StickyMangoRice

Food from the United States is a gastronomic fusion of cuisines born from a wide range of influences. American cuisine comes in many styles, much of it imported and borrowed from the many cultures that constitute the States. While it’s tempting to immediately think of American food simply as fast food, there are many more nuances that make up American cuisine.

While some foods from the USA have certainly exploded in popularity to give rise to entire fast food franchises, others remain local classics in delis, diners, and home kitchens. Other food cultures are centered around different parts of the country, such as Creole and Cajun cooking from the South, or Tex-Mex favourites closer to Mexico. Then of course, there are re-interpretations of the cuisine of other countries, such as English muffins, donuts, and California rolls, adopted to create something new and beloved by the American palette.

Covering Philly cheesesteak and gumbo, grits and Thanksgiving dinner, hot dogs and fortune cookies, here is an A to Z breakdown of some of the most iconic and delicious foods in the USA.

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A

American Cheese – Processed cheese made of cheddar or Colby, often sold as single slices.
Apple Pie – Baked apple pie of European origin, usually served with cream or ice cream, and commonly regarded as an American icon.

B

Baked Beans – Often canned, white beans which are parboiled, then stewed or baked in a rich tomato sauce.
Banana Split – A dessert made with a split banana, topped with ice cream, sauce, and sometimes whipped cream, cherries, or other toppings.
Barbeque Ribs – Barbequed pork ribs (or sometimes beef), served with sweet barbeque sauce and served on the bone.
Biscuits and Gravy – Breakfast dish popular in southern states, made with soft dough biscuits and a gravy of milk, flour, and pork sausage.
BLT – Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, often toasted and served with mayonnaise.
Blueberry Cobbler – Baked dessert made with a blueberry filling, and a biscuit or batter crust.
Bologna Sausage (Baloney) – Pork sausage of Italian origin, sliced and often eaten on sandwiches.
Boston Cream Pie – A layered sponge cake originating from Boston, filled with pastry cream and topped with chocolate ganache.
Breakfast Sausage – Pork sausage spiced with sage and pepper, usually eaten at breakfast.
Buffalo Wings – Named after the city of Buffalo, deep fried chicken wings dipped in a spicy sauce of cayenne pepper, vinegar, and butter.

C

Calas – Creole dumpling dish made with rice, yeast, eggs, flour and sugar, then deep fried.
California Roll – Japanese fusion sushi roll filled with crab, cucumber and avocado.
Charleston Red Rice – A dish of African origin, popular in South Carolina lowcountry. Long-grain rice cooked with crushed tomatoes instead of water, often with added bacon or pork.
Cheeseburger – Hamburger topped with cheese, usually with other ingredients. An American icon and favourite on the menu of many fast food restaurants.
Cherry Pie – Pie baked with a sweet cherry filling (usually sour cherries), commonly served with ice cream or whipped cream.
Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza – Pizza baked in a deep dish to allow for extra chunky tomato sauce and cheese.
Chicken Bog – South Carolina dish of rice and chicken pilaf, usually with onion, sausage and spices.
Chicken Fried Steak – Breaded beef steak which is deep fried. The name refers to its cooking style similar to fried chicken.
Chili Con Carne – Spicy meat stew originating in either Mexico or Texas. Ingredients vary, but often made with chili peppers, tomatoes, beans such as pinto beans, and meat, often beef.
Chocolate Brownie – Dense chocolate confection cut in a square shape, usually with a shiny skin on top. Made with butter, eggs, flour, chocolate, sugar, and can include nuts, chocolate chips, or other additions.
Chocolate Chip Cookies – Cookie notable for its addition of chocolate chips or chunks. Many variations exist, and can be hard or soft.
Cioppino – Italian-inspired dish developed in San Francisco, made with seafood such as crab, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and fish, cooked in a tomato and white wine sauce.
Club Sandwich – Sandwich made with chicken or turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise, usually served cut and held together with a skewer.
Cobb Salad – Garden salad made with lettuce, endives, bacon, chicken, tomato, avocado, egg, cheese such as blue cheese or cheddar, and red wine vinaigrette.
Colby Cheese – Semi-hard cow’s milk cheese, first developed in Colby, Wisconsin.
Corn Dog – Sausage (usually a hot dog) coated in thick cornmeal batter and deep-fried.
Corn Flakes – Breakfast cereal made of toasted corn, first created by Will Kellogg.
Cornbread – Cornmeal-based bread based on Native American cuisine, typically eaten in the southern states.
Cream Cheese – Soft, fresh cheese made of cream and milk, ideal for spreading.
Cuban Bread – White bread baked into long loaves similar to a baguette, originating from Florida and made with lard or vegetable shortening.

D

Dirty Rice – Louisiana Creole rice dish, cooked with meat (pork, beef or chicken), green peppers, onion and celery, giving a characteristic ‘dirty’ coloration.
Donuts – Sweet snack made of leavened fried dough, often glazed with sugar or other sweet toppings. While versions of donuts have existed for centuries, the ring-shaped donut was developed in the USA by Hanson Gregory in 1847.

E

English Muffin – Flat, round, yeast-leavened bread which is commonly toasted and served with savoury or sweet toppings. Thought to have been developed by Englishman Samuel Bath Thomas, who baked them in his New York bakery.

F

Fajitas – Tex-Mex dish of grilled and marinated meat, usually with onions and peppers, served on a flour or corn tortilla.
Fluffernutter – Sandwich of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff, usually on white bread.
Fortune Cookies – Crunchy, sweet cookie first developed in San Francisco. Inside the hollow, butterfly shape is a piece of paper with a ‘fortune’, or advice, which is traditionally read in secret.
Fried Chicken – Chicken pieces breaded with flour or batter and typically deep-fried, thought to originate from Scottish and West African recipes.
Fried Chicken and Waffles – Dish of Pennsylvania Dutch origin, made by combining fried chicken with plain waffles, often with gravy over the top.
Frito Pie – Popular in the American Midwest and southwest, a dish of cheese, corn chips (usually Fritos), and chili. Salsa, sour cream, refried beans and jalapenos are common additions.
Fudge – A dense confection of milk, butter, and sugar, often flavoured with chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, or fruit.

G

Glorified Rice – Sweet dessert salad, made with rice and crushed pineapple, topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, and maraschino cherries.
General Tso’s Chicken – Chinese-American dish of crispy breaded chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce.
German Chocolate Cake – A rich layered chocolate cake with a coconut-pecan frosting. Named after chocolate maker Samuel German.
Gooey Butter Cake – Flat cake originating from St Louis, with a dense consistency ideal for cutting into squares.
Green Chile Stew – Thin soup of green chilis, with meat (often pork and/or beef), tomato, onion, garlic, and potatoes. Originating from New Mexico.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Simple and delicious grilled sandwich made with cheddar or American cheese between two slices of bread, sometimes with butter or mayonnaise.
Grits – Porridge made of ground cornmeal, with a creamy texture.
Gumbo – Hearty Creole stew from Louisiana, with seafood, meat (such as chicken or sausage), and vegetables; thickened with okra, filé, or roux, and served with rice.

H

Hawaiian Haystack – Creamy chicken gravy dish with many variations, served over rice and toppings such as pineapple, cheddar, vegetables, and crunchy elements such as chow mein noodles.
Hershey’s Bars – Flagship chocolate bar from The Hershey Company, first sold in 1900 and known as The Great American Chocolate Bar.
Hoppin’ John – AKA Carolina peas and rice, a dish of black-eyed peas, onion, and bacon, served on top of rice and usually eaten on New Year’s.
Hot Dogs – Fast food synonymous with American food culture. Grilled or steamed sausage served on a split bun, usually with condiments such as mustard, ketchup, relish, onions, or cheese sauce.
Hot Link – Sausage popular in Southern United States, made with beef or pork and sometimes spiced with red pepper or cayenne pepper.
Hummingbird Cake – Cake of Jamaican origin made with banana, pineapple, pecan, vanilla, flour, sugar, salt, and a cream cheese frosting.

I

Indian Frybread – Native American dish of flat, doughy bread, deep-fried and eaten with jam, honey, beef, or venison.
Italian Beef Sandwich – Roast beef sandwich with cheese, sweet peppers, pepperoncini, and giardiniera vegetable relish on a French roll, popularized in Chicago.

J

Jambalaya – Creole and Cajon stew of sausage, andouille, pork or chicken, seafood, vegetables (onion, celery and green pepper), and a side of rice.
Jell-O – Sweet gelatin dessert sold as a powder, mixed with hot water and eaten once set.
Jerky – Dried, salted meat with a chewy texture, eaten as a snack. First produced in Peru.

K

Key Lime Pie – Pie dessert made of lime juice, condensed milk, and eggs.
Kolache – Czech-originated pastry made of yeast dough, with a filling of fruit or cheese.

L

Lobster Rolls – New England sandwich made with lobster chunks and butter served on a hot dog-style bun.

M

Macaroni and Cheese – Pasta dish of macaroni paste with cheese sauce, often oven-baked.
Maryland Crabcakes – Fishcake made of blue crab meat, bread crumbs, egg, mustard and mayonnaise.
Meatloaf – Ground beef combined with spices and binding ingredients such as bread crumbs or egg, and baked in a loaf shape before slicing.
Monterey Jack – Semi-hard cow’s milk cheese with a mild, sweet flavour.

N

Nachos – Dish of Mexican origin, made with corn chips, and a variety of toppings such as cheese, meats, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.
Nashville Hot Chicken – Fried chicken from Nashville, Tennessee with a spicy cayenne pepper coating.
New England Clam Chowder – Thick white milk or cream-based soup containing clams, as well as potatoes, salt pork, and onions.
New Mexican Stacked Enchiladas – Fried flat corn tortillas, stacked high with ground beef or chicken, cheese, onion, and red or green sauce, and garnished with a fried egg or lettuce.

