Looking through a Southern recipe book, you’ll notice several common ingredients appear frequently. These tried-and-true ingredients will help you prepare an entire Southern feast, from the cornbread to the cobbler.
We polled our Southern cooking community for the lowdown on true Southern kitchen staples, and we’ve compiled a list of everything you’ll need in your pantry to cook the classics like the soul-food masters. Sure, Southern food is made with a lot of love, but it’s also a lot of cornmeal and Bisquick!
Duke’s Mayonnaise
For Southerners, Duke’s mayo is the one to top tomato sandwiches, make creamy spinach artichoke dips, and bake into decadent chocolate cakes. Mayonnaise is a year-round necessity, versatile enough for casseroles, salad dressings, and grilled cheese sandwiches alike, and Duke’s bright, one-of-a-kind flavor is a Southern cooking signature.
Fruit Preserves
A jar of fruit preserves, whether jam or jelly, blackberry or muscadine, is always on hand in the Southern pantry. It’s not only a must-have topping for Saturday morning buttermilk biscuits but can also be transformed into a delectable glaze for grilled chicken.
Jell-O
Jell-O has a long history in the South, and its unique properties have allowed dishes such as colorful congealed salads and strawberry pretzel salads to be created since the 1900s. Some Southern Jell-O creations will always stay in style (even if we try), which is why a box of powdered gelatin remains a pantry staple.
Ritz Crackers
You never want to run out of Ritz crackers, whether coating chicken cutlets or topping a creamy squash casserole. The buttery, flakey crackers are ideal for scooping up party dips (such as this rich onion dip), but they can also be transformed into an easy, last-minute dessert when guests arrive.
Pimientos diced
Why should you always have a jar of diced pimientos on hand? Of course, for pimiento cheese. Homemade pimiento cheese, also known as the pâté of the South, is superior to store-bought versions and is ideal for bringing to almost any occasion.
Cornmeal
I use cornmeal not only to make cornbread but also to coat fried okra and green tomatoes. Cornmeal is also required for battering fresh-caught catfish and making hush puppy batter, a traditional fish fry staple.
Tea Bags
Nothing beats some good old-fashioned sweet tea on those hot summer days when the heat has no mercy. It’s served with varying degrees of sweetness throughout the Southern states, but every batch must begin with tea bags. The base is black tea (typically Orange Pekoe), adding a mellow bitterness to balance the intense sweetness. A sprig of mint added to the chilled drink makes it even more refreshing.
Grits
Grits are one of the most basic and satisfying comfort foods. Spirits are so well-known in Southern kitchens that some people use the term as a nickname, meaning “Southern Girls.”
Grits with butter or cheese make a filling breakfast, especially when paired with biscuits and gravy, eggs, and sausage. For a more formal dinner, serve grits with shrimp.
Bourbon
Bourbon is used for baking in the South just as much as for sipping. Southern chefs sneak Bourbon into pecan pies, bread puddings, and even BBQ sauces. In addition, the native Kentucky spirit adds a bold and balanced flavor to various desserts and pairs exceptionally well with chocolate.
Of course, it’s even more important when making traditional Southern cocktails like a mint julep or a Bourbon old fashioned.
Crispy Fried Onions from France
Nothing beats French fried onions for any Southern casserole’s crispy, flavorful finish. The salty, slightly sweet crisps give chicken bakes and holiday dishes an unbeatable texture and flavor. These golden fried onions will elevate any casserole.
Cake Mix Duncan Hines
Many delectable desserts begin with a box of cake mix, and Southern home cooks prefer Duncan Hines. You can make cookies, crumbles, or this melt-in-your-mouth gooey butter cake with a simple box of yellow cake mix. The premade mix is always in the pantry, ready to be quickly transformed into dump cakes, coffee cakes, and bake sale desserts.
Onions from Vidalia
Vidalia onions, Georgia’s official state vegetable, are famous for their unrivaled sweetness and are the only kind of onions that will do in many Southern dishes.
And do you know how to store them properly? Wearing pantyhose! Simply slip them down the legs and tie a knot between each onion before hanging them in a cool, dry place, such as the pantry. This time-tested method can keep sweet onions fresh for months.
Bisquick
Breakfast blueberry muffins? Easy. Dinner of chicken and dumplings? You’ve got it.
White Lily all-purpose flour is a time-saving substitute for another Southern baking staple. Bisquick eliminates the tedious step of cutting flour with butter or shortening, making fresh biscuits or peach cobblers impossibly simple.
The inexpensive baking mix has more uses than we can count, and Southern cooks know it’s the secret to some of their best baking creations, whether it’s tailgate sausage balls or a breakfast bake for a crowd.
Soup with Anything
Cream of chicken, mushroom, potato, or celery soup can be used to make a variety of easy sides, casseroles, and soups. The rich and hearty base binds all of the other savory flavors together. Keep a can of creamy soup on hand and you’ll be halfway to a quick and satisfying supper.
Learn more: The Best Chicken Fried Steak Recipe