Comfort Food Classics
There's no better way to welcome a new neighbor or cure whatever ails you than with classic Southern comfort food—whether you make it from scratch or use every shortcut in the book. We're talking cheesy casseroles, traditional stews, fried bites, and even scrumptious desserts that stick to your bones and soothe your soul. Here are our favorite weeknight staples for anyone wanting a hearty meal and a little taste of home, as well as standout centerpieces for holidays and family celebrations.
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The Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese, Ever
This homemade mac and cheese recipe beats out the rest and will be a family favorite for any gathering. In the South, we know that mac and cheese is always a winner at meals. With its creamy, velvety consistency and rich flavor (thanks to the addition of different kinds of cheeses), mac and cheese is the definition of comfort in a bowl. At the link, learn how to make this classic mac and cheese recipe. You'll see why our best mac and cheese beats out the rest of the competition. #macandcheese #macaroni #bestmacandcheese #comfortfood #recipeideas #recipes
15 Of Grandpa's Favorite Slow-Cooker Recipes
The slow cooker has long been a must-have tool in Southern kitchens for many reasons. It’s so easy to use that even if Grandpa isn’t the resident chef of the family, he can toss the ingredients in and turn it on. Plus, it makes plenty of food, whether for him and Grandma to eat all week or for a big family meal. And with slow-cooker liners, cleanup is a breeze. One of the best things about the slow cooker, though, is the delicious dishes it produces. Find Grandpa’s go-to comfort food recipes at the link. #comfortfood #recipeideas #slowcooker #crockpotrecipes #recipes
31 Meatless Casseroles That Are Hearty Enough To Be The Main Dish
Southerners truly know how to make-do and make good with the produce from their gardens, and these delicious vegetarian casseroles prove just how delectable meatless recipes can be. Our meatless casseroles are hearty enough to be the star of your meal. From a Zucchini Lasagna with a gorgeous woven zucchini lattice top to the subtle flavors of ricotta in our Eggplant Rollups, these casserole recipes all celebrate fresh vegetables. Southerners know that there's no better occasion than the summertime to whip up a Squash Casserole, and our rendition is both easy and satisfying. #vegetarian #meatlesscasserole #casserole #veggierecipes #meatlessmonday #recipeideas
10 Of Grandpa's Favorite 'Cheap' Meals, According To Our Readers
Not every recipe we make (and sometimes even crave) has to be expensive or overly complicated to pull together. Sometimes those simple, humble, short-on-ingredients dishes are some of our most cherished. From Soup Beans to Pear Salad to easy sandwiches, find ten of Grandpa's favorite budget-friendly recipes at the link. #budgetfriendly #cheapeats #nostalgia #vintagerecipes #recipeideas #recipes
30 Tried-And-True 13x9 Recipes That You Won't Be Able To Live Without
There are few things that Southerners won't try to answer with a casserole, and a 13x9 casserole? Man, will that solve just about any worry or woe. This most versatile pan can be used for everything from savory and sweet breakfast casseroles to hearty and delicious pasta bakes, even sealing the deal with simple and easy cobblers and cakes for dessert. Our favorite 13x9 recipes are quick to prepare, incredibly portable, make-ahead friendly, and satisfying for any occasion. #casseroles #13x9recipes #recipes #dinnerideas #comfortfood
Slow-Cooker Pork Chops
Pork chops get a bad rap when it comes to slow-cooker cooking, so we tasked the Southern Living Test Kitchen with making the best possible version—and they delivered. The meat is nearly fall-of-the-bone tender, but even if they get a little dry, you've got a rich and flavorful gravy to make sure every bite is delicious. Mushrooms add richness and a creaminess to the gravy, too, and with baby potatoes cooking alongside the meat, this dish is very nearly a whole meal. Serve with a side of green beans or roasted broccoli to finish off the plate. #porkchops #dinner #comfortfood #slowcooker #crockpot #recipes
10 Secrets For Ridiculously Good Ribs, According To A Pitmaster
Erica Blaire knows a thing or two about ribs. An award-winning competition pitmaster—and Food Network Master of ‘Cue Barbecue Champion—Erica is the creator and host of the award-winning digital series, “The Pit Stop with Blue Smoke Blaire,” which highlights the passion, struggles, and dreams of pitmasters around America. Erica could teach a masterclass on grilling the perfect ribs, so we asked her to share her 10 best tips for the great grilled ribs. #recipes #ribs #howtocookribs #bestribs #southernribs #pitmasters
