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American cooking

Recipes from the United States from New York to Texas

So much more than burgers: from New York delis to Southern barbecue, American cooking is one big, delicious melting pot. Pancakes, cheesecake, mac and cheese or cookies: take a road trip from your own kitchen.

  • 78 recipes
  • 29 recipes in 30 min or less
  • 18 specialties on the map
See all 78 recipes See the map

The great American food road trip

Coast to coast, every state has its specialty. Pick a stop on the map.

  1. VermontMaple Syrup PancakesVermont is the top producer of maple syrup in the United States.
  2. Saratoga SpringsCrispy Homemade Potato ChipsAccording to legend, the cook George Crum invented potato chips in Saratoga Springs in 1853.
  3. WisconsinMac & CheeseThe state that produces the most cheese in the country: plenty to top a mac & cheese.
  4. New EnglandTraditional Pumpkin PiePumpkin pie is the Thanksgiving dessert, a holiday born in Massachusetts with the Plymouth colonists.
  5. MassachusettsHomemade Pumpkin PieThe Thanksgiving pie, a holiday that dates back to the Plymouth colonists' meal in 1621.
  7. ChicagoFudgy Chocolate BrowniesThe brownie is said to have been born in 1893 at the Palmer House hotel, for the World's Fair.
  9. Santa BarbaraHomemade Herb Ranch DressingInvented in the 1950s by Steve Henson, on his Hidden Valley ranch near Santa Barbara.
  10. North CarolinaPulled Pork BurgersPork shoulder smoked for hours, then pulled.
  11. AtlantaHomemade Cola, Coca-Cola StyleCoca-Cola was invented there in 1886 by a pharmacist, John Pemberton.
  12. TexasTraditional Pecan PiePecan pie has been the official state pie of Texas since 2013.
  13. HawaiiSalmon Poke BowlPoke: marinated raw fish served over rice.

Reader favorites

The most-cooked American recipes on CookinBreak.

Diner classics

Burgers, sandwiches, onion rings and mac and cheese: the savory staples of the American diner.

The American pantry

The ingredients that show up most in our American recipes.

Cookies, muffins and more

Bakery treats to make at home.

Did you know?

  • Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday in November

    Roast turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie: the year's big family meal.

  • The cookie, born at an inn

    The chocolate chip cookie was invented around 1938 by Ruth Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts.

  • The king of the Fourth of July

    Grilled burgers and hot dogs are the stars of Independence Day.

Halloween and Thanksgiving

Pumpkin, cranberries and warm spices: recipes for the big fall holidays.

All our American recipes

78 recipes, most loved first.

See more recipes

Your questions

What are the most famous American dishes?

Burgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, pancakes with maple syrup, brownies and New York cheesecake.

What can I use instead of cream cheese?

Cream cheese is a spreadable fresh cheese, firmer and richer than fromage blanc. If you can't find it, use a plain spreadable fresh cheese, or a mix of mascarpone and drained fromage blanc.

How do I convert cups and degrees Fahrenheit?

Pick your units at the bottom of any page: our recipes show grams and °C, or cups and °F. For a recipe found elsewhere, count about 240 ml per cup, and remember that 350 °F (180 °C) is the same oven setting.

Which American recipes are fun to make with kids?

Mug cake (ready in 6 minutes), cookies, muffins, pancakes or s'mores: easy recipes everyone loves.