Check out our best soul food Sunday dinner ideas that will make you feel like you’re right at home! Whether you already love soul food or are trying it for the first time, these recipes are so delicious you’ll want to go back for more and share with friends and family.
Hey, ya’ll! If you looking for Sunday soul food recipes, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve rounded up our best, most popular soul food dinner ideas, from fried chicken to candied yams to mac and cheese.
Whether you’re in the mood for a classic dish, a little barbecue, or Louisiana Cajun fare, we’ve got you covered!
My husband, Marrekus, grew up in Memphis so he knows a whole lot about down-home, Southern soul food cooking. He also spent his summers on his granddad’s land in Mississippi, where he tended to the farm, picking fresh produce and slaughtering pigs.
So, we’ve got farm-to-table staples like butter beans and collard greens, plus rib tips, BBQ spaghetti, and his grandma’s famous oxtail recipe to name a few. All of these recipes, passed down from generation to generation.
Before you go, be sure to also check our popular soul food dessert recipes!
What is Soul Food?
Soul food is a type of cooking by African Americans that started in Black communities in the Southern United States. It’s made up of comfort food dishes influenced by African, European, and Native American cooking.
Soul food recipes often uses ingredient such as greens, okra, and cornmeal, and meats like pork and chicken.
Traditional soul food dishes include fried chicken, cornbread, smothered chicken, oxtails and gravy, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and Southern sweet potato pie.
Soul Food Main Dishes
Below, you’ll find a complete list of our best soul food recipes and top dinner ideas for Black families.
Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
Discover the secret to perfect Southern fried chicken (soul food) with our easy recipe—crispy, golden, and full of flavor! It’s one of the most traditional soul food Sunday dinner ideas.
Best Southern Fried Catfish Recipe
This Southern Fried Catfish has a crispy golden brown cornmeal crust and is seasoned to perfection with fish fry seasoning. Serve it with spaghetti, red beans and rice, coleslaw, and a slice of white bread for a tried and true down home southern meal.
Pork Chop Sandwich
Fried pork sandwiches topped with tomato, onion, mustard, and mayonnaise.
Best Southern Baked Chicken Recipe
Southern baked chicken is a simple recipe that’s easy enough for weeknights and delicious enough for Sunday dinners.
Best Salmon Croquettes (Easy Southern Recipe)
These salmon croquettes are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor. Made with canned salmon, peppers, and onions, this Southern classic is easy to make and delicious! Perfect for a savory breakfast, brunch, and even dinner.
Southern Smothered Pork Chops Recipe
Our soul food southern smothered pork chops are cooked in a cast-iron skillet and feature juicy pork chops pan fried until golden brown and smothered in a brown onion gravy.
Soul Food Spaghetti Recipe
Not your average pasta recipe, this soul food spaghetti is made with smoked andouille sausage, onion, and bell pepper. This delicious dish pairs perfectly with fried catfish, collard greens, and cornbread.
Deep Fried Pork Chops
Indulge in the nostalgic charm of Grandma’s southern kitchen with these mouthwatering deep fried pork
Southern Oxtail Recipe
Our Southern oxtail recipe is a soul food favorite that brings back memories of Sunday dinners at grandma’s. These tender, fall-off-the-bone oxtails are smothered in a flavorful gravy with bell pepper and onion and served over white rice.
Crispy Smoke Fried Wings
These smoke fried wings have the perfect combination of crispy skin and delicious smoke flavor. They’re brined, smoked, and finished with a quick fry for the best game day snack. Pair with your favorite dipping sauces or hot sauce and enjoy!
Fried Ribs
These fried ribs feature a golden brown, seasoned crust that’s both crispy and irresistibly delicious.
Country Fried Steak and Eggs
Country Fried Steak is a classic southern dish made with tenderized cube steak and paired with thick and flavorful white pepper gravy. Also called chicken-fried steak, we love to serve this dish with fried eggs and potatoes for a hearty country breakfast.
BBQ Spaghetti Recipe
This BBQ spaghetti features tender pulled pork simmered in a blend of diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and your favorite barbecue sauce. Whip up a batch and get ready for a taste of Memphis at your dinner table with one of our best leftover pulled pork recipes.
Crawfish Étouffée Recipe
This crawfish étouffée recipe features meaty crawfish tails that are smothered in a flavorful, rich gravy made with a roux, the”holy trinity”, herbs, and spices. Serve it over a bed of steamed rice and garnish with green onions and parsley for a complete dish!
Smoked Oxtail
This smoked oxtail recipe combines the best of Southern barbecue and soul food, delivering tender, smoky, flavorful meat.
Hot and Spicy Shrimp and Cheesy Grits
This Hot and Spicy Shrimp and Grits is a fusion of our Southern favorites: Nashville Hot Chicken and Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits. It features succulent shrimp cooked in a cayenne-infused cream sauce, served over buttery stone ground grits.
Best Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe
This Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork recipe features tender pork shoulder cooked with cherry wood and doused in flavorful mop sauce. Pile smoked BBQ pulled pork high on sandwich buns and top with your favorite coleslaw!
