77 Best Soul Food Recipes For Black History Month Food & Facts

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Soul food best recipes for Black History Month – Many people associate soul food with Southern comfort food and the South. But soul food goes way beyond Southern cooking. Soul food is a story of African American ingenuity and the legacy of what Black people eat.

What do you eat in Black History Month?

You can enjoy notable recipes like collard greenscornbreadbaked macaroni and cheese, chicken and dressingsweet potato pie, and banana pudding – just to name a few soul foods menu favorites.

These recipes are part of the authentic soul food family. Recipes passed along through generations and a legacy of African Americans. Black folks’ food!

Black History Month Food Facts And Best-Soul Food Recipes

What makes soul food soul food?

What makes a dish authentic soul food?

‘Soul’ is the word used to describe the swag and unique style of African-American cuisine. You know. The flavor. Many people associate soul food with Southern comfort food and the South. But soul food goes way beyond Southern cooking. Soul foods are hearty homecooked meals, which you can point out by dishes with plenty of seasoning and rich flavor. A significant part of African American food culture.

Black Folks Soul Food Recipes Represent Black Culture

What is Black folks’ food?

Black folks’ food is a legacy of how African-Americans make soul food. People have asked me, “Why do you call it Black folks food?”

Because these are Black folks’ recipes. And I’m so proud to share them! I’m deliberate and intentional about giving credit to our community of talented chefs, cooks, and creators. No more apologizing or hiding our Blackness and its beauty.

Black History Month Soul Food Recipes

My mission is to remain standing on the right side of history. Doing my part to honor the ancestors as one of the gatekeepers protecting the legacies of African-American culture. With my hand on the sacred urn of tradition, vowing to protect and preserve Black culture and generations of blessed soul food recipes.

And the fun part of all of this?

Every time you make and share Black folks’ food. You stand with the ancestors, too!

Shaunda Necole & The Soul Food Pot - Black Is Beautiful

“I am using my platform to draw attention to Black excellence.” 

— Toni Tipton-Martin (High On The Hog, Netflix history of soul food)

🎙 Listen to The Soul Food Pod episode: Black History Month Food

Check out the episode recap for Black History Month Food HERE!

 

What’s the difference between Southern food, soul food & Black folks’ food?

Soul food often gets lost in translation and grouped in with Southern food. While most soul food is Southern. Not all Southern food is soul food. That’s why it’s important to distinguish when a recipe or dish is Black folks’ food – made the African-American way.

Black folks’ soul food recipes represent Black culture. A perfect example of soul food is a Black folks’ fried chicken recipeChicken, especially fried chicken, is a food that’s been thrown on the doorsteps of Black people as a way to identify us. 

But, of course, you know, African Americans didn’t invent the chicken, LOL! We just perfected seasoning it! There’s no denying that chicken with a balance of seasoned tender meat on the inside and flavorful skin on the outside is a soul food specialty.

A legacy of making it this way. Recipes handed down from generation to generation. That’s Black folks’ food.

Black History Month Soul Food Facts
National Museum of African American History and Culture

Ready to take your recipes beyond Southern?

You’re in the right place for the best Black folks’ food and recipes! Start here!

What Do You Eat In Black History Month?

“The entire passion that I have about this is to use food as a tool to elevate the conversation about what it means to be African-American and to cook African American food… It’s a celebration. We’re celebrating our food!”

—Toni Tipton-Martin (High On The Hog, Netflix history of soul food)

77 best Black soul food recipes for Black History Month

What is traditional food for Black people?

These recipes – my best examples of Black folks’ soul food recipes for Black History Month. So plan your next meal with these best Black folks’ food recipes, honoring a legacy of what Black people eat with this Black History Month soul food menu list and recipe guide.

Soul food main dishes

Black Folks Soul Food-Southern Fried Chicken
Black Folks Soul Food Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
What is the secret to good fried chicken?
The answer is a soul food Southern fried chicken recipe that Black folks created and perfected!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken
Black Folks Soul Food Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken
Do air fryers work for soul food Southern fried chicken?
Yes, and you won't believe how good and crispy chicken is when it's air fryer Southern fried chicken! A soul food Southern fried chicken recipe is a unique, flavorful dish that Black folks created and perfected – and here's how to cook it in an air fryer!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe
Black Folks Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe
Tender, juicy, fried chicken with flavorful, crispy, crunchy skin is a Black folks' buttermilk fried chicken recipe. A soul food recipe for buttermilk marinated chicken.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Fried Chicken And Waffles Recipe
Black Folks Southern Fried Chicken And Waffles Recipe
Southern fried chicken and waffles recipe is the perfect pair for a delicious and soulful breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner! 
This recipe includes a beautiful marriage of juicy and tender Southern fried chicken and fluffy, buttery waffles with a delicious twist of sweet and spicy syrup for a delicate kiss of sweet heat. 
Check out this recipe!
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Soul Food Southern Fried Chicken Drumsticks In The Air Fryer Without Flour
Air fryers cook crispy air fryer Southern fried chicken without any mess, oil splatter, or flour. In only 20 minutes, cook something new without putting in too much work! 
Here's how you can make crispy air fryer fried chicken drumsticks with a soul food Southern fried chicken seasoning!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Smothered Chicken
Black Folks Soul Food Southern Smothered Chicken
What makes a delicious soul food smothered chicken recipe?
Tender, juicy chicken seasoned with soul food spices and smothered in a flavorful, creamy gravy medley. That's Southern comfort food at its finest!
Check out this recipe!
Kamala Harris Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
Got a divided country to unite?
Then you need Madam VP's recipe to get dinner on the table in a flash!
Meal prep for your family Madam VP's sunshine state-inspired dish quick and easy with Instant Pot!
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Cornish Hens
Soul Food Cornish Hens
This soul food Cornish hens recipe is made the way Black folks season and prepare chicken, so it's moist, juicy, and full of flavor!
The only thing these little birds lack is less fat and fewer calories compared to chicken!
Check out this recipe!
Steve Harvey Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
Steve Harvey Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
Steve Harvey shares his easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe, perfect for slathering your favorite Memorial Day meats. 
And bonus—you'll likely have enough leftover sauce to bottle and share or refrigerate for later!
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food BBQ Chicken Recipe
Southern Baked BBQ Chicken
No, you don't have to go to a restaurant when you crave Southern BBQ.
Thanks to this easy Southern soul food BBQ chicken recipe, you can bring the same deliciousness of savory BBQ flavors home to your kitchen. 
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food BBQ Ribs Recipe Card
Soul Food BBQ Ribs 
Soul food BBQ ribs are a perfect crowd pleaser and an all-time favorite main dish for potlucks, tailgates, game days, or a Black BBQ cookout menu. 
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Pulled BBQ Chicken
Black Folks Southern Pulled BBQ Chicken
A Black folks’ Southern pulled BBQ chicken recipe is the epitome of finger-lickin’ good!
This is the ultimate in no-fail BBQ chicken recipes, whether you’re making this dish from scratch or with leftover BBQ chicken. 
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food Homemade Burger Recipe
Southern Soul Food Homemade Burger Recipe
What makes a Southern soul food burger?
