These comforting southern food innovations do away with the common concern for calories. Waffles, meat and savory biscuits have been preferred by those with a love for the American region and its traditional delicacies. Chefs like Paula Deen are now heralding the full-bodied flavors that are inherent in these recipes, supporting the hefty use of butter, oil and sweet syrups.
Dessert chicken hybrids and bold buttery bites are cropping up on the menus of restaurants wishing to emulate the distinctive southern taste. Foreign culinary experts have also been a part of this movement, bringing the flavors of Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas to European and Asian tables. Creole, Cajun and Appalachian approaches to cooking have brought authentic barbecuing techniques to the fore and are now a main staple of many of these dishes.
20 Comforting Southern Food Innovations
20
Tiny Savory Treats
These Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes Will Keep You Snacking Sensibly
19
DIY Exotic Meals
Destination Dinners Recipe Kits
18
Bacon Breakfast Cones
The Bacone is Sure to Start Your Day Off Right
17
Dessert Chicken Hybrids
American Cupcake Introduces the Red Velvet Fried Chicken
16
Nutty Soda Cakes
These Cocoa-Cola Peanut Butter Cupcakes Pay Tribute to a Classic Southern Snack
15
Clever Biscuit Bakers
Cookie Keeper Serves Up a Convenient Way to Make, Store and Transport Treats
14
Fractional Fryers
The One Tablespoon Deep Fryer for Healthy Southern Goodness
13
Cholesterol-Boosting Burgers
The Fried Chicken Luther Double Down Sandwich
12
Southern Comfort Restaurants
The Park Slope Chip Shop Will Deep-Fry Anything You Want
11
Miniaturized Southern Dishes
The Chicken Waffle Wings are Soul Food Without the Guilt
10
Sausage Gravy Dispensers
Bob Evans Offers a Quick Topping for Biscuits
9
Illusory Crispy Confections
These Chicken Fried Cookies are Finger-Lickin' Good
8
Fire-Infused Alcohol
Southern Comfort's 'Fiery Pepper' Whiskey Reaches Another Level of Heat
7
Deep-Fried Butter
Ultra Fatty Southern Snack Debuts at Texas State Fair
6
Pork-Flavored Caffeine
Boca Java Makes Maple Bacon Coffee for Meat Lovers
5
Vegan Recipe Blogs
The Blooming Platter is Full of Creative Foods for Vegan Foodies
4
Bold Buttery Bites
These Chicken Pot Pie Poppers are a Petite Remix of the Classic
3
Chip Taco Shells
Taco Bells' Doritos Locos Tacos Experiments With Nacho Cheese-Flavored Shells
2
Crazy Confections Coatings
The Ketchup Chocolate is a Taste Sensation No One Will Like
1
Crispy Poultry Kits
The Ad Hoc Fried Chicken Can Now Be Prepared at Home
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All-in-One Fried Chicken Bowls
Mary Brown's Melty Mash-up Bowl is Comforting and Satisfying
Food-Inspired Candle Collections
The Campbell's® Releases Its Report Alongside Cheeky Candles
Nostalgic Nugget Trucks
KFC's Sauce Serve Truck Lets Fans Dress Their Own Saucy Nuggets
Street Food-Inspired Rice Bowls
Ben’s Original Just Added Four New Street Food Rice Dishes
Spicy Southern-Inspired Collaborations
Panda Express x Hot Ones Debut the Blazing Bourbon Chicken
Carolinian-Style BBQ Sandwiches
Burger King Has a New Carolina BBQ Original Chicken Sandwich
Decadent Protein Treats
Legendary Foods' Protein Pastries are Keto-Friendly Dessert Alternatives
Savory Onigiri Croissants
Cafe W's Croissant Hybrids Play with Flavors Like Mayo and Pollack Roe
Fried Chicken-Flavored Macaroni
KD KFC Original Recipe Flavour Mac ‘n Cheese Unites Comfort Foods
Hybrid Cookie Croissants
Crumbl Cookies is Testing Out a Hybrid Treat Called the Crookie
Chili Crisp Butters
Butt Co.'s Spicy Grass-Fed Butter Adds a Kick to Favorite Meals and Snacks
Waffle-Stuffed Chicken Sandwiches
KFC Australia's New Waffle Double Features Two Chicken Buns
Maple Butter Breakfast Sandwiches
Starbucks Has Added a New Chicken, Maple Butter & Egg Sandwich
Regional Asian Dessert Ranges
These McDonald's Japan Asian Sweets Desserts Come in Three Options
