Alabama

A restaurant in Irondale, Ala., originated this iconic fried dish to make use of abundant unripe green tomatoes.

Get the Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

Alaska

When cured, basted and baked, strips of Alaskan King Salmon become a dry, salty-sweet jerky with just a hint of smoke.

Get the Recipe: Salmon Candy

Arizona

A burrito was once accidentally dropped in the fryer (or so the tale goes), and the crispy, meat-filled chimichanga was born.

Get the Recipe: Pork Chimichanga

Arkansas

Cook catfish quickly at a very high temperature to produce a crispy, crunchy crust that’s signature of the Arkansas dish.

Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Catfish

California

Deep-fried, flaked and served with fresh fixin’s, fish tacos are a favorite amongst surfers and southern Californians.

Get the Recipe: Fish Tacos

Colorado

Serve this thinner, subtly spicy pork chili — richly green thanks to tart, firm tomatillos — with tortilla chips and lime wedges.

Get the Recipe: Chile Verde

Connecticut

In CT, thin-crust pizza is topped with garlic, oregano, olive oil, just a sprinkling of cheese and fresh local clams.

Get the Recipe: New Haven-Style White Clam Pizza

Delaware

These tangy boardwalk-inspired spuds are soaked in vinegar, refrigerated and then fried to a golden brown finish.

Get the Recipe: Vinegar French Fries

Florida

Key limes (abundant in the Florida Keys) react with condensed milk to form this no-bake pie’s thick filling.

Get the Recipe: Key Lime Pie

Georgia

Sweet, juicy Georgia peaches peek through the woven lattice crust of this sunny pie, flavored with a little sugar and spice.

Get the Recipe: Lattice-Top Georgia Peach Pie

Hawaii

Serve marinated, diced sashimi-grade ahi tuna with lettuce cups and fried wontons to tap into the spirit of Aloha.

Get the Recipe: Ahi Poke

Idaho

Idaho gives us steak’s answer to chicken fingers: double-battered sirloin segments fried and served with BBQ sauce.

Get the Recipe: Finger Steaks

Illinois

With a cast-iron skillet and super-hot oven, you can mimic the crispy crust exterior of this layered deep-dish pie.

Get the Recipe: Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Indiana

Marinate pork tenderloin in spiced buttermilk, then bread and fry until it’s crispy and brown to fill this classic Hoosier sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Iowa

Iowa sweet corn doesn’t need much for its natural flavors to shine — simply grill and brush with a bit of garlic butter

Get the Recipe: Grilled Sweet Corn on the Cob

Kansas

Follow KC tradition by starting these tender ribs with a spicy rub and finishing with a complex 15-ingredient barbecue sauce.

Get the Recipe: Kansas City-Style Ribs

Kentucky

Bake an open-faced turkey sandwich (topped with bacon and Mornay sauce) to re-create this Louisville classic.

Get the Recipe: Kentucky Hot Browns

Louisiana

This 18th century spicy Cajun stew gains flavor from its dark roux and characteristic thickness from sassafras-sourced file.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Gumbo

Maine

This classic seaside sandwich from Maine skips the seasonings and celery, letting the fresh lobster flavor shine through.

Get the Recipe: Lobster Roll

Maryland

Plentiful Chesapeake Bay blue crabs (meaty male Jimmies, only!) are smothered in Old Bay Seasoning and steamed.

Get the Recipe: Old Bay Steamed Blue Crabs

Massachusetts

Serve this creamy milk-based “chowdah” — filled with chunks of potato, bacon and plenty of fresh clams — with oyster crackers.

Get the Recipe: Clam Chowder

Michigan

With Cornish and Finnish roots, these popular D-shaped beef and veggie meat pies began as miners’ fuel.

Get the Recipe: Michigan Pasty

Minnesota

Pronounced “hoddish,” this casserole (creamy veggies topped with crispy tater tots) is perfect for serving at large gatherings.

Get the Recipe: Hotdish

Mississippi

Rich, dense chocolate filling — dark as the banks of the Mississippi river — sits atop a crumbly cookie crust.

Get the Recipe: Mississippi Mud Pie

Missouri

Crispy on the outside, filled with soft cheese and liberally dipped in marinara sauce: an appetizer we can get behind.

Get the Recipe: Fried Ravioli

Montana

Huckleberries — small round fruits similar to blueberries — are abundant in the Pacific Northwest, and perfect for filling pies.

Get the Recipe: Huckleberry Pie

Nebraska

You’ll find palm-sized meat pies like these all throughout Nebraska — great as a make-ahead lunch or for a potluck.

Get the Recipe: Nebraska Handheld Meat Pies

Nevada

Fill your plate(s), Vegas-style, with varied recipes you might find at one of the bottomless buffets on the strip.

Get the Recipe: Las Vegas All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

New Hampshire

Feed a crowd the NH way with moist, tender corned beef, veggies cooked in beef broth and a tasty horseradish sauce.

