4 Alabama food Icons named to Southern Living Hall of Fame
Jennifer LindahlMontgomery Advertiser
Aug. 15, 2026, 5:03 a.m. CT
If you’ve ever argued over best chips, picked up a favorite sausage on the way home or insisted that a certain barbecue sauce belongs on just about everything, you’re not alone
Southern food inspires strong opinions, and now four Alabama favorites have earned a place among the 50 iconic foods and drinks selected by Southern Living readers
The magazine recently unveiled its Southern Food Hall of Fame: 50 Iconic Foods and Drinks Chosen by Readers, a collection of regional staples spanning everything from pantry essentials and pickles to barbecue sauces, snacks and road-trip favorites
Four Alabama products made the cut.
The Alabama picks represent a pretty good cross-section of Southern eating. There’s something tangy, something smoky, something saucy and something crispy
Wickles Pickles—Dadeville, Alabama
If you like your pickles with a little extra attitude, Wickles is probably familiar territory
The Dadeville company made Southern Living’s list at No. 13, thanks to its famously zesty brine. Wickles has been making its signature pickles since 1998, using a family brine recipe that dates back decades
And the pickles aren’t limited to cucumbers. Wickles’ brine has also been used to give vegetables such as okra a spicy, punchy upgrade
Conecuh Sausage—Evergreen, Alabama
For many Alabamians, Conecuh Sausage isn’t just something you toss on the grill. It’s practically part of the state’s food vocabulary
Southern Living placed the Evergreen-born favorite at No. 25, recognizing the family-owned brand’s devoted following
The sausage has become a go-to for everything from backyard barbecues to game-day spreads. Its popularity has also turned the company’s Evergreen location into a destination for road-trippers who want to stop by the gift shop and stock up
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q White Sauce—Decatur, Alabama
Alabama barbecue has its own signature contribution to the sauce conversation: white sauce
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q’s Original White Sauce dates back to 1925. The creamy, tangy combination of vinegar and mayonnaise eventually became available in bottles in the 1990s, helping the Decatur specialty reach kitchens well beyond North Alabama
Golden Flake Chips—Birmingham, Alabama
Some foods are remembered for their flavor. Others come with a side of nostalgia
Golden Flake Chips made the list at No. 45, and for generations of Alabamians, the brand is tied to childhood memories of school trips to the company’s Birmingham factory
The chips are no longer produced in Birmingham, and Utz Brands now owns the business. But that hasn’t erased their place in Alabama food lore
Southern Living’s food hall of fame is full of regional favorites
Alabama wasn’t the only state represented in Southern Living’s reader-selected food hall of fame
The 50 selections were organized into categories including:
- Stock the Pantry
- Pickled and Punchy
- Take a Sip
- Breakfast of Champions
- Heated Rivalry
- Shop Local
- Get Saucy
- Make a Pit Stop
The broader list includes everything from Camellia Brand Beans and Duke’s Mayonnaise to Cheerwine, White Lily Flour, Tabasco, Moon Pie and Little Debbie Snack Cakes
The concept is essentially a love letter to the foods that Southerners keep coming back to. The products that show up in kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, coolers and road-trip snack bags
Jennifer Lindahlis a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email atjlindahl@usatodayco.com
