No matter what, people need food in their lives to survive. Food gives people the energy to be active and do the things they love. Food is special because it reflects the culture of the people serving it. Around the world, no two countries make their food the same way. Different spices added to various meals in some parts of the world are completely kept out in others. The United States is famous for creating its own foods and these are just some of the concoctions.
Tons of places around the world serve hamburgers in 2024. The delicious meat patty is typically covered with cheese, vegetables, and various sauces to enhance the flavors. However, many people don’t realize the first hamburger was created in the United States. It’s common to order a burger and fries whenever someone goes out to eat. Fast-food restaurants have established a process similar to an assembly line, pumping out hamburgers quickly.
Another food that was shockingly created in America is the California sushi roll. Sushi is obviously a Japanese dish, but one of the most popular menu items for Americans happens to be California sushi rolls. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Americans were inspired by Japanese cuisine to come up with the California roll, but few people would have guessed where the specific roll was first created. For more food content, click here to read more about the official food of every state.
To compile this list of iconic foods you did not know were actually invented in America, 24/7 Tempo consulted food-related sources. These include Mashed and The Daily Meal.
Hamburger
One of the most popular foods for anyone to order is a hamburger. In 2024, there are countless ways to order a burger. Some come with cheese and vegetables, while others are made from plant products. Tons of veggie burgers still taste like regular hamburgers. Around the world, the popularity of the hamburger has gone up. It’s a delicious food item that’s cheaper to order than most menu items at restaurants.
Hamburgers are also a staple of fast-food establishments everywhere. Because they’re so popular, places like McDonald’s already have multiple sandwiches lined up, ready to be sold to customers. There are plenty of sides that come with hamburgers. The most popular side is french fries, but as time has progressed, people have been ordering more salads with their hamburgers. This iconic food item was created in America and continues to expand in popularity around the world.
Jambalaya
Few dishes are as associated with a region in the United States as much as jambalaya is with New Orleans. The soul food was first created in the United States by the settlers in the region who were of French, African, and Spanish origin. Each group of people brought their best food traditions and put them together to create this delicious food item. Most of the time, jambalaya consists of chicken, pork, sausage, rice, onions, seasonings, and peppers.
The flavors might feel random at first, but the smell and taste of jambalaya has made plenty of people over the years fall in love with it. This food dish is common for people to indulge on when they’re in a group settings or celebrating an occasion. Because there are so many different meats in jambalaya, it’s incredibly filling to eat. No two people make the same plate, either. It all comes down to what types of spices and seasonings the person making the dish prefers.
Banana split
It’s normal for people to order dessert after dinner is finished. At ice cream shops, the banana split is one of the most commonly ordered foods on the menu. The combination of fruit and ice cream is exactly what tons of people are looking for to end their night. When ripe, bananas are some of the sweetest foods on the planet. The natural sugars pair perfectly with ice cream and whipped cream on top.
There are tons of different things people add on to their banana split. The two most popular additions are chocolate sauce and sprinkles. During the summer, banana splits reach their highest popularity. Plenty of people spend their evenings out and about at parks and various restaurants. The presence of social media has made it vital for ice cream shops to make their banana splits look camera-ready. People posting exactly where they’re eating their banana splits is free advertising for tons of restaurants.
California roll
Sushi has continued to explode in popularity within the United States. It’s common for large groups of people to go to sushi restaurants and order “all you can eat” options. There are sushi rolls sold at grocery stores for people to purchase and eat at home. One of the most popular rolls to order or purchase is the California roll. While sushi was first started in Japan, the California roll was invented on American soil.
California rolls are composed of cucumber, avocado, and crab. Because of dietary restrictions or personal choices, people also use imitation crab to fill the rolls with. Sushi restaurants typically serve the same kinds of rolls, but have different names for their rolls from other restaurants. The California roll is one of the few universal names in sushi. People love the crunch that comes with each bite of a California roll, and with the popularity of sushi still rising, don’t expect them to go anywhere.
Corn Dog
It’s hard to find a food that symbolizes summer more than a corn dog. This food is common at outdoor events and summertime get togethers. The idea of the corn dog was to ensure the meat of a hot dog wouldn’t slip out from the bun while people were walking around and hanging out with friends. The meat is fully wrapped by bread with a stick running all the way through the middle of it. Corn dogs are usually frozen when they’re first purchased, but they are easy to heat up.
