There’s something deeply comforting about cooking the dishes that shaped our memories—recipes that remind us of summer dinners on the porch, picnics at the swimming hole, family reunions, and relaxing Sunday suppers that stretched long into the evening.
These six nostalgic recipes are more than just crowd-pleasers; they are the kind of food that feels like home.
We return to these dishes year after year not just because they’re delicious (though they absolutely are), but because each one tells a story. They highlight the best of seasonal produce, nod to tradition, and strike the perfect balance between simple preparation and loads of flavor.
Whether it’s the tangy bite of vine-ripened tomatoes in a flaky pie crust or the sunny sweetness of a just-baked cobbler bubbling over with peaches and topped with homemade peach ice cream, these recipes never go out of style. They’re the classics that hold a permanent place on our tables.
Southern Tomato Pie with Bacon
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living
Flaky pie crust, loads of bacon and of course summer’s perfect tomatoes, what could be better? Serve at brunch with a green salad and a glass of Prosecco, of course.
Get the recipe for Southern Tomato Pie with Bacon.
Peach Cobbler and Ice Cream
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living
Loaded with peaches and warming spices, this famous cobbler recipe comes from a peach stand in Musella, Georgia. Serve with a heaping scoop of homemade peach ice cream to make it even more special.
Get the recipe for Peach Cobbler and Ice Cream.
Lima Bean and Corn Succotash 
Hector M. Sanchez for Country Living
Nothing says summer in the South more than a buttery salad made from fresh lima beans and sweet corn. This one has a little heavy cream, too, making it rich and decadent.
Get the recipe for Lima Bean and Corn Succotash.
Squash Casserole
Brian Woodcock for Country Living
Squash casserole can evoke the sights and smells of an old-school Southern meat-and-three restaurant or grandma’s sideboard during Sunday supper. It’s a simple and delicious way to add veggies to a plate, and a smart (and inexpensive) way to manage a home garden’s overabundance of summer squash.
Get the recipe for Squash Casserole.
Classic Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Brian Woodcock for Country Living
Nothing is better for a lazy picnic lunch than crispy buttermilk fried chicken. Just like grandma used to make, this version sits in the seasoned buttermilk for at least 8 hours ensuring it’s flavored all the way through. And don’t skip the rest in the batter. This helps create thick layer that won’t fall off during frying.
Get the recipe for Classic Buttermilk Fried Chicken.
Orange-Cream Icebox Pie
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living
The orange sherbet/vanilla ice-cream combo of a Creamsicle, introduced in 1937 by the Popsicle brand, is so beloved it even has its own holiday (August 14th, for the record). For a homemade version try this Orange-Cream Icebox Pie, which pairs those familiar flavors with orange zest and a vanilla wafer crust. It’ll take you back to the ice cream truck!
Get the recipe for Orange-Cream Icebox Pie.
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