[25] Real Authentic Soul Food Recipes

I complied this list of authentic soul food recipes for the home cook who is serious about preparing old-fashioned dinner meals for their family. If you want to recreated the nostalgic taste of Grandma's cooking, then these old southern recipes will give you the results you seek.

When it is time to prepare old fashioned and down home cooking, I use the same twenty-five recipes you find on this page. Most of the recipes you'll find below have been passed down through the generations from family member to family member.

It's not that difficult to create mouthwatering and satisfying meals now that you have kitchen tested and grandma approved recipes.

But these recipes will not cook themselves. You need to print of these recipes, get yourself some ingredients, and get to cooking. There is enough recipes to make you a few complete meals, each of which can include a...

  • Meat Entree
  • Side Dish
  • Bread
  • Dessert
  • Beverage

Are you ready to cook some authentic soul food? If so, I invite you into my kitchen and private recipe collection. Here are 25 traditional and authentic soul food recipes that will make you a better cook.

Authentic Soul Food Recipes

1 / 25

Fried Chicken

Southern Fried Chicken
Crispy fried chicken is a soul food favorite. This is also a classic southern recipe you must try if you like chicken that is crunchy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.

2 / 25

Salmon Croquette Patties

Salmon Croquette Patties
Growing up down south, salmon croquette patties were a family staple. Also known as salmon cakes or salmon patties, these flavorful little delights are crispy and flaky on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Prepare your salmon patties with wild caught canned salmon.

3 / 25

Fried Catfish

Southern Style Fried Catfish
It's Friday night! That means time for a Fish Fry. If you live down south, for a fish fry, there is no better fish than catfish. Catfish is real easy to season, bread, and then deep fry. Serve up your fried catfish with sides such as hush puppies, coleslaw and fries.

4 / 25

Creamed Corn

Homemade Cream Style Corn    
Although I like grill or roasted corn, by far sweet and savory creamed corn is my favorite corn dish. another southern staple. This hand made dish is easy to prepare and taste delicious.

5 / 25

Chitterlings

Chitterlings or Chitlins
Chitlins or chitterlings is one of many authentic soul food recipes and a family favorite. If you can stand the smell of chitlins while they cook, then you are in for some good eating. These chitterlings are slow-cooked to perfection. When it's time to eat serve them with rice. Top your plate of chitlins with a little bit of vinegar and hot sauce.

6 / 25

Black-eyed Peas

Soul Food Black-eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are said to bring you good luck. You can find a traditional dish of black-eyed peas, also known as Hoppin' John, on the dinner table of most Black Americans on New Year's Day. Learn how to make the recipe. Another one of my favorite authentic soul food recipes.

7 / 25

Collard Greens

Southern Style Collard Greens
Collard greens are definitely a soul food classic and considered by many to be a southern comfort food. Collard greens are normally cooked with a ham hock but you can use other cuts of meat for seasoning. At dinner time, I add in some hot sauce and vinegar before eating. Serve with a piece of corn bread.

8 / 25

Homemade Biscuits

Macaroni and Cheese
Oven baked macaroni and cheese is a classic southern recipe. Baked mac & cheese is considered by many black southerners as a comfort food. Get the recipe if you're preparing this for a family gathering or meal. You don't want to mess this side dish up.

9 / 25

Lima Beans

Lima Beans & Ham Hocks
Lima beans are another southern comfort food that can be seasoned with ham hocks or bacon. When slow cooked to perfection Lima beans are second to none. Like most beans you can serve these with a wide variety of meats.

10 / 25

catfish stew

Catfish Stew
Catfish stew is a classic soul food dish that is easy to prepare. What I like best about this stew is it's light, hearty, and delicious taste. You can serve this catfish stew on a bed of buttery rice for a fulfilling dinner meal.

11 / 25

Homemade Meatloaf

Mama's Homemade Meat Loaf
Cornbread, mash potatoes and gravy, along with Mama's homemade meat loaf makes for a great meal. This is the recipe to have if you are looking for an insanely simple dish to prepare for a family dinner. Make yourself some mouthwatering meatloaf today.

