Some dinners begin before sunset and stretch long after the plates are full. These 17 Southern recipes move from slow cooker meatballs and chili to fried chicken, ribs, pork chops, and Southern sides, with a few dishes that bring a bright or crisp note to the table. Rich gravies, tender meats, golden crusts, and familiar vegetables make room for an easygoing meal that does not need a strict schedule.
Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
As the afternoon stretches into evening, Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs bring a hearty main to the table. Ground beef and long-grain rice form the meatballs, which cook in crushed tomatoes with Italian seasoning and basil. The slow cooker takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes, and the recipe serves four. Set them out with bread or a green vegetable when dinner becomes a relaxed family meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
Fried Chicken Thighs with Milk Gravy
At the first sign of a long dinner, Fried Chicken Thighs with Milk Gravy offer crisp chicken with a skillet gravy to pass around. Boneless thighs are dipped in milk and egg, coated with seasoned flour and cornstarch, then served with peppery milk gravy. The recipe takes 50 minutes and serves four. Mashed potatoes or biscuits make useful partners for catching the gravy while everyone settles in.
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Southern Style Pickled Shrimp
A chilled appetizer gives guests something to nibble while supper comes together, and Southern Style Pickled Shrimp does just that. Medium shrimp sit with lemon, sweet onion, garlic, herbs, oil, and champagne vinegar for a tangy, lightly pickled bite. The recipe needs 10 minutes of prep plus four hours of pickling and serves four. Serve it with crusty bread or add it to a brunch or appetizer spread.
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Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken
When the oven is already doing the work, Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken brings chicken and potatoes together on one pan. Lemon juice, capers, garlic, rosemary, red potatoes, shallots, chicken legs, and thighs roast for 1 hour and 5 minutes. It serves six, so there is enough for a full table without juggling separate pans. Put the pan juices and some bread nearby for an easy, lingering supper.
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Southwestern Chili
For the kind of evening that calls for bowls and seconds, Southwestern Chili brings ground beef, poblano, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and chipotle seasoning into one slow cooker. The recipe takes 4 hours and 15 minutes and serves six. Its smoky, spicy broth pairs well with cornbread or a simple green salad, making this an easy main to leave warming while conversation carries on.
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Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork
A skillet of Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork brings a filling option that works for brunch or dinner. Sweet potatoes cook with pulled pork, red onion, garlic, green bell pepper, chipotle, and a splash of cream; eggs can go on top if desired. It takes 30 minutes and serves six. Set out hot sauce and let everyone choose whether to add an egg.
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Potatoes & Cabbage (Not Colcannon!)
With bacon lending its smoky flavor, Potatoes & Cabbage (Not Colcannon!) turns cabbage, potatoes, and onion into a substantial skillet side. Chicken broth, garlic, smoked paprika, and apple cider vinegar season the vegetables as they cook. The dish is ready in 25 minutes and serves six. Add it beside pork chops or fried chicken, or let it stand on its own for a simple supper.
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Oven Baked Ribs
Low oven heat gives Oven Baked Ribs time to become tender while garlic, onion, thyme, and seasonings flavor the meat. The recipe uses baby back ribs and takes 2 hours and 10 minutes, serving six. Put the ribs in the middle of the table with slaw, beans, or potatoes, and let the meal move at its own pace while the sides make their rounds.
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Buttermilk Fried Chicken
A crunchy seasoned coating makes Buttermilk Fried Chicken a familiar centerpiece for a Southern meal. Chicken drumsticks soak in buttermilk, then go through flour seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper before frying. The total time is 45 minutes, including the marinade, and the recipe serves six. Pair the chicken with biscuits, mashed potatoes, or coleslaw for a generous supper.
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Smothered Pork Chops with Onions & Mushrooms
Under a creamy gravy, Smothered Pork Chops with Onions & Mushrooms bring seared pork chops together with thyme, garlic, onions, mushrooms, chicken broth, and cream. The recipe takes 45 minutes and serves six. Spoon the sauce over the chops and serve them with rice or mashed potatoes, plus a green vegetable. It is a hearty plate for a dinner that is not rushed.
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Fried Green Tomatoes
Golden edges and a tangy center make Fried Green Tomatoes a lively starter or side. Green tomato slices get a coating of flour, egg, cornmeal, panko, paprika, and cayenne, then fry until crisp. They take 25 minutes and serve four. Serve them warm with remoulade or ranch, either before the main dish arrives or alongside fried chicken and biscuits when supper starts later than planned.
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Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs
Cut into easy-to-hold wedges, Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs bring corn, butter, garlic, Parmesan, and lemon to the side-dish spread. The recipe takes 20 minutes and serves four; the corn is briefly simmered before being coated with the seasoned butter. Put the ribs on a platter beside grilled or roasted meat, where they give guests a playful, cheesy bite between richer dishes.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
When a slow cooker can handle the main dish, 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken keeps the ingredient list short with chicken breast, cream of chicken soup, stuffing mix, and water or broth. It takes 4 hours and 5 minutes and serves four. The tender chicken and savory topping pair well with green beans or a simple salad, making it a handy choice for a relaxed evening meal.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
Old-Fashioned Mac and Cheese
A bubbling pan of Old-Fashioned Mac and Cheese brings pasta, a creamy cheese sauce, buttery crackers, and diced ham to the table. It bakes for 40 minutes and serves eight, so it can work as a hearty side or a main with a salad. Sharp cheddar with gouda or mozzarella gives the sauce its richness, while crushed saltines add a crisp finish.
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Sweet Potato Cornbread
For a bread basket with a little extra substance, Sweet Potato Cornbread folds cooked sweet potato into cornmeal batter with eggs, buttermilk, flour, and nutmeg. The recipe takes 30 minutes and serves eight. Its tender crumb works alongside chili, ribs, or a bowl of soup, and the mild sweetness sits comfortably beside savory mains without making the meal feel like a special project.
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Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops
Slow-cooked pork chops come with plenty of sauce in Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops. Pork shoulder chops cook with flour, beef broth, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic. The recipe takes 4 hours and 10 minutes and serves six. Spoon the tomato-rich sauce over rice or mashed potatoes, then bring a vegetable to the table for a complete, unhurried dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops
Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuits
A creamy chicken filling topped with cheesy biscuits makes Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuits a substantial dish for a shared supper. Shredded chicken, broth, cream, herbs, and cheddar go under biscuits made from Red Lobster mix; rotisserie chicken can save prep time. It takes 35 minutes and serves eight. Bring the baking dish to the table with a simple green salad or vegetables on the side.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuits