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What to eat in the Southern United States? Top 11 Southern American Breakfasts

Last update: Thu Mar 20 2025
Top 11 Southern American Breakfasts
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01

Breakfast

SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, United States of America
4.3
Sausage Gravy
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Sausage gravy is a popular breakfast item throughout the Southern parts of the United States of America. It consists of sausage drippings, flour, milk, salt, and pepper. Cooked sausage is added to the combination, sometimes along with some more seasonings such as cayenne pepper.


It is a key part of a traditional dish known as biscuits and gravy, often accompanied by bacon, fried eggs, or sliced tomatoes.

02

Snack

WEST, United States of America
4.1
Klobasnek
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Klobasnek is a savory snack that was first made by Czechs who settled in Texas. The snack consists of the same dough that's used to make kolaches, but it is filled with a kielbasa sausage instead of fruit. It is believed that the first klobasnek (plural: klobasniky) was made in 1953 in The Village Bakery, located in the town of West, Texas.


Nowadays, klobasniky can be enriched with the addition of cheese and jalapeño peppers, and even though some people like to add eggs or ham to the snack, Mimi Montgomery Irwin, the owner of The Village Bakery draws a hard line over any other additions to the klobasniky. 

MOST ICONIC Klobasnek

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03

Breakfast

SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, United States of America
4.0
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A popular breakfast dish throughout the United States of America, especially in the Southern parts of the country, biscuits 'n' gravy consists of tender dough biscuits that are covered in a thick gravy, usually made from the drippings of pork sausages, flour, and milk.


Although the word biscuit usually refers to twice-baked bread, the American version of a biscuit is more reminiscent of a European scone. The dish originated in the South just after the Revolutionary War, before the United States was even a country. 

MOST ICONIC Biscuits ’n’ Gravy

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04

Appetizer

SNOOK, United States of America
3.9
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Chicken fried bacon is a tasty appetizer or breakfast consisting of bacon strips that are battered and deep-fried in hot oil, just like chicken fried steak, hence the unusual name of this dish. It was invented in the early 1990s in Texas by Frank Sodolak, who served it in Sodolak’s Original Country Inn in Snook.


Traditionally, chicken fried bacon is served with sausage gravy or cream gravy on the side for dipping. When prepared correctly, the bacon should be perfectly crisp without being too crumbly.

05

Breakfast

TEXAS, United States of America
3.8
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This Lone Star culinary treasure is quite simple – a tortilla stuffed with traditional breakfast ingredients, depending on personal preferences: processed yellow cheese, pork, and eggs are just some of the most common ingredients used in the preparation of breakfast tacos.


However, there is a huge food fight regarding this taco variety, with Austin and San Antonio both claiming the dish as their own. It is speculated that breakfast tacos were a staple in San Antonio a long time ago, but locals used to simply call it breakfast, while Austin had given the dish its current name. 

MOST ICONIC Breakfast Tacos

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06

Porridge

SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, United States of America
3.6
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First prepared by the Native American centuries ago, grits are tiny broken grains of corn that are boiled and served with other flavorings, usually as a breakfast dish, when they are accompanied by bacon, eggs, and toast on the side. The dish is popular throughout the Southern United States, and the name grits is derived from the Old English word grytt, meaning coarse meal.


While some may confuse grits with polenta, there are some important differences between the two - in the type of corn, the fineness of the grind, taste, and texture. This thick porridge is usually savory, not sweet, and it is an important part of a traditional dish called shrimp and grits, which is also popular in the Southern parts of the United States.

MOST ICONIC Grits

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07

Offal Dish

NORTH CAROLINA, United States of America
3.3
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Livermush is an American dish that's believed to originate from North Carolina. It consists of slices of livermush (a product made with pig liver, head, and cornmeal, spiced with sage and pepper) that are fried until golden brown. When served for breakfast, livermush is often accompanied by eggs and grits, but it can also be served for lunch or dinner.


And although some people might think that livermush is the same as scrapple, think again: scrapple has a bit less cornmeal and can have less, more, or no liver at all. Nowadays, the popularity of livermush is on the rise, so it can sometimes be added to omelets or it can be used as a pizza topping.

MOST ICONIC Livermush

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08

Meat Dish

NEW ORLEANS, United States of America
n/a
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Grillades and grits is a traditional Creole dish originating from New Orleans. The main component of the dish, grillades, refers to thinly sliced pieces of pork or veal that are pan-fried and slowly cooked with sliced peppers, celery, onions, and tomatoes.


In the past, the meat was taken from the animal during a boucherie, a Cajun tradition and feast centering around the slaughter of a pig. It was then cooked in cast-iron pans over fires, and traditionally served with hot grits or rice. Grillades and grits are typically served for breakfast or brunch, in restaurants, at home, or at weddings and similar celebrations.

MOST ICONIC Grillades and Grits

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09

Deep-fried Dessert

NEW ORLEANS, United States of America
n/a
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Calas is a specialty of New Orleans consisting of deep-fried rice balls that are smothered in powdered sugar. The dough – made with boiled rice, yeast, eggs, sugar, and flour - is dense and chewy, while the center is creamy. These fritters are typically flavored with nutmeg and cinnamon, and they are traditionally served for breakfast, with café au lait on the side.


The word calas is thought to have been derived from the Nupe word kara, meaning fried cake. Originally, calas were sold by Creole street vendors in the city's French Quarter, but today they are a staple breakfast item throughout New Orleans.

MOST ICONIC Calas

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10

Breakfast

LOUISIANA, United States of America
n/a
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This simple dish was once a dinner staple for the Cajuns. The combination of wet yellow cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and water is typically fried and steamed until it becomes dry. The dish is traditionally served with milk, cane syrup, figs, or even with pork cracklings.


In order to get the true flavors of couche couche, many believe that one must use a heavy iron skillet.

11
Egg Dish
NEW ORLEANS, United States of America
n/a

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Southern American Breakfasts