Food and Recipes Dish 15 "Weird" Southern Snacks We'll Never Stop Loving From plenty of mayonnaise-laden bites to an interesting leftover cornbread concoction. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on July 1, 2024 Close Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray It's no secret that Southerners grow up to be familiar with and fond of plenty of unique recipes that hail from generations of family recipe boxes and community cookbooks, even if there are packets of gelatin involved. In fact, the most interesting Southern recipes somehow end up being the most beloved, and that goes for the "weirdest" of the bunch just as much as the classics. Whether you recognize these retro snacks or are game to try something new that could be from your great-aunt's archives, everyone should try these 15 favorite "weird" Southern snacks at least once, from mayonnaise-laden bites to an out-of-the-box cornbread concoction. 01 of 15 Southern Tomato Sandwich Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We're firm believers that those that are vehemently "anti" tomato sandwiches are the ones who have never tried it. The basic formula of a Southern tomato sandwich is soft white bread, mayonnaise, tomatoes, salt, and pepper sprinkled on generously. Typically, the juicy summer delicacy is eaten over the kitchen sink as a quick snack or meal. Don't knock it until you try it. Get the Recipe 02 of 15 Cornbread & Sweet Milk Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley In the South—but particularly in the Appalachian Mountains—people have long enjoyed Cornbread and Milk, a combination made by crumbling leftover cornbread into a tall drinking glass and topping it with milk. It's usually buttermilk, although some people prefer "sweet milk," a term for regular fresh milk. For anyone hesitating, it's a surprising dessert-like delight. Get the Recipe 03 of 15 Cheese Dreams Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn While these might not be the most beautiful bites, they will always be the first thing to disappear on any snack spread, even if you're not sure what's in them. The toasty, cheesy bites are like the warm, more buttery counterpart to classic Southern cheese straws. Since they're so simple to make, it's been a favorite of Southern grandmothers for a long while. Get the Recipe 04 of 15 Pear Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox It might be the maraschino cherries paired with mayonnaise and shredded cheese, but this retro dish is a surefire way to rile people up. You'll likely see this unique pear salad anywhere from a baby shower to a summer cookout, or just at your grandmother's house at lunchtime. The canned pears make it easy to whip up. Get the Recipe 05 of 15 Funeral Sandwiches Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf Despite the morbid name, these snack sandwiches are a staple at more occasions than just Southern funerals. Therefore, some might know these ham-and-cheese sliders as "party sandwiches." A few simple ingredients—a Hawaiian roll, deli-style ham, mustard, and cheese—combine to create a ham sandwich that is so much greater than the sum of its parts. Get the Recipe 06 of 15 Cheese Straws Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox While there shouldn't be any Southerner who would deign to call these "weird," some people (usually from other regions) are put off by the squiggly shape and unknown ingredients that go into these crunchy, cheesy bites. Even if you don't necessarily want to look at cheese straws in their pre-baked state—mushy comes to mind—the final result is absolute perfection in its simplicity. Get the Recipe 07 of 15 Pineapple Sandwich Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Some might not recognize this niche snack sandwich, while others might just not want to admit that they eat and love it. With just three ingredients—mayonnaise, pineapple, and sandwich bread—it's simple but surprisingly tasty. Some people tweak the combo a bit, and it's not odd to see people add cheese, evoking the same flavor as the classic pineapple casserole. Get the Recipe 08 of 15 Texas Twinkies Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A playful nod to the popular snack cake, Texas Twinkies are not quite what you'd expect if you were hearing the name for the first time. This savory dish of cheese-stuffed jalapeño peppers, wrapped in bacon and served hot, is a spicy appetizer or side dish served at barbecues and cookouts. It's one of those appetizers that you keep reaching back for. Get the Recipe 09 of 15 Fire Crackers Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle All you really need to please an unfussy Southern crowd is this wonderfully simple recipe that you can whip up easily and on a shoestring budget. As with many delicious things, it starts with a sleeve of Saltine crackers, which Southerners admittedly love more than most. Get the Recipe 10 of 15 Boat Dip Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This elusively named dip might not be a looker, but it sure is irresistible. Sometimes also known as "beach dip," boat dip is so named because it is perfect for days spent at the lake or beach. It can be described as an extra zesty, seasoned ranch dip, which makes it no surprise that it is so popular with a Southern crowd. It's easy to make ahead, pack up, and take with you. Get the Recipe 11 of 15 Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray In short, and in general, Southerners just like to put interesting ingredients on fresh watermelon—including salt, pepper, mustard, chile-lime seasoning like Tajin, and even pepper sauce. While there might not necessarily be any rhyme or reason to why these "weird" combinations taste good to so many people, it wouldn't be known throughout the South if there wasn't some truth. Try out all the combinations, and find your own favorite! Get the Recipe 12 of 15 Boiled Peanuts Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Boiled peanuts—or "hot wet goobers" as some Southerners lovingly call them—are a staple throughout the region, particularly during summertime (on the way to the lake or beach) or anytime one finds themselves at a rural farm stand. Some of the best boiled peanuts can be found in the most unsuspecting places, such as from a stranger on the side of the road in a big pot. Pull over, you won't regret it. Get the Recipe 13 of 15 Tomato-Cracker Salad ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: ALI RAMEE; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY This old-fashioned snack salad might not be pretty, but it's still got our hearts. It sometimes gets teased for being a tomato-mayo salad that contains crunchy crackers as one of its main components—for fear they get soggy—but the joke's on those people, because it's downright tasty once you give it a try. Get the Recipe 14 of 15 Texas Trash Dip Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox While this funnily named dip might elicit confusion and won't win any awards for being a beauty, it is tasty enough to still warrant bringing to a party or cookout. The refried bean-based dip is made creamy with sour cream and cream cheese and topped with melty cheese. It's long been a favorite snack spread addition of Texans and beyond. Get the Recipe 15 of 15 Ham Cheese Ball Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely It's not a Southern party without a "party cheese ball," after all, particularly during the holidays. Many folks add some country ham for an extra regional tweak, as if the pecans that coat the outside doesn't already add that Southern flair. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit