn, lima beans, and tomatoes in a rich, flavorful broth. A touch of barbecue sauce adds a sweet and smoky note, making this stew a true crowd-pleaser and perfect for comforting meals.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Brunswick Stew

Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe

Corn casserole in a baking dish with a spatula and two dishes with servings of the casserole on them.
Photo credit: I Heart Eating.

Jiffy Corn Casserole is a classic southern-inspired dish, perfect for Thanksgiving. Made with just a few pantry staples, it’s a simple and delicious side that complements any holiday meal. The creamy, corny goodness of this casserole will bring comfort and warmth to your table, making it a must-have for festive gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe

Best Southern Ham Gravy with Cheesy Biscuits and Eggs

A plate of cheesy eggs and biscuits smothered in southern ham gravy.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Southern breakfast is a delightful affair, with the rich flavors of Smoky Ham Gravy drizzled over cheesy biscuits, perfectly complemented by velvety soft scrambled eggs. The best part? These mouthwatering dishes are a breeze to make from scratch!

Get the Recipe: Ham Gravy

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

A plate of cooked collard greens mixed with pieces of bacon and pork fat, served on a white dish.
Photo Credit: The Short Order Cook.

These Slow Cooker Collard Greens are tender and flavorful, cooked with smoked ham hocks for a rich, savory depth. A splash of apple cider vinegar adds just the right amount of tang. Ideal as a side dish for any Southern meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole

A plate of scrambled eggs and hot sausage biscuit and gravy casserole.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Prepare for breakfast casserole deliciousness as we recreate Bob Evans’ famous sausage gravy recipe! With just a bag of all-purpose flour and a skillet, we’ll whip up a batch of this savory delight. Then, we’ll layer it with biscuits to create a mouthwatering casserole that’s perfect for brunch, weekend breakfast, or even breakfast for dinner!

Get the Recipe: Biscuit and Gravy Casserole

A Recipe for Charleston Pickled Spiced Shrimp

Pickled shrimp and vegetables on toasted rye with aioli.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Charleston Pickled Spiced Shrimp is a recipe that promises an unforgettable encore. Begin by grilling hearty slices of rye bread until perfectly charred, then slather them with a luscious sherry aioli. Next, pile on a colorful array of crunchy veggies, including onion, celery, carrot, fennel, and vibrant red bell pepper, all pickled to perfection in an irresistible blend of Champagne vinegar and aromatic celery seed brine. And let’s not forget the star of the show – shrimp, gently poached in a fragrant bath infused with zesty lemon zest and the unmistakable kick of Old Bay Seasoning. 

Get the Recipe: Pickled Shrimp

Stuffed Deviled Crab: A South Carolina Lowcountry Classic

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

Check out this easy Stuffed Deviled 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.

Get the Recipe: Deviled Crab

Old-Fashioned Tuna Casserole

Tuna and noodle casserole in a white baking dish on a wooden surface with a towel.
Photo credit: The Cookin’ Chicks.

Old-Fashioned Tuna Casserole offers a nostalgic taste of comfort with tender egg noodles, a creamy sauce, and crunchy onions. This dish captures the essence of southern-inspired casseroles, bringing warmth and satisfaction to your table.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Tuna Casserole

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Sweet potatoes biscuits on a piece of wax paper atop a wooden cutting board.
Image Credit: Ally Roomberg for Baking A Moment.

These airy, tender Sweet Potato Biscuits are incredibly easy to whip up and are sure to become a staple on your autumnal menu, evoking the cozy comforts of a Southern style gathering. Perfectly balanced with a hint of tanginess from real buttermilk!

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits

Best Southern Corn Pudding

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

Southern Corn Pudding is farm to table fare, accompanying everything from grilled steak to the Thanksgiving dinner turkey! Baked until gorgeously golden brown, spoonsful of ‘creamy corn pudding bliss’ grace the dinner table in this classic southern dish.

Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole

Chicken Potato Casserole

A tater tot casserole with creamy chicken gravy beneath.
Photo credit: Foodess.

Chicken Potato Casserole combines diced potatoes, tater tots, or frozen hashbrowns with creamy chicken for a comforting and versatile dish. This southern-inspired casserole is perfect for satisfying any cheesy, cozy potato cravings. It’s a hearty meal that’s easy to prepare and loved by everyone.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Potato Casserole

Vegan Southern Pineapple Casserole

Southern pineapple casserole with crushed crackers in a white bowl.
Photo credit: Strength and Sunshine.

Southern Pineapple Casserole offers a delightful mix of sweet and savory flavors. This vegan and gluten-free version includes tangy pineapple, dairy-free cheddar cheese, and a buttery cracker topping, providing a nostalgic taste of southern comfort.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Southern Pineapple Casserole

Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan pie bars stacked up on a burlap covered surface.
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

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak

Chicken fried steak with country gravy.
Image Credit: 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!

Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak

Sweet Potato Pie

A slice of sweet potato pie on a white plate.
Image Credit: Ally Roomberg for Baking A Moment

The flavors in this Southern Sweet Potato Pie recipe are perfectly balanced! Enjoy the earthy taste of roasted sweet potatoes mixed with brown sugar and spices, all encased in a delicate, flaky crust.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie

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: Not Entirely Average

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.

Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken

The Best Fresh Savory Tomato Pie

A baked vegetable and cheese dish topped with breadcrumbs, served in a metal pie tin.
Photo Credit: Boulder Locavore.

This Savory Tomato Pie features a flaky crust, layers of ripe tomatoes, and a cheesy filling. It’s a Southern classic that’s perfect for using up your garden’s bounty. Enjoy it warm from the oven or at room temperature for a delicious summer meal.
Get the Recipe: The Best Fresh Savory Tomato Pie

Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake

A pound cake with sugar glaze.
Image Credit: 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!

Get the Recipe: Pound Cake

Best Dang Shrimp Creole

A bowl with shrimp in a tomato-based sauce, garnished with chopped parsley.
Photo Credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

This Shrimp Creole is a spicy, flavorful seafood dish that’s a true taste of Louisiana. The shrimp are simmered in a rich tomato sauce with bell peppers, onions, and plenty of Cajun seasoning. It’s a quick and delicious dinner option that’s sure to satisfy.
Get the Recipe: Best Dang Shrimp Creole

Easy Layered Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Trifle

Layers of banana pudding, Nilla wafer cookies, and whipped cream.
Image Credit: 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!

Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding

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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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