A Southern soul food homemade burger is made with savory bell pepper & sweet onion for a thick, juicy, tender, well-seasoned ground beef patty.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Turkey Recipe
Southern Turkey Recipe The Soul Food Way
Crispy skin and moist, juicy, flavorful meat – that's what embodies a Black folks Southern turkey recipe!
An exceptional addition for your soul food Thanksgiving menu.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Instant Pot Smoked Turkey Legs
Black Folks Instant Pot Smoked Turkey Legs
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!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Black Folks Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Soul food goes beyond Southern. It's rich with flavor and plenty of seasoning! Southern chicken spaghetti is a wonderful example of a Southern soul food dish!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Chicken Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce
Black Folks Soul Food Chicken Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce
Succulent shredded chicken and spaghetti noodles are prepared in a delicious broth seasoned with onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper, making flavorful a meal you’ll love.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Chicken Yock Recipe Yock A Mein
Black Folks Soul Food Chicken Yock Recipe (Yock-A-Mein)
Chicken yock is a big bowl of comfort. In a warm, flavorful broth, soul food and Chinese food combine for tender chicken and noodles. This dish is also known as Old Sober, yak, yok, yock-a-mein (yaka mein), or simply Chinese yock.
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Shrimp Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing
Soul Food Shrimp Spaghetti Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
This soul food pasta salad recipe is a beautiful summertime classic made with a zesty sauce, irresistible steamed shrimp, and delicious seasoning.
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food Meatloaf Recipe
Black Folks Southern Soul Food Meatloaf Recipe
A Black folks' Southern soul food meatloaf recipe is on the shortlist of official comfort foods of the South. A flavorful all-time favorite & classic meatloaf recipe!
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food Corned Beef And Cabbage
Southern Soul Food Corned Beef And Cabbage
Southern soul food corned beef and cabbage is pressure-cooked & enriched with intense flavor. Tender seasoned meat with buttery rich cabbage is a Southern comfort food favorite!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Pineapple Glazed Ham
Black Folks Pineapple Glazed Ham
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!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Lamb Chops
Black Folks Soul Food Lamb Chops
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!
Check out this recipe!
Jamaican Oxtail Recipe
Instant Pot Jamaican Oxtail Recipe
Instant Pot Jamaican oxtail recipe saves 4 hours with this easy pressure cooker method.
Cook your oxtail in half the time without compromise to the authentic Jamaican mouth-watering flavors!
Check out this recipe!
Instant Pot Shrimp Boil
Instant Pot Southern Soul Food Low Country Shrimp Boil
African-Americans have been hosting gatherings with soul food low country shrimp boils for years. Often called a Southern shrimp boil Big Easy!
I love low country boils because they have all my favorite flavors – spicy sausage, tender shrimp, and sweet corn. 
Check out this recipe!
What Is Black Folks Southern Shrimp And Grits?
Black Folks Southern Shrimp And Grits Recipe
The secret ingredient to Black folks shrimp and grits is the Southern Creole sauce!
Typical to soul food and Black folks cooking, the seasonings make each recipe like none other. 
It's all about the spices and the special sauce.
Check out this recipe!
Easy Gumbo Recipe
Easy Gumbo Recipe
Nothing's more Louisiana than gumbo! A classic Southern dish and culinary staple in The Big Easy.
This easy gumbo recipe is Cajun cooking combined with Creole seasoning & spicy Thai flavors – served over rice and pressure cooker ready in only 15 minutes!
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
Black Folks Southern Soul Food Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
Southern comfort meets home-style goodness in this remarkable Black folks' soul food chicken pot pie recipe that'll make your taste buds sing!
Check out this recipe!

