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    Home » Recipes » Recipe Collections

    21 Old Fashioned Southern Potluck Dishes for the Fourth of July

    Published: Jul 1, 2024 · Updated: Jul 11, 2024 Author: Sharon Rigsby

    Four Southern potluck dishes, including fried chicken, potato salad, and seven-layer salad.

    Get ready to impress at your 4th of July bash with over 21 irresistible old-fashioned Southern potluck dishes that have stood the test of time! No more guessing what to bring – I’ve got you covered.

    Four potluck dishes including potato salad and fried chicken.

    From mouthwatering salads to soul-soothing comfort foods and heavenly desserts, this collection guarantees a standing ovation from the crowd. And here’s the best part: all these recipes are travel-friendly and can be made in advance, ensuring you’ll arrive stress-free and ready to wow.

    1
    A white bowl full of creamy potato salad topped with paprika.
    Easy Southern Potato Salad Recipe
    A classic Southern Potato Salad, just like Grandma used to make; this easy old-fashioned side-dish is creamy, tangy deliciousness. And, it's full of crunchy dill pickles, yellow mustard, mayonnaise, and must-have hard-boiled eggs!
    Check out this recipe
    2
    Fresh strawberry pie topped with whipped cream on a white plate.
    Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie Recipe with Jello
    A blast from the past, no-bake Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pie with Jello and a graham cracker crust is bursting with fresh flavors. The fool-proof pie filling is full of ripe, lush, sun-kissed strawberries immersed in a delectable strawberry glaze made with strawberry jello.
     
