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.
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