Your Go To Source For DOWN RIGHT DELICIOUS soul food AND Southern COOKING.

Hey! We’re Marrekus and Krysten, the husband and wife team behind Cooks with Soul. Here you’ll find hundreds of Southern recipes, many of which have been passed down through multiple generations. From soul food to barbecue to Creole and Cajun cuisine, each of these recipes tell a story and represent a piece of who we are and where we came from.

Marrekus is a Tennessee native and Air Force retiree who loves to cook soul food, comfort food, and barbecue recipes. Growing up, he spent his summers in rural Mississippi on his granddad’s land, so he’s all about those classic Southern soul food dishes like collard greensbutter beansribsfried fish, and BBQ spaghetti.

Krysten is the photographer and food writer behind the blog. Although she’s a city girl who grew up on the west coast, she loves soul food (thanks to her grandma and mom’s cooking, and her dad, who is a chef). Some of her favorite recipes that you’ll find on the blog include peach cobblercaramel cakeLouisiana red beans and rice and Gouda macaroni and cheese.

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Our Family’s Favorite Recipes

Baked Candied Yams Recipe

Baked Candied Yams Recipe

Southern Fried Chicken Recipe (Without Buttermilk)

Southern Fried Chicken Recipe (Without Buttermilk)

deep fried pork chops with cabbage and sweet potato

Deep Fried Pork Chops

louisiana red beans and rice in a bowl

New Orleans Red Beans and Rice Recipe

The BEST Southern Mac and Cheese

The BEST Southern Mac and Cheese

Southern Oxtail Recipe (Authentic Soul Food)

Southern Oxtail Recipe (Authentic Soul Food)

Peach Cobbler with Canned Peaches

Peach Cobbler with Canned Peaches

Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Smothered Chicken Thighs with Gravy and Rice

Smothered Chicken Thighs with Gravy and Rice

Southern Cabbage Recipe (Boiled Cabbage)

Southern Cabbage Recipe (Boiled Cabbage)

Explore Our

Recipe Index

Here you’ll find a growing collection of our favorite comfort food recipes – updated weekly! We’ve got soul food, Southern barbecue, and Creole and Cajun dishes. There’s something here for everyone, so pull up a chair and welcome!