12 / 25

Creamy Tomato Soup

Classic Tomato Soup
This simple, yet classic tomato soup is both comforting and delicious. Serve this homemade soup on a cold day when you need to warm the body up with something good to eat.  You can serve tomato soup pipping hot with a grilled cheese sandwich. Use fresh tomatoes for a delicious and hearty meal.

13 / 25

Smothered Pork Chops

Smothered Pork Chops
Smothered pork chops is another item one must definitely add to the list of authentic soul food recipes. These lightly breaded pork chops, are smothered in a rich and savory gravy, and served on top of white buttery rice (or mashed potatoes).  This is what you want to prepare if you are looking for a fulfilling meal that will stick to your stomach.

14 / 25

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is an incredibly irresistible dessert cake with a cream cheese frosting. This is a sweet , fancy, and decadent cake that you can serve during the holiday's or for a special occasions. If you are looking to impress your guest then this is the cake to prepare.

15 / 25

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is one of the simplest southern deserts to prepare. Who doesn't love this magnificent creation of freshly sliced bananas, crunchy vanilla wafers and vanilla pudding?  Serve your banana pudding cold and topped with a dab of whipped cream.

16 / 25

Potato Salad

Creamy Southern Style Potato Salad
This old-fashioned potato salad is one of my favorite sides and go to recipe for cookout and other outdoor events that require a cold food item. Using only a few ingredients you can recreate this side item in minutes.

17 / 25

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pies is a classic American dessert not to be confused with pumpkin pie. Served warm or cold, a slice of sweet potato pie taste great either way. For added presentation and a little bit more taste, top your sliced pie with whipped cream. If your ready to start baking, this pie bakes up in minutes.

18 / 25

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers
I consider stuffed bell peppers to be southern comfort food. If you like baking this is one recipe you want to try. You can easily recreate this recipe. All you need is a few simple ingredients such as bell peppers, cheese, ground beef, onion, garlic, etc.

19 / 25

Neckbones and Rice

Classic Soul Food Neck Bones and Rice
Pork neck bones and rice anyone? Neck bone is inexpensive meat that you can season and slow cook to perfection. Finish off your neck bones with rice, gravy, green beans, and cornbread for a full meal. Additional you can slow boil your neck bones with diced potatoes too.

20 / 25

Sweet Tea

Southern Sweet Tea
To us southerners, no other drink is more refreshing than some home brewed sweet tea. Sweet tea with its irresistible flavor goes with many southern meals and is the one drink I turn to during hot summer months when I want a sweet beverage. This recipe uses the simplest of ingredients too.

21 / 25

Chicken and Dumplings

Grandma's Chicken and Dumplings
Grandma's chicken and dumplings are made with love. With this traditional southern comfort recipe you can prepare chicken and dumplings the old-fashioned way just like grandma use to.

22 / 25

Country Fried Steak

Country Fried Chicken Fried Steak
You can turn to country fried steak, aka, chicken fried steak when you want some good eating. You season the meat, add batter or roll it in flour and then you deep fry the meat. The traditional way to serve the finished product is to pour on some tasty gravy.

23 / 25

Pigs Feet

Boiled Pigs Feet
When it comes to authentic soul food recipes, boiled pigs feet will always make the list. Pigs feet is an old-fashioned southern comfort food that you can find ever so often. When cooked to perfect, like this recipe recommends, the tender meat falls straight off the bone. Some good eating here.

24 / 25

Candied Yams

Southern Style Baked Candied Yams
Candied yams is a family favorite when is comes to side dish recipes. Made for either yams or sweet potatoes, a serving of candied yams is a soul food treat. This is the one dish we consistently turn to during the holidays.

25 / 25

Smoked Turkey Tails

Smoked Turkey Tails (Butts)
Not everyone can appreciate eating a rare treat like Smoked turkey tails aka turkey. If you have never tried the dish it's something you should try right way. I love the taste of the bell pepper that is added to this recipe. The meat can be hard to find sometime, however, you can find this delicious cut of meat at your local store or butcher.

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