“Southerners always seem to be thinking about good food.”
That’s how Southern Living kicks off its Southern Food Hall of Fame, a reader-powered collection of the 50 most beloved foods and drinks born in the South. Inside, you’ll find everything: pantry essentials, bold and tangy condiments, old-school pickles, classic sodas, and breakfast staples. It’s a reminder that being “Southern” isn’t just a matter of geography. It’s about sharing, feasting, and hanging onto memories.
Florida even grabs a couple of spots on this list. First up: Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company out of Fort Pierce, known for its unmatched orange juice, refreshing lemonades, and margarita mix people keep coming back for.
And then there’s a true Floridian classic: Publix’s Key Lime Pie. Southern Living points out that the Publix bakery is a soft spot for many, but their Key Lime Pie, especially with its signature toasted almonds, stands out above the rest.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Southern food roundup without a shout-out to Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets. Don’t let the name throw you. These caramel-drenched corn puffs are worth every detour. Buc-ee’s started in Texas back in 1982, but these days their snacks have become road trip legends throughout the South.
Here’s the full rundown of the foods that made it into the Southern Food Hall of Fame, according to Southern Living:
Stock the Pantry
– Camellia Brand Beans (New Orleans, Louisiana)
– Old Bay Seasoning (Baltimore, Maryland)
– Ro-Tel (Elsa, Texas)
– Cajun Country Rice (Crowley, Louisiana)
– Blue Plate Mayonnaise (New Orleans, Louisiana)
– Bush’s Baked Beans (Chestnut Hill, Tennessee)
– Hubs Virginia Peanuts (Sedley, Virginia)
– Anson Mills Cornmeal (Columbia, South Carolina)
– Luzianne Tea (New Orleans, Louisiana)
– Duke’s Mayonnaise (Greenville, South Carolina)
– Schermer Pecans (Thomasville, Georgia)
Pickled and Punchy
– Mt. Olive Pickles (Mount Olive, North Carolina)
– Wickles Pickles (Dadeville, Alabama)
– Old South Tomolives (Alma, Arkansas)
– Mrs. Campbell’s Chowchow (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Take a Sip
– Ale-8-One (Winchester, Kentucky)
– Big Red (Waco, Texas)
– Cheerwine (Salisbury, North Carolina)
– Sun Drop (St. Louis, Missouri)
– Barq’s Root Beer (Biloxi, Mississippi)
Breakfast of Champions
– Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams (Madisonville, Tennessee)
– Wright Brand Bacon (Vernon, Texas)
– Steen’s Cane Syrup (Abbeville, Louisiana)
– Delta Grind Grits (Water Valley, Mississippi)
– Conecuh Sausage (Evergreen, Alabama)
– Country Pleasin’ Brand Sausage (Pelahatchie, Mississippi)
– Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company (Fort Pierce, Florida)
– Jimmy Dean Sausage (Plainview, Texas)
– White Lily Flour (Knoxville, Tennessee)
– Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit (Charleston, South Carolina)
Heated Rivalry
– Crystal Hot Sauce (New Orleans, Louisiana)
– Louisiana Hot Sauce (New Iberia, Louisiana)
– Tabasco Sauce (Avery Island, Louisiana)
Shop Local
– Rouses Markets: Mauthe’s Creole Cream Cheese (Houma, Louisiana)
– Publix: Key Lime Pie (Winter Haven, Florida)
– H-E-B: Tortillas (Kerrville, Texas)
Get Saucy
– Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce (Lubbock, Texas)
– Sweet Georgia Soul BBQ Sauce (St. Simons Island, Georgia)
– Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q White Sauce (Decatur, Alabama)
– Texas Pete Pepper Sauce (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
– Bone Suckin’ Sauce (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Make a Pit Stop
– Goo Goo Cluster Candy (Nashville, Tennessee)
– MoonPie (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
– Zapp’s Potato Chips (Gramercy, Louisiana)
– Golden Flake Chips (Birmingham, Alabama)
– Blue Bell Ice Cream (Brenham, Texas)
– Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets (Lake Jackson, Texas)
– Stuckey’s Pecan Log Roll (Eastman, Georgia)
– Lance Peanut Butter Crackers (Charlotte, North Carolina)
– Little Debbie Snack Cakes (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Click here to read more about Southern Living’s Southern Food Hall of Fame.