O

Onion Rings – Sliced rings of onion, dipped in batter or crumbs, and deep fried. Invented in England, and popularised throughout the USA.

P

Pastrami on Rye – Rye bread with cured and smoked pastrami and spicy brown mustard, served with a pickle. A staple of Jewish Kosher delicatessens.
Peanut Butter Cookie – Cookies made with peanut butter and distinctive hatched fork marks on the top.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich – Sandwich made with peanut butter and jelly (jam, outside of the USA).
Pecan Pie – Pie made with pecan nuts, sugar, butter and eggs, popular during Thanksgiving.
Philly Cheesesteak – Thinly sliced ribeye beef and melted American cheese, served on a sliced roll and sometimes with fried onions.
Pizza – Italian dish of a flat, round dough base, topped with tomatoes, cheese, meats, and vegetables. Brought to the USA by Italian immigrants, which was adopted and modernised as a fast food cuisine.
Po’Boy – Louisiana sandwich with meat (roast beef, shrimp, or other seafood), and sometimes lettuce, tomato, and pickles, on a French-style baguette.
Poke – Hawaiian dish of diced raw fish such as tuna, often served with vegetables and seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce, or other Asian sauces.
Polish Boy – Kielbasa sausage, French fries, barbeque sauce, and coleslaw on a bun, invented in Cleveland, Ohio.
Popcorn – Popped corn kernels usually served with salt or butter, popularised by Charles Cretors’ commercial popcorn machine in 1893.
Pot Roast – Tender slow-cooked beef, cooked with vegetables such as carrots, onions, and celery.
Potato Chips – Crispy potato snacks of French or English origin, first mass-produced in the USA by Mikesells’s Potato Chip Company.
Pumpkin Pie – Pie made with a spiced pumpkin filling, a popular dessert during Thanksgiving.

Q

Quaker Instant Oatmeal – Commercial oatmeal sold in single-serving packets with flavoring such as cinnamon or honey.
Quarter pounder – McDonalds Hamburger made with a 4.25 oz beef patty, with pickles, onion, ketchup and mustard.

R

Ranch Dressing – Creamy and herbaceous dressing often made of buttermilk, onion, mustard, garlic, herbs and spices.
Red Velvet Cake – Layered red-coloured cake made with beet juice or red food coloring, cocoa powder, and covered in ermine frosting.
Reuben Sandwich – Rye bread sandwich made with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.
Rice and Gravy – Louisiana Creole and Cajun soul food dish made with chicken breasts, rice, gravy and other vegetables such as onion, bell pepper, and celery.
Roast Turkey – Roasted turkey, often stuffed and served during celebrations such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.

S

San Francisco Sourdough Bread – Sourdough with characteristic tangy flavour, first made popular in San Francisco in the 1840s.
Shrimp Creole – Cooked shrimp served in a spicy sauce of tomato, celery, onion and bell pepper, of Louisiana Creole origin.
Sloppy Joe – Sandwich of ground beef, onions and tomato sauce or ketchup, served on a hamburger bun.
Spaghetti and Meatballs – Italian-American dish of spaghetti pasta, beef meatballs, and tomato sauce.
S’mores – Toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers.
Sundae – Ice cream served in a tall sundae glass, topped with sauce, whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, and other fruits or sweets.

T

Tater Tots – Grated potato formed into small balls, spiced and deep fried until crunchy.
Texas Toast – Double-thickness slices bread, toasted with butter until golden brown.
Thanksgiving Dinner – Traditional meal eaten for Thanksgiving, usually with dishes such as roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potato, dinner rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
Trail Mix – Mixture of dried fruit, granola, and nuts, usually eaten as a snack when hiking.
Twinkies – Commercially sold golden sponge cake with a creamy filling.
TV Dinner – Brand of frozen meal popularised in the 1950’s by Swanson & Sons, usually containing meat, carbohydrate and vegetables and reheated in the oven or microwave.

U

Utica Greens – Italian American dish of escarole (endives) sauteed with olive oil and garlic from Utica, New York. Prosciutto, pancetta, or peppers are often added.

V

Velveeta – Processed cheese owned by Kraft, similar to American cheese.

W

Wild Alaska Salmon – Wild-caught salmon (sockeye), prized for its superior taste, high protein and omego-3 fatty acids.

X

Xavier Steak – Steak filet topped with Swiss cheese and asparagus spears.

Y

Yodels – Commercially available cream-filled cakes with chocolate frosting.

Z

Zagnut – Chocolate bar made with a peanut butter center and coconut layer.

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The USA has a diverse and delicious list of foods, with a great deal of influence from other countries and cultures, and some home-grown favourites.

But, it’s a difficult task to list them all, and surely many others deserve their rightful place on this A-Z. Let me know in the comments what other foods belong on this list!

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