Comforting QSR Dessert Pies
The McDonald's Japan Butterscotch Pie is Arriving for Winter
Decadent Holiday QSR Menus
Hardee’s is Reintroducing Items for a Limited Time During the Holidays
Cranberry-Topped Chicken Sandwiches
KFC Introduces the Seasonal 'Festive Chicken Sandwich'
Heat-and-Eat Breakfast Sandwiches
Mason Dixie's Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches Elevate Fast Food
Casserole-Inspired Chocolate Bars
This Gourmet Chocolate Bar Plays with Sweet Potato & Marshmallow
Summery Southern Cuisine Sundaes
Wienerschnitzel Southern Pie Sundaes Come in Two Flavors
Flavorful Chicken Meals
Tyson® Debuts Honey Chicken Bites and Restaurant Style Crispy Wings
Festive Fried Chicken Meals
The Mary Brown's Team Feast is Arriving for the Holidays
Spicy Appetizer Sandwiches
The Potbelly Jalapeño Popper Chicken Sandwich is Crispy and Cheesy
Hybrid Cookie Dough Croissants
Janie's Life Changing Baked Goods Has a New Cookie Dough Croissant
Peanut Butter Dessert Jars
Jar Joy's Peanut Butter Cup Jars are Viral TikTok Desserts
Cookie Dough Croissants
Amorette’s Patisserie Serves a Creative Cookie Dough-Croissant Hybrid
Giant Family-Sized Brownies
Kfc's New Family-Sized Colonel's Homestyle Brownie is Supersized
Filipino-Inspired Fast Food
Jollibee Reintroduces Ube Pie and Expands Chicken Sandwich Menu
Spicy-Sweet Chicken Sandwiches
The McDonald's McCrispy Sandwich Comes in Two New Hot Honey Options
Artisan-Inspired QSR Baked Goods
These New Popeyes Desserts Come in Two Options
Spicy Fried Chicken Wraps
KFC is Testing an All-New KFC Twister Wrap in the Nashville Area
Savory BBQ Sundaes
Smokey Bones Serves Savory Sundaes with Brisket and Barbecue Pork
Extra Saucy Chicken Nuggets
Wendy's New Saucy Nuggs are a Major Chicken Innovation
Unique Seasonal QSR Items
Chick-fil-A Unveiled a New Sensorial Burger and Banana-Flavored Treats
Boneless Wing Ads
Whataburger Cleverly Launches Its Boneless Wings with This Ad
Tempura-Battered Chicken Sandwiches
McDonald's Chicken Big Mac Updates a Classic Menu Item
Peachy QSR Dessert Dishes
Bojangles Peach Cobbler is Inspired by the Classic Southern Recipe
Jalapeño Buttermilk Chicken Nuggets
Taco Bell is Testing New Crispy Chicken Nuggets in Houston, TX
Homestyle Flash-Frozen Food Products
Jane Foodie Prioritizes Foods with Free-From Recipes
Bourbon-Specific Snacks
The Sweetery's Bourbon Buddies Enhance the Drinking Experience
Savory Croissant-Waffle Dishes
'Croffle House' Debuted 12 Variations of its Savory Croissant
Savory Snacking Pastries
These New Ginsters Products Come in Two Tasty Varieties
Indulgent Dessert Cocktails
Bardinet Inspirations Recreates the Flavors of French Desserts
Bourbon-Flavored Chicken Bites
Chester’s Chicken is Adding New Kentucky Bourbon Bites This Fall
Superfood Jelly Snacks
These Vegan-Friendly Jelly Desserts are Flavorful Textured Snacks
St. Patrick's Day Desserts
Sugar Bowl Bakery Boasts Imaginative and Playful Desserts
Nutty Nostalgic Baked Goods
The Crumbl Peanut Butter Dessert Bar is a New Take on a Classic
Dessert-Inspired Sandwich Cookies
Fox's Favourites Crunch Creams Come in Two New Flavors
Prepackaged Artisan Dessert Products
The Delicious Dessert Company Added Four New Products
Donut Hole-Style Pancakes
Polly’s Pies is Adding a New Pancake Bite Breakfast Plate Option
Cheesecake-Stuffed French Toasts
Biscuitville is Testing New Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast
Low-Cost QSR Family Meals
The KFC Taste of KFC Meal is Available in Select Locations
Savory Bubble Waffle Cafes
Honey Moon Coffee Offers a Wide Selection of Flavored Bubble Waffles
Regal Crispy Chicken Wraps
Burger King's New Chicken Philly Royal Crispy Wrap
Hearty BBQ Lunch Platters
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que Just Added the New Tour of BBQ Special
QSR-Inspired Grocery Products
Aldi Launches the New McDonald’s Inspired Burgers
Secret Recipe Chicken Tenders
