What Are the Most Popular Southern Foods?

Southern foods, anyone? If you're like me, chances are you've craved Southern foods multiple times. Southern dishes are warm, hearty, and packed full of flavor. Whether baking, frying, or smoking, a Southern dish is the ultimate comfort food.

There's a reason it's called Soul food. Beloved Southern recipes require time spent in the kitchen, and that is proven to boost emotional health. It's good for the soul.

You may wonder where to start if you haven't prepared Southern dishes. There are several ways to prepare these popular foods, but you can't go wrong with some Southern hospitality.

In addition, I have some basic cooking tips for some of the tastiest Southern dishes. These are dishes everyone should try. You will have everyone around you begging for more!

Biscuits

Biscuit are the perfect comfort food to complement any Southern dish. These soft and tasty pieces of bread heaven are simple to make but sure to impress everyone at mealtime.

I love that you won't need any special ingredients for this recipe. I can almost bet that most items are already 9 times out of 10 in your pantry. In addition, biscuits require flour, baking powder, soda, salt, butter, and buttermilk. The ingredients will cause the mixture to rise when baked—resulting in a fluffy, round shape.

These are often served on the side of hearty Southern recipes such as collard greens and buttermilk fried chicken. They should be warm at all times to enjoy them the most.

In addition, another tip is brushing melted butter on top while hot out of the oven for the best results. They can also be served with gravy or alongside sweet jelly.

Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings will hit the spot if you want to serve the ultimate comfort food. This tasty stew-like dish is a favorite in the South.

Chicken breasts and a mix of hearty vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery are at the heart of this classic dish. You will need dumplings and pantry staples like chicken broth, salt and pepper, flour, and milk.

To prepare the dish,

• Cook the chicken with salt and pepper, and cook the vegetables until they soften.

• Then, mix the flour and butter and add the mixture to the chicken broth. Add milk and homemade dumplings and simmer them in the broth until they soften.

There are several cooking tips in articles online if looking to master a chicken and dumpling recipe. Avoid cooking the dumplings too long as they will begin to disintegrate into the broth. Check them often to see if they are soft and ready.

Grits

You can't talk about Southern foods without talking about corn grits. Grits are a staple in Southern dishes.

The dish comes from dried corn mashed into a smooth porridge-like texture. Once ground to a smooth texture, grits get loaded with melted cheese, cream, and butter. For the best results, use parmesan or cheddar cheese.

Corn grits are often served at breakfast in the form of porridge. But this beloved dish can exist beyond the first meal of the day. Many people serve corn grits as a side with smoked meat or shrimp at dinner.

Fried Chicken

When in doubt, stick with Southern comfort food that's tried and true. Unless you're a vegetarian, disliking the classic fried chicken is almost impossible.

The chicken gets coated in bread before placing it in the deep fryer. Fried chicken should be crispy on the outside but remain moist inside.

There are countless fried chicken recipes out there. But aficionados would argue that the secret to this timeless recipe lies in how its batter's made.

Some cooks like to get creative, using cornflakes, cayenne, garlic, buttermilk, or onion powder in their recipes. Others keep things simple by using salt, pepper, and flour.

Regardless of how you prepare your chicken, it will surely be finger-licking good.

Fried Green Tomatoes

You may recognize this Southern recipe from the famous film from 1991 that shares its name. But fried green tomatoes are a beloved dish.

This food consist of unripe tomatoes coated in cornmeal. They are deep-fried until they are crispy. Fried green tomatoes should be golden-brown and gooey inside.

The dish is best served with hot sauce and spicy mayonnaise. The unique tomatoes are a great addition to a bacon sandwich. But they make for a delicious snack on their own.

Gumbo

Southern foods, every family has a recipe for gumbo. But gumbo is one of the most debated Southern recipes going. Even those with advanced cooking skills can easily make a misstep with this Cajun dish.

Gumbo is a hearty stew, usually served on steamed rice. The stew consists of shrimp, oysters, okra, crab with sausage, and authentic Creole spices.

But the secret to this recipe lies in its base—the roux. Roux is flour browned in fat. And its ideal consistency gets contested among Gumbo fans.

The trinity of gumbo is also vital to the dish. This is a mix of sautéed celery, bell peppers, and onions. Some people add garlic; others favor red peppers over green ones.

For the best results, gumbo should get cooked slowly, using water instead of broth. Elevate your gumbo with hot sauce and its secret ingredient, filé powder.

Hush Puppies

These are deep-fried balls made of cornmeal.

Hush puppies make for a comforting side dish. They are often served at barbecues but are a delicious addition to any Southern meal.

You will need cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, eggs, baking powder, buttermilk, and milk to prepare this dish. Add flavor with the addition of green onions that have been browned.

Hush puppies are best served alongside smoked meat. But they also complement fish

Peach Cobbler

This sweet dessert is sure to impress even the pickiest of guests. And if it doesn't, then that's their loss. There will be more leftovers for you to enjoy!

Peach cobbler is a blend of peach topped with baking powder, butter, flour, and sugar. It's baked in the oven until the mixture is bubbly and golden brown, and your home smells amazing!

It tastes great when topped with cinnamon. You can use fresh peaches or canned peaches. But you will get the best results if you serve it using fresh Georgian peaches when they are in season.

Pecan Pie

This classic pie has been a staple in homes for generations. It's served at gatherings during the holiday season but can be made yearly.

Pecan pie is often made using pecans, corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, and a flaky pie crust. But some recipe include variations like molasses, brown sugar, honey, cane syrup, and maple syrup. Add a bit of bourbon if you're looking for unique cooking tips to set your pie apart.

The pie should bake until the crust is a deep golden brown hue and the filling has a medium-dark brown color.

Pulled Pork

Few things pair with cornbread as well as barbecued pulled pork does. This Southern favorite is a great option for serving a large group.

There are lots of way to prepare pulled pork. Whether you add a dry rub to your meat, choose a smoky sauce, or combine the two methods—you can't go wrong with pulled pork.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Some would say sweet potato casserole is a dessert. Others consider it to be a tasty side at any large gathering. In addition, regardless of your stance, this Southern recipe should not be overlooked.

The casserole consists of sweet potatoes, eggs, spices, and butter. You can then top it with marshmallows or pecans.

The result is a warm, sweet sticky comfort food that stands out around the dinner table.

Create These Popular Southern Foods With Ease

These warm and hearty recipe bring as much joy in the kitchen as they do around the table.

Whether you're looking to add something new to your culinary repertoire or you are cooking Southern foods for the first time, these popular dishes are sure to impress.

If you're looking for more mouth-watering Southern recipes to enjoy, you've come to the right place. Visit the recipe section of this blog to try one of these delicious meals today!