Four-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
Southern cooks rely on slow-cooker pot roast when we need to serve something comforting and company-worthy that's also incredibly easy. Don't turn on the oven or stand hours by the stovetop. This pot roast recipe for the slow cooker will get dinner ready for you. Just toss in the few ingredients—chuck roast, canola oil, beer, and Italian dressing mix—and let your slow cooker do all the work. Voila! Dinner is served. #slowcooker #potroast #crockpot #dinner #recipes
Our Most-Cooked Recipe Of February Is A Lone Star State Staple
In the Southern Living Test Kitchen we test about 1,063 recipes per year. While some are extremely involved, like our famous three-layer cakes, others are weeknight favorites that folks turn to again and again. In February, our most cooked recipe falls definitely in the latter category. Readers used our "Cook Mode" feature on one recipe more than any other. It’s not a new recipe (in fact, it’s a vintage Junior League cookbook staple), but the fact that people are still discovering or returning to it regularly in 2025 speaks to just how good it is. #comfortfood #kingranchcasserole #casseroles #recipeideas #recipes
Why I've Come Around To Making My Mama's Not-So-Cool Casserole
"What my sister and I both knew—and eventually came around to, once we talked—was that there was one dish that remains my mom's signature: her chicken casserole. It's not cool. You don't light anything on fire. It's really, really good, though. It is the 9-by-13 manifestation of one of my mom's best, most saintly qualities. See, when I called her to make sure I had the most updated version (after a friend's daughter catered a wedding in 2010 and served it "with a little white wine" in the mix, my mother quickly penciled in that change), she first said, "Oh, that is my all-time favorite. That's a great recipe." At the link, learn why one writer decided her mom's casserole was the perfect recipe. #dinner #casserole #recipes #chickendinner #chickenrecipes
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10 Hearty Slow-Cooker Beef Recipes
There's nothing better than a meal that you can pop in the slow cooker, forget about, and have ready to go when dinner time strikes. From chilis to sliders to stews, slow cookers can do it all. Most of these recipes yield enough to serve a large crowd so save them for parties, tailgates, or big family gatherings. Forget about the extra dishes, complicated recipes, and pre-cooking, these ideas at the link were made for you. #slowcooker #beefrecipes #beef #recipeideas #recipes #dinnerrecipes
You'll Be Famous For This French Onion Pot Roast
French onion pot roast leans into the tender, sweet, and earthy flavors of onion, combined with the savory flavors of French onion soup and dip mix. There’s nothing better than coming home to the smell of dinner cooking in the slow cooker on a chilly day. This French onion pot roast is a perfect, cozy option, filled with browned onions and a deeply savory sauce. It's delicious served over mashed potatoes. #recipeideas #recipes #frenchonionpotroast #potroast #comfortfood #slowcooker
Slow-Cooker French Dip For Nights When You Need Dinner To Cook Itself
You can make French dip sandwiches several ways, but we chose the slow cooker for this recipe because the heavy lifting of tenderizing the beef and onions is left up to the low and slow heat of the appliance, not your work over a stove. For busy nights and weekends, that's precisely the type of recipe we need. These slow-cooker French dip sandwiches feature tender beef sandwiched between provolone cheese and toasted hoagie rolls. The meat is so tender you won't even really need to slice it—just shred it and go on. #slowcooker #recipes #dinner #frenchdip #weeknightdinner
The 8 Best Canned Vegetables To Keep Stocked In Your Pantry
Canned vegetables all too often get a bad rap. Sure, it's not the same as the real, fresh thing when it's in season, but when you're in a pinch, a can of veggies can really make a meal feel whole. At the link, we've rounded up the best canned vegetables (including beans) for cooking, with a few recipes, tips, and tricks for the best flavor and utility. #testkitchen #cannedvegetables #recipes #recipeideas #affordable
Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Is Our Most Popular Ground Beef Recipe
When dinnertime comes around, Southerners love to transform a pack of ground beef from the fridge or freezer into a warm supper that the whole family will love. So it's no surprise that ground beef recipes are quite popular among our readers. And even less surprising is which ground beef recipe on our website is the most popular of all time: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole. #groundbeef #groundbeefrecipes #recipes #dinner #dinnerideas #groundchuck #hamburgermeat