KFC is Testing New KFC Tenders with Comeback Sauce
Grab-and-Go Waffle Sandwiches
Stewart's Shops Just Unveiled the New Spicy Chicken Wafflewich
Beef-Centered Thanksgiving Menus
Pre Brands' Flip the Bird Challenges Seasonal Dining Traditions
Chicken-Topped Macaroni Waffles
TGI Fridays Mac & Cheese Waffle with Hot Honey Chicken is Savory
Breakfast Menu Fusions
Wendy's Debuts its Chicken Strips and French Toast Sticks Bundled Together
Frosted Cornbread Cake Desserts
Crumbl is Testing Out a New Frosted Cornbread and Banana Pudding
Extra-Cunchy Chicken Sandwiches
Popeyes is Testing Out a New Signature Hot Crispy Sandwich
Southern Heritage-Inspired Whiskeys
Dixie Vodka Hails from Charleston, South Carolina
Exclusive French Fry Dishes
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Celebrates National French Fry Day
Chicken Recipe Macaroni Meals
KFC and Kraft Dinner Create the Original Recipe Flavor Mac ’n Cheese
French Toast Breakfast Meals
Cracker Barrel is Offering a Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Breakfast
Southern Chef Frozen Foods
Delicious Eats by Kardea Brown are Arriving at Walmart
Spiced Cheddar Butter Biscuits
Church's Chicken Cheddapeño Biscuits are Sweet, Spicy and Cheesy
Waffle-Made Breakfast Tacos
Huddle House MVP Waffle Tacos Come in Two Varieties
Spicy Seafood Glazes
Five Star's Glazing Butter Enhances Fish, Vegetables, Pasta & More
Rolled Chicken Snacks
7-Eleven's New Chicken & Waffles Roller is Both Sweet and Savory
International Cuisine Simmering Sauces
These Tasty Bite Simmer Sauces Come in Five Varieties
Cornbread-Flavored Chocolate Bars
Compartés' Corn Bread Chocolate Bar is a Decadent Seasonal Treat
Digital QSR-Backed Cookbooks
Chick-fil-A Unveils a Cookbook to Support its Shared Table Program
Sweet-Heat Restaurant Menus
The Cracker Barrel Summer Menu is Packed with Seasonal Flavor
Limited-Edition Swicy QSR Menus
The Shake Shack Sweet and Savory Menu is Korean Cuisine-Inspired
BBQ-Style Charcuterie Kits
The BBQterie Kit Builds Smoky, Savory Grazing Boards
Restaurant-Inspired Frozen Comfort Foods
The Boston Market At Home Frozen Foods Has Been Expanded
Sandwich-Inspired Crepe Snacks
bakerly peanut butter and grape filled crêpes to-go are Flavorful
Indulgently-Inspired Dessert Flavors
These I.T.S. Dessert Flavors are Sweet and Familiar
Savory Egg Croffles
Spoke & Hub Added Savory Croffles to its All-Day Breakfast Menu
Indulgent Seasonal Dessert Pots
Gü Desserts is Introducing Three Seasonal Treat Varieties
Molten Cheese Hand Pies
KFC Japan is Serving Up a Ooey Gooey New Cheese Pie
Apple-Themed Menu Items
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's New Menu Offerings are Delicious
Liège-Style Diner Waffles
Denny's Berry Waffle Slam is made with Brioche Dough
Buttery Mardi Gras Cookies
McAlister’s Deli Dropped a New Mardi Gras Cookie Ahead of Fat Tuesday
Soda-Based Mocktails
The Big Biscuit's Western Sodas are Enhanced with Coconut Cream & Lime
Single-Serve Caramel Apple Cheesecakes
Popeyes' New Caramel Apple Cheesecake is a Perfect for Fall
Spicy-Sweet Chicken Waffle Dishes
Roy Rogers Chicken & Waffles are Topped with Mike's Hot Honey
Competition-Born Burger Inventions
Burger King Unveils 3 Whoopers Invented by Fans
Steakhouse-Style Butters
Viral Butter Recipes Inspired A.1. Steakhouse Butter
Nashville Hot Chicken Biscuits
Biscuitville is Testing Out a New Nashville Hot Chicken Biscuit
Sweetly Spiced Tex-Mex Meals
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Hot Honey Chicken Comes in Taco and Salad Options
Signature Recipe Chicken Tenders
Original Recipe Chicken Tenders are Coming to KFC
Sweet-Savory Breakfast Pairings
Wendy’s Canada Has a New Chicken Strips & French Toast Sticks Duo
Buffalo-Flavored QSR Items
Popeyes Canada Debuts a Buffalo Crispy Chicken Wrap and Loaded Poutine
Beignet Bun Burgers
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Just Revealed New Beignet Cheeseburger Sliders
Chicken Tender Hot Dogs
