Traditional soul food cooking is seen as one of the ways enslaved Africans passed their traditions to their descendants once they were brought to the US, and is a cultural creation stemming from slavery and Native American and European influences.

Some essential soul food dishes include collard greens, Southern-fried catfish, red beans and rice, buttermilk biscuits, and macaroni and cheese. Popular soul food desserts include peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, pecan pie, and banana pudding.

The expression "soul food" originated in the mid-1960s, when "soul" was a common word used to describe African-American culture. At its core, soul food is down-home cooking that's been passed down through many generations, with its roots in the rural South.

A traditional meal, often called “soul food” or “comfort food,” might consist of pan-fried chicken, greens, mashed potatoes, cornbread, sweet tea, and a dessert.