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From tomato pie to black eye peas, fresh corn and loads of zucchini, summer cooking is all about those garden vegetables. And nothing celebrates that more than the southern vegetable meal! This recipe list has everything you need to make the most incredible summer veggie suppers all season long.

Collage of 4 vegetable recipes commonly made to create a southern summer veggie supper.

Summer veggie suppers are a serious tradition here in the south. Some might even say they’re more than a meal; they’re an event- one that happens all summer long and only gets better the deeper we get into the season.

We’ve planted. We’ve watered. We’ve made multiple runs to the farmer’s market, stopped at all the road side stands, taken in all the colors, breathed in their wonderful smells and selected all the ripest, juiciest produce.

It’s time! Because we know when the temps get hot and the garden is booming, there is no rival to the full-flavored taste of freshly picked vegetables.

Southern Vegetable Suppers Aren’t Vegetarian

Now, it’s important to know that just because it’s called a vegetable dinner, or vegetable plate (not to be confused with a vegetable platter), doesn’t mean that a southern vegetable meal has anything to do with being a vegetarian.

It doesn’t. It’s about seasonal eating that reflects the traditions of where we live. In concept, it’s more of a “meat and 3, blue plate” kind of dinner just without the meat. So you’re going to find delicious things like baked mac-n-cheeses, dishes prepared with bacon and even some deviled eggs are completely acceptable, even expected!

Tradition Doesn’t Mean Old Fashioned

And just because it’s a southern tradition doesn’t mean it has to be old fashioned. With the right recipes, you can still enjoy old school dishes like squash and cornbread dressing or black eyed peas and ham without it all being cooked down to nothing in a pot on the stove that’s has to be tended for 12 hours. Plus, there are plenty of traditional ways to enjoy crisp, fresh vegetables too!

The southern summer veggie supper always satisfies and NEVER disappoints. And with this list, you’ll be making some of the best vegetable suppers around, guaranteed!

Vegetable Dinner Must-Haves

While these recipes aren’t vegetables or made with vegetables, every good southerner knows that a good veggie meal wouldn’t be quite complete without them!