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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Satisfying Southern Meals That Won't Break the Bank

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on August 7, 2025, updated July 29, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Southern cooking is all about comfort and flavor, and you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy it. From hearty stews to classic fried dishes, there are plenty of satisfying meals that are easy on the wallet. Here are 22 delicious Southern recipes that will fill your belly without emptying your pockets.

    Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti

    Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This meal is quick and easy to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights. It features flavors that the whole family loves, making it a great choice for dinner. You'll find that this dish can easily become a staple in your weekly rotation.

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    Southern Chicken and Dumplings

    Southern Chicken and Dumplings.
    Photo Credit: Retro Recipe Box.

    Southern Chicken and Dumplings is a hearty dish featuring tender chicken in a rich, creamy broth, paired with fluffy dumplings. Prepared in a Dutch oven, this simple recipe is perfect for a cozy dinner. It's a filling meal that brings warmth and comfort, making it a great choice for any weeknight.

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    Crockpot Chicken Alfredo

    Crockpot Chicken Alfredo.
    Photo Credit: Chef Savvy.

    Crockpot Chicken Alfredo is an easy meal that you can prepare all 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, this dish comes together effortlessly. Everyone will love it, providing a hearty meal without needing to spend hours in the kitchen.

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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 flavor without much effort.

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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 or sliders and is perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping. It’s an easy way to serve a crowd without putting in a lot of work.

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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 a cozy dinner. In just 10 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes in the oven, you can enjoy a delicious one-pan meal without the need for boiling pasta or making a sauce. With a blend of Cheddar and Gruyere cheese, this dish is rich and full of flavor, making it a great choice for any weeknight.

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    Traeger Smoked Chuck Roast

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

    This recipe features a juicy and tender beef chuck roast that’s easy to prepare, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner. The smoky flavor from the Traeger wood pellet smoker adds a delicious twist to the meat. It's a simple way to enjoy a hearty meal without spending all evening in the kitchen.

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    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Real Recipes.

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs are coated in tasty barbeque sauce and cooked to perfection in the air fryer. This dish delivers sticky and flavorful chicken thighs in just about 20 minutes, so there's no need to heat up the grill. It's a simple and satisfying option for a weeknight dinner.

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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, this dish is all about comfort. It can be prepared 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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    Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

    Chicken fajitas.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish combines tender chicken with vibrant bell peppers and onions, all cooked together with a tasty seasoning. It's an easy meal that fits perfectly into busy nights. Simply throw everything in the crockpot and let it cook while you take care of other things.

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    Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

    Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    Grilled BBQ chicken thighs are a great choice for enjoying chicken on the grill. With a simple marinade that adds a nice sweet and smoky flavor, this dish is quick and easy to prepare. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Southern Tomato Pie

    Southern Tomato Pie.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    Southern Tomato Pie features a delicious combination of fresh tomatoes, basil, thyme, mayo, and three types of cheese, all nestled in a buttery cracker crust. This dish is a true taste of summer in the South and works well as a main course, a side dish, or even for brunch. It's a comforting and satisfying option that brings a bit of Southern charm to any meal.

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    White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

    White Cheddar Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This dish is all about comfort and warmth, perfect for a cozy night in. It's creamy, rich, and packed with cheesy goodness that everyone will love. Plus, it holds up well when reheated, making it a great option for leftovers.

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    Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Chicken drumsticks are a delicious option, especially when you use a slow cooker. The sweet and tangy pineapple barbecue glaze gives the chicken a fantastic flavor. It's easy to put together and will be ready in just a few hours, making it ideal for a relaxed dinner. With little effort needed, you can enjoy a hearty meal without spending all day cooking.

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    Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese

    Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: The Cagle Diaries.

    This dish offers a creamy and spicy twist on a classic Southern favorite. It features tender pasta, gooey cheddar cheese, and a flavorful kick from Cajun seasoning and Andouille sausage. This is comfort food that brings a bit of Louisiana right to your dinner table.

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    Crispy Oven BBQ Chicken

    Oven baked BBQ chicken.
    Photo credit: Bowl of Delicious.

    This crispy oven recipe uses only two main ingredients: barbecue sauce and chicken (plus a little olive oil, salt, and pepper) – to make the crispiest, most perfectly glazed, sweet, sticky, and juicy baked barbecue chicken you will ever have.

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    Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili

    Slow Cooker Turkey Pumpkin Chili
    Photo Credit: This Healthy Ttable.

    Chili is a warm and filling dish that's just right for chilly evenings. It's hearty and sure to please everyone at the table. With just a few basic ingredients and not much work, you can whip up a delicious bowl of chili that makes for a cozy dinner.

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    Potato and Leek Quiche

    Potato and Leek Quiche.
    Photo Credit: The Peasant's Daughter.

    This vegetarian leek and potato quiche is hearty and elegant. It's a solid choice for a satisfying meal that won't cost a lot. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients into something special.

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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 big can of baked beans, some lean ground beef, a sweet yellow onion, and a few seasonings, you can put together a meal that everyone will love. This dish is great for family dinners or when you have friends over.

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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 juicy and tender, yet has a nice chew to it. It's simpler to prepare than many people think, making it a great option for a weeknight dinner. With just a few steps, you can enjoy a flavorful meal that everyone will love.

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    Biscuits and Gravy

    Biscuits and Gravy.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime.

    Homemade biscuits and gravy is a classic Southern dish that combines soft, fluffy biscuits with rich sausage gravy. It's a filling and comforting meal that many families love. Perfect for breakfast or any time you want something warm and satisfying.

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    Crockpot Shredded Beef

    Crockpot Shredded Beef.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    Skip the 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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    More Recipe Roundups

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      Crockpot Magic: 23 Easy Meals That Will Impress Your Family
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      21 Easy Pasta Dinners for Busy Weeknights

    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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