32 southern food recipes

Granny's chicken and dumplings made the Southern way with rolled, cut flat dumplings and a whole chicken pressure-cooked into rich stock. Old-fashioned scratch comfort food from a hand-me-down recipe.

Southern-style green beans simmered low with smoked turkey wing, onion, garlic, and red potatoes. Pork-free soul food classic with deep smoky flavor.

Italian-style grits casserole layered with hot sausage, ground beef, pizza sauce, green peppers, onion, and melted cheddar. A Southern-Italian comfort food mashup.

Rich chocolate cake with melted chocolate, pecans, and a hint of red food coloring, topped with homemade chocolate pecan frosting. A Southern classic from scratch.

Chicken fried steak Dupree pounds chuck steak thin, dredges in flour and saltine crumbs, then fries crisp and finishes with onion-cream gravy. Classic Southern comfort food cooked in cast iron.

Old-fashioned chicken and dumplings made from scratch with stewed chicken, rich broth, and hand-rolled flat dumplings. Southern comfort food the way Grandma made it.

Hearty meat and Vidalia onion pie layers ground beef, sweet onions, mushrooms and a Swiss-cheddar sour cream custard over a flaky buttermilk biscuit crust. Southern comfort food in a skillet pie.

Rio Grande grits casserole layers creamy garlic grits with kielbasa, black beans, salsa, and melted cheddar. Tex-Mex meets Southern soul food in one bubbling baking dish.

Southern-style dried lima beans slow-simmered with smoked ham hock skin, bacon drippings, and a pinch of sugar until creamy and tender. Simple, smoky, old-fashioned comfort food.

Deep-fried pickles breaded in seasoned breadcrumbs and served with a tangy blue cheese, sour cream, and Dijon mustard dipping sauce. A Southern bar snack and fair food favorite ready in 15 minutes.

Southern turnip green soup with cubed turnip roots, wilted and pureed greens, half-and-half, and a spoonful of cooked grits for body. Florida-style cream soup rooted in soul food.

Slow-simmered pinto beans with smoky ham hocks, onion, and garlic. Soaked overnight and cooked low until creamy and tender, this Southern classic is comfort food at its most honest and satisfying.

Southern Hoppin' John soup with black-eyed peas, ham, rice, collard greens, and a kick of crushed red pepper. A hearty, soul food classic simmered low and slow for deep, smoky flavor.

Southern chicken fried steak: tenderised round steak dipped in milk and seasoned flour, deep-fried golden, then served with a creamy milk gravy made from the pan drippings. A classic comfort food dinner.

A thick, tomato-based Southern Brunswick stew with diced chicken, lima beans, corn, and okra simmered in broth with Worcestershire and a splash of hot sauce. Hearty, no-fuss comfort food that feeds six.

Ham fritters with creamy sauce: golden, crispy-edged spoonfuls of ham-studded batter deep-fried until puffy, served with a rich, velvety sauce. A Southern diner classic that turns leftover holiday ham into crowd-pleasing finger food.