25 Best Southern Dinners
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Craving something hearty, homey, and full of flavor? These Southern staples have been passed down through generations, featuring bold flavors, creamy grits, slow-cooked goodness, and classic Southern recipes you know and love. If you grew up with collard greens simmering on the stove or a big pot of red beans and rice bubbling away, this list will feel like home.
1. Sheet Pan Low Country Seafood Boil (No Crawfish)
Craving a Southern feast without the mess? This Sheet Pan Low Country Boil is packed with all the bold flavors of the classic: juicy shrimp, tender potatoes, sweet corn, and smoky sausage, all roasted up on one pan. Perfect for your next Southern dinner when you want that Low Country vibe.
2. Southern Grilled Cheeseburgers
Juicy, cheesy, and loaded with Southern flavor, these Southern grilled cheeseburgers take the cookout classic to a new level. Think fried green tomatoes, sweet BBQ sauce, and buttery brioche buns, all grilled to golden brown perfection!
3. Garlic Biscuits and Bacon Gravy
This Southern staple is pure comfort on a plate. Fluffy garlic biscuits smothered in rich, homemade bacon gravy? That’s the kind of Southern breakfast that sticks with you in the best way. Add crispy bacon on top and you’ve got the ultimate Southern comfort food!
4. The Best Southern-Style Fried Chicken Sandwich
This crispy, golden brown chicken sandwich is everything we love about Southern cooking: juicy, flavorful, and piled high on a buttery brioche bun. A tangy buttermilk marinade and secret breading twist give it that perfect crunchy coating, making it a must-try for fans of Southern comfort food.
5. Biscuits and Gravy Tater Tot Casserole
We took two classics—Southern-style biscuits and gravy and a good ol’ tater tot casserole—and brought them together in one golden, bubbling dish of joy. This Biscuits and Gravy Tater Tot Casserole is loaded with flaky biscuit pieces, creamy homemade sausage gravy, crispy tots, and melty cheese on top.
6. Classic Cajun Jambalaya
When it comes to bold flavors and Southern comfort food, this one-pot Cajun classic delivers every time. Loaded with tender chicken, smoky andouille sausage, and perfectly seasoned rice, this Southern dinner is as satisfying as it is simple. The rich flavor and homemade seasoning make this dish a must-have for any Southern food lover!
7. Southern Shrimp & Grits
If you’re after Southern comfort food, shrimp and grits is a hard dish to beat! With creamy, cheesy grits, smoky bacon, and tender shrimp cooked right in the drippings, it brings all the cozy richness of Southern cooking to your table.
8. Mississippi Chicken Over Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This Southern comfort food roundup wouldn’t be complete without this slow cooker Mississippi Chicken. Tender, tangy, and buttery shredded chicken melts into a bed of creamy mashed sweet potatoes for a Southern meal that hits every note—savory, sweet, and rich.
9. Classic Southern Tomato Sandwich
Some Southern classics don’t need dressing up, and this Southern tomato sandwich is proof. With sun-ripened tomatoes, soft white bread, and a slather of mayo, it’s the kind of from-scratch cooking that brings back memories of Southern kitchens and lazy porch lunches.
10. Our Family’s Southern Chicken Stew Recipe
This Southern chicken stew is the kind of Southern comfort food that’s been filling bellies for generations. Packed with chicken, corn, potatoes, and a rich, savory broth, it’s a Southern meal made for sharing on a cold night!
11. Country Chowder
This country chowder is creamy, cozy, and full of Southern comfort food charm. It’s a warm, hearty Southern classic that brings together simple ingredients in the best way. A true favorite Southern recipe that only gets better by the bowlful!
12. Crockpot Potato and Hamburger Soup
This Crockpot Potato and Hamburger Soup is hearty, cozy, and full of rich flavor. With ground beef, tender potatoes, and slow-cooked veggies, it’s the kind of one-pot meal that feeds the whole family with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.
