Recipes

Cory’s Southern Comfort Recipes

by Cory Armstead.
October 07, 2026
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When I want a real comfort-food plate, this is where I start. I pulled together 12 of my Southern favorites—from slow-cooked mains and substantial sides to homemade biscuits and classic desserts—so you can build the whole plate in one place.

Rich & Slow-Cooked Mains

The kind of mains that give you plenty of gravy, crispy edges and something worth building the whole plate around.

1. Slow-Cooker Pork Neckbones

I love this one because neckbones give you that rich, slow-cooked comfort-food plate without trying to turn it into something complicated.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Season the pork neckbones with salt, black pepper, oxtail seasoning and smoked paprika.
  2. Sear the neckbones on both sides over high heat. I give them about 6 minutes in the video.
  3. Transfer to a slow cooker. Add the yellow onion, minced garlic, green and red bell peppers and 2 cups chicken broth.
  4. Add more of the same seasonings, mix, cover and cook on high for 6 hours.
  5. Serve with hot sauce.
My Tip: Neckbones are made for low-and-slow cooking. Give them the full cook time so they get tender and the broth has time to pick up all that flavor.

2. Eight-Hour Turkey Wings with Gravy

This is the kind of meal that does the work while you wait: seasoned turkey, vegetables and a rich cooker gravy ready to spoon over yellow rice.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coat the turkey wings with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, smoked paprika and parsley, along with olive oil and flour. Marinate for 30 minutes.
  2. Place the cream of mushroom soup in the slow cooker and season it with the same seasoning blend.
  3. Add the turkey, yellow onions, red bell peppers, minced garlic and green onions.
  4. Cover and cook for 8 hours.
  5. Serve over yellow rice with the cooker gravy and green onions.
My Tip: Spoon plenty of that cooker gravy over the rice when you serve it. That’s what pulls the whole plate together.

3. Southern Fried Chicken Without Buttermilk

No buttermilk soak here. I season the chicken itself, build that flavor into the coating too, and fry it until the outside is crisp.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Season the chicken wings with salt, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley and ground mustard.
  2. Combine the all-purpose flour and cornstarch with the same seasonings.
  3. Dredge the wings thoroughly in the seasoned coating.
  4. Fry over medium-high heat until crisp and cooked through, about 10 minutes per batch.
My Tip: Seasoning both the chicken and the flour is what keeps the flavor from living only on the crust.

4. Smothered Pork Chops

Browned pork chops, vegetables and a pan gravy are about as comfort-food as it gets. This is the one I want next to mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Season the pork chops with smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper.
  2. Season the flour with the same blend, then dredge the pork chops.
  3. Brown both sides in a lightly greased pan, then remove the chops.
  4. Cook the vegetables in the pan. Sprinkle in flour, then stir in the beef stock and seasonings to build the gravy.
  5. Return the pork chops to the gravy and cook until done.
My Tip: Don’t lose the browned bits in the pan. Let the vegetables and gravy pick up that flavor before the pork chops go back in.

5. Slow-Cooked Beef Short Ribs

These short ribs are the premium comfort-food plate in this collection: deeply seasoned, slow-cooked and made for mashed potatoes and green beans.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Season the beef short ribs with salt, black pepper, oxtail seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder.
  2. Sear both sides over high heat. I give them about 5 minutes in the video.
  3. Transfer to a slow cooker. Add the yellow and green onions, 3 cups chicken broth, rosemary, cornstarch and garlic.
  4. Season the liquid with the same blend. Cover and cook for 8 hours.
  5. Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans and hot sauce.
My Tip: This is the recipe to build a full Southern Comfort plate around. Mashed potatoes catch the juices, and the green beans finish it off.

Sides & Homemade Bread

Mac and cheese, green beans, yams, mashed potatoes and biscuits—the part of the plate nobody treats like an afterthought.

6. Baked Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese

This is my three-cheese version with cheddar, mozzarella and Colby Jack baked until the top is browned and the middle is rich and cheesy.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Cook the elbow macaroni in boiling water with salt and olive oil for about 8 minutes, then drain.
  2. Stir in the butter, evaporated milk, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and ground mustard. Taste before adding the eggs.
  3. Mix in the 2 eggs, cheddar, mozzarella and Colby Jack.
  4. Transfer to a baking dish and add more cheese, parsley and paprika on top.
  5. Bake for about 25 minutes, until cooked through and browned.
My Tip: Taste and adjust the seasoned macaroni mixture before the eggs go in. Once the eggs are added, you’re ready to assemble and bake.