Bojangles' New Bo’s Bird Dog Combines Two Classic Snacks
Spicy Adobo Chicken Sandwiches
Wings Etc. Just Added the Spicy Kickin’ Chipotle Chicken Sandwich
Autumnal Sweet Cream Pancakes
Vicious Biscuit Just Unveiled New Pumpkin Cream Pancakes
Sweetened QSR Breakfast Sandwiches
Wendy's Honey Buddy is Arriving for Only $1
Pretzel Bun Chicken Sandwiches
Freddy's Just Dropped a New Pretzel Bacon Bbq Chicken Sandwich
Flavorful Veggie Side Dishes
Bob Evans Farmhouse Favorites Vegetable Sides Come in Three Options
BBQ Chicken Brioche Sandwiches
Denny's Just Added a Flavorful New BBQ Bacon Chicken Sandwich
Tailgating-Ready QSR Chicken Wings
The New Bojangles Chicken Wings are Served with a Side of Ranch
QSR-Made Chocolate Cakes
Chicken Salad Chick Introduces Cake as its Newest Dessert Option
Alcohol-Inspired Food Flavorings
These Alcohol-Inspired Flavors Have a Delicious Profile
Artisan-Inspired Diner Menus
Denny's Permanent Menu Now Has Nine New Options
Bourbon-Sauced Chicken Wings
Charleys Cheesesteaks is Serving Up New Kentucky Bourbon Wings
Convenient Chicken Waffle Meals
Jack in the Box Chicken & Waffles are Being Test Marketed
All-New Wing Marinades
Popeyes Unveils Three New Wing Flavors to Expand Signature Menu
Savory-Sweet Seasonal Donuts
McCormick & Dough Doughnuts Collaborated on Holiday Doughnut Bites
Buttery Plant-Based Spreads
Wesson Plant Butters Come in Two Varieties
Spicy UK Chicken Menus
Popeyes Introduces a New a Spicy Chicken Menu for UK Customers
Saucy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Lee's Famous Recipe Has a Brand-New Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Chicken Wing-Inspired Menus
Old Chicago is Serving Up a New Wing-Inspired Menu
Crispiness-Preserving Chicken Products
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Launches the New 'Kosmic Krunch' Line
Crispy Caramel Pastries
The Delicious Desserts Company Caramelised Biscuit Yum Yums are Flavorful
Buttery Texas Toast Sides
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is Introducing a Craveable New Texas Toast Upgrade
Free-From NYC Frozen Desserts
The Urban Dessert Lab Summer Menu Has Four New Items
Chipotle Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Mary Brown's Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich Has Arrived
Premium Specialty Butter Products
These New Danish Creamery Products are Arriving for the Holidays
Savory Fast-Food Pies
Popeyes Released a Fried Pie with Cream Cheese and Blueberries
Dedicated Hashbrown Casserole Menus
Huddle House is Serving Up Four Hashbrown Casserole Dishes
Hand-Battered QSR Wing Flavors
Popeyes Wings Now Come in Five Permanent Flavors in Canada
Southern Cuisine-Themed Meals
Cracker Barrel Golden Carolina BBQ Tenders are Crisp and Tangy
Summery Farmhouse-Inspired Sandwiches
The Potbelly Farmhouse Chicken Sandwich is Made-to-Order
Comforting Macaroni Side Dishes
Buddy's bar-b-q Just Added Creamy Mac & Cheese as a New Side Dish
Wonton-Topped Chicken Salads
Burgerville Has a New Crispy Chicken Wonton Salad for Summer
Comforting Seasonal Side Dishes
Cowboy Chicken is Introducing New Wild West Sides This Fall
Grilled Cheese-Style Bites
Farm Rich's Turned a Timeless Comfort Food into a Handheld Snack
Honey-Drizzled Cornbread Cookies
Crumbl is Serving Up a New Cornbread Cookie That's Served Warm
Collaboration Southern Cuisine Chips
Mister Bee Biscuits & Gravy Potato Chips Support Make-A-Wish
Caramelized French Toast Dishes
Eggs Up Grill is Serving Up Crème Brulée French Toast This Winter
Southern Cuisine Boneless Wings
Whataburger Nashville Hot Boneless Wings are Packed with Flavor
Tropical Biscuit Sandwiches
Vicious Biscuit Unveils Tropical Summer Menu
Pickle Fry Chicken Sandwiches
Roy Rogers Has Just Added the Savory Wild Dill Chicken Sandwich
Farmhouse-Inspired Flatbreads
Woody’s Bar-B-Q is Celebrating Summer with New Flatbread Trifecta
Creamy Pimento Cheese Sides
Chick-fil-A Now Offers a Pimento Cheese Side Dish Option