This list’s food ranges from national culinary icons to regional treats. Taken together, they also paint a picture of American life, from the value of convenience to the influence of immigrant cultures.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Part of the reason is that peanut butter has been historically difficult to find in countries like Argentina and the Philippines, where there just isn’t a big appetite for the product.
Chicken-fried steak
Although this dish has roots and similarities to German and Austrian wiener schnitzel or Argentinian milanesa, people commonly identify chicken-fried steak with the American South.
Sweet potato casserole
It’s either beloved or despised, but a sweet potato casserole will almost always be found at an American Thanksgiving dinner table.
Ambrosia salad
The dish typically includes a variety of canned fruits, marshmallows, coconut, and creamy ingredients like mayonnaise, whipped cream, sour cream, or yogurt.