17 Delicious Cookout Recipes That Will Impress Your Southern Friends (2024)

FAQs

What do you serve at a Southern cookout? ›

Meats: pork ribs, beef brisket and chicken (all bbq and grilled/smoked). Bread: corn bread seek a recipe that includes corn kernels. Sides: baked beans, potatoes salad, Cole slaw, baked cheesy grits, green beans, greens made with bacon, onions, and vinegar based sauce.

Proteins like hamburger patties, hotdogs, chicken or shrimp are all common foods to throw on the grill. Bringing a side dish like salads, vegetables and fruits is the perfect complement to the hearty main course. Cold drinks like water, soda and lemonade are also essential to keep hydrated during this hot holiday.

Starting your barbecue in the late afternoon such as 4 or 5pm will give you the best chance of attracting families with children if it's a family-friendly event. If you don't want the barbecue to last well into the evening, start your barbecue mid-afternoon around 2:00 or 3:00 PM.

BBQ is beloved across the US, especially across the South. There's the succulent, vinegar-dressed pulled pork popular in the Carolinas, the juicy and tender sliced brisket in Texas, and the sweet-and-tangy smoked ribs dripping with sauce you'll find in Missouri and Tennessee.

Balance is the key to a successful cookout menu. Aim for a mix of proteins (meat, poultry, fish, tofu), side dishes (salads, grilled veggies, potatoes), and desserts (think summer fruits, ice cream, and cobblers). Remember, not everything needs to be grilled. Cold sides and desserts can make a refreshing contrast.

Southern cooking is divided into several cooking styles based on the different regions of the South. Before we dive into the history of Southern foods, let's look into regional Southern cuisines that have helped shape Southern Cooking: Appalachia, Creole, Cajun, Soul Food, Low Country, Gullah, and Floribbean.