Tennessee is the birthplace of country music, a state with great Southern hospitality and delicious local cuisine that will make your mouth water. Here are some Nashville dishes you will love to eat and you can make without the aid of a private chef:

Biscuits

Southern cooking is impossible without biscuits, what Southerners call large, heavy, filling mounds of dry, crumbly bread. Families cannot have dinner together in many homes unless biscuits are served. Here are some popular recipes:

• Substitute shortening for butter for a softer biscuit.
• Substitute butter for shortening for a crisper biscuit.

It is best to pair biscuits with one other meal in this list, which we’ll get to later.

Eggs & Grits

Cheese grits are part of the typical breakfast in Tennessee, but some families eat them for dinner. The grits’ rich taste and smooth texture go well with the eggs cooked in the same pan.

• Add extra butter or sugar to the grits if you want to change the consistency.
• Add extra salt and pepper to the eggs if you want a bigger kick.

Cornbread

Cornbread is a Southern comfort dish with butter as a condiment. Some of the most popular cornbread recipes in Tennessee that don’t require a professional private chef’s help are the following:

• Add extra sugar for sweeter bread.
• Add additional flour for more firm bread.

Peanut Gravy Neckbones

Neckbones with Peanut Gravy is a popular dinner dish served at many Southern dinner tables. It’s a meal as simple as it is effective; it’s a recipe that gets people to the dinner table. Although the dish has roots in Tennessee, it’s trendy in the central and western parts of the state.

• Double-check the recipe before starting to ensure you have all of the ingredients.
• Be sure to add extra salt if needed.
• If the gravy doesn’t thicken as it should, add more flour.

Tennessee Fried Chicken

Southern fried chicken is a traditional Southern meal. It is often eaten in the South, especially in Kentucky and Tennessee. To make this dish truly unique without a private chef’s help, you can:

• Add salt, pepper, and garlic to the chicken before frying.
• Add more spices once the chicken is
• frying for a different taste.
• Use the ham on the chicken after it’s done cooking.
• Use flour to make the gravy cling to the pan rather than sticking to the bottom of it.
• Add butter to the soup once it’s boiling, and then pour that mixture into a pan.

The Tennessee Fish Fry

This Southern recipe is often served in Tennessee during Lent. It combines fish and hush puppies, creating a tasty experience that you won’t soon forget.

• Add extra cornmeal if you’d like a thicker batter.
• Try extra sage if you’d like a more robust flavor.
• Add a bit more Worcestershire sauce if you’d like to make the sauce taste tastier.

The New York Strip Steak

The New York strip steak, or simply strip steak, is one of the most popular cuts of beef in the United States. The tenderness and flavor are why people in Tennessee have it for dinner all the time.

A tip on cooking this savory meat dish: add some salt and pepper to the steak before cooking.

Pound Cake

A sweet dessert, pound cake has a mellow, rich, and buttery taste with four simple ingredients: sugar, butter, flour, and eggs, all measuring one pound each, hence the name. 

• Add extra butter for a richer flavor.
• Add extra sour cream for a sweeter taste.

With how easy it is to make, there’s genuinely no need to get a private chef to bake one for you.

Conclusion

Southern food is not just for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Many creative toppings can help create a meal. As seen above, a sprinkle of this and that can make all the difference, making Nashville dishes you will love to eat food.  Everyone should try Tennesee’s renowned, unique and local flavor at least once.

While we mentioned these dishes could be cooked without a private chef, you can still hire one by contacting Food Fire + Knives to experience authentic Southern cooking! We help everyone enjoy the perfect personal chef experience by offering solo catering packages throughout the state. Visit our website to know more!