From ham balls to buttermilk biscuits, these southern food recipes will surprise and delight you!
38 Old-Fashioned Recipes for Southern Food
Updated on Sep. 10, 2021
Banana Pudding
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I first saw him at the airport last fall, I just grabbed hold of him and busted out crying. Back home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true Southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
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Bourbon Meatballs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Kick-start your meatballs with a splash of bourbon and vinegar for punchy sweet-and-sour flavor. These Kentucky Derby bourbon meatballs are perfect to snack on while you watch the race. —Kimla Carsten, Grand Junction, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1 meatball: 95 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 192mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
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Sweet Tea Concentrate
Total Time
30 min
Servings
20 servings (5 cups concentrate)
From the Recipe Creator:
Sweet iced tea is a southern classic, and this is a fabulous recipe for tea lovers or for a party. The concentrate will make 20 servings. —Natalie Bremson, Plantation, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup concentrate: 165 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 27mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Ham Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I first made this ham salad recipe for a shower, and everyone raved about it. Now when I go to a potluck, I take it—along with copies of the recipe. —Patricia Reed, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup ham salad: 229 calories, 18g fat (3g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 1023mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 15g protein.
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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.
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Hush Puppies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A fish dinner isn’t complete without a side of hush puppies, and my mom is well-known for this recipe. It's the best! —Mary McGuire, Graham, NC
Nutrition Facts:
1 hush puppy: 55 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 86mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
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Southern Green Beans with Apricots
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Green beans and apricots have become a family tradition. Enhanced with balsamic vinegar, this dish will make your taste buds pop. —Ashley Davis, Easley, South Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 149 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 464mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 5g fiber), 6g protein.
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Plum Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 245 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 173mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
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Oven-Fried Green Tomato BLT
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For years I have used this same idea to cook eggplant slices, and recently I decided to try it on green tomatoes. It worked! Now my family loves them in BLTs. —Jolene Martinelli, Fremont, New Hampshire
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 313 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 744mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 starch, 2 high-fat meat, 1 fat.
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Deviled Eggs
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Herbs lend amazing flavor to these deviled eggs, which truly are the best you can make! The recipe includes tasty variations that feature bacon, chipotle peppers and crab.—Jesse & Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
1 stuffed egg half: 73 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
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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.
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Fried Chicken
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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.
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Orange Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The delicate orange flavor of this simply delicious cake is perfect for rounding out a rich meal. The orange glaze would also be a nice way to top off slices of your favorite angel food cake. —Marjorie Ebert, Conewango Valley, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 333 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
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Hot Milk Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple, old-fashioned milk cake tastes so good it will surprise you! As I remember my mom's delicious meals, this dessert was always the perfect ending. Mom always used "a dash of this and dab of that" to come up with what we thought was "the best." —Rosemary Pryor, Pasadena, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 254 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 154mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
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Buttermilk Rolls
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Warm, buttery dinner rolls are absolutely irresistible. I save time and use a stand mixer to make my dough. —Jennifer Patterson, Shoshone, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 roll: 167 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 187mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
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Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Inspired by Chick-fil-A chicken salad, this recipe is incredibly easy to make, and your family will love it. The sweet pickle relish gives it that signature taste. I like to use a thick crusty oat bread. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 651 calories, 29g fat (5g saturated fat), 222mg cholesterol, 1386mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 4g fiber), 51g protein.
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Kentucky Butter Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this Kentucky butter cake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 410 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 100mg cholesterol, 344mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (38g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
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Mini Chicken & Biscuit Sandwiches
Total Time
30 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My 11-year-old son invented these sliders at dinner one night when he set his chicken on a biscuit. The rest of us tried it his way, and now we enjoy these sandwiches all the time. —Jodie Kolsan, Palm Coast, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
2 mini sandwiches (calculated without optional toppings): 367 calories, 16g fat (4g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 1029mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 27g protein.
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Creamy Sweet Corn with Okra
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A bit of cream and a few crumbles of bacon lightly coat these delightful veggies the whole family will love. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 211 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 384mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein.
20/38
Mint Julep
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 cups syrup)
From the Recipe Creator:
It wouldn't be Kentucky Derby Day without this mint julep recipe! But, really, this Kentucky Derby mint julep recipe is good anytime. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1/3 cup: 197 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
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Apricot Ham Balls
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family requests these ham balls for our annual Christmas Eve open house.
