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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    17 Southern Meal Prep Dinners We Love Right Now

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on September 10, 2025, updated September 9, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    These 17 Southern meal prep dinners are perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with flavor and comfort, they make it easy to enjoy classic Southern dishes without spending hours in the kitchen. From hearty casseroles to savory soups, these recipes will keep you satisfied all week long.

    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: Sweet Tea & Thyme.

    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is a beloved dish that many people enjoy. This creamy side is made with a mix of eggs, cream, and five different cheeses, creating a rich and comforting flavor. It's a favorite for gatherings and family meals, and it has received countless positive reviews from those who have tried it.

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    Honey Glazed Pork Chops

    Honey Glazed Pork Chops.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    Honey Glazed Pork Chops are soaked in a tasty honey garlic sauce, then cooked right in the same skillet. This easy dinner is perfect for the whole family and uses just a few simple ingredients to create flavorful pork chops that everyone will enjoy.

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    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Cowboy baked beans are a tasty and simple dish to prepare. With just a large can of baked beans, some lean ground beef, a sweet yellow onion, and a handful of seasonings, you can create a flavorful meal that everyone will enjoy. This dish is perfect for gatherings or a cozy dinner at home.

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    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish combines tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and fluffy buttermilk biscuit dumplings all cooked together in a creamy broth. It's a comforting meal that's easy to prepare, ideal for busy nights when you want something filling without much effort. Enjoy the warmth and flavor of this simple crockpot meal.

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    Dutch Oven Chicken and Dumplings

    Dutch Oven Chicken and Dumplings.
    Photo Credit: Sweet Tea & Thyme.

    Chicken and dumplings soup is a classic comfort food from the South. This simple recipe is made from scratch, featuring flavorful drop dumplings and a creamy soup, all ready in under an hour. It's perfect for a cozy meal that warms you up and satisfies your hunger.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

    Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu.
    Photo Credit: Slow Cooker Meals.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu is a straightforward and filling dinner that appeals to even the pickiest eaters. It combines layers of ham, cheese, and chicken, creating a mix of flavors that everyone can appreciate. This dish is one of the simplest and tastiest meals you can whip up in a crock pot.

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    Crockpot Chicken Alfredo

    Crockpot Chicken Alfredo.
    Photo Credit: Chef Savvy.

    Crockpot Chicken Alfredo is an easy meal that comes together in one pot, making it great for busy weeknights. It’s a satisfying dinner option when you don’t have time to cook on the stove. With just a few ingredients and your slow cooker, you can whip up this dish in no time. Everyone will love it, providing a hearty meal without needing to spend hours in the kitchen.

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    Crockpot Shredded Beef

    Crockpot Shredded Beef.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    Forget about expensive barbecue joints and make some delicious shredded beef in your slow cooker. Using smoked paprika and cumin, you can bring that smoky flavor right into your kitchen. This dish features beef short ribs, a simple spice blend, and your favorite barbecue sauce. Serve it on a toasted brioche bun with coleslaw for a fantastic sandwich that's perfect for lunch, brunch, or dinner.

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    Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup.
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Gone Rogue.

    Chicken tortilla soup is easy to whip up and doesn't take much time to prepare. It's a hit with my family and friends, and we've shared it many times over the years. This dish is great for a cozy meal, offering comfort and warmth with every bowl.

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    Slow Cooker Lamb Ribs

    Slow Cooker Lamb Ribs.
    Photo Credit: Sweet Caramel Sunday.

    Slow Cooker Lamb Ribs are incredibly tender and packed with flavor. They’re easy to make, needing only a bit of effort for a meal that everyone will love. Just set them up in the morning, and by dinner, you’ll have lamb ribs that are so soft they almost fall off the bone.

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    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Dizzy Cook.

    BBQ chicken thighs are simple to prepare, as everything goes into the slow cooker. You can serve them whole or shred them for delicious BBQ chicken sandwiches. This dish is great for weeknight dinners when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne with Black Beans

    Easy Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne with Black Beans
    Photo credit: always use butter

    Vegetarian Chili Sin Carne is packed with rich chili flavor and a variety of vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and green bell pepper. This dish comes together in just 40 minutes, offering a satisfying mix of flavors and textures. With only a few simple steps, it’s an easy option for a hearty meal.

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    Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup

    Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This homemade soup is easy to make in a crockpot. It’s loaded with fresh veggies, beans, warm spices, and plenty of chicken, creating a healthy and creamy dish. This soup is just right for chilly days when you’re craving something warm and filling.

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    King Ranch Chicken Casserole

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a classic and simple dinner option that’s full of flavor. With layers of tortillas, creamy chicken, cheese, and other tasty ingredients, it’s the kind of comfort food everyone loves. This dish can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something easy and satisfying for the family.

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    Cajun Sausage Spaghetti

    Cajun Sausage Spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: My Kitchen Sanctuary.

    Cajun Sausage Spaghetti combines smoky andouille sausage with tender pasta in a creamy sauce that has a nice kick of Cajun spice. This dish is packed with flavor and can be on your table in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

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    Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings

    Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    A warm bowl of Bisquick Chicken and Dumplings is perfect for when you want some comforting food. This dish brings all the creamy goodness of the classic southern recipe, but it's simpler to prepare thanks to the fluffy Bisquick dumplings. It's a satisfying meal that warms you up and fills you up, making it a great choice for any day.

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    Smothered Chicken

    Smothered Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    Seasoned chicken is cooked until it’s beautifully golden brown. After that, it’s covered in a rich and creamy gravy that makes it incredibly tender and flavorful. This dish is all about comfort and satisfaction, perfect for a hearty meal.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Red wine pork chops.
      22 Easy Dinners That Will Save Your Weeknights
    • Nashville hot chicken sandwich.
      22 Dump-And-Go Chicken Breast Dinners We’re Loving This Fall
    • Mushroom wild rice soup.
      19 Easy Dinners Your Family Will Love
    • Chicken bacon pasta.
      24 Slow Cooker Comfort Foods That Will Make You the Potluck Star

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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