Soul food appetizers

Black Folks Soul Food Southern Deviled Eggs Recipe
Black Folks Soul Food Southern Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs start as hard-boiled egg yolks mashed. Then they're seasoned to perfection and stuffed into the egg whites for a delicious and flavorful appetizer! 
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Chicken Salad Recipe
Black Folks Southern Chicken Salad Recipe
Are you in the mood for a delicious chicken salad recipe? 
A traditional Southern chicken salad made by Black folks is more than just mayo and chicken chunks. It's bursting with flavor and the perfect balance of savory, crunch, and sweet.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Pork Jowl In The Air Fryer
Black Folks Pork Jowl Bacon In The Air Fryer
Pork jowl or hog jowl is a Black Folks soul food staple served on New Year's Day with black-eyed peas, cornbread & collard greens.
This recipe is a contemporary soul food recipe for pork jowl. A new twist on an old classic, cooked quicker, easier, and still to perfection in the air fryer!
Check out this recipe!

Soul food sides

Soul Food Southern Black Eyed Peas
Southern Black Eyed Peas
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!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Hoppin John Recipe
Black Folks Soul Food Hoppin John Recipe
Black folks' Hoppin John is black-eyed peas, collard greens, and rice with Southern soul food flavors. An African American New Year's tradition and comfort food recipe.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Red Beans And Rice
Black Folks Soul Food Red Beans And Rice
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!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Soul Food Baked Beans
Southern Soul Food Baked Beans Recipe
This recipe is a fresh take on a classic Southern dish with an added twist of soul food seasonings and flavors. After soaking and boiling the dry beans, the diced vegetables lay the groundwork. Then, the combination of brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, barbecue sauce, and soul food seasonings truly transforms the dish!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Potato Salad Recipe
Black People Southern Potato Salad
Black folks Southern potato salad recipe is a must-have for any African American cookout, family reunion, picnic, or potluck! It’s a creamy yet tangy dressing balanced by soul food seasonings and flavors. It's also called Black cookout potato salad! 
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Macaroni Salad
Black Folks Soul Food Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is an essential part of Black culinary traditions. The choice of ingredients respects tradition while a handful of soulful seasonings and spices enhance the flavor.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Southern Coleslaw Recipe
Black Folks Soul Food Southern Coleslaw Recipe
How do Black people make coleslaw?
With lots of flavor!
Black folks’ soul food Southern coleslaw is a classic recipe perfect for pairing with smokey BBQ meats and a great accompaniment with a pulled pork sandwich. 
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food Tomato Watermelon Salad
Southern Soul Food Tomato Watermelon Salad
Add to the menu a tangy and sweet Southern soul food tomato watermelon salad for your next outdoor BBQ party!
Summertime is all about the refreshing flavors of juicy watermelon and tangy tomatoes. 
This recipe for tomato watermelon salad with feta cheese, pickled onions, pickled peppers, and zesty cilantro is a classy Southern dish, perfect for any occasion!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Baked Mac And Cheese
Black Folks Soul Food Baked Macaroni And Cheese
Soul food baked mac and cheese is made with a rich and creamy homemade cheese sauce and delicious soulful seasonings and spices. It's Southern comfort food the way Black folks make it!
Check out this recipe!
Southern Lobster Mac And Cheese
Southern Lobster Mac And Cheese
Even with the addition of decadent lobster meat, there's no compromise to the traditional Southern soul food flavors in this meal. In other words, this is still baked macaroni and cheese made the Black folks' way!
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Southern Mac And Cheese
Soul Food Southern Mac And Cheese
African American grandmas and moms have been producing great pots of soul food Southern mac and cheese for years!
It just might've gotten lost how impactful this recipe is to the Black community.
Check out this recipe!
Southern Creamed Corn Recipe
Creamed Corn Recipe In The Instant Pot
This homemade creamed corn recipe is sure to be the hit of your next get-together. 
What’s the best thing about this recipe other than the Southern soul food flavors?
The taste is fresh and vibrant because it’s made easily from scratch!
Check out this recipe!
Instant Pot Carrots
Black Folks Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Love easy Instant Pot recipes? 
And who doesn’t love a soul food seasoned side dish?
Now you can have Black folks brown sugar-glazed carrots in less than five minutes with Instant Pot!
Check out this recipe!
Southern Green Beans
Black Folks Southern Green Beans In The Instant Pot
Black folks, Southern green beans are not just another bland green vegetable!
And with Instant Pot, they're ready in only 2 mins with no compromise to the irresistible Southern soul food flavors!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Collard Greens Recipe
Black Folks Soul Food Collard Greens Recipe
What is a soul food collard greens recipe?
A Black folks collard greens recipe is the quintessential dish of any Southern soul food dinner.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Cabbage Recipe
Southern Cabbage Recipe The Soul Food Way
A Black folks' Southern cabbage recipe is a delicious way to enjoy one of the South's favorite side dishes that's warm and sweet with savory soul food flavors!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Cornbread Dressing Recipe
Black Folks Cornbread Dressing Recipe
Black folks cornbread dressing recipe is a Southern dish you shouldn’t miss on the soul food Thanksgiving menu. It's easy for anyone to make!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Chicken And Dressing
Black Folks Chicken And Dressing
Thanksgiving means Southern soul food, made by our grandmamas, mamas, and favorite aunties. A meal we’ve waited all year to eat!
One Southern dish that you shouldn’t miss this Thanksgiving is Black folks chicken and dressing. 
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Oyster Dressing Recipe
Black Folks Southern Oyster Dressing Recipe
This classic deep South dressing is made with homemade cornbread, herbs, vegetables, and fresh or canned chopped oysters. It has everything a seafood lover looks for, plus the savory soul food seasoning you come to expect from a Black folks dressing recipe.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Creamed Corn Pudding Casserole
Black Folks Creamed Corn Pudding Casserole
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.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Candied Yams
Stovetop Candied Yams Soul Food Recipe
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.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Black Folks Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Who has the best mashed potatoes? This Black folks creamy mashed potatoes recipe is the best I've ever had & my family's favorite too!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Baked Apple Slices
Black Folks Baked Apple Slices
What makes this a soul food specialty? It’s gotta be the spices! 
Cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla combine with fresh apples to make Black folks baked apple slices.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Black Folks Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Black folks fresh cranberry sauce is the soul food version of classic cranberry sauce because Southern Black folks always spice things up!
Check out this recipe!