7. Slow-Cooker Southern Green Beans

These aren’t plain green beans. Potatoes, sausage, bacon and chicken stock turn them into a substantial side that can hold its own on the plate.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Place the green beans, sautéed onions and minced garlic in the slow cooker.
  2. Add the red potatoes, cooked sausage and bacon.
  3. Stir in the 2 cups chicken stock, cornstarch slurry and butter. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and paprika.
  4. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
My Tip: Because these green beans have potatoes, sausage and bacon, they’re built to be a substantial side—not just something green next to the main.

8. Candied Yams with Marshmallows

Sweet potatoes in a buttery spiced syrup with marshmallows on top—this is the side that brings the sweet part of the Southern comfort plate.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Slice the sweet potatoes and arrange them in a buttered baking dish.
  2. Bring the water, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg and allspice to a boil.
  3. Stir in 1 stick unsalted butter and pour the syrup over the potatoes.
  4. Cover with foil and bake for about 40 minutes.
  5. Add the marshmallows and bake for about 6 minutes more.
My Tip: Add the marshmallows at the end so they have time to melt and brown without disappearing into the syrup during the longer bake.

9. Sour Cream Mashed Red Potatoes

These are the mashed potatoes I want under gravy: red potatoes, melted butter, white pepper and sour cream for a creamy, savory finish.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Peel and cube the 4 large red potatoes.
  2. Boil for about 15 minutes, until fork-tender, then drain.
  3. Mash with 1 stick melted butter, salt, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and parsley.
  4. Add the sour cream and mix until combined.
My Tip: Get the potatoes fully fork-tender before draining. That’s what makes them easier to mash smoothly with the butter and sour cream.

10. Soft Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

Soft homemade biscuits with cold grated butter, cheddar and buttermilk are exactly what a comfort-food plate needs for catching every last bit of gravy.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Work the 6 tablespoons cold grated butter into the 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour.
  2. Mix in the cheddar, parsley and onion powder, then add the 1 cup buttermilk.
  3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and bring it together.
  4. Cut the biscuits and arrange them in a buttered cast-iron skillet.
  5. Bake for about 20 minutes, then brush with melted butter.
My Tip: Keep the grated butter cold while you’re bringing the dough together. That’s part of what gives the biscuits their soft, tender texture.

Something Sweet

Two classic finishes for the kind of meal that deserves dessert.

11. Chessmen Cookie Banana Pudding

Layers of Chessmen cookies, bananas and a creamy pudding mixture make this the kind of dessert you bring out when everybody’s already full but still wants something sweet.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Line a deep dish with Chessmen butter cookies and sliced bananas.
  2. Prepare the vanilla pudding mix with whole milk.
  3. Beat the cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk, then mix in the Cool Whip.
  4. Combine the cream-cheese mixture with the prepared pudding.
  5. Spread over the cookie-and-banana layer. Finish with additional bananas and cookies.
My Tip: Build the bottom layer all the way across before adding the pudding mixture so every scoop gets cookies, banana and filling.

12. Classic Sweet Potato Pie

We’re closing the collection with a classic: sweet potato filling, warm spices, a baked crust and whipped cream when it’s time to serve.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Bake the 3 large sweet potatoes at 400°F for about 1 hour, until tender. Remove the flesh.
  2. Mix with evaporated milk, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract and 5 tablespoons melted butter. Remove fibrous strands.
  3. Taste the filling before adding the 2 eggs, then mix in the eggs.
  4. Pre-bake the pie crust for about 10 minutes, then add the filling.
  5. Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, until set. Cool before slicing and serve with whipped cream.
My Tip: Taste and adjust the sweet potato mixture before the eggs go in. After that, fill the crust and let the oven do the rest.

SHOP THE FULL COLLECTION

Complete Grocery List

Everything you need to shop for the recipes in my Southern Comfort collection, all in one place.

