Kardea's Best Dishes
Best Barbecue Sides 19 Photos
Bring bold Low Country flavors to your next cookout.
Sweet Treats 27 Photos
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious desserts.
About the show
About the Host
Kardea Brown
Episodes
See Episode GuideCook with What Ya Got!
Kardea Brown puts together a seasonal Southern meal with staples from her kitchen and pantry. She's cooking up Grilled Country-Style Pork Ribs with a cola glaze, Red Beans and Rice, and Grilled Cabbage Wedges with Buttermilk Ranch. For dessert, a Cherry Cola Chocolate Cake is topped with a warm cola-fudge frosting. Sometimes, cooking with what you've got makes the best meals!
Happy Birthday, Bryon!
Kardea Brown celebrates her boo's most recent trip around the sun by cooking up a menu chock full of his favorites, like Collard Green Stuffed Shells, Pear and Glazed Pecan Salad, Cast-Iron Garlic Parmesan Biscuits and Strawberry-Swirl Cheesecake.
Beach Blanket Country Boil
Kardea Brown hits the beach with friends for some fun in the sun and a summer-perfect picnic featuring a Low Country Boil, Fresh Peach Arugula Salad and Sparkling Summer Lemonade. For a sweet treat, frozen Confetti Vanilla Whoopie Pies hit the spot.
Sister Supper
Kardea Brown gets her sisters together for a super Southern and special dinner. The scrumptious menu includes Fried Pork Chops with Homemade Table Gravy, Sauteed Yellow Squash and Zucchini, and Rainbow Rice Pilaf. For dessert, Kardea bakes up a treat that all the sisters love -- Red Velvet Sheet Cake!
Inspired by Charleston's Best
Kardea Brown and her friend KJ Kearney like to explore Charleston's food scene together, and KJ has even developed a social media presence based on his outings. Kardea invites KJ over to treat him with her versions of Charleston's best, taking inspiration from the great meals they've shared together. She makes a Panko Fried Pork Chop Sandwich on Grilled Texas Toast, Shaved Green Cabbage Slaw with Shallots and Dijon Vinaigrette, Lima Bean Salad and a special Homemade Banana Pudding.
Insta-licious
Social media maven Kardea Brown is taking food pictures worth a thousand bites! To start off, she makes a Steakhouse Burger with frizzled onion, thick-cut bacon and blue cheese dressing, and she serves it with Crispy Home Fries topped with a pimiento aioli. Then she arranges Roasted Fennel with Apple Cider Reduction and saves the best for last, Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake.
Just Horsin' Around
Kardea Brown is cooking up a Derby Day-inspired lunch for an afternoon of horseback riding with her best friend Yolanda. First up, Kardea's Hot Brown Sandwiches have roast turkey topped with a beautifully cheesy sauce. Then, she makes a Cream Cheese Ball with smoked cheddar, olives, pecans and chives, and a Ginger Mint Julep is Kardea's twist on the classic derby cocktail. Last, but not least, Miss Brown's Kentucky Butter Cake is a fluffy, buttery cake that melts in your mouth!
Easy Meals for a Busy Momma
Kardea Brown helps out her best friend -- a busy working mom -- by sharing a few quick, easy and inexpensive meals that she can throw together any night of the week using grab-and-go rotisserie chickens. They make Green Chicken Enchiladas, Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup with lots of vegetables and Chicken Puttanesca Pasta. Kardea also shares an easy dessert that only looks difficult, a Strawberry-Rhubarb Galette.
Christmas Brunch
Kardea Brown hosts a holiday brunch party for her girlfriends to celebrate before the seasonal rush. The girls catch up over savory Hashbrown Poutine, decedent Eggnog French Toast Bake, Grandma's Fruit Cake and a festive Poinsettia Cocktail.
Shaking Up Soul Food
Kardea Brown loves a challenge, so she's making classic soul food dishes -- but vegan -- for her cousins. She starts with tofu for Lemon-Pepper Fried "Chicken" Tenders with dairy-free Ranch dipping sauce. She also makes Jackfruit Pulled "Pork" Sliders, Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese and Maple-Glazed Donuts with Coconut "Bacon."
Heavenly Wings
Kardea Brown makes a meal with her aunt TC to treat TC's fellow church volunteers to a low-country feast. First, Kardea cooks up her delicious BBQ Smoked Turkey Wings. Then, Kardea whips up her Skillet Lima Beans, pan fried with bacon and tomatoes, and a Creamed Corn Casserole. For dessert, Kardea bakes a Lemon Pudding Pound Cake that'll have everyone singing her praises!
Nothing but the Skillet
Kardea Brown shares her favorite recipes using her beloved cast-iron skillet. These satisfying and versatile recipes can be whipped up any night of the week. First up, Kardea cooks a Chicken and Veggie Skillet, a delicious chicken dinner with all the veggies, and Cheesy Skillet Taco Mac, a meal that will have 'em coming back for seconds. Then, Kardea whips up an easy side dish that is sure to impress any dinner guest, her Cheesy Skillet Potatoes, and last, but certainly not least, Kardea's Ultimate Skillet Brownie is a chocolatey dessert topped with vanilla ice cream.
