These Southern Comfort Food Recipes Are So Good You'll You Lick The Plate

Southern cooking is all about bold flavors, hearty meals, and a dash of nostalgia. This collection of Southern recipes features timeless classics and exciting twists, from crispy fried catfish and buttermilk biscuits to comforting chicken dumpling soup and cheesy grits paired with shrimp or salmon. Sweet treats like brown sugar cake and decadent chocolate mayonnaise cake add the perfect finishing touch. Whether you’re craving fried okra, smothered pork chops, or a refreshing glass of sweet lemon iced tea, these recipes will bring a taste of Southern tradition to your kitchen.

Southern Baked Chicken

Southern baked chicken is a straightforward recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights and tasty enough to impress at Sunday dinners.

Southern Baked Chicken

Best Southern Fried Catfish Recipe

A plate of crispy, golden fried catfish pieces, inspired by Southern recipes, is arranged on a white dish with blue stripes. — Image Credit: Cooks With Soul

This Southern Fried Catfish features a crispy golden brown cornmeal crust seasoned to perfection with fish fry seasoning. Pair it with spaghetti, red beans and rice, coleslaw, and a slice of white bread for a classic, comforting southern meal.

Best Southern Fried Catfish Recipe

Fried Okra

Try this southern comfort recipe when you’re craving the ultimate crispy side dish. This Fried Okra is super easy to whip up and gives you that crunchy bite you’ll love, especially with some tasty dipping sauces on the side!
Get the Recipe: Fried Okra

Green Bean Casserole with Bacon

This tasty Green Bean Casserole with Bacon recipe is the ultimate side dish, featuring a creamy sauce and a crunchy topping.

Get The Recipe: Green Bean Casserole with Bacon

Smothered Chicken

This smothered chicken recipe is a breeze to whip up, whether you choose the stove or a slow cooker. Picture succulent chicken thighs basking in a delicious gravy—perfect for those who crave comforting, heartwarming meals!

Get The Recipe: Smothered Chicken

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

A plate containing shredded sirloin tip pot roast served on top of mashed potatoes, garnished with baby carrots and fresh parsley. The dish is accompanied by a savory brown gravy.

This Crock Pot Sirloin Tip Roast is a super tasty slow-cooked meal that features tender beef, carrots, and onions, all smothered in a rich homemade gravy. It’s just perfect for cozy family dinners!

Get The Recipe: Crock Pot Sirloin Tip Roast

Cream Cheese Corn

Craving a familiar favorite with a delightful upgrade? Look no further than this Stovetop Cream Cheese Corn! This recipe transforms classic creamed corn into a luxuriously creamy side dish with a touch of cheesy goodness. It comes together in just 20 minutes, making it the perfect quick and easy addition to any meal, especially holiday gatherings where everyone will be begging for seconds.

Get The Recipe: Cream Cheese Corn

Easy Homemade Corn Muffins

Freshly baked corn muffins cooling on a cooling rack. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This classic recipe is just the beginning! Easily customize it to your taste with a few simple ingredients. Add a touch of honey for sweetness or a sprinkle of cheese for a savory twist.

Get The Recipe: Easy Homemade Corn Muffins

Smothered Pork Chops

A plate of mashed potatoes and pork chops smothered in mushroom gravy, served with a side of steamed broccoli, reminiscent of classic smothered pork chops. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Weeknight dinners don’t get much better than this! These juicy pork chops practically cook themselves, bathed in a luxuriously rich caramelized onion and mushroom gravy. A quick sprinkle of melted cheese adds the finishing touch to this simple yet satisfying comfort food classic.

Get The Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops

Sweet Lemon Iced Tea

Perfect for those hot summer days, this iced tea mixes the zesty flavor of lemon with the refreshing goodness of black tea!

Get The Recipe: Sweet Lemon Iced Tea

Super Crispy Pan Fried Fish

Golden-brown pan fried fish fillets are neatly arranged on a white plate, showcasing their crispy texture. A wedge of lemon is placed beside them, adding a splash of color to the dish. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Indulge in the ease of whipping up this incredible weeknight dinner featuring incredibly crispy pan-fried fish, all ready in just 20 minutes!

