Redneck Caviar

Redneck caviar is a humorous modern expression meaning cheap, humble food jokingly compared to something fancy. It’s often used to refer to canned potted meat, Vienna sausages, or similar budget staples. Though common in Southern humor, it’s not a traditional Southern or Appalachian saying.

#Southernish #PopCulture

synonyms: joke food, cheap eats humor, humble staple

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Growin' up, we tore down on some 'potted meat' &emdash; but never once called it 'redneck caviar.'

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Growin' up, we tore down on some 'potted meat' &emdash; but never once called it 'redneck caviar.'

Pronunciation

[RED-neck KAV-ee-ar] /ˈrɛd.nɛk ˈkæv.i.ɑːr/

Meaning & Usage

- Humorous nickname for inexpensive canned meat or similar food

Dale:

What’s for lunch?

Ricky:

Gourmet redneck caviar - potted meat on saltines.

variations: poor man’s caviar, hillbilly caviar (humorous), potted meat "caviar"

Origin

The phrase rose to popularity in late-20th- and early-21st-century Southern humor, online jokes, and rural stereotype comedy. It plays off the contrast between caviar (luxury) and inexpensive canned meat (everyday working-class food).

No evidence ties it to older Southern or Appalachian dialect sources, and it appears nowhere in historical collections. It is a modern, playful creation rather than a folk saying.

Verdict: Southernish. Modern humor using Southern stereotypes, not an authentic traditional saying.

Notes

Used jokingly, often about potted meat, Vienna sausages, or Spam.
Appears in memes and humorous lists of "Southern foods."
Relying on stereotype humor, not true dialect history.
Fits the Southernish pillar because it "sounds Southern" to outsiders.

Kin Topics

Pop Culture

Common Questions

Is "redneck caviar" a real Southern saying?

No - it’s modern, humorous slang.

Why do people associate it with the South?

Because it plays on rural and Southern stereotypes about inexpensive pantry staples.

Does it refer specifically to potted meat?

Often, yes - but also sometimes Vienna sausages, Spam, or any cheap "stand-in" for fancy food.

Is it offensive?

It’s usually used jokingly, but it depends on context and tone.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 18). Redneck Caviar. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/redneck-caviar
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Redneck Caviar." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/redneck-caviar.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Redneck Caviar." HillbillySlang.com. November 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/redneck-caviar.

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