Fall in love with Tennessee’s culinary classics
Missing Tennessee? It hits you right in the gut, and all you can think about is that food that feels like a big hug from home.
Whether it’s your mama’s chess pie or that perfectly smoky pulled pork from the joint down the street, these dishes are part of growing up in the Volunteer State.
Nashville Hot Chicken
Every Tennessee kid remembers their first bite of hot chicken (and probably secretly crying a little).
Now it’s basically a rite of passage, and we all have that one friend who claims they can handle the “extra hot.” News flash: they can’t.
Memphis Dry-Rubbed Ribs
Your out-of-state friends might brag about their BBQ, but they just don’t get it. These ribs aren’t drowning in sauce. They’re perfectly seasoned, smoked low and slow, just like your uncle used to make in his backyard.
Country Ham Biscuits
Sunday mornings meant waking up to that salty smell of country ham frying in the skillet. Mom’s biscuits were always perfect, and somehow even the fancy restaurants can’t quite match that memory.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow Topping
Every potluck, every holiday, there it was: that orange casserole with those perfectly browned marshmallows on top. You’d always try to grab the corner piece with extra crispy marshmallows, and you still do.
Goo Goo Clusters, Tennessee’s Original Candy
Remember begging for these at the checkout counter? Every Tennessee kid knows the joy of biting into that messy mix of chocolate and caramel, and how your mom would fuss about the chocolate all over your face.
Fried Catfish with Tartar Sauce
Friday night fish fry wasn’t just dinner. It was an event. The whole family would pile into the car, head to the local catfish house, and you’d compete to see who could eat the most hush puppies.
Chess Pie
Your aunt probably claimed to have the best chess pie recipe in the family, and everyone knew better than to argue. That first sugary, buttery bite still reminds you of summer potlucks and church socials.
Banana Pudding with Layers of Vanilla Wafers
No summer cookout was complete without someone’s banana pudding. The best part was always fishing out those perfectly soft Nilla wafers, and you still can’t resist doing it when nobody’s looking.
Barbecue Spaghetti, a Memphis Specialty
This weird but wonderful dish probably confused your out-of-state friends, but you grew up knowing it was perfectly normal to put pulled pork on pasta. It’s still your go-to example of why Memphis food just hits different.
Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Cocktails
Even if you didn’t drink it, having a bottle of Jack in the house was just part of being Tennessean. Your dad probably had that one special rocks glass he saved just for his Jack and Coke.
Moonshine Cocktails in the Smoky Mountains
Everyone’s got that one uncle with a moonshine story. These days, it might come in fancy flavors from legal distilleries, but those mason jars still remind you of family stories told in hushed tones around the holiday table.
The post 12 Tennessee Foods That Taste Like Home If You Grew Up Here appeared first on When In Your State.
