18 Comforting Classics Your Southern Grandma Used to Make

We bet that even Grandma didn’t know how to make a pot of extra gooey mac and cheese without having to do a pile of dishes afterwards. The secret? Boil the pasta in milk, then stir in the butter and cheese at the end.

Who needs kale when you can have collards? They’re just as healthy and packed with vitamins, and hearty enough to stand up to a slow braise. And swap in coconut bacon for the real stuff—you’ll get the same smoky flavor with none of the guilt.

This isn’t fried in a cast-iron pan of lard like Grandma used to do it…but grandma probably also doesn’t want us to have a heart attack anytime soon. This baked version is a little healthier than traditional fried chicken (and with a generous drizzle of honey bourbon sauce, you’ll never miss the oil).

Southern grandmas will make a casserole out of just about anything if you let them. But we like sticking to the classics—creamy sweet potatoes and crunchy pecan topping forevermore.

There’s truly nothing like a real Southern peach. We love them over yogurt, in salads, or just plain, with juice running down our arms. But our very favorite is cobbler—topped with fresh biscuits and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, of course.

The secret to this savory stew from Coterie member Heidi Larsen is getting the absolute freshest shrimp you can find. Southerners eat it for breakfast or brunch, but we’re pretty happy to see it on the dinner table, too.

Every Southern grandma has an opinion about how sweet cornbread should be. We always respect our elders, but find ourselves turning to this not-too-sweet version topped with tomatoes and green onions most of the time.

The best way to make a classic Southern dinner on a busy weeknight? Your trusty sheet pan. Crispy, cheesy pork chops cook together with potatoes and veggies, so you have a square meal without all the hassle.

OK, so Grandma didn’t have Instagram. But if she did, you can bet these adorable (and super patriotic) summer desserts from Coterie member Gaby Dalkin would be front and center.

Grandma always used to make this classic dressing at Thanksgiving, but we love it all year round. Serve it with pork chops or a roast chicken on a Sunday night for an easy dinner that feels as special as a holiday.

Bacon-wrapped anything is a go in the South, but it works particularly well with Brussels sprouts. Serve these on toothpicks as an appetizer, or as a side.

With a fluffy brioche bun, crispy fried chicken breast, crunchy pickles and slaw, and a drizzle of dijonaise, these are absolute sandwich masterpieces.

Sure, Grandma probably would have used sausage in her gravy. But we’re obsessed with this vegetarian take on the classic comfort food.

Making real, smoky pulled pork used to be an all-day affair. But thanks to the Instant Pot, it’s almost easy enough for a weeknight. Top with some slaw and call it a day.

Fun fact: Eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day is said to bring good luck and fortune. But we don’t like to limit ourselves—we love this protein-packed set-it-and-forget-it dinner all year long.

Hushpuppies are basically just little balls of fried cornbread. And the only thing that could possibly make that better? Stuffing them with bacon and pepper jack, natch.

Glazed ham will always make us think of holiday dinners around Grandma’s table, but it’s actually super easy to make anytime. (Tip: Roll out some biscuits at the same time for sandwiches the next day.)

Think carrot cake without the carrots (but with bananas, pineapple and plenty of cream cheese frosting and toasted pecans). There’s no better cake, hands down.