When preparing for a church homecoming, potluck, or post-service spread, Southerners pull from a collection of church recipes we deem our Sunday Best. Through the generations, we've archived these classic recipes in church and community cookbooks, keeping them poised and at the ready, should Sunday morning mayhem ensue. Known by many names, these church luncheon recipes fill every church basement and fellowship hall throughout the South.
This compilation is full of delightful dips and fan-favorite casseroles. From the classic cold salads to our best-ever cakes, these church food recipes are definitely worth praising. And praise we shall.
When you can't decide to bring breakfast or dessert, this is the perfect recipe. You can taste the subtle apple flavor and warm spice notes in every slice.
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The name says it all. This classic potato salad was practically made to be a church potluck staple.
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Consider this the ultimate church potluck all-star. Add some mashed potatoes, collard greens, and biscuits? You're set with a happy congregation.
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Scoops of fluffs and salads that are part fruit and part pudding are essentially required at church potlucks.
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Most church potlucks are territory of rolls, but we think a pan of cracklin' cornbread will be a delight to many. Even better? Bring with a pot of vegetable soup.
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Instead of sweet potato casseroles, make these sweet potato rounds in a rich and sweet sauce with crunchy pecans and herbs.
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Highly impressive but fairly easy, Million Dollar Cake is the stuff of church cookbook fame. The combination of rich, pudding-like filling and mandarin oranges and pineapple is a guarantee this will fly off the cake stand.
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Amid all the rich casseroles and fried chicken, a bowl of something fresh and crisp will be greatly appreciated.
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Every Southern gathering needs an array of "salads" like potato, pasta, Jello, and of course, broccoli.
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The church hosts sure love tricking us into eating raw broccoli by serving it up in this creamy pasta salad.
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Not every vegetable has to be in casserole form. Roll out some corn on the cob, and watch every snap them up. Cut each cob in half for buffet-sized servings.
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We know why this lasagna recipe is a potluck staple: It's classic, easy, and quicker than more complicated versions. It's the perfect dish to bring when you almost forgot altogether. (It happens.)
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Dress up classic chicken salad with lemon and tarragon. Chopped pecans, Granny Smith apples, celery, and red onion give amazing crunch.
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We have to serve up salty, cubed ham somehow. It's practically a rule. This savory cobbler uses frozen veggies for ultimate ease.
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The church hall might be the only place some Southerners still see this retro salad. It's made with lettuce, canned pears, mayonnaise, Cheddar cheese, and maraschino cherries.
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This Tex-Mex dish is a familiar face at our parties and potlucks.
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Ah, the brunch spread after an early church service is something delicious to behold. This cheesy casserole is a no-brainer.
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In a sea of chicken casseroles, this old-school spaghetti bake stands out as the star.
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Is it a real church spread without a bowl full of creamy fruit salad? We think not. With a base of canned fruit for convenience and a creamy, whipped "dressing," this recipe is a hidden weapon in any hosts' arsenal.
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Fancy, but also relatable? This is the perfect casserole for a crowd. It's chock-full with chicken, pasta, mushrooms, and Parmesan cheese.
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There are few things that belong together as much as chicken and rice. This crowd-pleasing casserole gets a special crunch from water chestnuts.
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It's hard to beat the light and fluffy cloud of whipped cream that coats this fresh corn salad. Dressed up and dreamy, this dish calls for only four ingredients.
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Meatloaf is one of those comfort foods Southern folks crave in the fall and winter seasons. This might be our most popular rendition ever.
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As far as we're concerned, this classic dish can go wherever it pleases, including the church hall.
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When the church hall needs something hearty, comforting, and warm, this easy casserole is the universal answer. Not to mention, it's a slow-cooker version, which means it'll be even simpler than your usual recipe.
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Tuna noodle casserole is an old-fashioned favorite that still makes a regular appearance on our supper tables. We're not retiring this recipe anytime soon.
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No matter the season, you'll see this classic on the fellowship spread.
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It's not all about the hot dishes. A tray of well-seasoned deviled eggs will disappear quicker than any casserole.
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Fast and fancy, quiche is never a bad idea. Popular first in the 70s, this recipe has always been beloved by Southern Living readers.
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Because we know that the whole congregation will swoon over this creamy, cheesy, cornflake-topped casserole that starts with a bag of frozen potatoes.
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This brunch classic lets simplicity rule. Bread, eggs, cheese, and a creamy filling make it a Southern Sunday staple.
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Because it's the only way mashed potatoes can make it until after the service. These make-ahead potatoes are the perfect side dish.
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This hearty chicken chili comforts those nursing wintertime sniffles. And it lives up to its name, ready in just 30 minutes.
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Southerners have an affinity for King's Hawaiian Rolls, and you'd be hard pressed to find a church gathering that doesn't have a big batch of baked ham rolls on the lineup.
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This quick recipe is a big-batch, portable version of the Southern-favorite tomato sandwich. The secret ingredient that takes the flavors over the top? A bit of our famous Summer Sauce.
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We dare you to find a Southern grandmother who doesn't have a macaroni salad recipe in her repertoire. This one is the perfect make-ahead option that can chill in the fridge the night before church.
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Sure, it's easy to stop by the bakery or grocery store and grab some donuts for the after-church gathering, but trust us when we say that even beginner bakers can make these sweet doughnut hole muffins.
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If there's a Southern sideboard in view, there's a casserole dish brimming with corn pudding on it. This has been our go-to recipe for decades, and it's as reliable as church on Sunday.
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Every Southerner has a recipe for sausage balls lying around, and this quick recipe is always welcome at church gatherings. If you want to mix up the classic, try our new recipe for Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls.
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It wouldn't be a church function without a little jiggly Jello action, y'all. This sweet and salty combination tastes like nostalgia to us.
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Even if you don't have time to start from dried beans, you can get a dish of classic baked beans to the church cookout with this family-favorite recipe.
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Among a sea of casseroles and sweets, a big bowl of fresh fruit is always welcome at church events. Mamas of little ones will thank you.
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The longer this cole slaw sits, the more delicious it becomes, so it's an ideal make-ahead side dish option for the church cookout.
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We've been using this trusty recipe for yeast rolls since 1995, and you can count on it, too.
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This old-fashioned coffee cake recipe is the perfect companion to the after-church coffee and tea.
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This classic salad has been an entertainer's trusty friend for decades. It comes together quickly but always looks pretty.
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This oh-so-comforting (and Southern) blend of creamed corn and grits can be served at any time of day, making it great for gatherings of all kinds.
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Transform your favorite summer dish into a bubbling, hot chicken salad casserole.
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Nostalgic for many, this old-school spread can be made ahead and kept at the ready in the fellowship hall.
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Two Southern cookout essentials meet in this new favorite side dish recipe that will earn five-star reviews from your church crew.