Soul food desserts

Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie Recipe™
A Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is a delightful Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert packed with flavorful seasonings and spices in the tradition of Black folks’ soul food cooking. 
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Purple Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Black Folks Purple Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
New twist on an old classic: Introducing Black folks purple sweet potato pie recipe!
Same but new – incredible soul food flavors with a regal purple hue!
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Apple Pie Recipe
Soul Food Southern Apple Pie Recipe
What makes this apple pie a Southern soul food specialty?
The flavor! This soul food apple pie recipe features fresh apples sweetened with brown sugar and spiced with a blend of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Seasoned to perfection, the apples are roasted and then baked in the pie to leave you reminiscing on the best Southern dinners!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Pecan Pie Recipe
Black Folks Southern Pecan Pie Recipe
Black folks' Southern pecan pie recipe is an old-fashioned African American soul food classic that yields an abundance of sweet flavor with each bite.
Brown sugar is combined with a syrupy pecan filling, caramelized, and then baked.
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Almond Flour Pie Crust
Soul Food Almond Flour Pie Crust
What’s the story of soul food and almond flour pie crust?
Almond flour has a Black folks' history and soul food legacy.
Black cooks in the South used to bake with almond flour because they didn't have access to traditional flour. The result was a moister, richer, and softer baked good!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe
Black Folks Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe
This soul food dessert and the darling favorite of the South is loaded with fresh, juicy peaches and topped with a light and airy cinnamon sugar crust. A cobbler so delicious, you may want to eat it all. All by yourself!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Bread Pudding
Black Folks Southern Bread Pudding
Are you looking for an old-fashioned Southern bread pudding or a soul food African American bread pudding recipe?
Then look no further than this Black folks' Southern bread pudding – your easy go-to recipe!
Check out this recipe!
Black Southern Banana Pudding
Black Folks Southern Banana Pudding
How to make banana pudding the Black way
You'll never be able to look at other banana pudding the same way once you've tried this soul food delicious delight – Southern banana pudding prepared the Black way!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Chocolate Southern Banana Pudding
Black Folks Chocolate Southern Banana Pudding Recipe
This chocolate banana pudding recipe is as quick and easy as the original soul food banana pudding recipe.
You simply add an additional layer of chocolate pudding and crunchy buttery Nilla Wafers for pure chocolate bliss!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Tea Cake Recipe
Black Folks Southern Tea Cake Recipe
A Black folks' tea cake recipe is a delightful Southern dessert. These little round cakes are light and airy, sometimes compared to soda bread or pound cake. Like sweet little biscuits, tea cakes are highly valued in the South and are a traditional African American treat dating back to the 1600s.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Soul Food Carrot Cake Recipe
Black Folks Southern Soul Food Carrot Cake Recipe
Soul food carrot cake is a Southern dessert specialty enjoyed by many African-American families as a sweet holiday tradition.
Black folks tend to make a more spiced carrot cake with classic homemade cream cheese frosting. 
Check out this recipe!
Southern Soul Food Pig Pickin Cake
Southern Soul Food Pig Pickin Cake
What is a Southern soul food pig pickin cake? 
It's a homemade, moist yellow cake with whipped pineapple frosting, vanilla pudding, and sweet mandarin oranges baked in. Pig pickin is a cake as unique as its name and the official dessert of Southern pig roasts and pickings!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Southern Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is considered to be soul food of the South!
A Black folks' Southern red velvet cake is a made-from-scratch decadent red sponge cake with homemade cream cheese frosting. A cake that's just sweet enough to be irresistible!
Check out this recipe!

