24 Traditional Soul Food Side Dishes to Honor Black History Month
Gluten-Free Honey Cornbread
Black History Month falls in one of the chilliest months of the year for many of us, and it's a great time to enjoy comforting, soul-warming meals while we celebrate and honor the legacy of Black heritage.
And for me, there's no food more comforting than soul food! With familiar, down-home flavors that keep you satisfied, these 24 best soul food sides are the perfect accompaniment to any main dish this Black History Month.
Related: The 27 Best Recipes To Celebrate Black History Month
What Are Good Soul Food Sides?
The best soul food side dishes are made with love. Whether it's macaroni and cheese, potatoes or collard greens, soul food is known for being hearty and full of flavor. This selection of easy sides is full of a wide variety of options, including vegan, gluten-free and low-calorie options.
Related: Black History Month: Test Your Knowledge of African-American History
Why Is It Called Soul Food?
The term "soul food" originated in the rise of Black cultural expression and identity in the 1960s. Soul music grew to be a popular genre, getting its name from the influence of gospel music. That idea carried into other aspects of African American culture, including food!
Soul food is defined as traditional foods of the Black populations in the Deep South and has historically been characterized by fried food, cornmeal, chicken, pork, beans and greens. But soul food can include lots of varied ingredients and styles and can be influenced by lots of other culinary traditions.
And that variety of flavors and styles is what you'll find with this list of recipes! I know you'll turn to this delicious collection of soulful dishes to accompany your favorite main dishes all month—and year—long.
Best Soul Food Side Dish Recipes
Melissa Sperka
A soul food classic, this one gets a flavor boot from smoky bacon and Cajun seasoning.
Get the recipe: Cajun Collard Greens
Sanura Weathers
Bryant Terry's recipe for smashed potatoes, peas and corn with chile-garlic oil is inspired by the flavors of a Kenyan recipe for irio—a seasoned puree of white potatoes, green peas and corn that is occasionally mixed with greens.
Get the recipe: Smashed Potatoes, Peas and Corn with Chili-Garlic Oil
Caroline Randall Williams
In Soul Food Love, Caroline Randall Williams shares this remake of her grandma Joan Marie Bontemps Williams’s niçoise salad; it’s good for you but still has plenty of soul.
Get the recipe: Joan's Nicoise Salad with Okra Ladyfingers
Mark Boughton Photography
Inspired by the flavors of French onion soup, but a whole lot easier to make, this twist on a blooming onion is a delicious entertaining go-to.
Get the recipe: Carla Hall’s Baked Blooming Onion With Gruyère Cheese
Grandbaby Cakes
In this Southern Mustard Greens Recipe with Smoked Turkey, mustard greens are slowly braised in a savory smoked turkey flavored pot liquor with a kick of spice until it becomes the soul food meal dreams are made of.
Get the recipe: The Best Authentic Southern Mustard Greens Recipe
Grandbaby Cakes
There is nothing more southern than this Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe. Sweet potatoes are cooked until tender and soft in a buttery and sweet glaze filled with spices and deliciousness making the best-candied yams dish ever!
Get the recipe: Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Grandbaby Cakes
These authentic Southern Collard Greens are braised in savory meat flavored and perfectly spiced pot liquor resulting in an amazing tender silky texture! Serve with this cornbread or corn muffins and hot sauce for a true down-home meal.
Get the recipe: Southern Collard Greens Recipe
Good Food Baddie
Skip the store-bought mix. Making cornbread from scratch is super easy, especially with this gluten-free honey cornbread recipe! Make fluffy, moist, buttery cornbread with perfect golden crispy edges, filled with sweet honey and bits of corn!
