Southern Chess Pie is a classic dessert that brings a rich, gooey custard filling with a hint of caramelized goodness on top. Luckily, this pie is super easy to make. This recipe requires a pie crust and just a few more ingredients that you probably already have on hand, so you’ll be able to whip up this pie in no time at all! It has such a deliciously sweet and unique flavor that everyone will be begging you for the recipe!

For more easy pie recipes, try our Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pie or our Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie.

Why Our Recipe

  • The perfect gooey custard filling that’s rich and sweet with cornmeal to provide texture.
  • A caramelized layer on top provides the perfect finish.
  • Super simple to make so that anyone from beginners to pie pros can enjoy.
A slice of chess pie on a plate. A fork is resting on the plate as the first bite has been taken.

Southern chess pie is sweet, indulgent, and downright delicious! The filling is similar to custard, but the cornmeal gives it more texture than custard. The sugar caramelizes on top of the pie as it bakes, making it even yummier. A good comparison is the flavor of pecan pie if you just removed the pecans!

Ingredient Notes

An overhead view of the ingredients needed to make Chess Pie.
  • Pie Crust: This recipe doesn’t walk you through how to make a pie crust, but have no fear! We have our Fool Proof Pie Crust recipe that we swear by. If you’re in a pinch, you can use a store-bought pie crust, but just be sure you don’t skip the freezing step in this recipe! Otherwise, your crust won’t achieve that perfect texture as it bakes.
  • Cornmeal: This small amount of cornmeal in the recipe is key to the traditional flavor and texture of chess pie.
  • Milk: Whole milk works best, but you can always use 2%.
  • Lemon Juice: You can use bottled lemon juice for this recipe if you want, but fresh is always best. The lemon juice cuts through the sweetness of the pie, giving it a more complex flavor.

Recipe Origins

Chess pie has been around for a long time—some say it originated back in England in the 18th century! It’s not clear where exactly the name chess pie came from, but none of the theories suggest that it’s named after the game of chess. Some sources say that one baker of this pie served it saying, “It’s just pie,” but her Southern accent made the word “just” sound like “chess.”

Others say that the name refers to the chests that people used to store their food in to keep it fresh, and that it was once again misunderstood and turned into “chess pie” rather than “chest pie.” We might not know why it was ever deemed chess pie, but we do know one thing—it’s still a perfectly delicious dessert!

An overhead view of a chess pie that has been sliced for serving. The first slice has been removed from the pan.

Prevent Cracking

If you move this pie out of the oven too fast, you can risk cracking the top! One way to prevent pies from cracking is to place the pie dish on a cookie sheet before putting it in the oven. That will make it much easier to take out of the oven, and you also won’t have to worry about spills in your oven!

Serving Suggestions

You can always serve slices of chess pie plain, but you can also dress them up with a little something extra. Giving the pie a dusting of powdered sugar on top is the easiest way to glam it up. And, of course, pie is always great served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you want to get fancier, you can top with fresh berries or add a little orange or lemon zest on top.

Storage Instructions

Store at room temperature by covering the pie loosely with plastic wrap or foil for up to 2 days.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap or foil for up to 5 days.

Freeze individual slices then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a resealable freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

More delicious pie recipes . . .

Watch the video below where Caytlin will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.