Rib Tips
Experience Memphis barbecue with our succulent and tender smoked rib tips! Served with white bread and pickles, it’s a simple yet delicious combination that captures the authentic flavors of this Southern dish.
Turkey Necks
Turkey necks are simmered to perfection in a Cajun-infused broth with smoked sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob.
Baked Blackened Salmon and Cheese Grits
This fish and grits recipe features baked blackened salmon and grits. It’s the perfect dinner for two recipe and great for busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy in under 30 minutes.
Hot Honey Old Bay Chicken Wings
Hot honey chicken wings with Old Bay seasoning are a perfect blend of spicy hot honey and the iconic Chesapeake Bay flavors. These deep-fried, unbreaded chicken wings are quick and easy, and perfect for your next game day gathering.
Louisiana Seafood Boil Recipe with Cajun Butter Sauce
A Louisiana seafood boil recipe with Cajun butter sauce, crab, shrimp, andouille sausage, red potatoes,
Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy
This hamburger steak and gravy recipe is an old school soul food dish in the South. Considered a classic comfort food meal, it combines seasoned ground beef patties with a flavorful onion gravy, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
Southern Smothered Chicken and Gravy with Rice
Our smothered chicken recipe features fall-off-the-bone tender chicken thighs smothered in rich brown gravy and spooned over a bed of white rice.
Fried Fish and Spaghetti Recipe
This fried fish and spaghetti recipe is a popular dish among African Americans that is often enjoyed for weeknight dinners, fish fry Fridays, and even holidays. It’s made using our Southern Fried Catfish and Mom’s famous soul food spaghetti recipe.
Easy Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs Recipe (Spare Ribs)
St. Louis-style ribs are seasoned with a dry rub and cooked low and slow on the smoker until they are tender and juicy, then slathered in a homemade BBQ sauce.
Smoked Catfish
Our easy smoked catfish recipe seasoned with soul food seasoning and served with a delicious lemon butter sauce. Perfect for family gatherings or casual dinners!
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
Fried chicken thighs are crispy and golden-brown on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and slathered in hot honey sauce. Serve it on a buttery toasted bun with all your favorite toppings for the best hot honey chicken sandwich.
Pork Neck Bones Recipe
Our slow cooker pork neck bones recipe is a budget-friendly, hearty Southern soul food meal served over rice with cornbread.
Smoked Bologna
A smoked bologna recipe featuring whole bologna chub seasoned with dry rub and smothered in barbecue sauce.
Cream of Crab Soup
Cream of Crab Soup, a classic from the Chesapeake Bay, is a rich and delicious dish made with succulent crab meat and seasoned with the iconic flavors of Old Bay. Creamy and indulgent, it’s a winner whether you’re a seasoned seafood lover or trying Maryland crab for the first time.
Southern Chicken and Waffles
Southern chicken and waffles are the perfect pair! Our fried chicken tenders are extra crunchy and seasoned just right. Buttermilk waffles are simple and delicious and feature perfectly crispy golden edges.
Soul Food Side Dishes
Here’s a list of our favorite soul food side dishes!
Louisiana Red Beans and Rice Recipe
Authentic Creole red beans and rice recipe with smoked ham hock and the “holy trinity”—bell pepper, celery, and onion. It can be a main dish or a side dish.
The BEST Southern Mac and Cheese
Indulge in this baked Southern mac and cheese featuring cheddar, Monterey jack, and mozzarella. Made with eggs and no roux.
Southern Collard Greens Recipe with Smoked Turkey
The best collard greens recipe featuring smoked turkey legs and a blend of savory, soulful spices.
Southern Cabbage Recipe (Soul Food Boiled Cabbage)
This Southern cabbage recipe features boiled cabbage with smoked meat, with seasonings and spices. A savory and succulent Southern side dish that is a staple on our Sunday dinner table!
Cream Corn Recipe
Sweet, tender corn kernels are simmered in a rich, creamy sauce.
How to Cook Black Eyed Peas
Our Black Eyed Peas features smoked neck bones, onion, bell pepper, and celery.
Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
Our baked Gouda Mac and Cheese boasts a velvety, creamy sauce made with a flour roux and a blend of Gouda, sharp cheddar, and Colby Jack cheese. It’s perfect for celebratory occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or a standout Sunday soul food dinner.
Creamy Butter Beans Recipe (Southern Soul Food)
This southern, soul food-style creamy butter beans recipe features large lima beans simmered in a seasoned broth with smoked turkey wings.
Southern Cornbread Recipe
Our soul food cornbread recipe is easy to follow and yields a moist, tender crumb. It combines the rich tang of buttermilk with classic ingredients like butter and sugar for a delightful side dish that complements any Southern meal.
Green Beans and Potatoes (Southern Recipe)
Fresh green beans and red potatoes are simmered on the stove top in a rich and flavorful broth with smoked turkey, onion, garlic, and seasonings.
Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice (New Orleans Recipe)
This slow cooker red beans and rice is the epitome of Southern food and a must-try for anyone looking to savor the essence of The Big Easy.
Southern Fried Cabbage
Southern Fried Cabbage is a soul food side dish elevated by the combination of crispy bacon, smoked sausage, and a medley of seasonings.