Get The Recipe: Super Crispy Pan Fried Fish

Decadent Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

A chocolate bundt cake topped with glossy chocolate glaze, placed on a cooling rack. The rich glaze drips down the sides, highlighting the cake's moist and dense texture. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Don’t be deceived by the name—this Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is bursting with rich chocolate flavor! It’s also the moistest cake we’ve ever created, which is why it continues to be a beloved favorite among fans!

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Deep Fried Pork Chops

Four breaded and fried pork chops cooling on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, embodying the essence of Southern recipes. The chops are golden brown with a crispy coating reminiscent of classic Southern flavor. — Image Credit: Cooks With Soul

Enjoy the nostalgic charm of Grandma’s Southern kitchen with these deliciously friendly deep-fried pork treats.

Deep Fried Pork Chops

Crispy Smoke Fried Wings

These smoke-fried wings are the perfect blend of crispy skin and mouthwatering smoke flavor. They’re brined, smoked, and quickly fried for the ultimate game day snack. Pair with your favorite dipping sauces or hot sauce and dig in for some tasty fun!

Crispy Smoke Fried Wings

Smoked Oxtail

A white plate showcases a pile of sticky, caramelized, and golden-brown baked pastries filled with cherries and apricots, reminiscent of cherished Southern recipes. A gray cloth is partially visible beside the plate. — Image Credit: Cooks With Soul

This smoked oxtail recipe brings together the best of Southern barbecue and soul food, giving you tender, smoky, and flavorful meat that you’ll love!

Smoked Oxtail

Chicken Dumpling Soup

A creamy Southern recipe featuring artichoke hearts, carrots, celery, and strips of chicken. The ingredients are garnished with fresh herbs and immersed in a thick sauce. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Get ready for a warm bowl of comfort with this Chicken Dumpling Soup! Imagine tender, slow-cooked chicken swimming in a rich, flavorful broth, paired with fluffy dumplings and hearty veggies. It’s the perfect cozy meal that’s not just delicious but also super simple to whip up. This recipe is like a hug in a bowl, inviting you to explore and enjoy the delightful flavors. So grab your ingredients and let’s make a comforting dish that will warm your heart and soul!

Get The Recipe: Chicken Dumpling Soup

Hot and Spicy Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

This Hot and Spicy Shrimp and Grits brings together Southern favorites: Nashville Hot Chicken and Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits. You’ll love the juicy shrimp cooked in a cayenne cream sauce, all served over buttery stone-ground grits.

Hot and Spicy Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

Rib Tips

Come and enjoy our Memphis barbecue with tender, juicy smoked rib tips! Paired with white bread and pickles, it’s a tasty and straightforward combo that perfectly captures the true flavors of this Southern delight.

Rib Tips

Baked Blackened Salmon and Cheese Grits

This fish and grits recipe is a delightful combo of baked blackened salmon and creamy grits. It’s the perfect dinner for two and just right for those busy weeknights when you need something quick and easy in under 30 minutes.

Baked Blackened Salmon and Cheese Grits

Copycat Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak

Country Fried Steak topped with creamy gravy. — Image Credit: Jennifer Deremer/Not Entirely Average

Craving a taste of the South? Skip the drive-thru and whip up this Country Fried Steak with creamy sawmill gravy – all in your own kitchen in just 45 minutes! Tender, seasoned cube steak gets a golden-fried makeover, then smothered in a rich and comforting white gravy you won’t be able to resist. It’s the perfect weeknight meal that delivers big on flavor and Southern charm.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak

Brown Sugar Cake

A bundt cake with a glossy caramel glaze drips down the sides. A slice is cut, revealing a moist, golden interior. The cake is displayed on a white background, highlighting its rich texture and appetizing appearance. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Tired of the ordinary bundt cake? This Brown Sugar Bundt Cake offers a delightful twist. A dense, tender crumb bursts with rich brown sugar flavor, then gets crowned with a decadent buttery caramel glaze. It’s a flavor adventure you won’t want to miss!

Get The Recipe: Brown Sugar Cake