17 Holiday Classics Only Southerners Will Truly Appreciate
My mom is from Texas, and is quick to remind me of my Southern heritage at any opportunity, especially through food. Growing up, it seemed nearly every meal was at least partially Southern-inspired, if not copied directly from the recipe books passed down through family generations. Holidays, though, are where she really shined. Preparing each year days in advance, she never failed to roll out a Southern spin of holiday appetizers, sides, main courses, and—my favorite—desserts. After stuffing yourself with these Southern holiday favorites, you’ll understand why things move a little slower down south.
We've got a little bit of everything here, from Southern collard greens and spoonbread, to our copycat Honey Baked Ham and our oyster stuffing. And oh, the dessert! Check out our pecan pie, our strawberry-pretzel tart, and more. But don't just take my word for it. Get to cooking y'all!
Southern Baked Mac & Cheese
Baked macaroni and cheese is a quintessential Southern side dish and one that no holiday table can be complete without. Baking the dish give the mac & cheese a nicer texture, with nice, golden brown bits of melty cheese.
Get the Southern Baked Mac & Cheese recipe.
Deviled Eggs
A classic appetizer, deviled eggs bring the party to any event. While they’re fairly simple to make, there are a few ways you can go wrong when making this classic. If you’re looking for a foolproof method to hard boiling and filling your deviled eggs, our best-ever recipe should be your new go-to.
Get the Deviled Eggs recipe.
Southern Collard Greens
There’s nothing quite like Southern collard greens. Southern cooking can sometimes appear intimidating or too involved, but this recipe is anything but. All you need are a couple of hours, a handful of staple ingredients, smoked turkey, and your collard greens (the star of the show) for an easy side (or meal on its own!) you can serve all year long.
Get the Southern Collard Greens recipe.
Classic Spoonbread
Spoonbread is cross between a soufflé and cornbread and meant to be served by scooping out servings with a big spoon, which is where it gets its name. While this recipe is classic and pretty straightforward, true purists will say sugar doesn't belong in spoonbread, but I say sugar and cornmeal belong together like biscuits and gravy.
Get the Classic Spoonbread recipe.
Green Bean Casserole
I firmly believe that Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without green bean casserole. We have plenty of versions of this classic casserole, including a gluten-free version, a slow-cooker version, and even a vegan version. This tried-and-tested recipe is my most classic version of the Thanksgiving side.
Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Chess Pie
Chess pie is a custard-y, Southern pie very reminiscent of buttermilk pie. For a fun upgrade, try adding orange juice, coffee, or maple syrup to the filling, or go wild and check out our peanut butter cup chess pie (!!).
Get the Chess Pie recipe.
Southern-Style Cornbread
Northern cornbread is usually made with milk and butter, while Southern-style starts with bacon fat and is (almost) always baked in a cast-iron skillet. Don't be intimidated by baking in cast-iron—here's how we like to season our cast-irons to guarantee nothing will stick.
Get the Southern-Style Cornbread recipe.
Corn Casserole
This corn casserole is a southern classic. It’s packed with sweet corn, balanced by a pinch of paprika and herby chives, and has an insanely tender and custardy texture that will have you on your third helping before you even know what hit you. Let this classic side be the star of your Thanksgiving dinner if you’re ever in the mood for endless praise and compliments.
Get the Corn Casserole recipe.
Bourbon Balls
If you’re looking for a boozy treat to get your party started, these little bites are calling your name. Made with finely chopped pecans, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and of course, bourbon, these no-bake cookie truffles highlight the flavor of the bourbon while taming its typical burn.
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is one of my all-time favorite desserts. It's a classic Southern recipe, and for good reason; luscious layers of pudding, whipped cream, ripe bananas, and wafer cookies are completely impossible to resist.
Get the Banana Pudding recipe.
Southern Potato Salad
Tender Yukon gold potatoes paired with hard-boiled eggs, celery, sweet pickles, and red onion make this Southern-style potato salad the perfect sidekick to your holiday main. What makes this version so Southern and different from classic potato salad? The sweet and tangy mayonnaise-based dressing, spiked with—wait for it—pickle juice (!) and yellow mustard.
Get the Southern Potato Salad recipe.
Strawberry-Pretzel Tart
Also known as strawberry pretzel salad, this nostalgic dessert strikes the perfect balance between whimsical and classic, sweet and salty. It might sound a little strange, but trust us—it just works. The pretzel crust is a surprisingly ideal complement to the rich cream cheese layer and the sweet strawberries and Jell-O.
Get the Strawberry-Pretzel Tart recipe.
Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo
Filled with shrimp, sausage, and the signature seasoning, hearty gumbo the true melting-pot dish that will transport you straight to New Orleans after just one bite. Originating in Louisiana, this dish combines the cuisines and ingredients of several cultures including West African, French, German, and Choctaw. It's a top-notch comfort food stew centered around a flavorful roux.
Get the Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo recipe.
Oyster Stuffing
Homemade stuffing is a must on the Thanksgiving table. If you're new to the oyster stuffing game, lemme tell you, you're in for a treat. Oysters lend a briny, super savory flavor to your stuffing that will keep your guests coming back for second and third helpings. Both freshly shucked and canned oysters work well—and you can find them both at the fish counter at your local grocery store.
Get the Oyster Stuffing recipe.
Pecan Pie
Pecan pie is a staple holiday pie on my menu every year, and for good reason. That's why I spent so long testing this recipe, ensuring that it's the very best it can be (because your holiday spread deserves nothing less). The texture is unbeatable: A flaky, buttery crust, crunchy nuts, and a rich, chewy filling all combine for a perfectly balanced bite.
Get the Pecan Pie recipe.
Copycat Honey Baked Ham
It's important to get a bone-in spiral sliced ham for this. The bone is pivotal for a juicy ham—it prevents the meat from drying out in the oven and adds extra depth of flavor. The best part of a Honey Baked ham is the crackly crust. When you get some of those crispy bits mixed in to your mashed potatoes? *chef's kiss*
Get the Copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe.
Cornbread Dressing
Classic stuffing is a must-have on the Thanksgiving dinner table alongside our roast turkey and creamy mashed potatoes. That being said, some years we’re craving something a little different than the classic side. Enter: cornbread dressing. Our cornbread dressing has a perfect crumbly texture, isn’t dry, and pairs well with all the rest of our savory (and sweet!) sides.
Get the Cornbread Dressing recipe.
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