2025 Southern Comfort Christmas Soul Food Recipes

This old-fashioned Southern Baked Ham features a luscious honey and brown sugar glaze, perfectly complemented by sweet pineapple rings and candied cherries. It’s a timeless holiday classic, ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any special family gathering where a tender, flavorful ham is desired.

Experience the bold and irresistible flavors of the Bayou with this Cajun Seafood Gumbo. This classic Louisiana-style stew is rich with succulent shrimp, tender crab meat, and a blend of aromatic herbs. Its velvety roux-based broth is deeply infused with the “Holy Trinity” of vegetables and authentic Cajun spices, delivering immense, satisfying flavor in every spoonful.

Preparing a succulent glazed spiral ham has never been simpler, thanks to the magic of your slow cooker! This effortless method removes all the stress from holiday cooking, consistently delivering a tender, juicy ham bursting with sweet and savory notes. Whether for a grand holiday feast or a special family dinner, this Crockpot glazed spiral ham is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleasing showstopper.

Elevate your dinner experience with this delectable one-pan Steak and Shrimp Surf and Turf recipe! It presents a perfect harmony of juicy steaks, seared to perfection in a sizzling skillet, and succulent jumbo shrimp, all seasoned with a blend of the finest spices. This restaurant-quality dish is surprisingly simple to recreate at home, offering unforgettable flavors that are sure to impress.

This Roast Beef is expertly seasoned with a homemade dry rub, then slowly roasted in the oven until it reaches peak tenderness and juiciness. It serves as an ideal main dish centerpiece for any holiday, Christmas, or special occasion. Our simple, easy-to-follow recipe ensures a foolproof and delicious outcome every single time.

Indulge in the ultimate flavor experience with this Traeger Smoked Ham, generously drizzled in a homemade honey, pineapple, and brown sugar glaze for ultimate flavor. Whether you choose a bone-in or boneless spiral-sliced, cured, and pre-cooked ham, this recipe is perfect for any smoker or pellet grill. It’s a standout dish for Thanksgiving, the holidays, or any special occasion, promising rich, smoky sweetness.

This Blackened Catfish offers a burst of delicious and vibrant flavor! Its signature crispy blackened crust is crafted using a perfect blend of spices including paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano, imparting a smoky and subtly spicy kick to the fish. This easy recipe is your passport to a true taste of Louisiana, perfect for a quick and impressive meal.

Prepare a bold and zesty Cajun Shrimp Boil that’s ideal for festive gatherings or a lively family dinner, ready in just 30 minutes! This vibrant dish features plump shrimp, sweet corn, tender potatoes, and a homemade medley of spicy Cajun seasonings. Follow our quick and easy steps and tips to bring an authentic taste of Louisiana straight to your table, minimizing prep time and maximizing flavor.

These Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells offer the perfect pasta dish for a delightful weeknight dinner or convenient meal prep. Each shell is generously loaded with a sumptuous filling of crab meat, tender shrimp, and rich lobster, all bathed in a decadent cream sauce and topped with gooey, melted cheese for an utterly satisfying experience.

This Oxtail Recipe promises an incredibly tender and juicy experience, achieved by cooking the oxtail low and slow until it effortlessly falls off the bone. The rich meat is seasoned with either aromatic Jamaican spices and rubs or a Southern-style blend with Creole seasoning, then exquisitely drizzled in a homemade, savory gravy that elevates every bite.

Mastering a prime rib roast can seem daunting, but this Garlic Butter Prime Rib recipe simplifies the process, guiding you from selecting the perfect cut to achieving a flawlessly cooked roast with an exquisitely seasoned crust. Whether you opt for bone-in or boneless, this luxurious and flavorful dish will become a celebrated centerpiece, perfect for your holiday table or any grand celebration.

This Cajun Spiced Roasted Turkey is prepared with a savory dry rub brine, ensuring incredibly crispy skin with a delightful spicy kick. Further enhancing its tenderness and moisture, the bird is generously injected with butter and aromatic herbs. The result is a turkey bursting with flavor, making it a spectacular and memorable main course for your holiday feast.

These Easy Southern Smothered Pork Chops are a true soul food staple, featuring perfectly fried chops paired with seasoned, sautéed onions and then generously drizzled in a rich, thick stewed gravy that elevates every bite. This comforting dish is best served with creamy mashed potatoes or your other favorite Southern sides, creating a truly satisfying meal.

This Cajun New Orleans Shrimp and Grits recipe is a symphony of flavors, featuring creamy, perfectly cooked grits, crispy bacon or savory sausage, and a well-seasoned, spicy gravy. As a classic Southern Louisiana dish, it’s incredibly versatile and makes a fantastic meal for breakfast, a hearty brunch, or even a comforting dinner, embodying rich regional culinary traditions.

This Slow Cooker Crockpot BBQ Ribs recipe offers an effortlessly simple way to achieve tender, fall-off-the-bone barbecue with minimal hands-on effort. Your slow cooker works its magic, simmering the ribs low and slow in a mouthwatering BBQ sauce, infusing every bite with savory goodness. Seasoned to perfection with our homemade dry rub, these ribs are ideal for cookouts, busy weeknights, or relaxed weekend meals.

This recipe guides you through creating a timeless and elegant Shrimp Cocktail, where perfectly boiled or poached shrimp take center stage in a classic presentation that never fails to impress. The plump, tender shrimp are exquisitely paired with a zesty, homemade cocktail sauce, creating a refreshing balance of flavors that makes for an ideal appetizer or light starter.

These Oven Baked Crab Legs are a true indulgence, made with Old Bay Seasoning and either sweet snow crab or luxurious king crab legs. Baking them in the oven is remarkably simple, yielding perfectly cooked, easy-to-crack crab in just 25 minutes. Drizzled with rich garlic butter, this dish is an impressive yet effortless seafood feast.

This Smothered Chicken Wings recipe is a beloved Southern and soul food favorite, epitomizing the ultimate comfort food meal. Perfect for Sunday dinners, busy weeknights, or festive holidays, it features tender, juicy wings generously drizzled in a rich, well-seasoned onion gravy. This dish offers a deeply satisfying flavor profile that warms the soul with every bite.

This Easy Smothered Steak recipe transforms sirloin or strip steaks into a comforting masterpiece, generously draped in a homemade onion and green pepper gravy. It’s the quintessential comfort food meal, delivering rich, savory flavors and tender meat that will satisfy any appetite. Simple to prepare, this dish is perfect for a hearty family dinner.

These Oven Baked Scallops are a true culinary delight, crowned with a crispy Parmesan breadcrumbs topping and bathed in a luxurious lemon butter white wine sauce. This restaurant-quality meal is astonishingly quick to prepare, coming together in less than 30 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for an elegant yet expedient dinner.

For those who adore succulent, fall-off-the-bone ribs, this Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs recipe is an absolute must-try. It provides a straightforward and simple method to achieve that coveted BBQ flavor without needing a grill or smoker. The ribs are seasoned with a homemade dry rub and cooked low and slow, ensuring the meat effortlessly glides from the bone for an incredible dining experience.

This Easy Smoked Lobster Tail is cooked to absolute perfection, then lavishly drizzled in a flavorful Old Bay lemon garlic butter sauce. Effortlessly prepare these delectable tails using any smoker or Traeger electric pellet grill, making them an exquisite choice for holidays, special weeknight dinners, or any occasion where you crave a touch of gourmet seafood.

This Gumbo offers the best authentic Creole Cajun recipe, a hearty stew brimming with tender chicken, savory andouille sausage, and a medley of seafood including shrimp and/or crab, plus okra. This wholesome dish is packed with aromatic spices and can be customized to be served mild or wonderfully spicy, making it a versatile and flavorful crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

These Traeger Smoked Ribs are made effortlessly using the renowned 3-2-1 Cook Method, ensuring perfectly tender results every time. Choose your favorite pork ribs – baby back, spare, or any cut you prefer – and season them to perfection with a robust dry rub. This impressive spread can be prepared using any smoker or pellet grill, making it ideal for BBQs, summer cookouts, or any celebratory occasion where delicious ribs are a must.

This old-fashioned Easy Smothered Turkey Wings recipe delivers incredibly tender turkey wings served with a thick, creamy gravy, traditionally enjoyed with a side of rice. As a cherished baked Southern dish, it’s a staple in many families for Sunday dinners and festive soul food holiday meals, offering heartwarming flavors and comforting textures.

This Fish and Grits recipe offers the perfect marriage of savory, flaky fish and creamy, buttery grits, creating a deeply satisfying and comforting dish. This classic pairing is incredibly versatile and frequently served for a hearty breakfast, a leisurely brunch, or even a fulfilling dinner, making it a beloved choice for any time of day.

This Baked Salmon recipe is a gourmet delight, generously stuffed with a rich mixture of real crab meat, creamy cream cheese, and savory grated Parmesan. This restaurant-quality dish is surprisingly simple to prepare, coming together in just 30 minutes. It’s an elegant yet effortless choice that promises exquisite flavors and a luxurious texture for any special meal.

This epic Seafood Boil in a Bag recipe is generously packed with plump shrimp, sweet crab, savory sausage, and an array of other delicious additions. This flavorful feast is coated in a luscious homemade garlic butter sauce, making it incredibly easy to prepare and perfect for lively gatherings. It delivers all the delightful tastes of a traditional seafood boil with the added convenience of cooking in a bag.

This Easy, One-Pan Southern Smothered Chicken recipe is a quick and comforting Southern delight, featuring perfectly seared and baked chicken thighs generously drizzled in rich brown gravy. Prepared with tender onions and savory spices, all within a single cast iron skillet, this healthy dish offers a flavorful and hassle-free meal that is both wholesome and incredibly satisfying for any day of the week.

This Easy Maple Glazed Salmon is a quick and effortless recipe, ideal for weeknight dinners as it’s ready in just 20 minutes! The salmon is exquisitely drizzled in a savory garlic, soy, and maple syrup marinade, yielding tender, flaky fish with a perfect balance of sweet and umami flavors. It’s a healthy and delicious option that’s sure to become a regular in your meal rotation.

This Crispy Baked Turkey Wings recipe demonstrates how to cook the most flavorful oven-roasted wings that are so tender they literally fall off the bone. This succulent meat is a quintessential staple dish for any soul food spread, offering a rich, comforting experience that is both easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying. Perfect for family dinners or holiday meals.

This Scallops and Pasta recipe features perfectly pan-seared sea scallops, lightly caramelized for optimal flavor. These delicate scallops are then tossed with a homemade creamy white wine garlic sauce, enriched with Parmesan cheese and fresh, vibrant vegetables. The result is an elegant and delicious meal that is both impressive and surprisingly simple to prepare, ideal for a special dinner.

Inspired by popular restaurant creations, this Stuffed Turkey Legs recipe prepares drumsticks so tender they fall right off the bone. Each leg is generously loaded with creamy, cheesy mac and cheese or your other favorite indulgent fillings. It’s a spectacular and hearty dish that combines rich poultry flavors with comforting additions, making it a showstopper for any meal.

These Slow Cooker Turkey Legs, prepared effortlessly in your Crockpot, are guaranteed to yield incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone drumsticks. The result is consistently juicy and flavorful turkey meat that requires minimal effort. Serve these succulent turkey legs for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner or as a comforting and easy weeknight meal, delighting everyone with their rich taste and perfect texture.

This Lobster Ravioli with Tomato Cream Sauce is an easy recipe that cleverly utilizes store-bought refrigerated pasta, generously stuffed and filled with cheese. The dish is then sumptuously topped with succulent chunks of tender seafood and exquisitely drizzled in a homemade, rich tomato cream sauce. It’s a gourmet meal made simple, perfect for an impressive yet quick dinner.

These Easy Air Fryer Turkey Legs are perfectly seasoned and roasted to golden perfection, boasting delightfully crispy skin. Serve these succulent drumsticks for fuss-free weeknight dinners or as a flavorful main dish for special holidays like Thanksgiving. The air fryer ensures a tender, juicy interior with a satisfyingly crisp exterior, making them a crowd-plaser every time.

This Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast is a quick and convenient recipe for a 3 to 4 pound, bone-in or boneless breast. This air-fried dish comes with a complete tutorial on optimal cooking times and temperatures, ensuring a turkey so juicy it will fall off the bone. Feel free to slice the breast into tender cutlets for versatile serving options, perfect for a smaller holiday meal or a quick weeknight protein.

This Air Fryer Honey Glazed Baked Ham recipe offers a quick and easy method for preparing either boneless or bone-in ham in your air fryer. You can even create delicious country ham steaks with this versatile approach. Serve these juicy slices for simple weeknight dinners or as a delightful main course during the holidays, including Thanksgiving, for a perfectly cooked and flavorful ham every time.

These Air Fryer Juicy Cornish Hens are cooked to perfection, whether fresh or frozen, and are infused with an abundance of herbs and spices for a truly full-bodied flavor. These mini rotisserie-style chickens make an excellent choice for any dinner or as an elegant holiday main dish. Their tender, succulent meat ensures a delightful and satisfying meal for all.