    Check out this recipe
    3
    Four pieces of fried chicken on a plate.
    Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
    Southern Fried Chicken is a true Southern classic with its delightfully golden and perfectly crispy crust and tender, juicy meat. Marinated in buttermilk and cooked to perfection, the first bite is nothing less than a flavor explosion in your mouth. 
    Check out this recipe
    4
    A slice of old-fashioned sour cream pound cake topped with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
    Minnie Lee Croley’s Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe
    Minnie Lee Croley’s Southern Sour Cream Pound Cake is an easy to make from scratch, delicious, old-fashioned moist pound cake with a thick, crunchy crust.
    Check out this recipe
    5
    Grape salad topped with pecans and brown sugar in a white bowl.
    Southern Grape Salad Recipe with Pecans
    Easy, Southern Grape Salad is full of plump, juicy grapes, covered in a tangy dressing made with cream cheese, and sour cream and topped with crunchy roasted pecans and brown sugar.
    Check out this recipe
    6
    Southern Deviled Eggs garnished with paprika in a long deviled egg holder.
    Easy Classic Southern Deviled Eggs Recipe (Delicious)
    Deviled eggs are always a popular side dish at potlucks, BBQs, baby showers, picnics, and neighborhood cookouts. They are as versatile as they are delicious and can also be served as an appetizer or a snack for brunch, lunch, dinner, and even breakfast.
    Check out this recipe
    7
    A piece of Southern Pecan Praline Cake with Pecan and Praline topping being drizzled over it
    Southern Pecan Praline Cake Recipe
    Southern Pecan Praline Cake is about as southern as you can get and if you like pecans and pralines you will love this easy to make, decadent and delicious dessert.
    Check out this recipe
    8
    Spicy Corn Casserole in a cast-iron-skillet.
    Spicy Corn Casserole Recipe
    Spicy Corn Casserole is a fiesta for the senses. A true crowd favorite, this popular side dish features luscious sweet corn, spicy green chilies and jalapeños, smoky bacon, and a tangy, decadent cream cheese filling that brings it all together.
    Check out this recipe
    9
    A large bowl of American Coleslaw containing shredded green cabbage and carrots.
    Old Fashioned American Coleslaw Recipe (Creamy)
    This American classic southern-style coleslaw has it all: fresh, crunchy green cabbage, shredded carrots, and a homemade coleslaw dressing with mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar.
    Check out this recipe
    10
    A bowl of peach cobbler topped with ice cream.
    Easy Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe
    Easy Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler is a simple cobbler recipe, baked in a cast-iron skillet, featuring fresh, frozen, or canned, sweet, juicy peaches and a perfect homemade crust. One bite of this luscious, made from scratch cobbler, and you will understand the true meaning of comfort food.
    Check out this recipe
    11
    A blue and white bowl full of watermelon feta salad.
    Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Blueberries
    Every bite of this make-ahead, cold and refreshing Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Blueberries tastes like a beach party in your mouth! It features a winning combination of sweet ripe watermelon, tangy feta cheese, juicy blueberries, fresh basil, and an optional tangy homemade vinaigrette dressing.
    Check out this recipe
    12
    A stack of Charleston Chewies, dessert bars on a white plate.
    Best Charleston Chewies Recipe with Brown Butter Recipe
    If the words brown butter, brown sugar, pecans, decadently rich, and chewy send you into sensory overload, this easy recipe for Charleston Chewies, also known as Pecan Chews, is the answer to your dessert prayers.
    Check out this recipe
    13
    Smoked Baked Beans in a cast-iron skillet.
    Best Smoked Baked Beans Recipe
    A quintessential BBQ side dish, Smoked Baked Beans made with brown sugar and bacon are smoked low and slow in a cast-iron skillet on the grill for a rich smoky flavor. Absolutely delicious and supremely easy to prepare, this foolproof recipe always gets rave reviews.
    Check out this recipe
    14
    A icebox cake decorated to look like the American flag.
    Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake Recipe
    How better to celebrate the 4th of July than with my old-fashioned Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake! This easy layered 4th of July dessert is filled with heavenly whipped cream, graham crackers, fresh sweet strawberries, and delightfully juicy blueberries.
    Check out this recipe
    15
    Classic Southern Seven-Layer Salad in a trifle dish
    Classic Southern Seven Layer Salad
    When you’re planning the perfect make-ahead dish for your spring and summer picnics or holiday gatherings, look no further than Classic Southern Seven-Layer Salad. This traditional seven-layer salad is as versatile as it is delicious, and always receives rave reviews!
    Check out this recipe
    16
    A spoonful of Southern Mac and Cheese over the casserole.
    Best Southern Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe with Ritz Crackers
    Southern Mac and Cheese is synonymous with Southern entertaining, and this easy-to-make recipe is the ultimate in comfort food.
    Check out this recipe
    17
    Southern Broccoli Salad in a white metal bowl with a blue rim.
    Southern Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon & Craisins
    Easy Southern Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Craisins is a healthy, make-ahead, delicious, cold vegetable salad. In addition to the broccoli and Craisins, it's loaded with pecans, cheese, tomatoes, and bacon!
    Check out this recipe
    18
    Baked Ham topped with pineapple rings and cherries.
    Easy Baked Ham Recipe with Pineapple and Cherries
    Nothing says Christmas or Easter like an old-fashioned Southern Baked Ham with Pineapple and Cherries. Scored and studded with cloves and slathered in a decadent sticky-sweet, brown sugar glaze with a touch of bourbon, this dish is a holiday classic.
    Check out this recipe
    19
    Pineapple cheese casserole topped with crushed Ritz crackers in a white baking dish.
    Baked Pineapple Cheese Casserole Recipe
    A quintessential holiday side dish in the South, Baked Pineapple Cheese Casserole is the epitome of a quick and easy, dump and bake recipe!
    Check out this recipe
    20
    Sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and onion in a white bowl.
    Old Fashioned Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Onions in Vinegar
    Old Fashioned Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Onions in Vinegar features a lovely combination of fresh flavors with crisp, cool cucumbers, sweet, ripe tomatoes, and just a touch of zesty red onions. These vegetables are marinated in a simple but tasty, sweet and tangy, salad dressing made with apple cider vinegar.
    Check out this recipe
    21
    A dollop of whipped cream on a piece of Georgia Cornbread Cake.
    Georgia Cornbread Cake Recipe
    Georgia Cornbread Cake is a funny name for this simple, quirky, old-fashioned cake which is much more like a pecan cake or pecan coffee cake. Contrary to its name, Georgia Cornbread Cake doesn’t contain any cornmeal, and I don’t think it tastes or even looks like cornbread. 
    Check out this recipe

    Serve up some Southern love straight from the heart!

    More Southern recipes:

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      Best Southern Fried Corn with Bacon Recipe
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      Easy Southern Black-Eyed Peas Recipe (Stovetop)
    • Cajun shrimp and grits in a white bowl garnished with chopped parsley.
      Best Cajun Shrimp and Grits Recipe (Creamy & Cheesy)

    Thank you for visiting Grits and Pinecones; I hope you come back soon!

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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