Nutrition Facts:
1 meatball: 192 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 525mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 9g protein.
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Raisin Pecan Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember my Grandmother Voltie and Great-Aunt Ophelia making this southern-style pie for Thanksgiving. It was always one of the many cakes and pies lined up for dessert. —Angie Price, Bradford, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 524 calories, 30g fat (16g saturated fat), 130mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
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Coconut Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Toasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor,it's a lovely end to meals throughout the year.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 667 calories, 26g fat (13g saturated fat), 125mg cholesterol, 357mg sodium, 104g carbohydrate (82g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
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Chicken Salad Croissants
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This tempting chicken salad that gets its special taste from Swiss cheese and pickle relish. It's a favorite of my brother, who insists I make it whenever he visits. —Laura Koziarski, Battle Creek, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 593 calories, 40g fat (14g saturated fat), 102mg cholesterol, 818mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein.
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Biscuits with Shortening
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 8 biscuits
From the Recipe Creator:
If you're looking for a flaky basic biscuit, this recipe is the best. These golden brown rolls bake up tall, light and tender. They're good on their own, but taste even better served warm and spread with butter or jam. —Nancy Horsburgh, Everett, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 biscuit: 249 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 407mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
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Plum Pudding
Total Time
2 hours 30 min
Servings
12 servings (1-1/2 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
In A Christmas Carol, everyone claps for plum pudding. Our family has made this pudding our own tradition, and it really is something to clap for. —Ruthanne Karel, Hudsonville, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece with 2 tablespoons sauce: 550 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 292mg sodium, 98g carbohydrate (80g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein.
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Okra Stew
Total Time
40 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I worked on this recipe together. We make a big pot and freeze it to enjoy all winter long. We sometimes stir in sauteed shrimp for a delicious addition to this stew. —Lisa Nelson, Bluffton, South Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without rice): 274 calories, 20g fat (7g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 1011mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 4g fiber), 10g protein.
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Herb Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I couldn't find a recipe for dinner rolls, I created my own using a variety of herbs for extra flavor. —Sue Friesen, Thorold, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 roll: 78 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 186mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
30/38
Shrimp with Warm German-Style Coleslaw
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We love anything that is tangy or has bacon. With fennel and tarragon, this is a super savory dish. I use the medley from Minute Rice if I don't have time to make my own. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 472 calories, 20g fat (5g saturated fat), 156mg cholesterol, 546mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 28g protein.
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Applesauce Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist applesauce cake recipe is a treasured heirloom passed down from my Grandma Stuit, who cooked for a family of 13 during the Depression. At reunions, it's the first dessert gone...including the crumbs! —Joanie Jager, Lynden, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 282 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 237mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (31g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
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Sweet Sausage Rolls
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Refrigerated dough makes these appetizers a snap to prepare. Sausage gives them a little smoky heat, while honey and brown sugar lend a touch of sweetness. It all adds up to a finger food that's downright addicting! —Lori Cabuno, Canfield, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 appetizer: 128 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 194mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
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Fried Okra
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Golden brown with a little fresh green showing through, these okra nuggets are crunchy and addictive! My sons like to dip them in ketchup. —Pam Duncan, Summers, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 200 calories, 12g fat (1g saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 430mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein.
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Southern Seafood Gumbo
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I tasted a similar dish at a local restaurant and later duplicated it pretty closely. I trimmed it down a bit and no one in my family seemed to mind. —Susan Wright, Champaign, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 180 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 512mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 lean meat, 1 starch.
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Cinnamon Fruit Biscuits
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Because these sweet treats are so easy, I'm almost embarrassed when people ask me for the recipe. They're a snap to make with refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, sugar, cinnamon and your favorite fruit preserves. —Ione Burham, Washington, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
1 biscuit: 178 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 323mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
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Moist Lazy Daisy Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We always called this Mama's never-fail recipe. I guess the same holds true for me since I've won contests with this lazy daisy cake. The tasty dessert always brings back fond memories of Mama. —Carrie Bartlett, Gallatin, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 405 calories, 18g fat (12g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 277mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (46g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
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Gran's Apple Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother occasionally brought over this wonderful cake warm from the oven. The spicy apple flavor combined with the sweet cream cheese frosting made this recipe one that we treasured. Even though I've lightened it up, it's still a family favorite. —Lauris Conrad, Turlock, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 181 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 213mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.
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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.
