The Appalachian region of America developed its own distinct culture—and iconic foods. Enjoy these Appalachian-inspired recipes for cornbread, stack cake, pickled vegetables and more.
29 Recipes Inspired by Classic Appalachian Foods
Updated on Apr. 24, 2024
1/29
Apple Stack Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom loved to bake this sky-high apple stack cake. Layer the apple goodness two days before serving. Later, a dusting of confectioners’ sugar is the only topping you’ll need. —LeVa Clement, Jackson, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 506 calories, 13g fat (8g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 313mg sodium, 94g carbohydrate (55g sugars, 4g fiber), 6g protein.
2/29
Cornbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend gave me this homemade cornbread recipe several years ago, and it's my favorite of all I've tried. I love to serve the melt-in-your-mouth side hot from the oven with butter and syrup. It gets rave reviews on holidays and at potluck dinners. —Nicole Callen, Auburn, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 262 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 395mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
3/29
Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This biscuits and sausage gravy is an old southern recipe that I’ve adapted. Homemade sausage gravy is a classic, hearty breakfast that takes you on a trip to the South every time it’s served. —Sue Baker, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 337 calories, 27g fat (14g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 718mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 10g protein.
4/29
Country Ham and Potatoes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Browned potatoes are a simple but perfect side for country ham. Not only do the potatoes pick up the flavor of the ham, but they look beautiful! Just add veggies or a salad and dinner’s done. —Helen Bridges, Washington, Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 261 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 1337mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 28g protein.
5/29
Chicken and Dumplings
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Perfect for fall nights, my simple version of comforting chicken and dumplings is speedy, low in fat and a delicious one-dish meal. —Nancy Tuck, Elk Falls, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 260 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 964mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein.
6/29
Refrigerator Garden Pickles
Total Time
35 min
Servings
7 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
Canning isn't necessary for these crisp-tender, tangy pickles. Keep them in the fridge and eat them up within a month. —Linda Chapman, Meriden, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 55 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 28mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
7/29
Blackberry Cobbler
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Alabama has some tasty fresh berries. Several decades ago, my mama was going to pick blackberries to make a cobbler, but she went to the hospital to have me instead! This wonderful dessert is her mama’s recipe. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 491 calories, 21g fat (13g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 421mg sodium, 75g carbohydrate (56g sugars, 4g fiber), 5g protein.
8/29
Fried Chicken
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you've wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep-fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces cooked chicken: 543 calories, 33g fat (7g saturated fat), 137mg cholesterol, 798mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 41g protein.
9/29
Oven-Fried Cornbread
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Nothing says good home cooking like a crisp Southern cornbread baked in a cast-iron skillet. This old family recipe has been passed down to each generation. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 238 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 709mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
10/29
Cherry-Peach Dumplings
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You can make this fruity dessert on your stovetop, but to really impress your guests, simmer it in an electric skillet right at the dinner table. There’s no more convenient way to enjoy the fruits of the season. —Patricia Frerk, Syracuse, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 286 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 349mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
11/29
Skillet Cabbage
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I use this dish often when the schedule gets tight and I need a hurry-up vegetable to cook. It adds plenty of substance to a simple meal. —Charmaine Fricke, St. Charles, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 100 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 286mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
12/29
Old-Fashioned Stack Cakes
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 stack cakes (6 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother has always fixed these at Christmas and they are the first thing everyone asks about. "Where is the stack cake?" The super thin layers are what make this recipe stand out...delicious! —Stephanie Gilbert, Whitesburg, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 280 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 343mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
13/29
Sausage Patties
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These country-style patties are so simple to prepare. You'll never again settle for store-bought versions that are loaded with preservatives and not as good. —Bertha Bench, Mineral Wells, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 patty: 242 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 502mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 21g protein.
14/29
Corn Pudding
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cornbread mix and canned corn make this southern corn pudding casserole a snap to prepare. Now, this is real comfort food! —P. Lauren Fay-Neri, Syracuse, New York
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 435 calories, 22g fat (12g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 700mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
15/29
Spiced Pickled Beets
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
With sweet, tangy and spiced flavors, these pickled beets are so good that they'll win over just about everyone in your house. Jars of colorful beets make great gifts, too! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 53 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch.