13. Pulled Pork Sliders for Game Day
These Pulled Pork Sliders are made for game day gatherings and Southern-style cookouts alike. Tender slow-cooked pork, soft homemade rolls, and a bright vinegar slaw come together for the kind of bite-sized comfort food folks can’t stop reaching for!
14. Southern Smothered Chicken
This Southern Smothered Chicken is comfort food at its finest: crispy, golden thighs and drumsticks bathed in rich onion-garlic gravy made from chicken bone broth. A soulful classic that starts in the skillet and finishes in the oven for fall-off-the-bone flavor.
15. Fuss-Free Southern Fried Chicken
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, this fuss-free Southern fried chicken uses a ranch and buttermilk coating for bold flavor and oven-fried ease. Forget standing over the stove; this hands-off recipe delivers all the crunch you crave with less mess!
16. North Alabama-Style Pulled Chicken BBQ
This North Alabama-style pulled chicken BBQ brings that iconic BBQ joint flavor straight to your slow cooker. Juicy, tender, and packed with bold Southern flavor, this pulled chicken is so good it often needs no sauce at all.
17. Sausage and Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
This sausage and sweet potato sheet pan dinner is a perfect example of easy Southern dinners done right. With juicy sausage and caramelized sweet potatoes roasted together on one pan, it’s a simple meal bursting with bold flavors and rich, comforting goodness.
18. Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Slow cooker meatloaf is simple, hearty, and tender, made with just a handful of everyday ingredients. This classic slow-cooks to juicy perfection, delivering that warm-from-the-kitchen feeling we all crave.
19. Crispy Breaded Pork Chops With Milk Gravy
This crispy breaded pork chop recipe is a Southern favorite! Golden brown with a crunchy coating and smothered in rich, creamy milk gravy, these pork chops bring that home-cooked warmth straight to your table every time.
20. Southern Cubed Steak and Milk Gravy
This Tender cube steak, smothered in a rich, creamy gravy made with simple ingredients, is quick but still full of that classic Southern flavor. Serve it up with cheesy mashed potatoes or fresh green beans for a hearty meal that hits all the right notes in Southern cooking.
21. BBQ Ribs in Oven With Veggies
Who doesn’t love slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone tender country-style beef ribs glazed with a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, all roasted together with seasonal veggies for the ultimate one-pan meal. Just wrap, bake, and roast your way to a hearty Southern feast!
22. White Bean Chili With Chicken
Tender chicken and white beans simmer in a rich, spicy broth with just the right kick of cayenne and green chilies. It’s a cozy one-pot dish that’s perfect for a cold night, delivering that ultimate comfort food. Serve it up with some crunchy tortilla chips, sharp cheddar, and a side of cornbread for the full Southern cooking experience.
23. Slow Cooker Coke Chicken
This slow cooker Coke chicken is the kind of set-it-and-forget-it supper we all need in our back pocket. A whole fryer simmers low and slow in a sweet-savory blend of Coca-Cola and pantry staples, soaking up every bit of flavor until it’s fall-off-the-bone tender!
24. Maple Glazed Pork Chops
These maple-glazed pork chops strike that perfect Southern balance of sweet and savory. With just a handful of pantry staples and a skillet, you’ll have tender, juicy pork chops coated in a rich, golden glaze that clings to every bite!
25. Simple Southern Fried Catfish
Golden, crispy, and straight from the heart of the South. Dredged in a classic cornmeal crust and pan-fried to perfection, each bite is tender inside with a satisfying crunch outside. Even if you’re not a big seafood fan, catfish’s mild, clean flavor just might win you over. Don’t forget the Hush Puppies!
Pass the Plate and Make It a Memory
There’s just something about a good Southern supper that brings folks together. Maybe it’s the smell of something frying in the kitchen, or the sound of a spoon scraping the bottom of the casserole dish. Whatever it is, it sticks with you.
So whether you’re cooking for family, feeding a crowd, or just making a weeknight feel a little more special, these dinners are here to help you do it right. Pull up a chair, pass the cornbread, and let’s make some memories!
