United States: Recipes and Cuisine

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United States
Image by Pixabay

The cooking and cuisine of the United States defies easy categorization. While well known for the mass production and global uniformity of fast food outlets, America is actually home to wide-ranging regional cuisine and the influence of immigrant groups past and present. From New England clam chowder to Texas barbecue to cioppino in the City by the Bay, the cuisine of the United States has thrills around every corner.

Typical American Dishes

A list of typical American dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan an American-style meal, party or festival.

Appetizers

  • Buffalo Wings (Spicy-vinegary chicken wings)
  • Crab Cakes (Fried crabmeat patties)
  • Nachos (Tortilla chips with toppings)
  • Onion Rings (Breaded, fried onions)
  • Potato Chips (Fried thin-sliced potatoes)
  • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (American Halloween snack)
  • Rocky Mountain Oysters (Sautéed pig testicles)

Soups and Stews

  • Chicken-Noodle Soup
  • Chili con Carne (Tex-Mex spicy beef stew)
  • Gumbo (Thick okra stew)
  • Oyster Stew (Shellfish stew)
  • Vermont Cheddar Soup

Salads

  • Cobb Salad (Salad with a variety of toppings)
  • Potato Salad
  • Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
  • Sweet Coleslaw (Sweet cabbage salad)

Noodles and Pasta

  • Lasagna (Layered pasta with fillings)
  • Macaroni and Cheese (Pasta with cheese)
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Tuna-Noodle Casserole

Sandwiches

  • BBQ Pork Sandwich
  • BLT (Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich)
  • Club Sandwich (Sandwich with chicken, tomato and bacon)
  • Dagwood (Oversized, double-decker sandwich)
  • Egg Salad Sandwich
  • French Dip au Jus (Roast beef sandwich with jus dipping sauce)
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  • Hamburger
  • Hot Dogs (Beef or pork sausages on a bun with condiments)
  • Muffaletta (Meat and olive spread sandwich)
  • PBJ (Peanut butter and jelly sandwich)
  • Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
  • Reuben (Ham, Swiss and sauerkraut on rye)
  • Sloppy Joes (Seasoned ground beef sandwich)
  • Tuna Salad Sandwich

Poultry

  • Chicken and Dumplings (Chicken stew with baking powder dumplings)
  • Chicken Pot Pie (United States savory chicken pie)
  • Fried Chicken
  • Roast Turkey with Gravy (American holiday turkey)

Meats

  • BBQ Spare Ribs
  • Beer-braised Bratwurst
  • Chicken-Fried Steak (Breaded steak cutlet)
  • Corn Dogs (Cornbread and hot dog on a stick)
  • Kalua Pork (Roast pork)
  • Meatloaf (Baked ground beef loaf)
  • North Carolina BBQ Pork
  • Smothered Pork Chops (Pork chops with onion gravy)

Fish and Seafood

  • BBQ Oysters
  • Fried Catfish
  • Pan-fried Walleye

Vegetables and Beans

  • Boston Baked Beans (White beans baked with molasses)
  • Corn on the Cob
  • Creamed Corn (Corn simmered in cream)
  • Mashed Potatoes (Potato puree)
  • Sausage-stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Southern Greens
  • Stewed Tomatoes

Breads and Grains

  • Baking Powder Biscuits
  • Boston Brown Bread (Molasses bread)
  • Southern Cornbread
  • Cornbread Dressing (Southern dressing)
  • Dinner Rolls
  • French Fries (Deep-fried potato sticks)
  • Hot Cross Buns
  • Hoppin’ John (Rice and black-eyed peas)
  • Wheat Bread
  • Wild Rice Pilaf (Wild grain)
  • White Bread

Sauces and Condiments

  • À la King (Leftovers in a white sauce)
  • Cranberry Sauce (Cranberry condiment)
  • Guacamole (Avocado sauce)
  • Sausage Gravy

Desserts

  • Apple Cake
  • Caramel Apples (Caramel-covered apples)
  • Coca-Cola Cake
  • Cranberry Pudding (Steamed Christmas pudding)
  • Lemon Bars
  • Peach Cobbler (Peaches baked with pastry)
  • Pumpkin Pie (Pumpkin dessert)
  • Gelatin Dessert
  • Poundcake
  • Snickerdoodles (Cinnamon-scented sugar cookies)
  • Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberries with a sweet biscuit)

Beverages

  • Birch Beer
  • Cocktails (Various alcoholic beverages)
  • Eggnog (Egg and cream Christmas beverage)
  • Gingerale (Ginger-flavored soft drink)
  • Lemonade
  • Limeade
  • Root Beer (Sarsaparilla-flavored soft drink)

Breakfast

  • Hangtown Fry (Oyster and bacon omelet)
  • Hash Browns (Sautéed grated potatoes)
  • Pancakes (Sweet skillet flatbread)

Preserves

  • Pepper Jelly

American Recipes

Try these recipes from the United States.

