Southerners love food, and most have been raised not to waste it. Here are a few dishes that prove the Southern palate is hearty and varied. You may find some new favorites here; a few will make you scratch your head. Many of these recipes originated from enslaved cooks in the South.

Pear Salad

Pear Salad with cheese on platter
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Canned pears topped with mayonnaise, grated cheese, and usually a maraschino cherry are a tried-and-true Southern favorite.

Get the recipe: Pear Salad

Boiled Peanuts

Close-up of several unshelled peanuts with a textured, brown outer shell.
Image Credit: Depositphotos – TopCreativePhotography.

People outside the South will claim boiled peanuts are slimy and gross. Nothing could be further from the truth. They’re tender, salty, and delicious.

Grits

Oval dish of baked cheese grits
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Southerners love grits in all incarnations: Baked Cheese Grits Casserole, Shrimp and Grits, or just a bowl of grits with butter for breakfast. Uh, no sugar, please.

Get the recipe: Baked Cheese Grits Casserole

Pickled Pigs Feet

A metal tray filled with raw, cut pig's trotters, displayed on a white background.
Image Credit: Depositphotos – kariphoto.

When it was time for butchering the hogs, no part of that animal was wasted. Many people eat pig’s feet today, usually pickled or boiled.

Sweet Tea

Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Just like all soft drinks are cokes, all tea is sweet. Unless it’s not, in which case it’s not Southern anyway.

Get the recipe: Sweet Tea

Chitlins (Chitterlings)

A plate of crispy fried calamari garnished with parsley, accompanied by a bowl of red dipping sauce.
Image Credit: Caitlin – stock.adobe.com.

Pig intestines are cleaned and cooked in various ways. The strong flavor and the texture can be off-putting for some.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Unripe green tomatoes coated in cornmeal and fried. The tartness and unusual texture can be unexpected but is delicious.

Get the recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

Okra

A bowl filled with fried okra pieces surrounding a small container of dipping sauce is placed on a wooden surface, with a sprig of parsley and a whole fresh okra beside it.
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Okra may be fried, boiled, or roasted, and it’s definitely a Southern favorite.

Get the recipe: Skillet Fried Okra

Pimento Cheese

A bowl of pimento cheese surrounded by a ring of round crackers on a wooden board, with a blue patterned napkin and a spoon beside it.
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

It may be trendy and found on almost every restaurant menu, but Pimento Cheese was once a Southern cook’s way of stretching a dollar to make sandwiches without meat.

Get the recipe: Pimento Cheese

Cheese Straws

Cheese Straws — crispy, buttery, homemade crackers that are easy to make and a great appetizer!
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

There is nothing like homemade cheese straws. Crispy and light, they’re a delicate concoction of butter, cheese, and flour.

Get the recipe: Cheese Straws

Hummingbird Cake

Slice of nut cake with white frosting on a white plate, close-up view.
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

This is a delicious spice cake filled with bananas, pineapple, and pecans and topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting.

Chicken and Dumplings

Southern Chicken and Dumplings are made with flour and butter, chicken, and broth, and that's it! This is a classic, simple dish and it's the ultimate comfort food!
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Another recipe that originated from the need to save money and work with what you have: Boiled chicken with simple dumplings made from flour, shortening or butter, and water.

Get the recipes: Southern Chicken and Dumplings

Best Desserts

A rectangular chocolate cake with frosting in a white baking dish, cut into small squares with a few pieces missing.
Image Credit: Southern Food and Fun.

If you’re having a big family gathering, good desserts are a must!

Get the recipes: Desserts for Days

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, Iโ€™m Lucy! Iโ€™m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. Iโ€™ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

Follow Lucy on social media:

You May Also Like:

Sign up with your email address to receive a 5-day series of Southern Cooking Secrets, followed by weekly emails with recipes and tips. We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *