The Best Recipes from North Carolina

Updated on Jan. 05, 2022

We found the best recipes from North Carolina—all from the kitchens of NC cooks. Discover some low country classics, foodie faves and all around good southern cuisine.

1/24

Pigeon River Chicken

Total Time 40 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: For a picnic on the Pigeon River, we made chicken marinated in yogurt with a touch of cayenne. It’s delectable warm or cold. —Lib Jicha, Waynesville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 608 calories, 42g fat (7g saturated fat), 109mg cholesterol, 1031mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 37g protein.
2/24

Roasted Okra

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: If you have picky eaters who worry about texture, roasted okra is marvelous. It's OK to crowd the pan. Okra shrinks as it cooks. —Anna Katsoulis, Greenville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 115 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 302mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1 vegetable.
3/24

“Secret’s in the Sauce” BBQ Ribs

Total Time 6 hours 10 min
Servings 5 servings
From the Recipe Creator: A sweet, rich sauce makes this BBQ ribs recipe so tender that the meat literally falls off the bones. And the aroma is wonderful. Yum! —Tanya Reid, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 921 calories, 58g fat (21g saturated fat), 220mg cholesterol, 1402mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (45g sugars, 2g fiber), 48g protein.
4/24

Grilled Peach Sundaes

Total Time 35 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: These peaches with a hint of grill flavor are sweet and juicy. We serve them in a waffle bowl with ice cream. That’s jackpot at our house. —Nancy Dentler, Greensboro, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 sundae: 486 calories, 21g fat (12g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 157mg sodium, 74g carbohydrate (53g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein.
5/24

Pecan Pumpkin Dessert

Total Time 1 hour 15 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I always make this treat for Thanksgiving. A friend gave me the recipe, and I've since shared it with many others. —Sue Williams, Mount Holly, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 568 calories, 33g fat (17g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 396mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (43g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.
6/24

Horseradish Deviled Eggs

Total Time 15 min
Servings 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: People say "Wow!" when they taste these flavorful, tangy horseradish deviled eggs. The bold combination of ground mustard, dill and horseradish is so appealing. The plate is always emptied when I serve these eggs. —Ruth Roth, Linville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 2 stuffed egg halves: 146 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 215mg cholesterol, 169mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.
7/24

BLT Chicken Salad

Total Time 20 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Featuring all the fun fixings for a BLT chicken sandwich, this salad is so lovable. I can prep the ingredients ahead of time and just throw it together at the last minute. Barbecue sauce in the dressing gives it unexpected flavor. Even picky eaters love my chicken salads. —Cindy Moore, Mooresville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 281 calories, 19g fat (4g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 324mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein.
8/24

Walnut Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Black walnuts, which have a more distinctive flavor than traditional English walnuts, have a short shelf life. It's best to store them in the freezer. —Doug Black, Conover, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 55 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 30mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
9/24

Pecan Bacon

Total Time 40 min
Servings 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Crispy, sweet bacon dresses up any breakfast. When my girls see this, they call it "special breakfast." The big flavor punch just may surprise you. —Catherine Ann Goza, Charlotte, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 bacon strip: 142 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 186mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
10/24

S’more Cheesecake

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 486 calories, 27g fat (15g saturated fat), 106mg cholesterol, 292mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein.
11/24

Peach-Chipotle Baby Back Ribs

Total Time 3 hours
Servings 8 servings (2 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator: My son and I collaborated in the kitchen one day to put our own unique twist on classic baby back ribs. We added a sweet peachy glaze and a little heat with chipotle peppers. It was a great bonding experience, and now we have a keeper recipe for fall-off-the-bone ribs. —Rebecca Suaso, Weaverville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving with 1/4 cup sauce: 788 calories, 48g fat (16g saturated fat), 163mg cholesterol, 1759mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 3g fiber), 47g protein.
12/24

Grilled Fruit Phyllo Tart

Total Time 40 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This tart was a hit at my friend's baby shower. It reminds me of a fruit salad that my mother used to make with cream cheese and whipped topping. Everyone loved the flaky crust, and the bright colors make it a pretty addition to any spread. —Laura McAllister, Morganton, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 233 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 216mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein.
13/24

Zesty Baked Catfish

Total Time 20 min
Servings 2 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This catfish combines common pantry seasonings for a taste that's anything but basic. —Karen Conklin, Supply, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 259 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 386mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein.
14/24

Loaded Pulled Pork Cups

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Potato nests are simple to make and surprisingly handy for pulled pork, cheese, sour cream and other toppings. Make, bake, and collect the compliments. —Melissa Sperka, Greensboro, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 hash brown cup: 129 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 439mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 8g protein.
15/24

Baked French Toast with Strawberries

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: French toast is a crowd-pleaser, but it's hard to make for a big group. This overnight casserole with strawberries and a sweet pecan topping fixes everything. —David Stelzl Jr., Waxhaw, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece (calculated without additional syrup): 377 calories, 20g fat (8g saturated fat), 126mg cholesterol, 266mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein.
16/24

Citrus Melon Mingle

Total Time 20 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This refreshing fruit salad has a hint of mint, honey and ginger that adds subtle flavor to the sweet combination of melons, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple and bananas. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 125 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 11mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fruit.
17/24

Banana Squares

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 12-16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: When we were first married, my husband was in the Navy. Stationed in Puerto Rico, we had banana trees growing in our yard, so I found ways to use dozens of ripe bananas at a time. I made these banana squares often. They freeze well and make a great snack to have on hand when friends drop in for coffee. —Susan Miller, Raleigh, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 213 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 89mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
18/24

Sweet ‘n’ Tangy Freezer Pickles

Total Time 25 min
Servings 32 servings (1/4 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator: Now you can have all the goodness of crunchy sweet-sour pickles without going to the trouble of canning them. Even though these puckery slices can be stored in the freezer, they don't last long at my house. —Jean Vance, Charlotte, North Carolina
19/24

Peppered Cornbread

Total Time 45 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Pretty flecks of jalapeno and red peppers peek out from this golden cornbread. It has a mild flavor that appeals to most palates. —Ila Bray, Pelham, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 217 calories, 15g fat (5g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 368mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
20/24

Marmalade Candied Carrots

Total Time 30 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My favorite way to make baby carrots is to steam them, then drizzle with an orangey glaze that makes them candy-sweet. —Heather Clemmons, Supply, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 211 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein.
21/24

Buttermilk Biscuits .Updated by AQA

Total Time 30 min
Servings 8 biscuits
From the Recipe Creator: The recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 biscuit: 222 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 508mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
22/24

Rainbow Veggie Salad

Total Time 25 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Every salad should be colorful and crunchy like this one with its bright tomatoes, carrots, peppers and sassy spring mix. Toss with your best dressing. —Liz Bellville, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 64 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 232mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
23/24

Southern Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Total Time 6 hours 15 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: For a taste of a southern classic, we make sweet potatoes stuffed with pulled pork and coleslaw and manage to sidestep the calorie overload. —Amy Burton, Cary, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 potato with 2/3 cup pork mixture and 1/4 cup coleslaw: 428 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 784mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 6g fiber), 28g protein.
24/24

Black & White Bean Chili

Total Time 4 hours 30 min
Servings 8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator: This is a healthy and filling meal that even the kids love! The satisfying chili is great for football games or potluck dinners. —Katti Scott, Manteo, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 252 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 850mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 8g fiber), 24g protein.