15 Southern Recipes Perfect For Hot Summer Nights (Screened-In Porch Not Included)
Y'all fresco.
Summer in the South, under the sweltering heat and long days of high-in-the-sky sun, takes on a different pace. Things move a little bit slower, and a rest in the shade, perhaps with a cool glass of homemade lemonade, is a truly cherished moment of the day. Case in point: the prevalence of the porch in Southern culture. I mean, are you really from the South if you don’t have a rocking chair set out on the porch (bonus points if your porch is screened-in)? With that in mind, I’ve gathered 15 of our favorite summery Southern recipes that will transport you straight to your grandma’s porch with a glass of sweet tea in your hand.
Now there’s no denying that summer is a great time for fresh fruits and vegetables—I see you Southern tomato pie—but summer is also a great time for fried foods; you may even find some seasonal produce hiding under the cornmeal. Try our crispy fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, fried catfish, or our corn fritters to see just why things are better Southern fried.
With so much of the South hugging the coastline, you know I have to throw in some summer seafood recipes. Summer is the perfect time for a classic crawfish boil with all the fixin’s. Not wanting to go through all the trouble of a boil, but still want to take advantage of seafood this summer? Try our Cajun crab cake sliders, our shrimp & tomato succotash skillet, or our fried oysters.
No matter the season, we’ve got plenty of great Southern-inspired recipes, from side dishes to desserts. So whether you are in the South in mind, body, or both, take advantage of all the great summer foods the South has to offer.
Crispy Fried Chicken
The quest for perfect fried chicken with golden brown skin, tender, juicy meat, and a combination of crisp and crunch is not for the faint of heart. This recipe uses a simple formula of a seasoned buttermilk brine, a dip in batter, a shake in flour, and a dunk into a pot of hot oil for the only fried chicken recipe you'll ever need.
Get the Crispy Fried Chicken recipe.
Crawfish Boil
There is nothing more exciting than a table prepped with newspaper, waiting for a perfectly cooked and seasoned crawfish boil to be poured out. This boil recipe—which cooks 5 pounds of live crawfish, plus fixings like corn, sausage, and mushrooms—is pared down for a stovetop rather than the large outdoor gas burners intended for group boils.
Get the Crawfish Boil recipe.
Shrimp & Tomato Succotash Skillet
One-pan dinners are a year-round thing, but there’s always a way to make them seasonal and sensational. This amped-up take on succotash features blistered tomatoes and charred corn tossed with onion, bell peppers, lima beans, and seared Cajun-spiced shrimp, then topped with a flurry of torn basil.
Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Peppers
Stuffed mini peppers (especially cheesy ones) are such an easy appetizer to throw together and are always a crowd-pleaser. In my opinion, pimento cheese is infinitely better when it’s served warm, and a small pepper becomes the perfect vessel for it in this recipe.
Fried Green Tomatoes
When green tomatoes are in season, this Southern staple is the first dish we think of. Nothing complements a juicy, tart green tomato quite like a crunchy, slightly sweet cornmeal crust. Paired with a homemade tangy sauce, these fried beauties are the perfect summer appetizer to take advantage of green tomato season.
Get the Fried Green Tomatoes recipe.
Cajun Crab Cake Sliders
Like any classic crab cake, these are blended with mayo, egg, and crushed Saltines to just barely bind them together, but what makes these extra special (and Cajun) is a blend of sautéed trinity vegetables, Cajun seasoning, and the secret ingredient: lemon pepper seasoning.
Get the Cajun Crab Cake Sliders recipe.
Fried Catfish
Our top secret for the most flavorful, extra-crispy catfish? A buttermilk and hot sauce marinade. We know, it may sound odd, but the result is an extra-flavorful, slightly spicy catfish that, once coated and fried, results in crispy fillets that rival even our favorite seafood restaurants.
Get the Fried Catfish recipe.
Fried Okra
There might not be a more Southern ingredient than okra, and I can totally understand why it’s so beloved. When fried, it turns into crispy, poppable bites perfect for dipping in sauce or pairing with your favorite seafood dinner.
Get the Fried Okra recipe.
Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake
One bite of this Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola cake, and you'll be instantly transported to a rocking chair on a covered front porch playing with that triangle peg board game (IYKYK). Even if you're not familiar with the Southern comfort food stylings of Cracker Barrel, you can trust us that this chocolate cake is real good.
Get the Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake recipe.
Bourbon Peach Iced Tea
There’s nothing more refreshing in the summer than a glass of perfectly sweet iced tea—except one spiked with bourbon. The bourbon adds a warmth to the tea that makes for an easy and refreshing drink to cool off with on those still-warm summer nights.
Get the Bourbon Peach Iced Tea recipe.
Fried Oysters
Fried oysters are a Southern seafood staple. They were first breaded and fried in the Western Hemisphere in the mid-19th century and have since been upgraded with a crispy, crunchy cracker crust. Trust us, you'll love these bite-sized beauties.
Get the Fried Oysters recipe.
Southern Tomato Pie
Fillings for classic Southern tomato pies always includes tomatoes, mayonnaise, plenty of cheese, and Dijon mustard, but this version's got a flavorful upgrade: chopped pimiento peppers. Made from peak-season tomatoes, a cheese-and-mayo filling, and a flaky pie crust, this savory pie is the taste of summer in the South.
Get the Southern Tomato Pie recipe.
Corn Fritters
Fluffy and crispy, corn fritters are our new favorite Southern-fried side (sorry, hush puppies). Littered with fresh sweet corn, these are the perfect addition to countless summer dinners.
Get the Corn Fritters recipe.
Peach Cobbler
This fruit cobbler is juicy and sweet with just a hint of spice from ginger. The crackly top here is buttery with the perfect crunch from coarse sugar sprinkled on top.
Get the Peach Cobbler recipe.
Bacon & Pimento Mac & Cheese
To give a new spin on this superior comfort food, I decided to give it through in pimento peppers for an even more comforting dish. From the kick of the pimento peppers and hot sauce to the bacon crumble in the sauce and the breadcrumbs, this kicked-up variation keeps every bite interesting.
Get the Bacon & Pimento Mac & Cheese recipe.