Get the Recipe: New England Boiled Dinner

New Jersey

For an authentic Jersey breakfast, layer pork roll (a SPAM-like meat) with a cheese-smothered egg between toasty buns.

Get the Recipe: Pork Roll Sandwich With Egg and Cheese

New Mexico

In New Mexico, chiles — the state veggie — are mixed to form a relish and thrown atop burgers with ample cheese.

Get the Recipe: Green Chile Cheeseburger

New York

Try a healthier baked version of the spicy, tangy (usually fried) wings with blue cheese sauce that hail from Buffalo.

Get the Recipe: Buffalo Wings

North Carolina

Our vinegar-based pulled pork sauce is as tangy as any North Carolinian would expect, plus a little sweet and spicy to boot.

Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich

North Dakota

Thin, delicate potato crepes are browned in a skillet, spread with butter and sugar, and rolled into a tube for frequent consumption.

Get the Recipe: Lefse Potato Crepes

Ohio

These no-bake peanut butter and chocolate balls are crafted to look like the nuts that fall from the Ohio Buckeye tree.

Get the Recipe: Buckeyes

Oklahoma

Crisped to a golden brown, fried okra is an irresistible snack enjoyed in Oklahoma and all throughout the South.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Cornmeal Okra

Oregon

Tart, conical marionberries (like blackberries, but sweeter) turn reddish when cooked inside a perfect crumb-topped pie.

Get the Recipe: Marionberry Pie

Pennsylvania

In Philly, the big cheese steak debate — sliced cheese or canned Cheese Whiz? — goes on between rival restaurants.

Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak

Rhode Island

Squeeze this sweet-tart treat (think icy dessert crossed with a drink) out of a cup — no spoon! — like the Rhode Island folk do.

Get the Recipe: Frozen Lemonade

South Carolina

Grits (thick ground corn) form a bed for fresh-from-the-sea shrimp and other mix-ins, like bacon, garlic and lemon.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Grits

South Dakota

This unique state dish calls for cubed red meat to be deep-fried, dipped in garlic salt and served with saltines.

Get the Recipe: Chislic

Tennessee

Marinate ribs overnight with a complex rub and then cook until they develop a rich, dark crust. Optional BBQ sauce included.

Get the Recipe: Memphis Dry-Rub Ribs

Texas

The king of Texas BBQ (and there’s plenty) is the Texas brisket, coated with mustard and a spicy rub and smoked for nine hours.

Get the Recipe: Texas Brisket

Utah

This grim-sounding casserole is anything but: onions, garlic and cream topped with melted cheese and crunchy cornflakes.

Get the Recipe: Funeral Potatoes
 
 

Vermont

Sweet-tart apples meet sharp Vermont cheddar in this classic New England take on the favorite fall pie.

Get the Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie

Virginia

Salty country ham slices are covered with honey mustard and sandwiched between Southern-style chive-speckled biscuits.

Get the Recipe: Virginia Ham Biscuits

Washington

Give salmon woodsy, smoky flavor by brushing the fish with a marinade and then broiling atop soaked, browned cedar planks.

Get the Recipe: Cedar-Planked Salmon

West Virginia

Re-create the West Virginia convenience store snack by filling dough pockets with shredded mozzarella and a pepperoni stick.

Get the Recipe: Pepperoni Roll

Wisconsin

Bratwurst (ground meat sausages that are grilled or pan-fried) are served with tangy sauerkraut on a baguette.

Get the Recipe: Bratwurst Stewed With Sauerkraut

Wyoming

In Wyoming, steak is tenderized, dredged in an egg mixture and flour, then pan-fried until it has a crispy, breaded exterior.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Steak

Washington D.C.

In D.C., giant, smoky hot dogs are split in half, grilled and piled high with a chunky chopped onion chili. A capital meal, indeed.

Get the Recipe: Chili Half-Smokes

Bonus: Election Cake

Celebrate your democratic spirit by baking this historic yeasted Bundt cake (a spiced holiday bread meets coffee cake) covered in confectioners’ glaze.

Get the Recipe

Go on a Video Road Trip

Join Jeffrey Saad as he uncovers the foods that define America, like the street dog, barbecue and chocolate-pecan pie.
WATCH: United Tastes of America

trends across the country

A Bounty of Barbecue

Ribs, brisket and pulled pork pulled the lead in Kansas and the Southern states.
Kansas City-Style Ribs

Pies Aplenty

Ample summer fruit crops are tucked into pies with a variety of crusts.
Huckleberry Pie Recipe

Seeking Comfort

Hearty casseroles, crispy fried finger foods and salty sandwiches abound.
Hotdish Recipe

Mad for Mex

States that neighbor the border borrow flavors liberally from Mexican cuisine.
Arizona Pork Chimichanga

Seafood by The Shore

Nearby bodies of water mean loads of fresh seafood recipes from coast to coast.
Old Bay Blue Crabs