Food and Recipes Dish 38 Classic Comfort Food Recipes That Can't Be Beat By Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 6, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Antonis Achilleos Some of the best recipes seen on Southern tables aren't new and shiny, but instead old and time-tested—handed down from generation to generation on stained recipe cards and in tattered notebooks. These passed-down recipes include the hard-working comfort foods we've turned to again and again for decades. We're talking cheesy casseroles, traditional stews, fried bites, and even scrumptious desserts. If you're feeling under the weather, we have just the thing: Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings, just like Grandma made them. We've got desserts like Million Dollar Pound Cake that will wow any crowd. These are the weeknight staples for anyone wanting a hearty meal and a little taste of home, as well as standout centerpieces for holidays and family celebrations. One thing's for sure: You cannot go wrong with one of these classic comfort food recipes. 01 of 38 Mama's Fried Chicken Southern Living Skip the bucket of fast-food fried chicken and remember what it's like to eat "real" fried chicken like Mama used to make. Get the Recipe 02 of 38 Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez Lose the big casserole dish for the day. These adorably mini pot pies are packed with major flavor. Get the Recipe 03 of 38 Meatloaf Casserole Micah A. Leal One of the world's favorite Fall dishes is a hearty shepherd's pie, and our meatloaf casserole recipe is a Southern twist on the classic. Get the Recipe 04 of 38 Southern-Style Collard Greens Jim Franco; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Simon Andrews Crispy bacon, sautéed onion, ham, and garlic perfect these collard greens, making them an essential part of your traditional Southern feast. Get the Recipe 05 of 38 Homestyle Butterbeans WILLIAM DICKEY This classic side dish is a holiday favorite all over the South. With just seven ingredients, including salt and pepper, these beans come together to make a rich, indulgent dish with little effort. Get the Recipe 06 of 38 Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Mac and cheese is a favorite any time of year, but this butternut squash twist makes for a rich, earthy flavor addition perfect for Fall. Get the Recipe 07 of 38 Mom's Butterscotch Oaties Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely If you want your kitchen to smell like you just walked into a delicious bakery, these cookies will do just the trick. These simple treats let the butterscotch chips be the star for a rich bite. Get the Recipe 08 of 38 Classic Beef Pot Roast Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen You can almost hear the dinner bell calling you in for this comforting meat-and-potatoes meal. Get the Recipe 09 of 38 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely While many people might find this to be an unusual dish, Southerners know that tomato pie is a bright and delicious comfort food. This recipe uses heirloom tomatoes for a stunning look and fabulous flavor. Get the Recipe 10 of 38 Apple Crumble Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Apples are a common ingredient among Southern desserts, and this apple crumble is a perfect way to enjoy them. Caramelized apples and a cinnamon-kissed streusel make for the most inviting fall dessert. Get the Recipe 11 of 38 Smoked Turkey-and-Andouille Gumbo Recipe Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Beau Beaullieu and Andy Soileau's New Iberia Kiwanis Club team has taken first place 11 times at the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff. This is the recipe for their mélange gumbo that won in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Enough said. Get the Recipe 12 of 38 Classic Lasagna This classic lasagna recipe perfectly matches traditional Italian ingredients with a homemade sauce. Layers of cheese, meat, and pasta make the tastiest trio. Get the Recipe 13 of 38 Green Bean Casserole Rob Culpepper; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Assistant Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle When there's a holiday gathering in the South, there's a green bean casserole on the table. This recipe takes you back to the classics for a rich, delicious side dish. Get the Recipe 14 of 38 Mississippi Mud Pie Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke People all around the United States love this sweet, rich dessert, and our recipe is an easy-to-make classic version that is sure to be a hit at any get-together. Get the Recipe 15 of 38 Smoky Mountain Brunswick Stew Southern Living Nothing is more satisfying than a big bowl of hearty Brunswick stew. Using frozen vegetables and prepared meats make it super easy to throw together. Get the Recipe 16 of 38 Classic Chicken