Southern Thanksgiving Recipes

When it comes to the best southern Thanksgiving recipes, the meals tend to be overflowing with food and there are a variety of foods and dishes to choose from. They range from potluck style to a traditional sit down dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. Below are some of the best Southern Thanksgiving recipes that you and your family will want to try. They are authentic to the South, yet many variations can be found in Northern cooking as well.

1. Southern Beans and Greens. This recipe is a combination of 1/2 cup vegetable broth, two cans of black beans, two cloves of garlic, one fresh bunch of kale, three tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of hot sauce (optional) and salt and pepper to taste. Place all ingredients in an iron skillet and cook until heated through.
2. Southern Green Beans are another favorite at Thanksgiving. This recipe combines three strips of cooked bacon, three tablespoons butter, one small red onion, three pounds of green beans, eight small potatoes, one clove of garlic, one cup of chicken broth and three tablespoons white balsamic vinegar. This recipe is also cooked in an iron skillet and it’s a hardy Southern dish at the holidays.
3. Southern cornbread is a must at any holiday. This recipe is the secret to authentic Southern cornbread. Combine two cups of self-rising cornmeal with one tablespoons sugar, two eggs, two tablespoons oil, 1 ½ cups milk and three tablespoons of butter. Cook in a cast iron skillet for that genuine Southern crunch. It’s done when a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Sweet potatoes are a must have at Thanksgiving and Southerners do it right. Dice up sweet potatoes and add them to a pan. Add ¼ cup brown sugar and a three tablespoons maple syrup and simmer or bake until done. This can also be made into a casserole with a marshmallow topping.
5. Another popular Southern dish is squash casserole. This recipe usually includes yellow squash, but you can use whatever is available and in season. Combine three pounds squash, four tablespoons butter, one small onion, one cup of shredded cheese, two eggs, ¼ cup mayonnaise and one teaspoon of sugar.
6. Mashed potatoes are traditional to any Thanksgiving, but you can’t have a Southern Thanksgiving without them. It is a basic recipe that combines 2 ½ pounds of cooked russet potatoes to ¼ cup each of milk and butter and salt and pepper to taste. Although this is a basic recipe, it is traditional in the South.
7. Creamed corn is another easy southern recipe. This recipe is best enjoyed with fresh corn, but it can also be made with frozen. Combine three cups of corn, two teaspoons sugar, one tablespoon of flour, one cup of heavy cream, 1/2 a cup  of cold water, 2 tablespoons bacon grease and one tablespoon of butter. Cook on medium low for 30 minutes until it becomes rich and creamy.
8. Traditional Southern pound cake is made with cream cheese for a rich flavor and moist cake. The dough is prepared with eight ounces of cream cheese, 3/4-cup butter, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla, four eggs, 2 cups flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder. Mix all ingredients well and bake at a 325 degree oven for one hour and twenty minutes. Southern pound cake is dusted with powered sugar before serving.
9. Southern dumplings are quick and easy to make and add another level of food to your Thanksgiving meal. Combine two cups all-purpose flour, two teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon minced Italian flat-leaved parsley, ¾ cup beef stock, two tablespoons of melted butter. Combine ingredients and add to the top of turkey stew or boiled in turkey stock.
10. Thanksgiving is not complete without the Alabama Slammer. It consists of one ounce each of Southern Comfort, amaretto and grenadine. Simply add four ounces of orange juice to complete the cocktail.

It’s amazing the amount of food that southerners cook at the Thanksgiving and no one ever walks away hungry. With theses best southern Thanksgiving recipes, you will be ready for your next holiday celebration.