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    Home » Uncategorized

    20 Classic Southern Dishes to Bring to Your Next Potluck

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on August 16, 2025, updated July 29, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Southern cooking is all about comfort and flavor, making it perfect for potlucks where everyone gathers to share good food. From creamy salads to sweet desserts, these classic dishes bring a sense of warmth and community to any gathering. Here are 20 beloved Southern recipes that are sure to please a crowd and make your next potluck a hit.

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw

    Blue cheese coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw is a quick and easy side dish that pairs well with steak, barbecue, or anything buffalo-flavored. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s packed with rich blue cheese flavor and balanced seasoning. This coleslaw is sure to become a go-to favorite for your meals.

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    Southern Style Pickled Shrimp

    Southern Style Pickled Shrimp.
    Photo Credit: Coley Cooks.

    This Southern-style pickled shrimp is a delicious and different way to enjoy shrimp. With a tangy and fresh flavor, it works well as an appetizer or a protein-packed snack that you can prepare in advance.

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    Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon

    Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon are a classic Southern dish that combines the rich flavor of molasses with crispy bacon. These beans are cooked in a cast iron skillet, allowing them to soak up all the delicious flavors as they bake in the oven. This dish is perfect for gatherings and brings a comforting taste to any meal.

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    Ranch Coleslaw

    Ranch coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This ranch coleslaw comes together in just 15 minutes, perfect for your next barbecue. Using store-bought mayonnaise and ranch dressing, it’s super easy to prepare and packed with flavor. It’s a great side dish that everyone will enjoy.

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    King Ranch Chicken Casserole

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

    King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a classic dish that’s full of flavor and super easy to prepare. With layers of tortillas, creamy chicken, and plenty of cheese, it’s the kind of comfort food everyone loves. This dish can be prepped in advance and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights.

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    Pimento Cheese Macaroni Salad

    Pimento Cheese Macaroni Salad.
    Photo Credit: A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures.

    Pimento Cheese Macaroni Salad brings together a classic southern macaroni salad with the rich flavors of egg and pimento cheese. The result is a creamy and cheesy dish that's perfect for gatherings. This salad is a great addition to any potluck, offering a comforting taste that everyone will enjoy.

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    Chili Mac

    Gluten-free Chili Mac
    Photo Credit: Whole New Mom.

    This dish is simple to prepare and perfect for family gatherings. Everything cooks in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. It also offers a dairy-free option and is gluten-free as it is.

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    BBQ Pulled Pork in Crock Pot with Root Beer

    BBQ Pulled Pork in Crock Pot with Root Beer.
    Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen.

    BBQ Pulled Pork in a Crock Pot with Root Beer is a simple and delicious meal that cooks itself. The pork becomes tender and juicy as it slowly cooks, soaking up the sweet and smoky flavors from the root beer and barbecue sauce. This dish is great for sandwiches, sliders, or even just a quick weeknight dinner. It's an easy way to serve a group without putting in a lot of work.

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    Southern Banana Pudding with Instant Pudding

    Southern Banana Pudding with Instant Pudding.
    Photo Credit: Wornslapout.

    Southern Banana Pudding is a delightful dessert that combines layers of Nilla wafers, fresh bananas, and smooth instant pudding, all finished off with a generous layer of whipped cream. This classic treat is a favorite at gatherings and is sure to bring smiles to everyone. It's a simple yet satisfying way to enjoy a taste of the South right at home.

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    Cornbread Salad

    Cornbread Salad.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime.

    Southwest cornbread salad is a staple at Southern potlucks, featuring tasty layers of crumbled cornbread, fresh vegetables, crispy bacon, and cheese, all brought together with a zesty salsa ranch dressing. It's a crowd-pleaser that combines great flavors and textures, making it a perfect addition to any gathering. This dish is not only satisfying but also easy to prepare, ensuring you can enjoy the company of friends and family.

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    Chicken Macaroni Salad

    Chicken Macaroni Salad.
    Photo Credit: Maple + Mango.

    Chicken Macaroni Salad is a tasty mix of creamy pasta and chicken salad. It's simple to prepare and a great way to use up any leftover chicken you might have. This dish is ideal for lunch or a quick dinner during the week. It's also a fantastic option for summer BBQs and picnics. Enjoy this refreshing salad on warm days!

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    Slow Cooker Peachy Barbecue Ribs

    Peachy barbecue ribs.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Crockpot Peachy Barbecue Ribs are all about tender pork that just falls off the bone, covered in a delicious peach barbecue sauce that's both sweet and tangy. This dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or when you want to impress friends at a gathering.

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    Cast Iron Skillet Peach Cobbler

    Cast Iron Skillet Peach Cobbler.
    Photo Credit: Peanut Butter & Julie.

    This Cast Iron Skillet Peach Cobbler is a great addition to any summer get-together, whether you're having a picnic, a barbecue, or just a nice dinner at home. It's sweet and fruity, with a buttery texture that brings a sense of comfort. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a treat that everyone will love.

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    Grandma's Coleslaw

    Grandma's Coleslaw.
    Photo Credit: Dana's Table.

    Creamy coleslaw is a great side dish for summer gatherings, potlucks, and barbecues. This version is inspired by my grandmother's recipe and features a blend of green cabbage and carrots mixed with a zesty, creamy dressing. It's a simple and refreshing addition to any meal.

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    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is simple to prepare and perfect for gatherings. In just 10 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes in the oven, you can create a delicious dish all in one pan. This version combines Cheddar and Gruyere for a rich and cheesy flavor that everyone will enjoy.

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    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Chef Savvy.

    Chicken breasts are cooked slowly until they're tender and juicy, all soaked in a flavorful barbecue sauce. They’re great served warm on a brioche bun. This simple dish is perfect for Memorial Day, summer barbecues, or any gathering with friends and family.

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    Traeger Smoked Chuck Roast

    Traeger Smoked Chuck Roast.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This Traeger smoked chuck roast is a great way to prepare juicy and tender beef. The smoky flavor from the wood pellet smoker really enhances the meat, making it a delicious choice for any gathering. It's simple enough for beginners to tackle, and the results are sure to impress everyone at the table.

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    Smoked Beef Brisket

    Smoked Beef Brisket.
    Photo Credit: Binky's Culinary Carnival.

    Smoked Beef Brisket is a delicious dish that's both juicy and tender, with just the right amount of chewiness. It's simpler to prepare than many people think, making it a great choice for gatherings. This dish is perfect for sharing at potlucks, bringing everyone together over a hearty meal.

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    Smoked Mac and Cheese with Bacon

    Smoked mac and cheese.
    Photo Credit: The Feathered Nester.

    Smoked mac and cheese is rich and cheesy, packed with a delicious smoky flavor. It's a simple dish that works well as a side or a main course, perfect for BBQs, holidays, or any weeknight dinner. This comfort food is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

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

    Cowboy baked beans are a delicious and easy dish to whip up. Using a large can of baked beans, some lean ground beef, a sweet yellow onion, and a few seasonings, you can put together a hearty meal that everyone will love. This dish is great for gatherings or a relaxed dinner at home.

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    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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