Mamas Who Lunch
Kardea Brown hosts a Mother's Day lunch for her childhood best friends. She's cooking up Scalloped Potato-Stuffed Chicken alongside her Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Roasted Grapes. Then, Kardea has the perfect dessert for these mamas, a Lemon Meringue Pie with shortbread cookie crust, tart lemon filling and pillowy meringue. Plus, every mama deserves a delicious cocktail, so Kardea treats her ladies to a Strawberry Rosé Daiquiri -- a frozen treat with sparkling rosé, rum and strawberries.
A Delicious Christmas
It's that special time of year again, and Kardea Brown is making a holiday dinner for her mom, grandma and cousin. On the Christmas table this year is a beautiful Brown Sugar Glazed Ham with Cloves, Red Rice Perloo (a Gullah staple), Green Bean Casserole and Apple Cider Cobbler for dessert.
A Sea Island Christmas
Kardea Brown is celebrating the holiday season with her closest family and a traditional Sea Island menu. The stars of the table are Maple-Glazed Cornish Hens, and for sides, she makes the Lowcountry staple Limpin' Susan with Shrimp and her Grandma's Green Beans with Potatoes and Smoked Turkey. For dessert, Kardea turns to a Gullah classic, Sweet Potato Pone.
The Festival Is in Town
The Moja Arts Festival, a celebration of African American and Caribbean art, is in town, and Kardea Brown is excited to experience it with her friend. Afterwards, she cooks up a beautiful meal with foods that reflect the African diaspora, including Callaloo, Senegalese Yassa, Black-Eyed Peas with Smoked Ham Hock and Sweet Plantain Foster.
Lighter Side of Soul Food
Kardea Brown cooks up some classic Southern dishes that are mouthwatering and light. First up, Veggie Soup Bunch is a dish that was always simmering in her grandma's kitchen. Then, a flaky Pecan and Panko Crusted Baked Fish with Mashed Parsnips is followed by something sweet, Blackberry Lavender Cornmeal Cake. This meal may be light, but it does not skimp on the flavor!
Charleston City Eats
Kardea Brown and her bestie are combining their love of food and shopping with a beautiful afternoon at the historic Charleston City Market. After grabbing a few goodies downtown, Kardea heads back home to prepare a meal that incorporates the flavors of Charleston, including Pimiento Cheese Straws, Boiled Peanut Salad, Low Country Seafood Perloo and Hummingbird Bars with Candied Pecans.
Shrimp Fest
It's Kardea Brown's favorite time of the year: shrimp season in Charleston! This year she's making Fried Shrimp Baskets, and her mom helps out with her Famous Hand-Cut Fries and a fresh Grilled Shrimp Cobb Salad. For a sweet dessert, Kardea makes summery Strawberry Lemon No-Bake Cheesecake Bars.
Light Low Country
Kardea is having two special guests over for dinner -- her mom and grandma! Since her grandma is watching what she eats, Kardea prepares a meal that's deliciously Southern without breaking the calorie counter. She makes Grilled Pork Chops with a homemade Apple and Mango Compote, along with flavorful Cauliflower Rice. For dessert, there are Mini Sweet Potato Pies topped with Toasted Pecans.
Christmas Brunch
Kardea Brown hosts a holiday brunch party for her girlfriends to celebrate before the seasonal rush. The girls catch up over savory Hashbrown Poutine, decedent Eggnog French Toast Bake, Grandma's Fruit Cake and a festive Poinsettia Cocktail.
A Sea Island Christmas
Kardea Brown is celebrating the holiday season with her closest family and a traditional Sea Island menu. The stars of the table are Maple-Glazed Cornish Hens, and for sides, she makes the Lowcountry staple Limpin' Susan with Shrimp and her Grandma's Green Beans with Potatoes and Smoked Turkey. For dessert, Kardea turns to a Gullah classic, Sweet Potato Pone.
Christmas Brunch
Kardea Brown hosts a holiday brunch party for her girlfriends to celebrate before the seasonal rush. The girls catch up over savory Hashbrown Poutine, decedent Eggnog French Toast Bake, Grandma's Fruit Cake and a festive Poinsettia Cocktail.
Wine and Dine
Kardea Brown and her mom sign up to compete in a grape stomp at a local vineyard. After they have a blast stomping grapes like Lucille Ball, Kardea makes a wine-inspired meal that includes Steak and Patatas Bravas, Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, Salted Caramel Pots de Crème and Red Muscadine Sangria.
Southern Table
Kardea Brown is cooking up the perfect Lowcountry meal for her new Southern table: Fried Chicken with hot honey sauce, Hoppin' John and Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic and Pepper. For dessert, she puts a Southern twist on a sweet Apple Raspberry Cobbler with a Biscuit Top.
Traveling Supper Club
Kardea hosts an intimate traveling supper club in her hometown of Charleston, S.C. She creates a Southern-inspired menu of Low Country Spatchcocked Chicken served with traditional Gullah Red Rice and a Warm Asparagus Salad. For a sweet end to a beautiful dinner, there's Grandma's Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding.
