There are many popular Southern dishes that can make for an inspired menu! From fried chicken to country-fried steak, try out some classic recipes and spice up your family dinner tonight!
Cooking can be fun, but sometimes it can be hard to get away from the grill in the summer months! But summer kicks off with June as National Soul Food Month, which means it’s the perfect time to prep some Southern dishes. Whether you want to get into gumbo or try out fried chicken, learn more about this popular food tradition.
Southern food is often synonymous with "comfort food". While there are nutritious alternatives to many favorite dishes, when you're eating dishes like ham biscuits, chicken and dumplin's, and country fried steak, calorie counting isn't your top priority! You're often enjoying a decadent meal, often followed by an equally rich dessert. Think Cracker Barrel.
"Soul food" makes up a great portion of Southern food, but not all Southern recipes would be considered soul food. So what makes soul food special?
Soul food has strong Tex-Mex and Cajun influences, and much of it originated in West Africa, Western Europe, and the Americas. That gives you an idea of the flavors and spices these Southern dishes have. The term "soul food" became prominent in the 1960s and was associated with African American culture. While soul was associated with gospel music, the word came to define a variety of things related to the culture.
Chicken and waffles are a popular Southern dish.
There are a variety of foods that come to mind when one thinks of Southern recipes for Sunday dinner. However, the most prominent among them and the centerpiece of many a meal is everybody’s favorite: fried chicken! What else do you eat with those for a classic Southern meal? Black-eyed-peas and candied yams are popular, as are macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, fried green tomatoes, and buttermilk biscuits. While fried fish and chicken-fried steak serve as mains, banana pudding, pound cake or sweet potato pie make delicious desserts. You may want to share your favorite food finds, and Southern dishes on a family app!
Whether you’re indulging in potlikker soup or springing for slow cooker pork, there are few foods as comforting as Southern-style! But the following are the best of the best when it comes to indulging right.
Delicious southern-style slow-cooker pork your whole family will love!
PREP TIME
10 mins
COOK TIME
6 hrs
TOTAL TIME
6 hrs
COURSE
dinner
CUISINE
American
SERVINGS
8 people
CALORIES
331.0 kcal
1
3-4lb
pork roast
1
cup
chicken broth
1/4
cup
balsamic vinegar
1/4
cup
soy sauce
2
tbsp
honey
2
tsp
minced garlic
2
tsp
cornstarch
Slow-Cooker Pork
Place roast in slow cooker.
Combine remaining ingredients (except cornstarch) in a 2-cup measuring cup. Whisk together and pour over roast.
Cook on low 10-12 hours for that fall-apart, insanely tender type of meat. (Or on high 6-8 hours.)
Pork Roast Gravy
Prior to serving, ladle out about 1/4 cup of the juice in the crock pot and strain into a measuring cup.
Whisk in 2 tsp cornstarch. Add in enough juice to make 1 cup.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds and whisk again. Drizzle sauce over meat prior to serving.
Calories:
331.0 kcal
Carbohydrates:
7.0 g
Cholesterol:
142.0 mg
Protein:
51.0 g
Saturated Fat:
2.0 g
Serving Amount:
3
Serving Unit:
oz
Sodium:
635.0 mg
Sugar:
5.0 g
There are plenty of Southern dishes that are easy to make in your own home! Fortunately, if you’re planning a big meal, the following are some of the South’s most prominent meals.
Whether you start your meal with sweet tea or end it with red velvet cake, Southern recipes are all about comfort! In fact, it’s dishes like fried chicken and cornbread that have made it a favorite for people everywhere. What are your perfect Southern dishes? Share it with us in our comments! If you’re just starting out with this fun food tradition, there are plenty of favorites you have yet to discover.