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Honey Cornbread Recipe
Grandbaby Cakes
What are grits and how do you make grits? Check out this recipe for perfect creamy, perfectly textured, and buttery southern grits that are amazing for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
Get the recipe: How to Make Grits Recipe
Related: 50 Best Gluten-Free Brunch Recipes
Nkechi Ajaeroh
Super easy healthy braised red cabbage with apples, red onions and bell pepper is an incredibly delicious side dish! It's savory, sweet, a little sour, tangy, and wonderfully complements every main dish. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, keto-friendly and packed with flavorful herbs and spices.
Get the recipe: Healthy Braised Red Cabbage with Apples
Food Fidelity
These Southern Purple Hull Peas are the business! They are tasty, comforting and an eating experience all in one, making them that side dish you want on the Sunday dinner table.
Get the recipe: Southern Purple Hull Peas
Recipe from a Pantry
Smothered Potatoes are a very versatile southern side dish that goes with just about any Southern meal. Made entirely from pantry staples with minimal prep and effort in less than 25 minutes, this is well-loved by the family potato side dish.
Get the recipe: Easy Smothered Potatoes
Chenée Todsay
An old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese with a secret ingredient! This easy southern-baked mac and cheese with evaporated milk and egg is always a hit.
Get the recipe: Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Razzle Dazzle Life
Enjoy a pot of Buttery and Creamy Grits, enhanced with half-and-half and milk for a smooth, savory, and flavorful taste with each spoonful. If you've ever struggled while cooking grits, this recipe will yield the best grits you've ever had!
Get the recipe: Buttery and Creamy Grits Recipe
Sense and Edibility
Leave your slow cooker to do all of the work with these Country-Style Slow Cooker Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey. Flavorful, tender and so easy to make, this will be a favorite recipe to cook and eat. Freezer-friendly too.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey
Britney Breaks Bread
This Cast Iron Skillet Buttermilk Cornbread is an easy and delicious recipe that you'll be making constantly! It's full of a buttery vanilla flavor with a fluffy texture from the buttermilk!
Get the recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Buttermilk Cornbread
I Can You Can Vegan
This Fried Cabbage Recipe is the perfect side dish! Savory and easy to make, cooked with red and green bell peppers.
Get the recipe: Easy Vegan Fried Cabbage
The Skinni Food Whore
Slow-cooked string beans are the perfect side dish for any protein. The smoked turkey makes a flavorful broth for this southern-style side dish.
Get the recipe: Slow-Cooked String Beans with Smoked Turkey
Seasoned To Taste
Sharing a staple known to have a designated place at every soul food family gathering! Add a tasty twist to traditional deviled eggs with fresh herbs, lemon and pepper sauce topped with buttered cajun-creole shrimp!
Get the recipe: Cajun Shrimp Deviled Eggs
Related: 45 Best Cajun Recipes
Collards Are The Old Kate
Eating legumes is a tradition African-Americans brought over from Africa. Navy Beans are one of the flavorful varieties we still enjoy.
Get the recipe: Navy Beans
Related: 50 Best Sweet Potato Recipes
Black People's Recipes
This southern cabbage recipe is made with bacon and bacon fat to add flavor and texture to the dish. It’s quick, coming together in less than 30 minutes, and is perfect to go along with your favorite entree.
Get the recipe: Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon
We Eat At Last
Made using just a few ingredients and flavored with apple cider vinegar, this southern-style greens recipe makes for the perfect side dish!
Get the recipe: Vegetarian Collard Greens with Apple Cider Vinegar
The Vgn Way
We all love cheese but sometimes cheese doesn’t love us back. This homemade mac and cheese recipe is rich, creamy and delicious, but gluten-free and vegan. Made with only six ingredients and baked to ooey-gooey perfection just like your Grandma’s.
Get the recipe: Homemade Gluten-Free And Vegan Mac N’ Cheese
My Pretty Brown Fit +Eats
This delicious sweet potato casserole is filled with sweet potatoes and fluffy marshmallows with a pecan-crusted topping. Truly food made for the soul and serves as the perfect side dish for the holidays and gatherings.
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan-Crusted Topping
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