Tetrazzini Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Freshly-grated Parmesan adds the cheesiest flavor to this casserole recipe that's great for making ahead and freezing. Get the Recipe 17 of 38 Old-Fashioned Meatloaf Southern Living This Southern meatloaf recipe features Creole and Greek seasonings and a hint of garlic. A few tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce spice up the traditional ketchup topping. Get the Recipe 18 of 38 Best Pecan Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Any way you serve it―warm or cold, with or without ice cream―pecan pie is always a favorite. Feel free to use store-bought pie crust if in a pinch, because the filling is the star here anyway. Get the Recipe 19 of 38 Southern Skillet Cornbread Southern Living Great slathered with butter or for sopping up stews, cornbread is a must with hearty meals. Try this classic recipe and you'll never go back. Get the Recipe 20 of 38 Pecan-Peach Cobbler Beth Dreiling Hontzas Showcase two of the South's most beloved products—peaches and pecans—in this old-fashioned peach cobbler recipe. Get the Recipe 21 of 38 Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy Hector Manuel Sanchez You won't find a better weeknight meal than crispy chicken drenched in a savory pan gravy and herby rice. Get the Recipe 22 of 38 Fried Pork Chops with Potatoes and Peas Greg DuPree Any dish with hearty potatoes and tasty gravy is bound to stay in the weeknight rotation, and these pork chops are no exception. Get the Recipe 23 of 38 Chunky Beef Chili Beth Dreiling Hontzas This hearty beef chili features boneless chuck roast and a medley of traditional chili seasonings. Serve with these cast-iron cornbread sticks for a complete meal. Get the Recipe 24 of 38 Perfect Mashed Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Yukon gold potatoes yield a texture that's just right for holding a pool of flavorful turkey gravy or melted butter. Get the Recipe 25 of 38 Classic Fried Catfish Beth Dreiling Hontzas Catfish is an extremely popular fried treat throughout the South, and our fried catfish recipe is simple and oh-so crispy. Get the Recipe 26 of 38 Two-Step Pound Cake Beth Dreiling Hontzas This recipe is so easy you may start serving this classic dessert with every meal. Top with ice cream or seasonal fruits for a tasty combination. Get the Recipe 27 of 38 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Southern Living Packed with egg noodles, sour cream, cream cheese, and a delicious tomato-beef mixture, this might be our heartiest dinner casserole ever. Get the Recipe 28 of 38 Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce Iain Bagwell You won't find a more Southern side dish to include on any spread, from brunch to dinner. Get the Recipe 29 of 38 Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans Flavored with thick-cut bacon, these barbecue beans are a surefire way to jazz up any cookout. Get the Recipe 30 of 38 Beef Tamale Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A sauced-up ground beef mixture with tomatoes and black beans is made even better when topped with traditional corn muffin topping and jalapeños. Get the Recipe 31 of 38 Strawberry-Rhubarb Pretzel Pie Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff A dynamic duo in the Southern baking world, strawberries and rhubarbs are a tart-and-sweet match made in heaven. Get the Recipe 32 of 38 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree Southerners cannot get enough of buttery, creamy, cheesy squash casserole in all of its glory. Get the Recipe 33 of 38 Jessica Harris' Red Rice Victor Protasio, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This flavor-charged rice has been a staple of Lowcountry cuisine for centuries. Get the Recipe 34 of 38 Egg Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos This Depression Era pie is simple and perfect every time. Serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or fresh peaches or berries. Get the Recipe 35 of 38 Classic Beef Stroganoff Antonis Achilleos We'll take this warm and comforting meal on any weeknight. This recipe is homemade and special without trying to be too fancy. Get the Recipe 36 of 38 Easy Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer We love a vintage casserole, and this one has all the makings of a filling family meal. Feel free to use store-bought rotisserie chicken in lieu of cooking your own. Get the Recipe 37 of 38 Cowboy Casserole Micah A. Leal It doesn't get any more tried-and-true than a tater tot-topped casserole, especially this recipe that includes a seasoned beef mixture with beans, corn, chiles, sour cream, and cheese. Get the Recipe 38 of 38 Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox As the name suggests, this is an old-school staple that will be sure to satisfy the whole family. It's a simple recipe that delivers every time. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit