14 southern side dishes better than the main course

Sometimes the side dishes are the real stars of the Southern table. Rich, buttery, crispy, and full of bold comfort-food flavor, these recipes have a way of stealing attention from whatever’s in the center of the plate. They’re the dishes everyone piles high before the main course even gets touched. If you know Southern cooking, you already know the sides never play small.

Southern Collard Greens Worth Fighting Over

A close up image of slow cooker collard greens in a bowl. — Collard Greens. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

These smoky collard greens simmer low and slow until every bite tastes like Southern comfort at its best. One spoonful is enough to make the main dish feel completely unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Collard Greens

Red Beans and Rice That Steal the Show

Close-up of Jamaican red beans and rice in a bowl. — Red Beans and Rice. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Rich red beans and fluffy rice come together in a Southern classic that never gets old. This hearty side dish is the kind people pile onto their plates before the entrée even lands.
Get the Recipe: Red Beans and Rice

Potato Salad Everyone Scoops First

An overhead image of the classic American potato salad in a white serving dish. — Classic American Potato Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This creamy Southern-style potato salad is packed with comforting flavors that belong at every cookout table. Guests will keep going back for another scoop long after the burgers are gone.
Get the Recipe: Classic American Potato Salad

Southern Green Beans and Potatoes

An image of green beans in a serving bowl with a spoon resting on it. — Green Beans and Potatoes. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Tender potatoes and seasoned green beans turn simple ingredients into a side dish that tastes straight from a Southern kitchen. It’s cozy, filling, and good enough to outshine the roast beside it.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans and Potatoes

Broccoli Mac and Cheese Done Southern

Overhead image of a plate of creamy Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Mac and Cheese. — Broccoli Cheddar Mac And Cheese. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Loaded with creamy cheese sauce and tender broccoli, this Southern-inspired mac is impossible to ignore. It’s the kind of side dish everyone talks about before dessert even arrives.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Mac And Cheese

Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans

Green beans with pork on a black plate. — Southern Green Beans. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Slow-cooked with smoky meat and rich seasoning, these Southern green beans bring serious comfort to the table. Don’t expect leftovers once everyone gets a taste of this crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans

Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese Surprise

A bowl of Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese. — Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This creamy sweet potato mac and cheese delivers rich Southern comfort with a seasonal twist. The balance of savory cheese and sweet potato keeps every bite interesting enough for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

Beans and Cornbread Like Grandma Made

Beans and cornbread served together in a bowl. — Beans and Cornbread. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Few Southern side dishes feel as comforting and filling as beans paired with warm cornbread. This timeless combo turns pantry staples into something people crave year-round.
Get the Recipe: Beans and Cornbread

Gouda Mac and Cheese Everyone Wants

An overhead image of a cooked gouda mac and cheese in a baking pan. — Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Rich gouda cheese gives this baked mac and cheese a bold flavor Southern comfort fans will love. It’s creamy, bubbling, and guaranteed to pull attention away from the main course.
Get the Recipe: Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole Favorite

An image of a white plate with a serving of cheesy green bean casserole with a fork on the side, and the casserole behind it. — Cheesy Green Bean Casserole. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This cheesy green bean casserole bakes up creamy underneath a perfectly golden topping. One bite explains why Southern tables keep making room for this classic side every holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Skillet Cornbread Better Than Dinner

An overhead image of a hand holding a cast iron skillet with cornbread. — Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Crispy edges and a fluffy center make this skillet cornbread impossible to stop eating. It’s the kind of Southern side dish people secretly hope doesn’t get passed too quickly.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Classic

An overhead image of two bowls of mac and cheese with a fork beside each. — Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This slow cooker mac and cheese comes out creamy, rich, and packed with Southern comfort in every forkful. It’s the effortless side dish guests hover around all evening long.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Honey Butter Biscuits Nobody Shares

An overhead image of a stack of biscuits on a plate. — Honey Butter Biscuits. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Soft, buttery biscuits brushed with honey belong beside every Southern dinner spread. They disappear fast because nobody can resist grabbing just one more.
Get the Recipe: Honey Butter Biscuits

Cheddar Biscuits That Deserve Attention

Close-up of four flaky buttermilk cheddar cheese biscuits arranged on a white plate. — Flaky Buttermilk Cheddar Cheese Biscuits. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Flaky cheddar biscuits packed with garlic and cheese are always the first thing people reach for. These Southern favorites bring bakery-level comfort straight to the dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Flaky Buttermilk Cheddar Cheese Biscuits