Ingredients:

0.5x
1x
2x
4x
 
For the Slow-Cooker Pork Neckbones
  •   3 lb pork neckbones
  •   salt
  •   black pepper
  •   oxtail seasoning
  •   smoked paprika
  •   yellow onion
  •   garlic (minced)
  •   green bell pepper
  •   red bell pepper
  •   2 cups chicken broth
  •   hot sauce (for serving)
 
For the Eight-Hour Turkey Wings with Gravy
  •   4 large turkey wings
  •   salt
  •   black pepper
  •   garlic powder
  •   onion powder
  •   poultry seasoning
  •   smoked paprika
  •   parsley
  •   olive oil
  •   flour
  •   cream of mushroom soup
  •   yellow onions
  •   red bell peppers
  •   garlic (minced)
 
For the Southern Fried Chicken Without Buttermilk
  •   chicken wings
  •   salt
  •   black pepper
  •   onion powder
  •   paprika
  •   dried parsley
  •   ground mustard
  •   all-purpose flour
  •   cornstarch
  •   frying oil
 
For the Smothered Pork Chops
  •   pork chops
  •   smoked paprika
  •   brown sugar
  •   garlic powder
  •   onion powder
  •   salt
  •   black pepper
  •   flour
  •   oil (for greasing pan)
  •   vegetables
  •   beef stock
 
For the Slow-Cooked Beef Short Ribs
  •   2 packs beef short ribs
  •   salt
  •   black pepper
  •   oxtail seasoning
  •   smoked paprika
  •   garlic powder
  •   onion powder
  •   yellow onions
  •   green onions
  •   3 cups chicken broth
  •   rosemary
  •   cornstarch
  •   garlic
  •   hot sauce (for serving)
 
For the Baked Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese
  •   elbow macaroni
  •   salt
  •   olive oil
  •   1 stick unsalted butter
  •   evaporated milk
  •   black pepper
  •   onion powder
  •   garlic powder
  •   ground mustard
  •   2 eggs
  •   cheddar
  •   mozzarella
  •   Colby Jack
  •   parsley
  •   paprika
 
For the Slow-Cooker Southern Green Beans
  •   greren beans
  •   onions (sauteed)
  •   garlic (minced)
  •   red potatoes (chopped)
  •   sausage (chopped, cooked)
  •   bacon
  •   2 cups chicken stock
  •   cornstarch (for cornstarch slurry)
  •   water (for cornstarch slurry)
  •   butter
  •   garlic powder
  •   onion powder
  •   salt
  •   black pepper
  •   paprika
 
For the Candied Yams with Marshmallows
  •   2 sweet potatoes
  •   butter (for baking dish)
  •   water
  •   granulated sugar
  •   brown sugar
  •   cinnamon
  •   vanilla extract
  •   nutmeg
  •   allspice
  •   1 stick unsalted butter (for syrup)
  •   marshmallows
 
For the Sour Cream Mashed Red Potatoes
  •   4 large red potatoes
  •   1 stick butter (melted)
  •   salt
  •   white pepper
  •   garlic powder
  •   onion powder
  •   parsley
  •   sour cream
 
For the Soft Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits
  •   2 1/2 cups self-rising flour (plus more for work surface)
  •   6 tbsp butter (cold, grated)
  •   cheddar
  •   parsley
  •   onion powder
  •   1 cup buttermilk
  •   butter (for skillet and finishing)
 
For the Chessmen Cookie Banana Pudding
  •   Chessmen butter cookies
  •   bananas (sliced)
  •   vanilla pudding mix
  •   whole milk
  •   1 block cream cheese
  •   sweetened condensed milk
  •   Cool Whip
 
For the Classic Sweet Potato Pie
  •   3 large sweet potatoes
  •   evaporated milk
  •   1 cup granulated sugar
  •   1/2 cup brown sugar
  •   cinnamon
  •   nutmeg
  •   ground ginger
  •   ground cloves
  •   2 tbsp vanilla extract
  •   5 tbsp butter (melted)
  •   2 eggs
  •   pie crust
  •   whipped cream
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Ingredients are subject to availability at local stores. Unavailable items will be automatically substituted at best-effort.

LET’S PLATE IT UP

Build the Whole Comfort-Food Plate.

Save this collection for the next time you want the kind of meal that starts with a rich main, needs a couple of real sides and absolutely leaves room for dessert.

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