Southern soul food drinks

Black Folks Southern Sweet Tea
Black Folks Southern Sweet Tea
For starters, Southern sweet tea is a delicious blend of refreshingly sweet and tangy flavors. (Mostly sweet flavors when making Southern-style sweet tea the Black folks' way!) But sweet tea is more than just a thirst-quenching beverage. It symbolizes Southern hospitality and good company, enjoyed throughout the deep South.
Check out this recipe!
Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea
Juneteenth Red Drink Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea
What is the official drink of Juneteenth?
Southern hibiscus sweet tea. It's a delicious red drink, and hibiscus flowers are native to West Africa. So, hibiscus tea has been part of Black culture since the beginning!
Check out this recipe!
Juneteenth Watermelon Red Soda Recipe
Juneteenth Red Foods & Drinks | Watermelon Red Soda
Juneteenth's red foods and drinks are not only delicious but also symbolic. Red is one of the primary colors used by African Americans to celebrate Juneteenth Black History, including this easy-to-make watermelon red soda recipe.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Soul Food Homemade Eggnog
Black Folks Soul Food Homemade Eggnog
Creamy and sweet, Black folks' homemade eggnog has a flavor profile that resembles cinnamon, coconut, and rum. Southern comfort spice eggnog and soul food at its finest!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Hennessy & Puerto Rican Eggnog (Hennessy Coquito)
Black Folks Hennessy & Puerto Rican Eggnog (Hennessy Coquito)
A creamy, exotic, and delectable drink awaits you! 
Step up your cocktail game with this beverage that features a creamy texture and a rich flavor profile. Perfect for impressing your guests. Hennessy coquito will add soulful swag to any event or occasion!
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Moscato Sangria Recipe
Black Folks Moscato Sangria
Black folks like sweet recipes, so it's no wonder that we've signed on for this fruity and often sparkly Italian wine. And like we always do, started creating our own Black folks' recipes – like moscato sangria!
#BlackFolksSwag
Check out this recipe!

