Recipes U.S. Recipes Southern 15 Classic Dishes My Southern In-Laws Taught Me to Cook By Stacey Ballis Stacey Ballis Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, freelance food and lifestyle journalist, and recipe developer who specializes in culinary fiction, and empowering home cooks to create extraordinary cooking and dining experiences for themselves and their loved ones. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on September 1, 2021 Close As someone who grew up in downtown Chicago, fifth generation on my Dad's side, my only experiences with Southern foods were through the lens of the soul food that migrated northwards with generations of African-Americans who adapted their traditions to the new weather, seasonal produce, and available ingredients. I love these foods, but they were always meals eaten at the gracious and generous tables of friends, or in local restaurants, not dishes I ever attempted to create myself at home. So, when I married a man who is even more generations a Southerner than my family is American, born and raised in Kentucky, there was a lot for me to learn. Food is a love language, a means of connecting, and honoring the foodways of people who are different from yourself by embracing them as a diner and seeking to learn them as a cook, and it is an amazing way to expand your horizons. For me, learning to make the dishes that are important and special to my husband and his family so that I could be part of carrying on those traditions in my own kitchen was very important. None of these are my in-laws recipes, but they are all dishes I have taken on in an attempt to learn those recipes. They are the dishes I make my husband when he is blue, or cook for my father-in-love when he is missing his beloved wife of blessed memory. They are the ones I cook for Southern ex-pats living in Chicago when they have those cravings. And I hope you'll take some of them on as well! 01 of 16 Nana's Southern Pickled Peaches View Recipe Ambria_red Summer is peach season, and while I can indulge in fresh peaches, peach pie, cobbler, and ice cream all season long, I also always want to preserve some for the cold months. For me this was always jam, but once you have a great pickled peach, you'll want to be sure to add those to the plan. They are amazing with any protein, but especially pork. 02 of 16 Southern Pimento Cheese View Recipe Holiday Baker I grew up on both the pub cheese traditions of Wisconsin and bagels with schmear, so I was predisposed to fall in love with any cheese spread. Punchy pimento cheese is amazing, as a spread with crackers, filling for an omelet or topper for a burger. I also love it on a bagel. 03 of 16 Southern Style Collard Greens View Recipe Roxann Brookshaw Collard greens are one of the vegetables that you should eat many more of; they are a powerhouse of terrific nutrition and fiber, and I have become a serious fan. 04 of 16 A Southern Fried Chicken View Recipe If you learn only one Southern recipe, fried chicken should be it. It is a skill you will never regret building, and it sets you up for a lifetime of crispy crunchy chicken joy. 05 of 16 Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings View Recipe Cris As a Jew, I know the healing power of chicken soup with matzo balls, so getting to know Southern chicken and dumplings was a natural step on that path to comfort. You should absolutely have both in your repertoire. How My Bubbie Taught Me to Make the Ultimate Cure-All — Jewish Penicillin 06 of 16 Margaret's Southern Chocolate Pie View Recipe C.P. There may be no finer pie traditions than those of the American South, and while I am a fan of all of them, chocolate pie will always have an extra special place in my heart. 07 of 16 Southern Fried Catfish View Recipe Soup Loving Nicole I always thought that catfish was a bit muddy tasting and never really loved it. That is until I had the opportunity to taste really great, fresh Southern catfish perfectly prepared — light and flaky, with a crispy cornmeal crust. Source smartly, looking for brands like Simmons or Delta Pride. 08 of 16 Southern Macaroni and Cheese Pie View Recipe Jessica Lee No great Southern feast is complete without a baked macaroni and cheese, and every family keeps their special recipe a tightly held secret. Start with this recipe and adapt to your own palates. 09 of 16 Never Fail Biscuits View Recipe Elissa Rue Worthen Steidley The first dish my amazing mother-in-love taught me was her biscuits. I've been practicing ever since, and while I may never get them exactly perfect, I get them pretty good! Having a great biscuit in your back pocket is the start to a lot of fantastic meals. 10 of 16 Southern-Style Sawmill Sausage Gravy View Recipe If you are going to learn to make breakfast biscuits, your next stop should be a really terrific sausage gravy. The heartiest savory companion to a flaky crispy biscuit, and the work of minutes, biscuits and gravy are classic for a reason. 11 of 16 Southern-Style Chocolate Gravy View Recipe Kim Brandt Once you learn sausage gravy, it's time to learn the one they keep a bit secret. I was in my late 40s before I had chocolate gravy, but it changed my life. Sort of a warm loose custard, it makes biscuits into something ethereal, and turns what is essentially dessert into a breakfast without one bit of shame. 12 of 16 Southern Fried Apples View Recipe Melissa Goff If you grew up on pork chops and applesauce, you are going to go crazy for Southern fried apples! This dish is also great with chicken or turkey. 13 of 16 Southern Smothered Pork Chops in Brown Gravy View Recipe France C Speaking of pork chops, when I was growing up they were always grilled or baked. But served smothered in a rich brown gravy is a whole new fabulous way to celebrate them! 14 of 16 Southern-Style Baked Banana Pudding View Recipe Chef John My husband is a pudding guy all day long. He usually wants pudding instead of cake for his birthday, so nailing a banana pudding was going to be key to keeping him happy! I love that there are both regular and baked versions of this classic, but always recommend the baked style as one to get to know — it is a little more interesting. 15 of 16 Old Southern Chocolate Pecan Sheet Cake View Recipe Kaylea Burkhart My mother-in-love was famous for her chocolate pecan sheet cake (also known as a Texas Sheet Cake), and it is the one cake my husband most craves when he is missing her. Bonus? It is super easy to make and serves a crowd, so perfect to learn for all your family gatherings. 10 Texas Sheet Cake Recipes 16 of 16 Get More Southern Recipe Ideas: bd.weld Browse all of our Southern Recipes. 17 Beloved Southern Potluck Recipes Just Like Grandma Used to Make 25 Southern Sunday Suppers the Whole Family Will Love Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit