38 Church Homecoming Recipes Worth Praising
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Of all the food-centric gatherings that occur in the South, church potlucks are some of the most cherished events. We'd be lying if we said there wasn't a hint of competition at every Southern potluck, even the ones that follow Sunday service. Everyone knows that the church homecoming celebration calls for Sunday's best—in attire and recipes. What is it? Exactly what it sounds like: old church members who've moved away visit the church to share in worship and fellowship with current church members over a traditional meal. Like most Southern potlucks, these dinners are filled with casseroles, "salads" that don't contain a speck of green, and overflowing dessert tables. These timeless recipes are going to be a hit year after year.
Sausage Balls
It only takes 30 minutes to make eight dozen of these savory bites, so you have plenty to freeze for later.
Classic Sweet Tea
Use homemade simple syrup for the absolute best tea at the homecoming. A dash of baking soda takes out any bitterness.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We can bet countless varieties of the classic deviled egg will be served at every church homecoming in the South. We love this tried-and-true recipe that tastes just like the deviled Eggs we grew up with.
Cheddar Cheese Straws
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
A bowl of cheese straws are practically required at all social functions in the South. We all have our favorite store-bought brand, but we know that homemade batches always disappear first.
Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
This recipe from our November 1995 issue is still our favorite. It has few ingredients, can be made ahead, and produces a high yield, which makes it the ultimate potluck roll recipe.
Basic Pimiento Cheese
This simple pimiento cheese recipe will be eaten up at any gathering. Be sure to pair it with the best crackers and correct serving utensils.
Homemade Chicken Salad
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Whether you serve it on crackers or top it on sandwiches, It's hard to resist a batch of chicken salad made the original way. If you have a little extra time, make the mayo yourself, too.
Cheesecake Fruit Salad
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Homecoming is a big deal, but not serving a fruit salad would be an even bigger one. Make this recipe a few hours ahead of time to let all of the flavors meld.
Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad
This potato salad will have the whole congregation singing its praises, so you might need to double the recipe. Don't just take our word for it, it's also a reader favorite.
Ham Salad
Ham salad is a nostalgic recipe for many, and we think it's best served between our cheese puffs. What makes this salad even better is that it only takes 10 minutes to come together.
Permanent Slaw
The longer this coleslaw recipe sits, the better the flavor, so save yourself the hassle on the day of and make it up to seven days (yes, a whole week!) in advance.
Ham Biscuits
There's something about ham biscuits that feels like home. These are delicious plain, but we prefer to serve them with our Creole Mayonnaise or even a generous swipe of pimiento cheese.
Southern Cornbread Salad
CAITLIN BENSEL; FOOD STYLIST: TORIE COX
Is it really a Southern gathering without cornbread? We love a twist on a Southern favorite and our cornbread salad is not to be missed.
Picnic Egg Salad
We paired this 15-minute, five-ingredient recipe with a sliced baguette for a twist on old-school egg salad sandwiches. If you're serving a large crowd in a short amount of time, this recipe is also delicious on grandmother-approved tea sandwiches
Mama's Fried Chicken
Sure, you could pick up a couple of boxes of fried chicken from Publix, but this simple five-ingredient recipe will get you homemade-dish brownie points at church.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Remember this recipe? We guarantee you're not the only one. Nostalgic churchgoers will clean this dish off (after making their kids try it, of course).
Rum Baked Beans
Make these beans up to two days ahead and bake them just before the event. Just a half a cup of rum adds a sweet, smoky element to this five-bean recipe.
Classic Baked Macaroni And Cheese
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
It would be concerning to arrive at a church homecoming and discover no one made mac and cheese. For those who never want that to become a reality, bring this recipe to your next potluck.
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
There will be a multitude of chicken casseroles offered up, but this chicken spaghetti is a winner time and time again in our kitchens.
Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole isn't exclusively reserved for Thanksgiving tables. You'll find the marshmallow-topped dish at church functions and potlucks, too.
Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole
This recipe from our November 1990 issue is full of pantry staples that can easily be swapped with the ingredients you have on hand. Plan ahead and freeze this casserole and follow our reheating steps.
Hashbrown Casserole
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cornflake cereal-topped casseroles are as standard at Southern gatherings as "yes mam" and "yes sir."
Old-School Green Bean Casserole
You won't find a "cream-of" soup in this from-scratch recipe. It might take a little more time, but we think the full flavor is worth every single bit of extra effort.
Chicken-And-Wild Rice Casserole
Whether you're enjoying this chicken casserole at dinnertime on a weeknight or at the church potluck, it's always comforting.
Old-School Squash Casserole
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Creamy, buttery, and topped with Ritz crackers—that's how we take our yellow squash in the South. Healthy? Not exactly. Amazing? Every time.
Classic Candied Yams
Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Candied yams might sound outdated to younger attendees, but this dish will be love at first bite. The sweet, syrupy goodness is not to be missed.
New Tuna Casserole
The new version of tuna noodle casserole has the flavor you love from the original and we're not retiring this recipe any time soon.
Pineapple Casserole
Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
You're six ingredients, one dish, and around 30 minutes away from digging into this sweet and savory side that will make you think of Easter dinner at Grandma's.
Salted Caramel Banana Pudding
There's bound to be someone who volunteers to bring banana pudding to every church event, but if you show up with this salty-sweet version once, yours will be the favorite.
Hello Dolly Bars
This beloved bar recipe packs the perfect mixture of salty and sweet. Save one for yourself at home because they'll be gone quickly at homecoming.
Texas Sheet Cake With Fudge Icing
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Sheet cakes are the easiest way to serve dessert to a crowd, and this classic chocolate recipe never (ever!) disappoints.
Easy Peach Cobbler
Use up the last of those fresh summer peaches on this crowd-pleasing fruit cobbler recipe that only calls for six ingredients.
Heavenly Key Lime Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
The name doesn't lie—this pie is positively divine, which makes church homecoming the most appropriate setting for serving.
All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
You've probably made chocolate chip cookies dozens of times, but we think this Test Kitchen-approved recipe should become your go-to for bake sales, potlucks, and of course, church homecoming.
Classic Southern Pound Cake
This timeless pound cake recipe is delicious with a sprinkling of powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but we love to pair it with whatever fruit is in season. Make sure to not overmix the batter, or you will end up with a very tough cake.
Luscious Lemon Bars
Lemon squares will never go out of style at Southern gatherings. Make these ahead and freeze them for up to one month.
Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge
This foolproof fudge recipe was supposedly the go-to of President and Mrs. Eisenhower. Its simple ingredient list and creamy texture make it a go-to for us as well.
Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie
Icebox cakes and pies are staples during hot summers in the South because they're cool and couldn't be easier to throw together. This reader-favorite recipe showcases one of our favorite flavor combinations: peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas.
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