Soul food cornbread recipes

Black Folks Southern Homemade Cornbread
Black Folks Southern Homemade Cornbread
Black folks homemade cornbread does not use a box mix. Instead, cornmeal is used to make this Southern skillet cornbread recipe from scratch.
Check out this recipe!
Cornbread Recipe With Corn
Southern Cornbread Recipe With Corn
This cornbread recipe with corn is my go-to for a soul food Thanksgiving menu, Christmas dinner, and Sunday Southern dinners all throughout the year!
You’ll never want another dry slice of bread again!
Check out this recipe!
Sweet Cornbread Recipe
Black Folks Southern Sweet Cornbread Recipe
Cornbread is best served the Black folks' way! With Sunday soul food dinners and Thanksgiving staples like fresh cranberry sauce, Southern-style green beans, and homemade stuffing. 
Give your next meal the Southern comfort it deserves with this warm, sweet, and flavorful recipe!
Check out this recipe!
Cranberry Sauce Cornbread Recipe
Cranberry Sauce Cornbread
A sweet soul food cornbread and fresh cranberry sauce treat!
Check out this recipe!

Black folks’ soul food history

Today there is a long, colorful, and flavorful history of Black folks’ food – a soul food history and legacy that continues beyond slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation in the 1860s.

Soul food began as Black folks “making something from nothing” with the leftover scraps we were given. Today, soul food has new meanings and multiple identities within the Black community.

Meals made to stretch for impoverished families are now celebratory food, comfort food, and often times culinary delicacies and expensive cuisine! We now recognize these Black folks’ dishes as soul food!

African American Culture History
National Museum of African American History and Culture – Contemplative Court

What are some Black history food facts?

Check out the recipes below and their interesting stories and facts that help make up the tapestry of Black American food history.

The Soul Food Pod Episode 13: Black History Month Food
The Soul Food Pod Episode 13: Black History Month Food
What do you eat in Black History Month? Enjoy recipes that are part of the authentic soul food family passed along through generations.
Check out this recipe!
What Is Pot Likker?
Southern Soul Food Pot Likker Collard Greens
What is pot likker, and why is it so important?
Pot likker, also known as "pot liquor" or "potlikker," is a term used to describe the liquid left behind after cooking greens. A flavorful and nutrient-rich broth, pot likker is continually celebrated as a symbol of African-American culinary heritage.
Check out this recipe!
African American History Of Macaroni And Cheese
African American History Of Macaroni And Cheese
What is the Black history of macaroni and cheese? Baked mac and cheese is one of the many soul food cuisines turned American favorite dishes.
Check out this recipe!
Sweet Potato Pie Black History
Sweet Potato Pie Black History
A Black folks sweet potato pie recipe tastes like warm family memories & good times. It’s the legacy of sweet potato pie Black history.
Check out this recipe!
African American Banana Pudding History
African American Banana Pudding History | Southern Banana Pudding The Black Way
Banana pudding has an old African American history. Black cooks in the South took a native African fruit (the banana) and reimagined this layered, originally English custard dish to perfection!
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food History
Soul Food History
Soul food history is about African American food derived from Black enslaved people’s take on unwanted or unknown food, scraps, & leftovers.
Check out this recipe!
Juneteenth Food History, Facts & Black Folks Recipes -The Soul Food Pot
Juneteenth Food History, Facts & Black Folks Recipes -The Soul Food Pot
Juneteenth food history, traditions, drinks & desserts for your African American celebration. Recipes inspired by Netflix’s High On The Hog.
Check out this recipe!

FAQs about Black History Month food facts

Why is it called soul food?

In the 1960s, the word “soul” was commonly used to describe African-American culture. The same way young folks identify Black culture today as “swag!” 

Thankfully, the word ‘soul’ organically came first. Or else we’d be eating “swag food” today!

Why Is It Called Soul Food?

Who invented soul food?

What is soul food? The term “soul food” may have first been used in the 1960s during the civil rights movement. 

In 1962, Sylvia Woods opened her iconic soul food restaurant Sylvia’s, in Harlem, NY. Sylvia is known by many people today as “the queen of soul food.” 

What does soul food symbolize?

African American food culture is something First We Feast describes soul food as a term that “brilliantly captures the humanity and heroic effort of African-Americans to overcome centuries of oppression and create a cuisine.” 

