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.

Sweet Potato Pie 
(American, Southern-Soul sweet potato open-faced tart)
Freshly baked sweet potato pie

Sweet Potato Pie 
(American, Southern-Soul sweet potato open-faced tart)

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

Classic Bread Stuffing 
(American seasoned bread side dish)

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

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)
Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Blueberry Pie 
(American blueberry-filled double-crust tart)
Slice of blueberry pie with a side of ice cream

Blueberry Pie 
(American blueberry-filled double-crust tart)

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

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)

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

Creamed Corn 
(American corn kernels simmered with cream)

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)

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

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Beignets 
(American Southern powdered sugar fritters)
Beignets with a generous dusting of powdered sugar

Beignets 
(American Southern powdered sugar fritters)

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

Macaroni and Cheese 
(American pasta with cheese)

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)
Two sloppy Joe sandwiches

Sloppy Joes 
(American Midwest seasoned ground beef sandwiches)

Creole Barbecue Shrimp 
(American Southern spicy sauteed shrimp)
Platter with Creole barbecue shrimp

Creole Barbecue Shrimp 
(American Southern spicy sauteed shrimp)

Jambalaya 
(American Cajun-Creole rice with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage)
A cast-iron skillet with shrimp jambalaya

Jambalaya 
(American Cajun-Creole rice with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage)

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

Hangtown Fry 
(American oyster and bacon omelet)

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

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Sausage Gravy 
(American white sauce with sausage)
Sausage gravy on a biscuit

Sausage Gravy 
(American white sauce with sausage)

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

Cornbread Dressing 
(American cornmeal bread dressing)

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

Apple Pie 
(American apple tart)

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

Sweet Coleslaw 
((American cabbage salad)

Pie Crust 
(American dessert pastry crust)
A perfect lattice pie crust

Pie Crust 
(American dessert pastry crust)

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)

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

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

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)

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

Cornbread 
(American cornmeal bread)

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

Cranberry Pudding 
(American steamed Christmas pudding)

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

Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy 
(American holiday turkey)

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

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

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)

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

Eggnog 
(American egg and cream Christmas beverage)

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)

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

Club Sandwich 
(American chicken and bacon sandwich)

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)

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)

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

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)
Stack of pancakes

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)

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

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

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)
Mix of wild and regular rice

Wild Rice Pilaf 
(Canadian-American wild grain pilaf)

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

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

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)
Pot of simmering greens

Southern Greens 
(American Southern-Soul simmered leafy greens)

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)

Memphis Barbecue Ribs 
(American Southern-Soul slow-cooked pork ribs)
Memphis barbecue ribs on a sheet pan

Memphis Barbecue Ribs 
(American Southern-Soul slow-cooked pork ribs)

Caramel Apples 
(American caramel-covered apples)
Tray of caramel apples with sprinkles

Caramel Apples 
(American caramel-covered apples)

Baked Country Ham 
(American Southern roasted ham)
Freshly roasted country ham

Baked Country Ham 
(American Southern roasted ham)

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)

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