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.

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)
Flaming Christmas cranberry pudding

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)

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

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)

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)

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

Club Sandwich 
(American chicken and bacon sandwich)

Creamed Corn 
(American corn kernels simmered with cream)
Small bowl with a serving of creamed corn

Creamed Corn 
(American corn kernels simmered with cream)

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)
Stack of pancakes

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)

Texas Barbecue Beef Brisket 
(American Tex-Mex smoked, slow-roasted beef)
Carving up a finished smoked beef brisket

Texas Barbecue Beef Brisket 
(American Tex-Mex smoked, slow-roasted beef)

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)
Small bowl of cowboy beans

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)

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

Sweet Coleslaw 
((American cabbage salad)

New York Cheesecake 
(American Mid-Atlantic cream cheese dessert)
A slice of cheesecake with raspberry sauce

New York Cheesecake 
(American Mid-Atlantic cream cheese dessert)

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

Apple Cake 
(American tender cake with apples)

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

Cioppino 
(American West Coast fish and seafood stew)

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)
Pimento cheese sandwich

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Cedar Plank Salmon 
(Canadian salmon grill-roasted on aromatic wood)
Salmon on cedar planks cooking on a grill

Cedar Plank Salmon 
(Canadian salmon grill-roasted on aromatic wood)

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)
Casserole dish with bread stuffing

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)
Casserole dish of candied sweet potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes 
(American sugar-baked sweet potatoes)

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

Macaroni and Cheese 
(American pasta with cheese)

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

Shrimp Etouffee 
(American Cajun-Creole smothered shrimp)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)
Plate of oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)
Platter of Hawaiian kalbi beef ribs

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)

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

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

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

Pumpkin Pie 
(American pumpkin pastry dessert)

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

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

Chili con Carne 
(American Tex-Mex spicy beef stew)
Large pot of chili simmering on outdoor stove

Chili con Carne 
(American Tex-Mex spicy beef stew)

Coca-Cola Cake 
(American cocoa-cola cake)
Closeup of a slice of coca-cola cake

Coca-Cola Cake 
(American cocoa-cola cake)

Potato Salad 
(American potatoes with mayonnaise)
Potato salad on a plate

Potato Salad 
(American potatoes with mayonnaise)

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

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

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

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

Green Bean Casserole 
(American green beans side dish with a crunchy topping)
Pan of green bean casserole

Green Bean Casserole 
(American green beans side dish with a crunchy topping)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Snickerdoodles 
(American cinnamon-scented sugar cookies)
Plate of snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles 
(American cinnamon-scented sugar cookies)

Scalloped Potatoes 
(American, Australian potatoes baked with cream)
Serving dish of nicely browned scalloped potatoes

Scalloped Potatoes 
(American, Australian potatoes baked with cream)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)
Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

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

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

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

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

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

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)

Peach Ice Cream 
(American Southern frozen fruit and dairy dessert)
A big scoop of peach ice cream

Peach Ice Cream 
(American Southern frozen fruit and dairy dessert)

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)
Bowl of mashed potatoes

Mashed Potatoes 
(Irish and American potato puree)

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