When preparing for a church homecoming, potluck, or post-service spread, Southerners pull from a collection of church recipes we deem our Sunday Best. Through the generations, we’ve archived these classic recipes in church and community cookbooks, keeping them poised and at the ready, should Sunday morning mayhem ensue. Known by many names, these church luncheon recipes fill every church basement and fellowship hall throughout the South.
This compilation is full of delightful dips and fan-favorite casseroles. From the classic cold salads to our best-ever cakes, these church food recipes are definitely worth praising. And praise we shall.
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Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
When you can’t decide to bring breakfast or dessert, this is the perfect recipe. You can taste the subtle apple flavor and warm spice notes in every slice.
Credit: Hector Sanchez
The name says it all. This classic potato salad was practically made to be a church potluck staple.
Credit: Southern Living
Consider this the ultimate church potluck all-star. Add some mashed potatoes, collard greens, and biscuits? You’re set with a happy congregation.
Credit:
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Scoops of fluffs and salads that are part fruit and part pudding are essentially required at church potlucks.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Most church potlucks are territory of rolls, but we think a pan of cracklin’ cornbread will be a delight to many. Even better? Bring with a pot of vegetable soup.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Instead of sweet potato casseroles, make these sweet potato rounds in a rich and sweet sauce with crunchy pecans and herbs.
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Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Highly impressive but fairly easy, Million Dollar Cake is the stuff of church cookbook fame. The combination of rich, pudding-like filling and mandarin oranges and pineapple is a guarantee this will fly off the cake stand.
Credit: Hannah Zimmerman/Southern Living
Amid all the rich casseroles and fried chicken, a bowl of something fresh and crisp will be greatly appreciated.
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Every Southern gathering needs an array of “salads” like potato, pasta, Jello, and of course, broccoli.
Credit:
Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
The church hosts sure love tricking us into eating raw broccoli by serving it up in this creamy pasta salad.
Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman
Not every vegetable has to be in casserole form. Roll out some corn on the cob, and watch every snap them up. Cut each cob in half for buffet-sized servings.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
We know why this lasagna recipe is a potluck staple: It’s classic, easy, and quicker than more complicated versions. It’s the perfect dish to bring when you almost forgot altogether. (It happens.)
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Dress up classic chicken salad with lemon and tarragon. Chopped pecans, Granny Smith apples, celery, and red onion give amazing crunch.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
We have to serve up salty, cubed ham somehow. It’s practically a rule. This savory cobbler uses frozen veggies for ultimate ease.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
The church hall might be the only place some Southerners still see this retro salad. It’s made with lettuce, canned pears, mayonnaise, Cheddar cheese, and maraschino cherries.
Credit: Southern Living
This Tex-Mex dish is a familiar face at our parties and potlucks.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Ah, the brunch spread after an early church service is something delicious to behold. This cheesy casserole is a no-brainer.
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
In a sea of chicken casseroles, this old-school spaghetti bake stands out as the star.
Credit: Abigail Wilt
Is it a real church spread without a bowl full of creamy fruit salad? We think not. With a base of canned fruit for convenience and a creamy, whipped “dressing,” this recipe is a hidden weapon in any hosts’ arsenal.
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Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin
Fancy, but also relatable? This is the perfect casserole for a crowd. It’s chock-full with chicken, pasta, mushrooms, and Parmesan cheese.
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
There are few things that belong together as much as chicken and rice. This crowd-pleasing casserole gets a special crunch from water chestnuts.
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It’s hard to beat the light and fluffy cloud of whipped cream that coats this fresh corn salad. Dressed up and dreamy, this dish calls for only four ingredients.
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Meatloaf is one of those comfort foods Southern folks crave in the fall and winter seasons. This might be our most popular rendition ever.
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Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
As far as we’re concerned, this classic dish can go wherever it pleases, including the church hall.
Credit: Jennifer Davick
When the church hall needs something hearty, comforting, and warm, this easy casserole is the universal answer. Not to mention, it’s a slow-cooker version, which means it’ll be even simpler than your usual recipe.
Credit: Greg Dupree
Tuna noodle casserole is an old-fashioned favorite that still makes a regular appearance on our supper tables. We’re not retiring this recipe anytime soon.
Credit: Greg DuPree
No matter the season, you’ll see this classic on the fellowship spread.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
It’s not all about the hot dishes. A tray of well-seasoned deviled eggs will disappear quicker than any casserole.
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Vianney Rodriguez/Jason David Page
Fast and fancy, quiche is never a bad idea. Popular first in the 70s, this recipe has always been beloved by Southern Living readers.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Because we know that the whole congregation will swoon over this creamy, cheesy, cornflake-topped casserole that starts with a bag of frozen potatoes.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
This brunch classic lets simplicity rule. Bread, eggs, cheese, and a creamy filling make it a Southern Sunday staple.
Credit: Hannah Zimmerman
Because it’s the only way mashed potatoes can make it until after the service. These make-ahead potatoes are the perfect side dish.
Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
This hearty chicken chili comforts those nursing wintertime sniffles. And it lives up to its name, ready in just 30 minutes.
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Southerners have an affinity for King’s Hawaiian Rolls, and you’d be hard pressed to find a church gathering that doesn’t have a big batch of baked ham rolls on the lineup.
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele
This quick recipe is a big-batch, portable version of the Southern-favorite tomato sandwich. The secret ingredient that takes the flavors over the top? A bit of our famous Summer Sauce.
Credit: Jen Causey
We dare you to find a Southern grandmother who doesn’t have a macaroni salad recipe in her repertoire. This one is the perfect make-ahead option that can chill in the fridge the night before church.
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Sure, it’s easy to stop by the bakery or grocery store and grab some donuts for the after-church gathering, but trust us when we say that even beginner bakers can make these sweet doughnut hole muffins.
Credit: Emily Laurae/Southern Living
If there’s a Southern sideboard in view, there’s a casserole dish brimming with corn pudding on it. This has been our go-to recipe for decades, and it’s as reliable as church on Sunday.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Every Southerner has a recipe for sausage balls lying around, and this quick recipe is always welcome at church gatherings. If you want to mix up the classic, try our new recipe for Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
It wouldn’t be a church function without a little jiggly Jello action, y’all. This sweet and salty combination tastes like nostalgia to us.
Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman
Even if you don’t have time to start from dried beans, you can get a dish of classic baked beans to the church cookout with this family-favorite recipe.
Credit: Jen Causey
Among a sea of casseroles and sweets, a big bowl of fresh fruit is always welcome at church events. Mamas of little ones will thank you.
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan
The longer this cole slaw sits, the more delicious it becomes, so it’s an ideal make-ahead side dish option for the church cookout.
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Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
We’ve been using this trusty recipe for yeast rolls since 1995, and you can count on it, too.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
This old-fashioned coffee cake recipe is the perfect companion to the after-church coffee and tea.
Credit: Southern Living
This classic salad has been an entertainer’s trusty friend for decades. It comes together quickly but always looks pretty.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
This oh-so-comforting (and Southern) blend of creamed corn and grits can be served at any time of day, making it great for gatherings of all kinds.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Transform your favorite summer dish into a bubbling, hot chicken salad casserole.
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Nostalgic for many, this old-school spread can be made ahead and kept at the ready in the fellowship hall.
Credit:
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Two Southern cookout essentials meet in this new favorite side dish recipe that will earn five-star reviews from your church crew.
Dining and Cooking