“Cooking with love provides food for the soul.”

Black History Month Food Facts - What's Black Excellence Look Like?
Generations of Black people – mother and son

“We nourished a nation through our cooking and baked our traditions in the cuisines that would define America.”

—Stephen Satterfield (High On The Hog, Netflix history of soul food)

Poet and civil rights activist Amiri Baraka calls on Black people to embrace the slang terms introduced by Black people for soul foods

He impresses that keeping the original name will make people easily remember these delicious dishes. Ultimately preserving the history of African-American food as an integral part of America’s history.

Soul Food & Black Cultor For Black History Month
NMAAHC Contemplative Court

“When you understand your history and understand where you come from, that understanding gives you purpose. And the purpose to carry on their (Black ancestors’) story I think is such a huge honor.”

—Jerrelle Guy (High On The Hog, Netflix history of soul food)

Check out the ultimate guide to soul food recipes:

The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide
The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide
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!
Check out this recipe!

Like this post? Pin the below picture to your “Soul Food Recipes” Pinterest Board!

Best Black Folks Soul Food Recipes For Black History Month
Black Folks Southern Baked Mac And Cheese

Best Soul Food Recipes For Black History Month Food & Facts | Black Folks Soul Food Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Why is Southern baked mac and cheese so important to Black History Month?
Baked mac and cheese is just one of the many soul food cuisines turned American dishes. And this yummy dish has a really old history.
Like the original recipe, soul food baked mac and cheese is made with milk for a rich and creamy homemade cheese sauce and yummy Southern spices. Southern comfort food the Black folks' way!
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Soul Food
Servings: 6
Calories: 522kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided – 1 tablespoon & 3 tablespoons
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup Colby-jack cheese shredded
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon mustard dried
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 cups water
  • 4 ¼ cups milk divided – 1 ¼ cups & 3 cups
  • 8 oz. macaroni noodles uncooked

Instructions

  • Turn the Instant Pot on the sauté setting for 25 minutes (although you may not need this entire amount of time).
  • Fill the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot with 3 cups of milk, 3 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of butter.

Pro tip: For baked mac and cheese the Black way, use milk to coat the macaroni and give it a smooth, silky texture. Perfect for layering on cheese!

  • Once the liquid begins to simmer, add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally to make sure the macaroni does not clump & stick.
    Once the liquid begins to simmer, add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally to make sure the macaroni does not clump & stick.
  • Drain the macaroni and set it aside.
  • Add the 3 tablespoons of butter to the empty inner pot and turn it back on the sauté setting.
  • When the butter is melted, add the flour, 1 ¼ cups of milk, and seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried mustard and paprika) and whisk until smooth.
    When the butter is melted, add the flour, milk, and seasonings
  • Change the Instant Pot cook setting from sauté to slow cook for 1-hour (although you will not need this entire amount of time).
  • While the cook setting changes from sauté to slow cook, allow the ingredients to simmer for about 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
  • Stir in the cheeses (reserve some for topping when baking).
    Stir in the cheeses.
  • Close the Instant Pot with the lid and let slow cook for 5-10 minutes until the cheeses are blended.
  • Open the lid to add the cooked pasta and the heavy cream to the inner pot, stirring the mixture to blend evenly.
  • Transfer the pasta mixture into an 8-inch cast iron skillet or baking pan.
    Transfer the pasta mixture into a cast iron skillet or baking pan.
  • Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
  • Bake in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Or bake in the conventional oven for 25 minutes or until mac and cheese is golden and bubbly.
    Bake at 350 degrees F in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
  • Optionally, garnish with a sprinkle of dry thyme or 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    Black Folks Food Baked Mac And Cheese

Video

Notes

Black Folks Soul Food Baked Macaroni And Cheese Recipe Card

Nutrition

Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 541mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1094IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 505mg | Iron: 1mg
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4.67 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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