Which Southern State Has The Most Iconic Recipe?
From Tennessee Onions to Mississippi Mud Cake, the South's best recipes duke it out for the top spot.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
While folks all over the South lay claim to dishes as their regional favorites, a tasty handful have been lauded as signature state recipes—and we've tasted a LOT of them! It's almost impossible to pick favorites, but these tasty dishes won over the hearts and tastebuds of our editors and Test Kitchen.
Without pretense or preference, here is a list of a few of our favorite state recipes, in alphabetical order. Which one do you think is the best? Let the games begin!
Related: 75 Essential Southern Recipes Everyone Should Make In 2024
Alabama Fire Crackers
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
You'll be hard pressed to find a Southerner who doesn't love a saltine cracker—in fact, it may be a requirement! These spicy, salty snacks take our beloved boxed crackers to a hot new level!
Alabama White Sauce
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
We're a little biased here in Birmingham (Southern Living's hometown), but this vinegary, mayo-based barbecue sauce might convert you!
Alabama's Famous Crab Salad
Fresh from the Alabama Gulf coast, this herby, zingy salad celebrates the mild, almost sweet flavor of fresh crab meat.
Arkansas Black Apple Pie
Bold in color, these heirloom apples bake into one heck of a pie. (The caramel and ice cream don't hurt, either.)
Arkansas Possum Pie
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
No possums were harmed during the making of this pie. If you can get past this dessert's curious name, its creamy flavor will have you coming back for seconds.
Florida Key Lime Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
You can't deny the fame and fan following of Key lime pie—this Florida flavor queen is one of our most-requested reader recipes. Plus, those tiny Key limes are downright adorable!
Georgia Pecan Mist Cake
Made without flour, this crunchy, meringue-like cake has a lovely light texture that keeps you going back for bite after bite.
Savannah Red Rice
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Simmered with tomatoes, this hearty rice dish inspired by Gullah-Geechee cuisine makes a comforting and filling supper.
Georgia-Style Baked Peanuts
Jimmy Carter may have made Georgia famous for peanuts, but anyone who's been on a roadtrip in the South can attest to the fact that boiled peanuts need no help.
Kentucky Butter Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This handsome Bundt had me at butter. Classic, sweet, dense, tender, perfect. Sometimes the best things are the most basic.
Kentucky Bourbon Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Legally I can't call this pie what it truly is, but it's from, you know, that big-deal horse race with all the pretty hats. A cross between pecan pie and chocolate chip pie with a generous glug of bourbon, this pie can go by any alias it needs to—I call her delicious!
Louisiana Jambalaya de Covington
If jambalaya's your jam, pull up a chair and dig into this ham, smoked turkey, and sausage-filled riff from Covington, just north of New Orleans across Lake Ponchetrain.
Louisiana Crunch Cake
Photographer: Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
OK, I know I'm supposed to block-vote for Mississippi, but this cake is tempting me to change sides. The crunch comes from toasted coconut sprinkled in the bottom of the pan (so it bakes into the top!) then we get glaze THEN we get MORE coconut! I surrender—Louisiana wins!
Louisiana's King Cake Beignets
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
I feel bad for the other states, honestly. I mean, how can a bag of seasoned crackers or a pork chop compete with this plate of puffy, drizzled, sprinkle-dazzled beignets? It's not a fair fight.
Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes
Southern Living
I know, I know—Maryland doesn't feel immediately Southern, but technically it is/was. And hey, who doesn't love crab cakes? Especially these little cuties!
Maryland White Potato Pie
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Before you say, wait, what? Plain white potato pie isn't so wild. Remember Potato Candy? Marylanders from way back made use of bumper potato crops by baking up this sweet and humble dessert. Don't knock it before you try a slice!
Mississippi Pot Roast
Alison Miksch
A wonderful convergence of convenience (onion soup mix) and Greek influence (pepperoncini peppers) make this slow-cooker dish a sleeper hit!
Mississippi Mud Cake
Allegedly named for its resemblance to the "Mighty Muddy" Mississippi River, this sheet cake is a charmer with its rich chocolate and fluffy marshmallows.
