Besides the world’s famous and most respected music venues, Nashville, located in Tennessee, is also known as a beautiful and culture-rich city. You can find beautiful auditoriums, botanical gardens, and even the musicians’ hall of fame here. Now, after walking around the town for a few hours, you will start looking around for food. Hence this compilation today, with a list of the best soul food in Nashville to get you through breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
What foods are Nashville Known for?
Eating and drinking in Nashville hit differently, especially with the knowledge that you are in one of the most musically endowed regions in the world. You get to eat and drink while listening to your favorite artist.
And yes, Nashville is famous for many things, among them, their delicious food. In fact, Nashville is the homeland of hot chicken. This city in Tennessee is also home to some of the best brisket, barbecues, and country music.
The city is also home to the best brushes. The menus are attractive, with drinks and live music playing. That could be the reason why most bachelorettes love showing up in Nashville.
The best soul foods in Nashville
One thing to love about soul food in Tennessee is its southern background. Not all southern foods are soul foods, but anything on the soul food menu in Tennessee is definitely southern. The soul food in Tennessee contains the staple ingredients popular in these home-cooked meals passed down for generations.
Most foods will pick their ingredients from the list below:
- Beans
- Greens
- Cornmeal- used in making hush puppies, coating for fried fish and cornbread, among others
- Pork
In Nashville, Tennessee, you can enjoy some of their best soul foods, which include:
1. Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken is a delicious and hearty cuisine that has long been a favorite among many African American families in the US. It is so popular that everyone worldwide can now order fried chicken from the comfort of their home.
However, in Nashville, fried chicken comes in wide varieties. The most common one is served crispy on the outside, with juices flowing from the inside. To pop the flavors, most restaurants down in Nashville dip their chicken in buttermilk or eggs for a crispier crust.
The ingredient list for fried chicken includes:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Hot sauce
- Paprika
- Salt and pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
Fried chicken is common soul food in Nashville. Therefore, you can find it in most restaurants, including chain restaurants like KFC and McDonald’s. You can also find it at Party Fowl, Prince’s Hot Chichen Shack South, or Waldo’s Chicken & Beer.
2. Macaroni and Cheese
If you haven’t tasted their mac and cheese from the south, then you haven’t honestly tasted delicious mac and cheese. There are many ways to make Mac and cheese, but in Nashville, you can expect it to be prepared with love.
This popular southern-style soul food comes with extra flavor, cheesiness, and creaminess in Nashville.
The cheese combination is so good that you can taste every type in your mouth. So, if you are lactose intolerant, do not ask for Mac and cheese when in Nashville.
The ingredient list includes:
- Macaroni
- Milk
- Seasoning
- Cheese-cheddar, Colby, mozzarella, fontina, and pepper jack for extra cheesiness
Puckett’s Restaurant, The Grilled Cheeserie, and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken are among the best spots to taste the best soulful mac and cheese in Nashville.
3. Baked Beans
Baked beans have been a favorite breakfast staple among the people of Nashville for a long time. The meal is delicious, loaded with protein, and healthy. It is also easy to make, with the simplest recipes consisting of 3 ingredients.
However, restaurants in Nashville use a range of ingredients to take the flavors to the next level. Some of these ingredients include:
- Baked beans
- Bacon
- BBQ sauce
- Onions
- Garlic
- Chili powder
- Ketchup
- Sometimes a hint of brown sugar for added sweetness
Some of Nashville’s best spots for baked beans include Jack Bar-B-Que, Twin Kegs II, and Tex’s World Famous Bar-B-Q.
4. Fried Pork Chops
Unlike their chicken counterpart, pork chops are fried in a pan rather than in hot oil. However, they are just as delicious and soulful as fried chicken.
In Nashville, the fried pork chops come in a crispy crust, which pairs well with smooth and creamy gravy.
Some of the seasonings used when making pork chops include:
- Paprika
- Pepper
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
5. Sweet potato casserole
Casseroles have been famous soul foods in Nashville for a long time now. Sweet potatoes are particularly favored as a dessert. However, depending on your preference, you can have it as a main course or a side dish.
The casserole included sweet potatoes as the main ingredient. Other components include:
- Brown sugar
- Spices
- Butter
- Eggs
- Pecans
These ingredients come together in a pecan-crusted topping sweet potato casserole that is neither too sweet nor too nutty. You can even have the casserole for breakfast if you want.
You can enjoy your share of the best sweet potato casserole in Nashville from Pancake Pantry, Gabby’s Burgers & Fries, or Sky Blue Cafe.
Conclusion
Soul food in Nashville is quickly becoming a community-driven international phenomenon. So, try out their hot chicken or mac & cheese when you visit Tennessee city. You can also try the black-eyed peas, collard greens, or the famous meatloaf+ brisket combination. While you eat, you experience the town where country music floats through the air all day long. Visit Nashville and enjoy some homemade quality soul food at affordable prices.
