I’ve expressed in countless sweet potato pie recipes that this iconic soul food Southern dessert is a testament to Southern cuisine’s rich, comforting flavors. With its velvety smooth filling and flaky crust, this classic dessert deserves companions that elevate its taste and texture.
Crafting the perfect Thanksgiving feast or an any-day meal means considering every component. It’s not just about the individual dishes but how they come together to create a harmonious dining experience.
What are some traditional pairings for sweet potato pie?
Pie pairings and what to serve with sweet potato pie go beyond mere tradition; they’re an art form! Traditionally, it’s a soul food with seasoned meat, savory sides, and the right beverage. Each pairing choice can either complement the sweet, earthy notes of the pie or offer a delightful contrast. Let me guide you through selecting the perfect flavorful pairings that promise to make your sweet potato pie – whether adorned with homemade toppings or kept plain – the star of any gathering!
What pairs well with sweet potato pie?
During Thanksgiving, a roasted turkey, brimming with aromatic herbs and spices, elevates the sweet, velvety texture of the pie. Likewise, with its smoky sweetness, a pineapple glazed ham complements the pie’s flavors during Christmas.
For a less traditional but equally enticing option, savory soul food staples like Southern fried chicken or a whole roasted chicken are versatile enough to marry with sweet potato for any celebration requiring comforting, hearty fare.
Originating from the kitchens of skilled soul food cooks, an authentic Southern fried chicken recipe is characterized by seasoning both the chicken and the flour, incorporating more than just salt and pepper for flavor. This is what gives Black folks' fried chicken an exceptionally bold taste with every bite!
How to make a whole chicken in the Instant Pot – the Southern way! It's more than just a traditional chicken recipe – flavorful, tender & juicy – it's more of a soul food flavor burst!
Black folks are famous for our sweet ham glaze recipes, especially with pineapple and brown sugar. So you may know this Black folks soul food recipe by other names like pineapple ham, pineapple baked ham, or pineapple and brown sugar ham.No matter what you call it, it's the same beautiful and delicious glazed ham recipe masterpiece!
My Black folks’ Southern turkey recipe is a juicy, flavor-packed holiday classic! Easy to make, soulful to taste, and always the star of the table. It's a soul food twist on Southern turkey, brined in homemade apple cider for bold, juicy flavor you won’t find in the usual roast.
Thanksgiving doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Black folks Instant Pot turkey legs are an easy alternative to a whole turkey. A welcome addition to your Southern soul food Thanksgiving menu!
These succulent turkey wings are smothered in an apple cider brine, flavor-infused, air-fried to crisp perfection, and served with a seasoned soul food side. Your taste buds will gobble-gobble with joy!
Black folks' soul food lamb chops is a rack of lamb seasoned with rosemary and slathered with olive oil to quickly air fryer cook to soul food perfection!
Collard greens are both nutritious and delicious, especially when prepared in the traditional Black folks' way, seasoned to perfection! They've long been a staple in soul food and Southern cuisine, representing more than just a side dish at family gatherings.
Soul food Southern black eyed peas are intensely flavored in a thick sauce with smokey & spicy seasonings. Warm, comforting, & flavorful good luck you can eat for prosperity in the New Year!
Experience the rich taste of soul food by way of a simple yet flavorful staple dish. Black folks' soul food red beans and rice. A dish that will make your mouth water when you smell the aroma of savory seasonings and spices as the red kidney beans soak in the rich flavors of this dish!
A Black folks’ mac and cheese recipe isn't any ol’ mac and cheese recipe. It's baked, never boxed, and always loaded with soulful seasonings. This is that creamy, cheesy, soul-hugging masterpiece that gets baked until it’s bubbling around the edges and golden on top!
Candied yams are an old-fashioned Southern African-American recipe. A sweet potato soul food side dish cooked to perfection in a cinnamon-brown sugar glaze.
This isn’t your average cream-style corn from a can! I’m sharing my family’s Southern creamed corn recipe made faster in the Instant Pot, but still full of that slow-cooked, buttery flavor you remember from Grandma’s table. It’s sweet, savory, and silky-smooth with a touch of soul.
Black folks’ cornbread dressing is rich, flavorful, and never dry, made with homemade cornbread seasoned to perfection. My version stands out by cubing the cornbread for better taste, texture, and a beautiful, non-mushy presentation that’s as good to look at as it is to eat!
This Southern creamed corn casserole has a sweet corn flavor with onion and garlic for a rich, savory, soul food taste. Add sour cream for a creamy melt-in-your-mouth pudding and parmesan cheese for the cornbread crust.
The secret to my Black folks’ creamy mashed potatoes recipe is cooking them the soul food way—rich, creamy, and seasoned far beyond just butter, salt, and pepper. It’s all about layering flavor with creamy texture.
A Black folks' Southern potato salad recipe is flavorful! Bold, creamy, soulful, and packed with flavor in every forkful. It's not just a side dish, but a whole vibe. The kind of dish that makes people smile before they even take a bite, because they already know what time it is!
Soul food cornbread balances crispy edges, a moist interior, and flavorful sweetness. This Southern from-scratch recipe achieves this beautifully by using cornmeal for those ideal edges, heavy whipping cream for a rich and moist texture, and blending sugar, butter, and cream cheese to create the ultimate harmony of savory and sweet!
Choosing the right beverage can elevate the sweet potato pie experience. Non-alcoholic options may include homemade eggnog or a spiced apple cider. Or good old-fashioned Southern sweet tea. Its warming notes harmonize with the pie’s richness.
If we venture into the realm of spirits, a moscato or Hennessy spiced eggnog complements the pie’s sweetness with a robust counterpoint. These selections ensure that your holiday meals or family gatherings are not only filled with tasty traditions but also with thoughtful beverage pairings that enhance every bite of your homemade pie.
Sweet potato pie toppings
While it’s true that the brilliance of sweet potato pie lies in its simplicity. However, a dollop of homemade whipped cream will beautifully complement the pie’s inherent warmth.
And while Black folks don’t traditionally do this – a drizzle of salted caramel sauce adds a luscious contrast to the sweet filling!
What to serve with sweet potato pie for dinner
We’ve journeyed through the delightful world of sweet potato pie, exploring the perfect pairings that marry this cherished African American dessert after the perfect Southern soul food dinner feast.
Holiday meals and family gatherings reveal the pie’s versatile nature, encompassing simplicity and the essence of comfort food with savory main dish companions and soulful side dishes. The list above is some of the best Southern soul food ideas for a sweet potato meal masterpiece.
Make my best sweet potato pie recipe with the best flavor!
My Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is the creamy, cinnamon-kissed, vanilla-scented slice of heritage that shows up at every holiday table and soul food Sunday. Made with love, seasoned with tradition, and baked to perfection, this pie tells a story in every bite!
What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!