Shrimp and Grits 
(American, Southern-Soul shrimp and gravy over grits)
Big bowl of shrimp and grits

Shrimp and Grits 
(American, Southern-Soul shrimp and gravy over grits)

Southwestern Dry Rub 
(American Southwest meat, poultry and seafood grill seasoning)
A mixture for Southwestern-style dry spice rub

Southwestern Dry Rub 
(American Southwest meat, poultry and seafood grill seasoning)

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)
Freshly baked homemade pumpkin pies

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)

Corned Beef and Cabbage 
(Irish-American braised brisket with vegetables)
Slided corned beef and cabbage on a platter

Corned Beef and Cabbage 
(Irish-American braised brisket with vegetables)

Hoppin’ John 
(American rice and black-eyed peas)
Skillet with hoppin' John

Hoppin’ John 
(American rice and black-eyed peas)

Baking Powder Biscuits 
(American breakfast quickbread)
A flaky baking powder biscuit

Baking Powder Biscuits 
(American breakfast quickbread)

Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cookies 
(American cinnamon-scented baked treat)
Plate of glazed pumpkin cookies

Glazed Pumpkin Spice Cookies 
(American cinnamon-scented baked treat)

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)
Eggnog Recipe (American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

Sweet Tea 
(American Southern summer tea drink)
Southern sweet tea in a Ball jar

Sweet Tea 
(American Southern summer tea drink)

Boston Brown Bread 
(American steamed whole-grain molasses bread)
Slices of Boston brown bread with cream cheese

Boston Brown Bread 
(American steamed whole-grain molasses bread)

Macaroni Salad 
(Hawaiian-American pasta salad side dish)
Macaroni salad with forks for eating

Macaroni Salad 
(Hawaiian-American pasta salad side dish)

Cornbread Dressing 
(American cornmeal bread dressing)
Large pan of cornbread dressing

Cornbread Dressing 
(American cornmeal bread dressing)

Smothered Pork Chops 
(American Southern-Soul pork chops with onion gravy)
Plate with smothered pork chops

Smothered Pork Chops 
(American Southern-Soul pork chops with onion gravy)

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)
Freshly baked peach cobbler

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)

Texas-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Tex-Mex mopping and grilling sauce)
The Salt Lick barbecue in Driftwood, Texas

Texas-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Tex-Mex mopping and grilling sauce)

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)
Apple pie with apples, baseball bat and American flag.

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)

Apple Cake 
(American tender cake with apples)
Moist apple cake in a pan.

Apple Cake 
(American tender cake with apples)

Sweet Coleslaw 
((American cabbage salad)
Bowl of sweet coleslaw

Sweet Coleslaw 
((American cabbage salad)

Cioppino 
(American West Coast fish and seafood stew)
Bowl of cioppino

Cioppino 
(American West Coast fish and seafood stew)

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)
Skillet of chicken pot pie with biscuit crust

Chicken Pot Pie 
(American savory chicken stew in pastry)

Hangtown Fry 
(American oyster and bacon omelet)
Plate of Hangtown fry omelet

Hangtown Fry 
(American oyster and bacon omelet)

Chicken-Fried Steak 
(American Midwest breaded steak cutlet)
Chicken-fried steak on a plate and covered with gravy

Chicken-Fried Steak 
(American Midwest breaded steak cutlet)

Cornbread 
(American cornmeal bread)
Two cornbreads in cast-iron skillets

Cornbread 
(American cornmeal bread)

Okra Pickles 
(American, Southern-Soul garden refrigerator pickle)
Fresh okra

Okra Pickles 
(American, Southern-Soul garden refrigerator pickle)

Clambake 
(American, New England seafood and vegetable beach barbecue)
Large pot with clambake ingredients

Clambake 
(American, New England seafood and vegetable beach barbecue)

Red Beans and Rice 
(American Creole bean and rice dish)
Red Beans and Rice Recipe (American Creole bean and rice dish)

Red Beans and Rice 
(American Creole bean and rice dish)

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)
Two Sonoran hot dogs

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)

New England Boiled Dinner 
(American braised brisket with vegetables)
Plate of New England boiled dinner

New England Boiled Dinner 
(American braised brisket with vegetables)

Pua’a Kālua – Kalua Pork 
(American Hawaiian roast pork)
Hawaiian kalua roast pork

Pua’a Kālua – Kalua Pork 
(American Hawaiian roast pork)

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)
Bowl of New England clam chowder

New England Clam Chowder 
(American clam and potato stew)

Shrimp Etouffee 
(American Cajun-Creole smothered shrimp)
Bowl of shrimp etouffee

Shrimp Etouffee 
(American Cajun-Creole smothered shrimp)

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)
Stack of pancakes

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)

Southern Fried Chicken 
(American fried chicken with a crispy crust)
A plate of Southern fried chicken

Southern Fried Chicken 
(American fried chicken with a crispy crust)

Corn Dogs 
(American hot dog and cornbread on a stick)
Fresh corn dogs on a draining rack

Corn Dogs 
(American hot dog and cornbread on a stick)

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)
Beautifully roasted holiday turkey

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)
Glass bowl with cranberry sauce

Cranberry Sauce 
(American cranberry compote)

Macaroni and Cheese 
(American pasta with cheese)
Casserole dish of macaroni and cheese

Macaroni and Cheese 
(American pasta with cheese)

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)
Bowl of Buffalo wings

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)

Boston Baked Beans 
(American white beans baked with molasses)
Boston baked beans in a bean pot

Boston Baked Beans 
(American white beans baked with molasses)

Oyster Stew 
(American shellfish stew)
Bowl of oyster stew

Oyster Stew 
(American shellfish stew)

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)
Cheeseburger with tomatoes, lettuce and onion wrapped in paper

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)
North Carolina pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)

Club Sandwich 
(American chicken and bacon sandwich)
Club sandwich on a plate with French fries

Club Sandwich 
(American chicken and bacon sandwich)

Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Midwest tomato-based grilling sauce)
Storefront of Arthur Bryant's Barbeque restaurant in Kansas City

Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Midwest tomato-based grilling sauce)

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)
Small dish a guacamole with avocados and a tomato

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

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