Southern cooking has always been about big flavor and real comfort. These 19 recipes feel like the ones families keep close, the kind you only get if someone trusts you. We love dishes like this because they don’t try to be trendy. They just work, every single time.
Shrimp Creole
Shrimp Creole comes together in about 45 minutes with shrimp, tomatoes, onions, and bold seasoning. The sauce is rich, slightly spicy, and perfect over rice. It’s the kind of Southern dinner that feels familiar even if you’ve never made it. One pot is all it takes.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Creole
Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes cook in about 5 hours with potatoes, smoked sausage, and a creamy, seasoned sauce. The flavor is smoky, salty, and deeply comforting. This dish is built for cold nights and hungry crowds. It’s the kind of recipe people ask for after one bite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
Smoked Chicken Quarters
Smoked Chicken Quarters take about 2 hours with bone-in chicken, seasoning, and steady smoke. The meat turns juicy while the skin gets flavorful and crisp. This is a true Southern cookout staple that never feels complicated. It’s easy to serve with any side on the table.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Chicken Quarters
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Garlic Butter Shrimp cook in about 10 minutes with shrimp, garlic, butter, and simple seasoning. The flavor is rich, salty, and perfect for piling onto rice or crusty bread. It’s fast comfort food that still feels special. This is one of those recipes you repeat all week.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Shrimp
Classic Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles
Chicken and Waffles take about 45 minutes with crispy fried chicken and warm waffles. The mix of salty crunch and sweet syrup makes it hard to stop eating. This dish feels like brunch and dinner all at once. It’s the kind of plate people talk about afterward.
Get the Recipe: Classic Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles
Memphis Style Smoked Spare Ribs
Memphis Style Smoked Spare Ribs cook in about 5 hours with pork ribs and a dry rub full of bold seasoning. The ribs come out tender with smoky flavor in every bite. This is classic Southern barbecue that doesn’t need much else. Serve them once and people remember them.
Get the Recipe: Memphis Style Smoked Spare Ribs
Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy
Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy takes about 40 minutes with breaded chicken and creamy gravy. The crust is crisp and the inside stays juicy. This is the kind of dinner that feels like it came from a family kitchen, not a recipe card. It’s comfort food done right.
Get the Recipe: Chicken-Fried Chicken with White Gravy
Smoked Baked Beans
Smoked Baked Beans cook in about 2 hours with beans, smoky flavor, and a sweet-savory sauce. They taste rich, thick, and slightly sticky in the best way. This side shows up at cookouts for a reason. It holds its own next to ribs, chicken, or brisket.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Baked Beans
Smoked Potato Salad
Smoked Potato Salad takes about 1 hour with potatoes, creamy dressing, and a subtle smoky finish. The texture stays hearty and satisfying instead of mushy. This is the kind of side that disappears fast at any barbecue. It tastes familiar but just different enough to stand out.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Potato Salad
Creamed Leeks
Creamed Leeks cook in about 25 minutes with leeks, cream, and simple seasoning. The flavor is mild, buttery, and surprisingly rich. This dish works like a Southern side that feels a little dressed up. It pairs easily with smoked meats or roasted chicken.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Leeks
Smoked Pork Shoulder (For Pulled Pork)
Smoked Pork Shoulder takes about 8 hours with pork, seasoning, and low steady heat. The meat turns tender enough to shred and stays juicy for serving. This is a Southern classic that feeds a crowd without extra effort. Pulled pork like this gets remembered and requested again.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Pork Shoulder (For Pulled Pork)
Chicken and Dumplings Skillet
Chicken and Dumplings Skillet cooks in about 35 minutes with chicken, broth, and soft dumplings. The flavor is creamy, savory, and built for comfort. This dish feels like something a grandparent would make when everyone was tired and hungry. It’s warm, filling, and dependable.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Dumplings Skillet
Domino Potatoes
Domino Potatoes bake in about 1 hour with thin sliced potatoes, butter, and seasoning. The edges crisp while the centers stay soft and rich. This side looks impressive without being complicated. It’s the kind of recipe people ask about before dinner is even served.
Get the Recipe: Domino Potatoes
Shrimp Etouffee Stuffed Filet Mignon
Shrimp Etouffee Stuffed Filet Mignon takes about 45 minutes with filet, shrimp, and a bold Cajun-style sauce. The flavor is rich, savory, and built for a special dinner. It feels like a steakhouse meal with Southern roots. This one always gets attention at the table.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Etouffee Stuffed Filet Mignon
Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
Stewed Okra and Tomatoes cook in about 35 minutes with okra, tomatoes, and simple seasonings. The dish tastes tangy, savory, and deeply Southern. It’s a classic side that’s been around forever for a reason. Serve it alongside fried or smoked meats for balance.
Get the Recipe: Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
Hickory Smoked Pork Ribs with Paleo BBQ Sauce
Hickory Smoked Pork Ribs cook in about 5 hours with pork ribs and a smoky, tangy sauce. The meat turns tender with a deep barbecue flavor. This recipe keeps things bold without relying on heavy ingredients. It’s the kind of ribs people pick clean down to the bone.
Get the Recipe: Hickory Smoked Pork Ribs with Paleo BBQ Sauce
Southern-Style Deviled Ham Cheese Ball
Deviled Ham Cheese Ball takes about 15 minutes to mix, then chills until firm. It’s made with ham, cream cheese, and seasoning for a salty, creamy bite. This is a classic party recipe that gets passed around quietly. Set it out once and it’s gone fast.
Get the Recipe: Southern-Style Deviled Ham Cheese Ball
Smoked Brisket Chili
Smoked Brisket Chili simmers in about 1 hour with brisket, beans, tomatoes, and spices. The smoky meat gives the whole pot a deeper flavor. This is Southern comfort that fills you up without needing sides. It tastes even better the next day.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brisket Chili
Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Scallops cook in about 45 minutes with scallops and smoky bacon. The flavor is salty, rich, and perfect for gatherings. This recipe feels fancy but stays surprisingly simple. It’s one of those bites people grab fast before they’re gone.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