Mississippi Pork Chops
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
I'll be honest, Mississippi Pork Chops weren't really a thing until we tasted Mississippi Pot Roast and fell so in love with it that we dreamed up these tasty chops.
Mississippi Sweet Potato Pie
If you're not from Mississippi, you may not have heard about Vardaman sweet potatoes, but trust this Mississippi boy—they're a thing! This pie is a great way to enjoy sweet potatoes no matter where they're from... but score some Vardaman sweeties if you can!
North Carolina's Atlantic Beach Pie
Our good buddy Bill Smith whipped up this pie inspired by his childhood beach vacations. Striking a snazzy balance between lemon ice box and Key lime pies with a bewitching saltine cracker crust, it's a big winner in our books!
North Carolina Dipped Fried Chicken
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
A tasty cousin of of Nashville Hot Chicken, this crunchy fried chicken is dunked in a sweet, spicy, and vinegary sauce that you won't be able to get enough of!
South Carolina Bird Dogs
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
A tailgate favorite for many USC fans, these crispy fried chicken tenders on toasted hotdog buns are kinda genius. Did I mention there's bacon in there, too?
South Carolina Slaw
Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
So many Southern slaws are drenched in a mayonnaise-based dressing—and I'm not complaining about that—but this South Carolina twist is vinegar-based, so it's much more tailgate- and potluck-friendly! I bet it would be good on those South Carolina Bird Dogs, y'all!
South Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce
This list is not intended to be barbecue sauce battle, but South Carolina's mustard-based sauce and Alabama's mayonnaise-based sauce is a match-up I'd pay to eat.
Tennessee Onions
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Where has this recipe been all my life? I don't know what exactly is "Tennessee" about this casserole dish full of tender, buttery, cheesy onions but I'll tell you what... I don't give a lick. I'm going back for seconds.
Tennessee Jam Bundt
Born ages ago in rural Appalachian kitchens where store-bought sugar was sometimes scarce but homemade jams were always in the cupboard, this beautiful Bundt cake is delightfully nostalgic and easy to customize with your favorite jar of jam.
Nashville Hot Chicken
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Before Nashville became the the country music and bachelorette capital of the South, this seriously spicy chicken was lighting up folks' tastebuds. Do YOU have what it takes to try a bite?
Texas Caviar
Born at a 1950s Houston New Year's Eve celebration and christened a year later in Austin, this pickled black-eyed salsa deserves a spot on any menu in any state any time of year!
Texas Trash Pie
Straight from Texas Hill Country, this bonkers pie is anything but trash! Similar to Kitchen Sink Cookies, this pie is piled high with all the good stuff—nuts, oats, chocolate, and one WILD ingredient you'll scoff at but will LOVE, I promise!
West Texas Chili Recipe
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
You knew Texas HAD to bring a chili to this party. Who can blame them? A combination of beef and venison transforms basic chili into the best bowl you've ever had. Unless you love beans...
Texas Sheet Cake
Victor Protasio
Texas likes things bigger, and why not? It is the largest Southern state, after all. Coated with frosting and topped with pecans, this rich chocolate sheet-pan cake will feed a crowd of cowboys!
Texas Barbecue Brisket
Hector Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey
Brisket is known as the "national meat of Texas" and it's no wonder why. Smoked for hours, this Lone Star state favorite is barbecue at its best. And thanks to this easy slow-cooker version, you don't have to be a pitmaster to enjoy its signature flavor.
Virginia Ham and Cheese Wafers
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
Virginia is famous for their salty cured hams, but if you're just eating it for breakfast, you're missing out! Somewhere between cheese straws and savory shortbread, these ham-studded wafers are so dang good.
West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey
Move over, Hot Pockets! Created as an easy on-the-go lunch for coal miners, these warm and cheesy pepperoni-stuffed rolls are better than anything you'll find in the freezer section.
I don't know about y'all, but I'm seriously hungry now! Which of these signature state foods are your favorites? Did we miss one?
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