17 Timeless Southern Potluck Dishes That'll Take You Back to Grandma's Kitchen

Grandmas are legendary in the kitchen, aren't they? It’s almost like it's written into their job description: 'Must create delicious, soul-soothing meals.' But when your grandma hails from the South, her culinary skills are taken to a whole new level. A Southern grandma in the kitchen is nothing short of a treasure.

So, for your next potluck, why not whip up something from a Southern grandmother’s repertoire? We've curated the best of the best, from creamy slaw and hearty baked beans to local favorites like corn pudding and indulgent pound cake.

Grandma’s Famous Southern Coleslaw

linda2d

This coleslaw, often compared to the one from a popular fast food chicken joint, is sure to disappear quickly at your next potluck. What’s the secret? A splash of buttermilk, adding that perfect balance of creaminess and tang.

Does Salting Coleslaw Make It Watery?

Grandma Ople's Classic Apple Pie

A gorgeous apple pie with a lattice crust, with a slice already taken out to show its golden, cinnamon-filled goodness.

Holiday Baker

We can't say for sure if Grandma Ople was Southern, but we like to think she was. With its blend of tart apples and rich brown sugar, this pie is a potluck favorite. 'This was my grandmother's apple pie recipe,' says MOSHASMAMA. 'It will always be my favorite and has earned me numerous first-place ribbons at local competitions.'

Grandma's Classic Five Cup Salad

Grandma's Five Cup Salad served in foil containers

Julia

In the South, 'salad' has a different meaning, but you’ll be hooked after just one bite of this sweet dish. A blend of canned mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, shredded coconut, and a scoop of sour cream delivers a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors.

Grandma's Corn Pudding

A white ceramic casserole dish filled with baked corn casserole, boasting golden-brown, crispy edges.

Debi Clark Bickmore

Rich and buttery, this savory casserole is the ultimate way to savor summer corn. As reviewer KYCATHY puts it, 'This is one of those secret recipes that’ll make people think you're an old country cook who knows her way around the kitchen.'

Mamaw's Southern Buttermilk Chicken

Amanda Cantrell

Soaked in a flavorful marinade of buttermilk, hot sauce, and fresh garlic, this chicken is packed with flavor. It’s briefly fried, then baked to perfection, giving you plenty of time to focus on your other potluck dishes.

15 Classic Side Dishes for Fried Chicken

Grandmother's Pound Cake

wannabe chefette

"This recipe is over a century old and the original pound cake formula: 1 pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, with no salt, baking powder, or flavorings," says WholeGrainWoman. However, if you'd like to put your own twist on Grandma's classic, she suggests adding a few drops of vanilla or almond extract for extra flavor.

20 Bundt Pound Cakes Everyone Will Love

Grandma's Southern Mac and Cheese

A heaping scoop of mac and cheese casserole

Rae

No need to worry about leftovers when you bring this dish to the potluck. It’s guaranteed to be gone in no time. The macaroni is smothered in a rich Cheddar sauce and baked to a perfectly golden, crispy top.

Grandma's Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

A close-up of a square piece of chocolate cake topped with rich chocolate-walnut frosting, served on a plate.

Bekah Miller

This chocolate Texas sheet cake is often called "quick, easy, and fun to make," and it's guaranteed to be a hit. With just a handful of basic ingredients and a cake pan, it’s a perfect example of how sometimes simplicity is the key to success.

10 Texas Sheet Cake Recipes

Better Baked Beans

A classic dish of baked beans in a casserole dish, with a plate of hot dogs in the background.

Meredith Food Studios

Begin with a few cans of store-bought baked beans, and then just enhance the flavor with a few extra ingredients. "This is my grandma’s favorite semi-homemade recipe," says Diane Carman-Young. "She makes it every Thanksgiving, and we always end up scraping the pan clean!"

Grandma's Brisket

Paul

JodyVTPT recalls, "My grandmother made this every year for family gatherings. Who knew it could be this simple?" The combination of ketchup, dry onion soup mix, and ginger ale creates a sweet and tangy sauce that perfectly tenderizes the brisket as it cooks.

Granny's Strawberry Preserves-Filled Cookies

Julie Holden

Put those leftover preserves to good use with these soft, tender cookies. Filled with a dollop of strawberry preserves, each bite stays moist and bursting with flavor.

Grandma's Creamy Potato Salad

Frank David

A delicious cross between potato salad and egg salad, this rich dish features red potatoes and hard-boiled eggs. The creamy, mayo-based dressing gets an extra kick with a dash of mustard and a splash of vinegar, giving it a zesty tang.

Grandmother's Punch

MrsFisher0729

Gathering around the punch bowl is a classic potluck tradition. Keep it alive with this grandmother-approved punch recipe. It's the perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a colorful presentation that’s sure to impress.

Grandmother's Sour Cream Cucumber Salad

Coty Bare

With the perfect blend of sweet onions and crisp cucumbers, this salad showcases the best of summer’s produce. Plus, it’s ideal for prepping ahead. 'It tastes even better the next day as the sweet and sour flavors soak into the cucumbers,' says Johanna Rouba.

Tatertot Casserole

Jimmy Bahnsen

Rich, crunchy, and cheesy—this Southern casserole has it all. 'My grandma made this for me when I was growing up, and I still love it to this day,' says reviewer Kara Kastner.

Grandma Mac's Green Beans

lutzflcat

Green beans can be tasty when cooked quickly and simply, like when blanched or roasted with a sprinkle of salt, but they're also incredible when simmered slowly. Here, we take a page from Grandma Mac's slow-cooked green beans (they only take 45 minutes), transforming them into the tender, flavor-packed beans you remember from those childhood picnics.

Simple Deviled Eggs

Struggling to recreate your grandmother's perfect deviled eggs? That’s probably because she never wrote down the recipe and just made it up as she went! But with this recipe, reviewers say it’s as close to Grandma’s version as you can get.