In the South, we use the word “salad” a little more boldly. While some may think of salads as just leafy greens garnished in various ways, we want more than a bed of lettuce. Think retro gelatin salads like Strawberry Pretzel Jelly Salad and Watergate Salad, cool, creamy mayonnaise-based creations like Classic Macaroni Salad, and many variations on potato salad. For Southerners, salads are based more on tradition and handed-down recipes than on a specific list of ingredients, and indeed, they can be used interchangeably as both a side dish and a dessert.
Based on a classic salad that has long been loved, this is a sweet and colorful salad garnished with strawberry jelly, cream cheese, whipped cream, and pretzels. What it lacks in nutrients from vegetables, it makes up for with fun flavors.
Mayonnaise-based salads are a mainstay of Southern potluck communities, and none are more familiar than macaroni salad, which this recipe bulks up with diced ham.
Hannah Zimmerman
A Southern summer staple, and unlike lettuce salads, this salad gets better the longer it sits.
There’s no excuse for why broccoli and grape salad is so delicious, but it’s always served as a side dish at any Southern barbecue, and crumbled bacon adds a crunchy finishing touch to the dish.
Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christina Daly, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors-Hall
You won’t know this creamy, dreamy, sweet salad until you try it. This retro-inspired recipe is just as commonly plated alongside green bean casserole as it is served as a dessert.
Our unique take on creamed corn is a seasonal favorite made with fresh corn and served with light, fluffy whipped cream.
Fruit salad is a fresh addition to any meal, but this dish takes it even further by making it from a convenient base of canned fruit.
Combining two Southern classics, deviled eggs and potato salad, this mayonnaise-slathered salad is a flavorful addition to any meal.
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
People love to make fun of this retro cold salad, but it’s actually very refreshing when served with a creamy casserole. While some versions call for whipped cream, marshmallows, and fruit cocktail, this recipe uses just three ingredients: orange, pineapple, and sweet coconut.
If you’ve never heard of this tomato salad, you’re missing out. This simple dish is like a deconstructed tomato sandwich and requires just a few ingredients: saltine crackers and, of course, a little mayonnaise.
Allison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This recipe, which you might also know as Pineapple Pistachio Delight, Green Fluff, or Funeral Salad, is made with pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, canned pineapple, whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and toasted nuts and is a staple at American potlucks.
This is basically a traditional potato salad with a Louisiana twist: Creole mustard and Cajun seasonings ensure this salad is never boring.
This basic chicken salad with mayonnaise is perfect for any lunch or shower, served with crackers, mini croissants, or spread generously on two slices of fluffy white bread.
If you want a crowd-pleasing pasta salad for your BBQ, this creamy recipe combines the delicious flavors of ranch seasoning and bacon with tomatoes and pasta. It tastes like a BLT without the lettuce!
Southerners know that tomatoes and watermelon are an unlikely pairing, and every bite of this simple side dish is bursting with fresh flavors—all you need is a minty vinaigrette and some crumbled goat cheese.
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
This Southern staple is probably one of the most popular lettuce-free salads that we serve multiple times each year, and it’s perfect for a variety of occasions from Easter to summer barbecues.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling
The unexpected ingredient you didn’t expect to find in this set salad? Horseradish! Make this a rockin’ holiday centerpiece and it’s sure to be a conversation starter.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
This is a fun twist on a fruit salad: sliced fruit is mixed into a cheesecake filling made with cream cheese, frozen whipped cream, yogurt, and powdered sugar.
This refreshing salad is a great alternative to the quirky cucumber sandwiches you might have had at lunch or a party, and in warmer months, a cool, creamy salad with a bit of crunch makes the perfect side dish.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
This is how Southerners make their Panzanella Salad: a delicious layered salad that combines homemade cornbread, bacon, black-eyed peas, cherry tomatoes, and more, all topped off with a drizzle of ranch dressing.
By Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Tory Cox
Inspired by both carrot salads found in old-fashioned church cookbooks and beloved (and discontinued) Chick-fil-A staples, this salad combines carrots, raisins, pineapple, and mayonnaise into a surprisingly delicious salad.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
Yes, there is lettuce in this salad, but in this case, the greens are just a garnish. To eat this pear salad properly, leave the lettuce out, pick up the pear, and take a bite.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
Save some room on your buffet for this pasta salad, which proves that bacon and ranch dressing always go together.
Victor Protacio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shel Royster
Enjoy the splendor of summer corn in this delicious, fresh and flavorful recipe featuring sumac and feta cheese.
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Kristin Keeley
There’s one dish that every family member looks forward to at any get-together, and for Alexis E. Burton, it’s her mother’s special potato salad recipe.
Victor Protacio, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors-Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daly
No barbecue is complete without a pasta salad with taco-inspired ingredients like black beans, corn, cheese, jalapeños, cilantro, and ground beef. This is one salad that’s sure to satisfy.
Robbie Lozano, Food Stylist: Jasmine Smith, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
No potluck is complete without a salad that evokes home, and this old favorite features tangy Italian dressing, pepperoni, olives, and pasta.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
Potatoes and onions are a side salad that Southerners are sure to find at any family gathering, and certainly this dynamic combination would give traditional potato salad a bit of a picnic run.