16/29
Buttermilk Biscuits
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 biscuits
From the Recipe Creator:
The recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 biscuit: 222 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 508mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
17/29
Rustic Honey Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my boys were young, they couldn’t drink milk but they could have yogurt. This was a cake they could eat. And it’s one dessert that doesn’t taste overly sweet, which is always a nice change of pace. —Linda Leuer, Hamel, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 248 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 257mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
18/29
Pickled Green Beans
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe produces zippy little pickled green beans, preserving my veggies for months to come ... if they last that long. I crank up the heat a bit with cayenne pepper. —Marisa McClellan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
8 green beans: 9 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 83mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Free food.
19/29
Classic Beef Stew
Total Time
2 hours 25 min
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This easy beef stew recipe is my favorite. The rich beef gravy helps the hearty flavor of the potatoes and carrots to come through. It's the perfect homemade dish for a blustery winter day. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 245 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 751mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein.
20/29
Glazed Smoked Chops with Pears
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband would eat pork chops every day if he could. Luckily, they're good prepared in all sorts of ways, including with pears. —Lynn Moretti, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 313 calories, 4g fat (6g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 1056mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 4g fiber), 22g protein.
21/29
Hearty Quinoa & Corn Chowder
Total Time
40 min
Servings
14 servings (3/4 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother lived in the Appalachian Mountains and always served straight-from-the-garden corn and beans. I updated her dish with quinoa and herbs. — Kari Napier, Louisville, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 264 calories, 16g fat (9g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 485mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 6g protein.
22/29
Skillet Potatoes with Red Pepper and Whole Garlic Cloves
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll be surprised that a skillet potato recipe this simple has so much flavor. I love how the whole garlic cloves turn sweet after being caramelized. Yum! —Anita Osborne, Thomasburg, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 131 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 303mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein.
23/29
Grandma Pruit's Vinegar Pie
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always served at our get-togethers.—Suzette Pruit, Houston, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 545 calories, 25g fat (13g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 316mg sodium, 78g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
24/29
Lemon Roasted Chicken
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a meal I have my students make in our nutrition unit. It has a delicious lemon-herb flavor and is simple to make. —Mindy Rottmund, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken thighs with 4 ounces potatoes and 2 tomatoes: 446 calories, 20g fat (5g saturated fat), 151mg cholesterol, 429mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 45g protein.
25/29
Cheese Grits
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As a comfy side dish, cheese grits have fantastic potential but sometimes need a flavor boost. For add-ins, try red pepper flakes, fresh rosemary or crushed garlic. —Paula Hughes, Birmingham, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 225 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 629mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 10g protein.
26/29
Buttermilk Pecan Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the treasured "golden oldie" that my grandmother made so often whenever we'd come to visit. Grandma grew her own pecans, and we never tired of cracking them and picking out the meat when we knew we'd be treated to her special pie! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 691 calories, 41g fat (20g saturated fat), 191mg cholesterol, 401mg sodium, 75g carbohydrate (53g sugars, 2g fiber), 9g protein.
27/29
Pork Chops with Gravy
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is an impressive and elegant dish that can be served to guests. You can use any fresh herbs you like, even the ones you have one hand.—Betty Slivon, Sun City, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 pork chop with 1/3 cup gravy: 683 calories, 55g fat (23g saturated fat), 189mg cholesterol, 933mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 34g protein.
28/29
Chicken and Dumplings
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
8 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Homemade chicken and dumplings from scratch hearken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. It's one of those types of soup you'll want to eat again and again. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 470 calories, 24g fat (8g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 892mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 32g protein.
29/29
Skillet Pork Chops
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband, Clark, and I reserve this recipe for Sundays after the grandkids have gone home and we're too tired to prepare a big meal. It's comforting and quick. —Kathy Thompson, Port Orange, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 390 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 97mg cholesterol, 700mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 33g protein.
