Soul Food Recipes to Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and celebration in the Black community. It marks the moment in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. For so many families, especially in the South, food has always been part of how we honor that legacy.

For me, Soul Food is the kind of food that tells a story. It’s the food I grew up watching my grandmother, mom, and aunt make on weekends, during our Friday fish fries, at holiday gatherings, and even on ordinary weeknights. It’s what fills a house with warmth and brings people to the table. These recipes just feel right when you're cooking with love whether you're marking Juneteenth for the first time or continuing a family tradition.

Want to dive deeper into the roots of Soul Food? Read: The Heart and Soul of Soul Food.

Main Dishes

These comforting mains bring people together. Whether slow-braised or crispy-fried, they're full of flavor.

• Smothered Oxtail That Falls Off the Bone: Tender and slow-cooked in rich, savory sauce, this dish brings flavor and pure comfort to the table. You know I like a little twist- serve over pappardelle, fluffy rice, or Herb Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
• Crispy Fried Chicken Wings: Golden and seasoned just right, these wings are a Soul Food favorite you’ll want to make on repeat.
• Fork-Tender Southern Pot Roast: Chuck roast with caramelized onions and herbs simmered until every bite is melt-in-your-mouth tender.
• Smothered Turkey Wings: These turkey wings are browned, then slow-cooked in a roasted onion gravy that’s perfect for pouring over rice or mashed potatoes.
• Southern Fried Fish: This Crispy, golden Southern fried fish is seasoned just right and perfect for any Juneteenth celebration.

Sides

No Juneteenth celebration is complete without the sides.

• Southern Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey: Slow-simmered with smoked turkey and mixed with mustard greens, these greens are a must!
• Baked Southern Mac and Cheese: Extra cheesy, perfectly creamy, and baked until golden. This one’s always the first to go.
• Soul Food Green Beans: Cooked until tender with smoked turkey necks, Better Than Bouillon, roasted garlic, and topped with crispy fried shallots. These green beans are anything but boring.
• Southern Candied Yams: Sweet, buttery, and full of warm spices. These melt-in-your-mouth yams are a holiday favorite and for good reason.

Breads

Meant for soaking up gravy or served warm with honey butter, these are the finishing touch to any plate.

• Cast Iron Cornbread Topped with Honey Butter: Golden and tender with crisp edges and baked in a hot skillet, and drizzled with sweet honey butter.
• Lemony Skillet Cornbread Cake: This tender cornbread cake brings a pop of lemon and is baked in a hot skillet for those crispy edges you love.
• Flakey Buttermilk Biscuits: These buttermilk biscuits are light, fluffy, and made for slathering with butter or sopping up gravy.
• Fluffy Sweet Potato Cornbread: This sweet potato cornbread is fluffy, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor. It's perfect with collard greens or straight from the skillet with a little butter or a maple-glaze drizzle.

Desserts

End things on a sweet note with these classic desserts—each one rich in flavor and tradition.

• Southern Sweet Potato Pie: Everyone looks forward to this sweet potato pie. It's silky, smooth, creamy, and baked in a delicious, buttery pie crust.
• Easy Peach Cobbler with Buttery Pie Crust: Juicy peaches, a golden buttery crust, and syrupy goodness.
• Layered Vanilla Custard with Wafers: It’s like banana pudding… just without the bananas. A creamy vanilla custard layered with soft wafers.

Juneteenth is a day of reflection and joy, a time to honor the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead with hope. I hope these recipes help bring you, your family, and friends together for laughter, love, and meaningful moments around the table.