5 Comfort-Inspired Southern Dinners from Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes

In the fall, when the weather turns, all you want to do is hunker down inside and warm up the house by cooking some delicious comfort foods. And nothing says comfort foods like Southern cooking! So that’s when we turn to Jocelyn Delk Adams, the force behind the award-winning Grandbaby Cakes book and website (and also now part of our freshly launched Kitchn Collective), for a host of easy, filling, deliciously warming weeknight meals. Here, Jocelyn shares her plan for a week of guaranteed, go-to Southern meals.

After a serious case of the Mondays, comfort food is necessary, and this skirt steak is definitely the one to make. While I may be known for Southern food, this dish is one of my most popular. I’ve actually been randomly stopped in public and thanked for writing this recipe (true story). Best part? It’s so easy! Just marinate the steak in the morning and when you get home from work, sear it in a skillet or throw it on the grill. The chimichurri adds a ton of flavor and takes mere minutes to make as well!

Get the recipe: Skirt Steak with Chimichurri

Tender and juicy, these fried pork chops begin in a bath of spicy buttermilk before getting breaded in a flavorful dredge and pan-fried to perfection. Each bite results in juicy flavor and crunchy deliciousness. And you can have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes! If you have extra time, simmer them in a rich gravy by making my Smothered Pork Chops.

Get the recipe: Fried Pork Chops

Okay, it seriously doesn’t get any more comforting or Southern than collard greens in my family. We have them at least once a week. And the best part is if I need to simplify, I can quickly add them to a slow cooker in the morning and let them cook on low until dinnertime. They are truly a meal within themselves — especially when served with hot water cornbread for a super-quick bread option. 

Get the recipe: Southern Collard Greens

Chicken fried steak is seriously one of my family’s favorite dinner recipes ever, and I can’t imagine a better dish to enjoy as you get close to the end of a hard week. You might be thinking “This is Sunday supper material,” but in my family every day is worthy of a Sunday supper. Everyone who has tried it has said it’s the best they’ve had.

Get the recipe: Chicken Fried Steak

Sure, Fridays are for pizza, but consider making baked spaghetti instead: You’ll get a bit of Italian and Southern flair mixed together! This spaghetti contains several indulgent layers of rich and meaty Bolognese and a luscious cheesy, creamy filling. I think it’s about time pizza took a back seat. 

Get the recipe: Southern Baked Spaghetti

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Meal planning isn’t always easy — especially if you’re just getting started. But we’re firm believers that it’s the secret to stress-free weeknight dinners. We want to help you find inspiration and ease some of the pain points that come with getting dinner on the table night after night, whether you’re cooking one or a family of four or five. Every week we share a new meal plan solution specifically customized for you from reader requests or from a guest contributor, for Next Week’s Meal Plan!