There are Southern recipes that come and go-and then there are the ones Grandma never stopped making. These dishes stuck around for a reason. Whether sweet, savory, or somewhere in between, they're the kind of recipes you remember showing up on the table without fail. Here are 17 Southern favorites Grandma still swears by to this day.
Basil Peach Cobbler
Basil peach cobbler is a fresh-baked dessert filled with juicy peaches, a buttery biscuit topping, and a subtle hint of herbal flavor. It takes just over an hour and leans on simple pantry staples like flour, sugar, and ripe peaches. The result is soft, bubbling fruit tucked under a golden crust that tastes both classic and a little unexpected. It's the kind of dish Grandma kept ready when summer fruit piled up fast.
Get the Recipe: Basil Peach Cobbler
Oven-Baked Buttermilk Chicken And Potatoes
Oven-baked buttermilk chicken and potatoes is a one-dish Southern classic with crisp skin, juicy meat, and tender, buttery potatoes. It takes about 90 minutes to bake, thanks to a long buttermilk marinade that adds tang and moisture. The chicken comes out golden and flavorful, and the potatoes soak up every bit of those pan juices. Grandma didn't rush this one-and she didn't need to.
Get the Recipe: Oven-Baked Buttermilk Chicken And Potatoes
Gluten Free Pecan Pie With Maple Syrup And Maple Dulce De Leche Cream
This gluten-free pecan pie swaps out corn syrup for maple syrup and layers it with a maple cream for rich, Southern sweetness. It takes just under two hours and calls for chopped pecans, eggs, maple syrup, and a homemade or store-bought gluten-free crust. The filling is sticky and nutty, with a smooth finish that makes it feel like a holiday essential. Grandma didn't mess with tradition unless it tasted even better.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Pecan Pie With Maple Syrup And Maple Dulce De Leche Cream
Cheesy Turkey Gluten-Free French Toast Bake
This cheesy turkey French toast bake brings a savory spin to a breakfast classic, loaded with cubes of bread, sharp cheese, and leftover turkey. It bakes in under an hour and works great as a make-ahead meal for brunches and family mornings. The contrast of creamy custard and crisp top makes it hearty without being heavy. Grandma called this a smart way to use what was left in the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Turkey Gluten-Free French Toast Bake
Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Pumpkin pecan pie combines two Southern favorites in one, with a spiced pumpkin base and a pecan-studded top layer. It takes about 75 minutes from start to finish and balances earthy pumpkin with the buttery crunch of toasted nuts. The filling firms up just enough to slice clean but still melt in your mouth. Grandma brought this to the table when no one could agree on which pie was best.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Buttermilk Brined Turkey
Buttermilk brined turkey is a tender, flavorful main dish that stays juicy thanks to an overnight soak in seasoned buttermilk. It takes a few hours from start to finish, depending on the size of the bird, but most of the work happens in the fridge. The result is crisp skin and juicy meat that barely needs gravy. Grandma used this trick long before anyone wrote it down.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Brined Turkey
Low Carb Biscuits and Gravy
Low carb biscuits and gravy deliver that creamy sausage-laden comfort without the carb-heavy flour base. The whole dish takes under 30 minutes, using almond flour biscuits and a savory sausage gravy thickened without flour. It's rich, satisfying, and made to be spooned on generously. Grandma believed in biscuits-she just learned to make them every way.
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Biscuits and Gravy
Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé
This gluten-free carrot soufflé is light, fluffy, and just sweet enough to be served with dinner or dessert. It bakes in about 45 minutes and uses cooked carrots, eggs, butter, and a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon. The texture is silky and smooth, somewhere between a mousse and a custard. Grandma said it fooled people into loving vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé
Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce
Slow cooker pork shoulder with mustard BBQ sauce is tangy, tender, and deeply Southern in flavor. It takes about 8 hours in the slow cooker with pork roast, yellow mustard, vinegar, and a touch of honey. The result is pull-apart meat coated in a bold sauce with just enough sweetness. Grandma didn't rush pork-and this proves why.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce
A Smoky Oven-Braised Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe
These oven-braised pulled pork sandwiches are smoky, fall-apart tender, and built for feeding a crowd. The pork bakes low and slow for several hours until it shreds easily, then gets tossed in its own juices for deep flavor. Slapped onto soft rolls with a little slaw, they're messy in the best way. Grandma served this with napkins-and plenty of seconds.
Get the Recipe: A Smoky Oven-Braised Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe
Butter Pecan Cookies
Butter pecan cookies are crisp-edged, chewy-centered, and packed with toasted nuts and caramel flavor. They bake in just under 15 minutes and use brown sugar, butter, and chopped pecans for maximum richness. They're simple but undeniably Southern, especially when served warm. Grandma kept a tin of these in her kitchen year-round.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Cookies
Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon
Beer cheese dip with bacon is creamy, smoky, and made to disappear fast at gatherings. It comes together in under 30 minutes using sharp cheddar, cream cheese, beer, and crispy bacon bits. It's smooth, a little tangy, and perfect with soft pretzels or crackers. Grandma didn't call it game day until this hit the table.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Dip with Bacon
Spicy Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread
Spicy cheddar jalapeño cornbread adds heat and richness to the usual skillet classic. It bakes in 25-30 minutes and uses cornmeal, eggs, shredded cheese, and diced jalapeños for bold flavor. The outside is crisp and golden, the inside soft and savory. Grandma said cornbread should never be boring-and this wasn't.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread
Brown Butter Roasted Pecans
Brown butter roasted pecans are sweet, salty, and full of that toasty Southern flavor that comes from browned butter and sugar. They roast in under 30 minutes and only need a handful of ingredients. They're snackable straight from the pan or perfect as a topping. Grandma made these for holiday trays and snacked on them before they ever made it to the table.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Roasted Pecans
Cherry Cobbler
Cherry cobbler is a warm, jammy dessert with bubbling fruit underneath a biscuit or cake-like topping. It takes about an hour and starts with fresh or frozen cherries, sugar, and a simple batter. The smell alone could bring everyone into the kitchen. Grandma believed cobbler should be served hot-and always with a spoon.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cobbler
Sweet Potato Creme Brûlée
Sweet potato crème brûlée adds a Southern twist to the French dessert with a velvety spiced custard base and caramelized sugar top. It bakes in just over an hour and leans on mashed sweet potatoes, cream, eggs, and brown sugar. The texture is silky, with just enough crackle from the torched topping. Grandma called it fancy, but she made it often anyway.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Creme Brûlée
Southern Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Herb Crust
This Southern pork tenderloin is roasted to juicy perfection under a savory crust of herbs, mustard, and garlic. It takes about 45 minutes start to finish and slices beautifully for weeknight or Sunday dinner. The outside gets crisp and flavorful, while the inside stays tender. Grandma called this foolproof-and she was right.
Get the Recipe: Southern Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Herb Crust
