1Crispy Fried Chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONThe 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.
2Crawfish Boil
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONThere 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.
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3Shrimp & Tomato Succotash Skillet
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON 4Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Mini Peppers
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5Fried Green Tomatoes
Erik bernstein 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.
6Cajun Crab Cake Sliders
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7Fried Catfish
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONOur 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.
8Fried Okra
TARA DONNEThere 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.
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9Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE 10Bourbon Peach Iced Tea
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONThere’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.
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11Fried Oysters
Lucy schaeffer 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.
12Southern 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.
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13Corn Fritters
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE 14Peach Cobbler
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREThis 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.
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15Bacon & Pimento Mac & Cheese
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORETo 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.
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