Best soul food recipes – I’m Shaunda Necole, a soul food blogger and East coast Southern girl with a super sunny West coast heart!
I share a legacy of African-American recipes (Black people food). Soul food full of flavor and now Instant Pot easy enough for anyone to make and everyone to love!
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Tender, juicy meats, flavorful gravies and sauces, and vegetables seasoned so deliciously that you forget they’re good for you! That’s soul food – a legacy of Southern cooking the Black way.
What is the meaning of soul food?
‘Soul’ is the word used to describe the swag and unique style of African-American cuisine. You know. The flavor.
So any time someone asks the question, “What exactly is soul food?”
Chicken and waffles is a soulful dish that captures the essence of Southern cuisine and is deeply rooted in Black culture. It serves as a prime example of elevated soul food. I'm bringing this comforting meal into your home, adding my unique twist of syrupy-sweet heat to a dish traditionally found on the menus of popular soul food restaurants!
This is the Black folks’ shrimp and grits recipe you’ve been looking for! It’s a creamy, saucy seafood goodness dish, featuring a rich and flavorful Creole sauce generously drizzled over a warm bed of the fluffiest grits, complemented by succulent, jumbo garlic-butter seasoned shrimp to keep things interesting.
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!
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.
Southern tomato watermelon salad is a flavor dance of sweet and salty, tangy and cool, crisp and juicy! It's picnic-perfect. It’s porch-approved. And it tastes like summer dressed up for a Sunday dinner.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
In this guide, I'll demystify the secrets to cooking delicious Southern fried chicken in the air fryer. I'll also show you how to confidently recreate the same crispy and flavorful skillet-fried chicken you love, all while enjoying the modern ease and efficiency of an air fryer!
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.
The Instant Pot can be your secret weapon for making authentic soul food Southern fried chicken, saving you hours in the kitchen! An electric pressure cooker significantly reduces cooking time compared to traditional methods, like marinating the chicken in buttermilk, eliminating the need to soak overnight.
Homemade soul food Southern fried chicken seasoning is a unique soul food specialty blend!Use the recipe ingredients and step-by-step instructions for cooking the most flavorful and delicious fried chicken from scratch!
You don't have to go to a restaurant when you crave Southern BBQ. With my easy soul food recipe for Southern baked BBQ chicken, you can enjoy the same delicious savory BBQ flavors right in your own home!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
Making Southern chicken and dumplings the Black folks' way involves a flavorful chicken broth with seasoned chicken, plump biscuit dumplings, and just the right amount of savory, tender vegetables. It's another epic display of soulful Southern comfort food at its finest!
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.
How to steam soul food lobster tails:Whipping together a Cajun garlic butter sauce & steaming soul food lobster tail in the Instant Pot is as easy as 1 minute! You may find yourself rereading the instructions thinking it can't be that easy!
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!
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!
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!
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.
My family's Southern coleslaw recipe stands out due to the unique blend of creamy and vinegar-based ingredients in the dressing. Soulful seasonings like dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper honor the soul food tradition, transforming a simple cabbage salad into a flavorful expression of cultural cuisine!
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!
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 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.
Savor the sweetness and nutrition of glazed carrots for busy weeknight dinners or as a standout holiday side dish. The ease and efficiency of using the Instant Pot shine through, without compromising the distinctive, soulful, sweet, and savory flavors of this traditional Southern recipe.
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!
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!
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!
My Black folks' Southern cabbage recipe is the essence of soul food with simple ingredients that create a warm, delicious, sweet, and savory flavorful masterpiece!
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!
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.
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.
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!
This isn't just another cornbread recipe. It's a reinvention of a classic Southern dish. With the unique additions of creamed corn, butter, and cream cheese, the humble cornbread transforms into a show-stopping masterpiece!
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!
A Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is a delightful Southern holiday dessert, especially popular during Thanksgiving and Christmas. This African American favorite is filled with flavorful seasonings and spices, honoring the tradition of soul food cooking.
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!
Similar to my original Black Folks' Sweet Potato Pie™, this Southern sweet potato pie recipe uses fresh sweet potatoes and soul food spices and seasonings. But for this recipe, it's the Southern charm added to the pie after it bakes, a thin layer of homemade cream cheese frosting is spread on top to savor the sweet taste of Southern hospitality!
How to make banana pudding the Black wayThis ultimate Black folks' Southern banana pudding recipe reflects the legacy of soul food flavors. Once you've tasted this delightful dessert classic, you'll never look at other banana puddings the same!
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!
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!
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!
Southern red velvet cake is a slice of pure indulgence! Smooth, rich, and unforgettable. Imagine sinking your fork into a soft, velvety crumb that’s moist and tender, with the slightest hint of cocoa teasing your taste buds.
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!
Soul food carrot cake is aSouthern dessert specialty enjoyed by many African-American families as a sweet holiday tradition. Black folks tend to make a morespiced carrot cake with classic homemade cream cheese frosting.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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!
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!
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.
What is a pie crust cookie?Imagine this. The perfect sweet, flaky crust, bite-size piece of pie with your favorite seasoning (cinnamon, nutmeg) or simply sugar sprinkled over the top…You just imagined pie crust cookies!
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!
My Black folks' Southern cabbage recipe is the essence of soul food with simple ingredients that create a warm, delicious, sweet, and savory flavorful masterpiece!
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!
What is traditional food for Black people? These recipes! My best examples of Black people food & recipes easy enough for anyone to make & everyone to love!
A Black cookout food menu is full of tried-and-true soul food recipes- Black potato salad, BBQ, ribs, soul food burgers, banana pudding, pig pickin cake, & more!
What is a soul food collard greens recipe? A Black folks collard greens recipe is the quintessential dish of any Southern soul food dinner and the heart of Southern soul food recipes.
1turkey legpre-cooked/smoked (this ingredient is optional)
1cupyellow oniondiced
2cupstomatoesdiced
4cupschicken stockuse vegetable stock to make vegan and vegetarian-friendly
1tablespoonapple cider vinegar
3tablespoonsWorcestershire sauce
2tablespoonshoney
1tablespoonhot sauceor sriracha sauce
2clovesgarlicminced
½teaspoonOld Bay seasoning or Cajun or Creole seasoning
1teaspoonred pepper flakes
1tablespoonsalt
1teaspoonblack pepper
Instructions
Clean the collard greens and cut off the stems.
Then roughly chop the leaves in half through the midline and then into bite-sized pieces.
Open the Instant Pot lid and add the wet ingredients (chicken stock, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and hot sauce to the stainless-steel inner pot.
Next, add the onion, tomatoes, garlic, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and stir to combine the ingredients.
Finally, add the collard greens, followed by the cooked turkey leg.
Press down to sink the greens as much as you can into the liquid broth.
Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.
When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 15 minutes.
To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
Serve Black folks’ soul food collard greens right away and enjoy!