Whether you grew up in the South or are a more recent transplant, chances are you’ve had one of these classic Southern dishes. From skillet cornbread and jambalaya to caramel frosting and butterbeans, these are some of the South’s most iconic dishes that every Southerner should learn to make in 2026, if they haven’t already.
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Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Every Southerner should have a go-to cornbread recipe. This classic Southern Skillet Cornbread recipe uses a secret ingredient of bacon drippings to add incredible flavor. Pair it with your favorite barbecue dish or dinner recipe.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Nothing says summer in the South quite like a fresh tomato ripe from the garden. Tomato Pie is a Southern favorite that uses the freshest tomatoes layered in a cheesy, mayonnaise-based filling and baked inside a flaky pie crust. It’s a staple for picnics, potlucks, and all sorts of outdoor gatherings across the South.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Hummingbird Cake is a classic Southern cake that our readers have been making for over 40 years. Moist layers of bananas, pineapple, and cinnamon are sandwiched between cream cheese frosting and pecans in what is the most searched-for cake in the South. Learn how to make this iconic Southern dessert, and all those who taste it will be glad.
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Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
There’s no better way to ring in the New Year than with Classic Hoppin’ John. Southerners love to serve this hearty bowl alongside collard greens and cornbread to bring good fortune and security for the year to come.
Caramel Cake is a staple among Southern sweets, but if you’ve ever made it before, then you know how much of a headache it can be. Specifically, the caramel frosting can be finicky, even for the most experienced cooks. But once you get it right, the rich flavor and texture of caramel frosting is unlike anything else. Learn how to make this frosting just like Grandma used to make.
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Stacy K. Allen, Props: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray
While Southerners may differ on what exactly makes jambalaya, there’s no arguing that it is a classic dish rooted in the South. While most jambalayas are made with rice cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, or oysters and seasoned with herbs, some recipes call for tomatoes or celery, while others do not. Our Best Jambalaya recipe is a delicious mix of andouille sausage, chicken, and shrimp, and takes just an hour to make.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Southerners appreciate the creamy color and texture of slow-cooked butterbeans. From comforting soups and stews to casseroles, dips, and salads, butterbeans soak up the flavors and sauces that they’re paired with, making them the perfect accompaniment to many Southern meals. Flavored with brown sugar, onion, and bacon these Home-Style Butterbeans will become a new go-to in your household.
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Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Props Stylist: Christina Brockman
In the South, we like our collards cooked low and slow with plenty of bold, smoky ingredients to add flavor. Instead of pork, these greens are cooked with bacon, adding an extra rich flavor, and smoked ham. Southerners know too that saving the pot likker, or left-behind liquid, is a rich broth that’s perfect to add to soup, stews, or even drink it straight from the pot (we won’t judge).
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Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh HoggleRating
Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits are a no-fail recipe that will make you look like a baking expert, even if it’s your first time making biscuits. The acidity of the buttermilk, reacting with the flour, is what gives these biscuits their light and fluffy texture.
Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Many of you have made banana pudding, but have you made this Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding with a meringue topping? Every Southerner should learn how to make a from-scratch banana pudding, using vanilla wafer cookies, fresh banana, and smooth vanilla custard, but the real standout of this recipe is the freshly whipped meringue. Whether you like yours served warm or cold, this recipe is a true Southern classic.
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Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Burgoo is a classic Southern stew from Kentucky, usually consisting of a variety of meats and vegetables like pork loin, whole chicken, and ground beef, as well as carrots, corn, peas, and more. However you like yours, this recipe will feed a crowd, so it’s perfect for your next large group gathering.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
If you’ve ever read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, then you may be familiar with The Lane Cake. First introduced by Emma Rylander Lane of Clayton, Alabama, this cake is known for its peachy flavor and meringue frosting. Featuring classic Southern flavors like pecans, coconut, dried peaches, and bourbon, it will quickly become a favorite at whatever occasion you make it for.
Dining and Cooking