25 Of Grandma's Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

The coziest classic dishes that would make Grandma proud.

Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet
Photo:

JENNIFER CAUSEY

We’ve dug through our archives for the most old-school recipes that taste like they’re straight from Grandma’s kitchen. These are the recipes that light up your tastebuds and ring with fond memories of Grandma’s famous cooking. Here, we’ve gathered our most nostalgic comfort food dishes, from hearty sides to casseroles and sweets, that satisfy and soothe like only Grandma’s cooking can.

01 of 25

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

There's nothing quite like the feeling of digging into a hearty shepherd's pie in the evening. Grandma knew that better than anyone. That's why this signature recipe is made with love, and lots of patience; It cooks up low and slow for peak tenderness.

02 of 25

Old-School Squash Casserole

Old-School Squash Casserole in a green casserole dish
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

Eating your veggies doesn't have to be a chore. This old-school recipe, a meat-and-three classic and once Grandma's church potluck go-to, builds in comfort with melty cheese and a buttery cracker topping.

03 of 25

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This Tex-Mex staple casserole relies on a couple cans of creamed soup, just like all of Granny's most comforting old-school recipes do. Use rotisserie chicken as an additional shortcut to save time.

04 of 25

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits
Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Shrimp and grits can often be a time-consuming labor of love. While we're grateful that Grandma used to take the time, we're also thankful that this version will have dinner on the table in under an hour. We use quick-cooking grits to make one-pan supper that's short on time but big on flavor.

05 of 25

Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

50 Best Thanksgiving Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie
Hector Sanchez

Browning the butter guarantees this classic sweet potato pie a rich, nutty flavor. It might not be the old-school way of doing things, but you'll have to trust us on this one.

06 of 25

Fried Pork Chops With Cream Gravy

Fried Pork Chops with Cream Gravy

Southern Living

Served with mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, and biscuits, this dish will transport you to way back when. Best of all, classic pork and gravy will be on the supper table in just 30 minutes.

07 of 25

Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole

Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Cheese grits have long been a staple on Southern breakfast tables, and we won't be sick of them any time soon. This straightforward recipe delivers an old-school casserole you'll wake up excited for in the morning.

08 of 25

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Homemade chicken pot pie, not frozen, is an essential recipe for any Southern cook. There's nothing quite like the comfort that comes from breaking through that buttery, flaky pie crust to scoop up creamy chicken filling.

09 of 25

Southern Skillet Cornbread

Southern Skillet Cornbread

Southern Living

A good cornbread is essential at any Southern gathering. Whether the occasion is a church potluck, cookout, or Sunday dinner at home, this classic cornbread recipe will be a hit.

10 of 25

Mama's Fried Chicken

Mama's Fried Chicken
Southern Living

This is our most popular fried chicken recipe for a reason. We're going back to the basics to fry up chicken so decadent it could only come from the recipe box of a Southern woman.

11 of 25

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Beth Dreiling Hontzas

A chef and master baker, Grandma could do it all. These treats use not one, but two types of chocolate and oats in the batter to make them stand out.

12 of 25

Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown Casserole

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Also widely known as "Funeral Potatoes," Southerners have long recognized this casserole's comforting powers, even in the most dire situations. It'll also strike up warm and fuzzy feelings at any light-hearted occasion and at any time of day.

13 of 25

Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

A steaming bowl of chicken and dumplings will warm you up from the inside out. We've found that buttermilk is the key to the lightest, most delightful dumplings.

14 of 25

Buttermilk Biscuits

Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits on a plate with butter and jam
Will Dickey

A buttermilk biscuit recipe is a must for any Southern lady to have in her arsenal. The legacy of these treats speaks for itself, though the recipe can be mastered even by first-time biscuit makers.

15 of 25

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Courtney West

A scoop of this cheesy casserole over rice and pasta turns veggies into a comforting main course. Make this recipe ahead of time by putting the assembled casserole into the refrigerator instead of the oven until you need it.

16 of 25

Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

While now the mac and cheese queen is likely one auntie or another, once upon a time, this was Grandma's specialty. The secret to ooey-gooey pasta is cubes of cheddar cheese that will burst in your mouth.

17 of 25

Tee's Corn Pudding

Tee's Corn Pudding
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

This take on a classic Southern side dish is a Southern Living favorite. It's delicious and rich as can be, yet comes together in under an hour and with only eight ingredients.

18 of 25

Fresh Peach Cobbler

Fresh Peach Cobbler in a bowl with a casserole pan to the side
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

During sweltering summer months in the South, nothing hits the spot quite like peach cobbler with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. One Southern Living reader suggests adding both cinnamon and nutmeg rather than one or the other.

19 of 25

Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Buttermilk Spoon Bread
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Spoonable bread is the closest thing we know to heaven. This savory pudding is a cross between cornbread, a cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing and has long been one of our favorite side dishes.

20 of 25

Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet

Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet
Jennifer Causey

This homey dish comes together in just one pan... Hallelujah. We use sausage, milk, and Southern-style biscuits to make this dish taste just like the biscuits and gravy we were all raised on.

21 of 25

Southern Meatloaf

southern meatloaf slice on a plate with mashed potatoes and green beans

STACY ALLEN; FOOD STYLIST : KAREN RANKIN; PROP STYLIST: LINDSEY LOWER

Few meals are as warm and comforting as a good old-fashioned meatloaf, and this recipe adds a Southern twist with a zing of pimiento cheese.

22 of 25

Homestyle Butterbeans

Home-Style Butterbeans in a dutch oven

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

With just seven ingredients, this recipe will come together quickly and make a bright, comforting side dish that screams comfort.

23 of 25

Classic Beef Pot Roast

Classic Beef Pot Roast
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

A flavorful pot roast is high on the list of all-time favorite comfort foods, and this recipe combines all the tastes and sides that make a delicious roast.

24 of 25

Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya

Jen Causey; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

A big batch of this comforting Creole classic comes together in about an hour to make a delicious dinner with leftovers that heat up like a dream the next day.

25 of 25

Mississippi Mud Pie

Mississippi Mud Pie

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This rich, decadent treat is perfect for chocolate lovers and amazing way to end a comforting dinner.

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