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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Beat the Heat with These 18 Southern Summer Classics

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on August 5, 2025, updated June 30, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer in the South brings a unique charm, filled with warm days and vibrant flavors. Classic dishes like shirmp boil, peach cobbler, and refreshing sweet tea are staples that capture the essence of the season. These beloved recipes not only cool you down but also bring a sense of comfort and nostalgia, perfect for gatherings with family and friends.

    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's perfect for serving as an appetizer or a protein-packed snack. Plus, it can be prepared in advance, making it a convenient choice for gatherings.

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    Southern Tomato Pie

    Southern Tomato Pie.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Southern Tomato Pie combines fresh tomatoes, rich cheese, and a flaky crust, resulting in a comforting dish that's perfect for summer. This recipe highlights the wonderful flavors of ripe tomatoes, making it a great choice for enjoying the season's harvest.

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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. Adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top makes it an even more enjoyable dessert that everyone will love.

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    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: Grits and Pinecones.

    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is a staple at gatherings and a true comfort food. It's a dish that you’ll often see at holidays and celebrations across the South, where a creamy, cheesy casserole takes center stage. This dish is all about warmth and togetherness, bringing people together around the table.

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    Sweet Cornbread

    Sweet Cornbread.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    This Sweet Cornbread is a soft and fluffy side dish that’s perfect for fall and winter meals. It’s simple to whip up using basic ingredients like cornmeal, sugar, buttermilk, honey, and butter. This cornbread goes really well with a warm bowl of chili or soup.

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    Banana Cream Pie

    Banana Cream Pie.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    Banana Cream Pie is an easy, no-bake dessert that brings together the sweet flavors of vanilla and banana. It has a buttery crust made from vanilla wafers, topped with creamy vanilla pudding and fresh banana slices. This dessert is light and refreshing, perfect for summer get-togethers.

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    Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya

    Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya.
    Photo Credit: The Cinnamon Jar,

    Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya is a classic dish from Louisiana that brings together a mix of flavors in one pot. This recipe features a hearty combination of chorizo, chicken, and shrimp, along with a variety of vegetables. For a little extra sweetness, you can even add some pineapple if you like. It's a satisfying meal that's perfect for summer gatherings.

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    The Best Deviled Eggs

    The Best Deviled Eggs.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    Deviled eggs are always a crowd-pleaser at parties and gatherings. This dish is simple to prepare and can be made without any fuss. With the right boiling technique, peeling becomes easy, and you can transport them safely to your event.

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    Refreshing Southern Sweet Tea

    Refreshing Southern Sweet Tea.
    Photo Credit: The Cagle Diaries.

    Sweet tea is a classic Southern drink that's perfect for hot summer days. This recipe shows you how to make it from scratch using just a few easy ingredients. It's a refreshing treat that will impress your friends and family.

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    Smoked Chicken Thighs

    Smoked Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Feathered Nester.

    Smoked chicken thighs are a popular choice for BBQ lovers, offering juicy meat packed with a rich, smoky flavor. They are seasoned with a mix of spices and cooked slowly, allowing them to soak up all that delicious smokiness. This dish is perfect for summer gatherings and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

    Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp is a simple and tasty dessert that works well for any gathering. With fresh strawberries and tangy rhubarb, this dish brings together the sweet and sour flavors of summer in a delightful way. It's a great choice for enjoying the season's best fruits.

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    Strawberry Pancakes

    Strawberry Pancakes.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    Strawberry pancakes are fluffy and full of fresh strawberry goodness. They make a great summer breakfast, especially when you add a simple homemade strawberry compote on top.

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    Southern Style Creamed Corn

    Southern Style Creamed Corn.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    Southern Style Creamed Corn is a delicious side dish that stands out from the canned versions. Made with fresh sweet corn and rich cream, it brings a wonderful flavor to the table. This dish is great for holiday gatherings, Sunday family dinners, or even just a regular weeknight meal.

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    Southern Grape Salad

    Southern Grape Salad.
    Photo Credit: Grits and Pinecones.

    Southern Grape Salad is a refreshing dish packed with juicy grapes. It's mixed with a creamy dressing made from cream cheese and sour cream, giving it a nice tang. Topped off with crunchy roasted pecans and a sprinkle of brown sugar, this salad is perfect for summer gatherings.

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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 fantastic choice for summer grilling. With a simple marinade that adds a nice sweet and smoky flavor, this dish is perfect for enjoying warm weather. It's an easy and tasty meal that comes together quickly, making it ideal for any summer gathering.

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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. It's the kind of comfort food that brings the essence of Louisiana straight to your dinner table.

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    Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

    Shrimp boil
    Photo Credit: Like Hot Keto.

    This keto sheet pan seafood boil is loaded with Cajun flavor and is super easy to make in the oven. Featuring shrimp and Creole spiced andouille sausages, it’s a great choice for summer get-togethers and festive occasions. Enjoy a delicious meal that brings a taste of the South right to your table.

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    Southern Blueberry Cobbler

    Southern Blueberry Cobbler.
    Photo Credit: Chef Savvy.

    Southern Blueberry Cobbler is a perfect dessert for summer. Fresh blueberries are mixed with lemon zest and sugar, then covered with a rich, buttery cake batter. Enjoy this simple cobbler warm, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chocolate hazelnut tart.
      25 Easy Labor Day Desserts Everyone Will Love
    • White chicken chili.
      Crockpot Convenience: 21 One-Dish Meals That Save You Time and Effort
    • Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
      21 Casseroles That Are Perfect for Cozy Nights In
    • Strawberry peach cobbler.
      23 Labor Day Desserts That Are Easy to Make, but Hard to Resist

    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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