In the South, Christmas season revolves around family, time-honored traditions, and the kitchen.
From mouthwatering roasts to perfect pound cakes, our Christmas recipes are too good to forget.
These throwback recipes go back decades and feature the old-school holiday dishes we have loved the most.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Several were developed in our test kitchen, but many were submitted by our talented readers over the years.
It’s not only pretty, but it’s a refreshing option to heavy holiday sides.
Carrots, meet your special-occasion makeover.
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs
The not-so-secret ingredient to the best meatballs is grape jelly.
ensure to have a crock of these slow-cooker meatballs ready for hungry guests when they arrivethey’ll go fast.
It pairs well with any side Mama wants to serve.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
Bonusall you have to do is glaze and heat.
Omit the bourbon if you’d likethe vanilla and nutmeg provide all the flavor you need.
Trust useveryone gets excited when they see this dessert.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
She submitted this family recipe with hopes it would spread that same Christmas joy to others.
It would be perfect on a festive table.
Just add a bottle of wine or some homemade preserves to make a stack of these crackers gift-ready.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland
Here, it’s upgraded into a holiday-worthy dish with the addition of seasoned shrimp.
(Break out both the vintage china and Mama’s old apron.)
Retro Rum Punch
Greet your guests with a glass of nostalgic cheer.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
The seasonal fruit makes this the perfect festive sip.
Classic Cornbread Dressing
Southerners know that any classic dressing recipe starts with skillet cornbread.
As far as we’re concerned, it goes with any Christmas main.
Credit: Alison Miksch
And this cranberry rendition tastes great!
The congealed salads of the 1960s deserve some love, and they sure are conversation-starters.
This one is well worth the effort and will make a big impression on your holiday table.
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
Chocolate Trifle
High on style, low on effort.
This chocolate trifle looks decadent and fancy enough for the holiday spread but takes only five store-bought ingredients.
(They never have to know.)
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Is there a world where this doesn’t belong on the list?
It just isn’t a holiday party without a plate of cheese straws.
Butternut Squash Bread Pudding
It’s the holidays, so why not go for a showstopping side?
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Bread pudding gets a seasonal update with the addition of butternut squash.
This recipe is always a favorite among the Southern crowd.
Angel Biscuits
Were they sent from heaven?
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Old-Fashioned Gingerbread
This is what Christmas smells like.
Top with softly-whipped cream, and enjoy this elegantly classic holiday dessert.
Oyster Casserole
You’ll know it when you see that familiar topping of Saltines.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Rum Balls
Rum balls, rum balls, how we love thee.
It’s not a Christmas party in the South without some form of tipsy treat.
Originally from our December 1993 issue, this boozy confection is also a perfect gift.
Credit:Will Dickey, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
We can thank Sue-Sue Harstern of Louisville, Kentucky for this reader recipe submitted over 25 years ago.
Buttermilk Spoon Bread
Can there ever be enough cozy, old-fashioned sides at holiday dinners?
This creamy dish pairs well with green bean casserole and any main dish.
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox
It’s time to bring back this flavor-filled, holiday-spiced classic.
Make everyone happy and bring these classic holiday crinkles to your cookie swap.
How do you know it’s vintage?
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
It uses hard-boiled eggs in the filling.
Chicken Alouette
Before the name scares you, know that Alouette is just cheese.
Gloriously creamy, garlicky, herby spreadable cheese.
Credit: Southern Living
This retro-fancy recipe belongs on your holiday table, because who doesn’t love a pastry-wrapped main dish?
Toasted Oatmeal Cookies
Consider these Christmas cookie jar-approved.
What makes these stand out from basic oatmeal cookies: the toasted oats.
Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole
Enter: the original day-after-a-holiday turkey casserole.
It’s hands-down the tastiest, most family-friendly use of leftover turkey.
So much so, that even after almost 30 years, it’s still our favorite.
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Cherry-Pecan Swirl Bread
Cherries and pecans take center stage in this contemporary update of a cast-iron classic.
The swirl in this anytime bread makes it showstopping enough for company.
Oysters Rockefeller
Because if there’s ever a time to go retro-fancy, it’s at Christmas.
Credit: Hector M Sanchez
Pork Crown Roast
Nothing centers a Christmas table quite as stunningly as a crown pork roast.
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit: Lee Harrelson
Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Anna Hampton
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit: Emily Laurae / Southern Living
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit: Greg DuPree
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Credit: Alison Miksch
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