Pinto Beans Recipe
This Southern pinto beans recipe, developed by chef and restauranteur Kevin Bludso, is made with smoked neck bones in a flavorful broth. Chile peppers, chili powder, and cayenne give these creamy, savory beans the perfect amount of heat.
Best Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe)
These Southern candied yams are sweet and buttery and feature brown sugar and warm spices. A traditional soul food candied yams recipe passed down from generation to generation.
Roasted Summer Squash and Zucchini Recipe
Our roasted summer squash and zucchini recipe is a healthy side dish and an easy way to incorporate vegetables at the dinner table without sacrificing flavor.
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits (Southern Recipe)
Enjoy a Southern classic this Sunday morning with Grandma’s old-fashioned buttermilk biscuits. These delicious, fluffy
Vegan Black Eyed Peas Recipe
Vegan black-eyed peas with leeks and tomatoes is an easy plant-based soul food recipe.
Cornbread Dressing
This cornbread dressing recipe features a blend of moist cornbread and a medley of aromatic veggies like celery, onion, bell peppers, and green onions.
Southern Potato Salad
A Black Southern potato salad recipe with the best creamy texture and tangy flavor, featuring ingredients like dill pickle relish, mustard, hard-boiled eggs, and seasonings.
Collard Greens and Cabbage (Mixed Greens)
Collard greens and cabbage (mixed greens) are cooked together, simmered in a flavorful smoky broth, with seasonings, onions, ham hocks, and red pepper flakes..
Soul Food Collard Greens
This Southern collard greens recipe features slow simmered greens with smoked ham hocks, onions, seasonings, and a dash of red pepper flakes.
How to Make Chicken Jambalaya
Try our easy chicken jambalaya recipe for a taste of New Orleans! Made with grilled
Sweet Potato Cornbread
This sweet potato cornbread is perfectly moist and flavorful, made with fresh, mashed sweet potatoes,
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!
If you have any questions or just want to share your thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below. Don’t forget to follow us on social media @cookswithsoul on Instagram and Facebook for more tasty recipes and updates. We’d love to stay connected with you!
Soul Food Sunday Dinner Ideas
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken 6 pounds, cut up; or 8 pieces of your favorite cuts of chicken
- Neutral oil for frying e.g. peanut oil, vegetable oil, canola oil
- Brine
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups ice
- Seasoned Flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup corn starch
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic if using garlic powder, use a little bit less
- 1 tablespoon granulated onion if using onion powder, use a little bit less
- 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Egg Wash
- 3 eggs
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Get the recipe for Southern fried chicken.
Everything looks good and scrumptious. I’m from Mississippi so I know good food and cooking all these recipes.
Thank you, Bobbie! My husband (1/2 of Cooks with Soul) spent his summers in Mississippi growing up!
Thank you for the wonderful dinner recipes! I am always looking to switch things up.
Thank you, Wanda! We love to hear that!
Thank you for this entire list! I’ve made quite a few of your recipes on this list, but I can’t wait to try some of the newer ones. The smothered chicken and rice recipe is calling my name!
Fish and spaghetti has to be my favorite soul food recipe. Now I need to make it again.
Your pork chops remind me of childhood. I’ll definitely make them again!
Hi this is awesome. Thanks a million. I love to cook. This is great.
Thank you! We’re so glad you’re love these recipes 🙂
I’m sending this to my friend they really think they can cook he needs a little help he will be excited
Thank you for your wonderful list of foods that has been on my Texas dinner table over several generations. I believe I can speak truth to this because my Grandma (mother’s side) who passed away at 100 years old, did NOT cook this combo not one time while she was alive. She was the youngest of 18 children hailing from East Texas. She has gazillion nieces and nephews including great nieces and nephews. We were never taught to combine fried fish with spaghetti. This truth comes from my father’s side as well. I’ve been taught by many great cooks/chefs in my family. It is not “southern cuisine” to have fried fish and spaghetti. However, I was introduced to this combo by one of my sister-in-law’s who resided with me for a time. When she cooked this one particular time, I asked her about it and she informed me that this is common practice in her family. My sister-in-law’s family was from Iowa. But her grandmother moved to Texas and they grew up eating like this. She also made collard greens with a condiment side to it. It was fresh tomatoes, red onion and cucumbers in apple cider vinegar. This condiment was to be eaten with the greens. This side dish condiment was never apart of my upbringing. God has truly blessed me with 61 years of living. I, now have my own set of grandchildren to whom I can pass my family’s traditions.
Your recipes are Spot On:
Born in the South and raised in the City and Summers in the South. I can relate to your Great recipes. The pinto Beans bring back memories of my Moms cooking.
Thank God she taught us, me and my brothers how to cook a full meal. Hope this helps someone. Much Love
Thank you, Linda! That’s awesome, we love to hear stories like this and connect with people who have similar backgrounds! Enjoy! -K
Hi I’m from Louisiana and always love to see new ideas on traditional favs . Can’t wait to try out these recipes thanks for sharing 💖✨✨
Thank you I love to see our culture history of food and I would love to see some seafood gumbo recipes