Most people like to add ketchup or mustard to their corn dogs, much like a hot dog. Corn dogs were one of the first food items to be served to people on a stick. These days, especially at baseball games, there are countless different meats and vegetables that are served on sticks as well. Those who are worried about potentially eating part of the stick can rest easy knowing there are mini corn dogs that come by themselves.
Fajita
The United States is home to a large Latino community, which makes sense because of how close Latin America is. At most Mexican restaurants, there’s an option to order a fajita. While many people think of fajitas as a Tex-Mex dish, they’d likely be surprised to learn that they first were created in the United States. What isn’t shocking is that they were created in southern Texas, near the border. The inspiration came from Mexican food.
Inside of a fajita is meat, onions, peppers, sour cream, guacamole, and various cheeses. The dish is served on a hot skillet, helping the food maintain its heat for as long as possible. Tortillas also come on the side of fajitas, allowing the person to serve themselves and create their own dish. The person who ordered the fajita can decide the sauce to meat ratio they prefer. Once they finish the tortillas, they can continue eating the leftovers by themselves.
Caesar salad
In 2024, people are being more health-conscious than in the past. There’s a trend of eating organic food and avoiding fast-food as much as possible. One of the most popular healthy choices for people to eat is a caesar salad. The salad itself is only comprised of lettuce, cheese, and croutons. One way people make the salad healthier is by adding a light vinaigrette instead of a heavy dressing like ranch.
The story of the caesar salad is more interesting than you’d probably guess. An Italian man lived in Tijuana, but owned restaurants in San Diego. His restaurants served the same food, but more people went to Tijuana because he served alcohol during prohibition times in Mexico. He filed the official paperwork to have the name trademarked in the United States, but is credited with the creation in both America and Mexico.
Chimichanga
Another food that was inspired by various Mexican cuisines is the chimichanga. It’s essentially a burrito, but fried instead of warmed. In the United States, it’s common for people to order a chimichanga and have it served with different sauces and sides. The origin of the chimichanga can be traced back to Tucson, Arizona in the 1920s. There are countless Mexican restaurants that proudly serve the dish, even though it was created in the United States.
The name “chimichanga” was given to the dish on accident. The woman who created the food accidentally put a burrito in a deep fryer. There were a group of children who walked by and asked what she was cooking. In Spanish, she called it a “chimichanga.” People who speak Spanish use the word like how people who speak English use a word like “whatchamacallit.” The name hasn’t gone anywhere in 100 years and likely won’t be changing anytime soon.
German chocolate cake
While the name makes it feel like this dessert was made in Germany, the German chocolate cake was actually first created in Texas. In 1957, the Dallas newspaper published a recipe that a local woman named Mrs. George Clay came up with at her home. People read the recipe and decided they wanted to give it a try. As time went on, the cake rose in popularity and began quickly spreading to other homes and cities throughout the United States.
The reason the cake takes its name from Germany is because the recipe calls for German chocolate. Funny enough, German chocolate isn’t German, either. The chocolate is rich and dark, and the cake is made up of multiple layers with pecan frosting on top. With the rise of nut allergies going up in 2024, bakers have decided to use regular frosting whenever someone mentions their allergy. The cake tastes just as good and has become a staple in dessert shops.
Philly cheesesteak
Based on the name, it’s easy to guess where the Philly cheesesteak was first created. A Philadelphia man named Pat Olivieri owned a hot dog stand in the city during the 1930s. He wanted to experiment with putting various other meats into bread, like a hot dog, to see how it would taste. As time went on, he came up with the combination of steak, sauce, and bread. However, it wasn’t until Olivieri’s nephew came along that cheese was added to the sandwich.
People liked the sandwich as it was, but once cheese came into the picture, other restaurants realized they’d have to add the item to their menu for people to order. People from Philadelphia will always claim that a Philly cheesesteak from Philadelphia tastes better than from anywhere else in the world. These days, it’s normal to order the dish with french fries and tons of sauce on the side.
Clam chowder
Another food that is part of the culture of where it came from is clam chowder. The New England dish is seemingly etched into the history of the region. Unlike most soups, clam chowder is fill of delicious foods that will likely fill up even the hungriest person in the world. There are plenty of clams and other seafoods, potatoes, pork, bacon, and onions within each bite of clam chowder. The creamy milk adds to the heaviness of the meal.
The first time the chowder was talked about publicly was in a Boston newspaper in 1751. It happened before the United States went to war with England for their freedom. By the 1850s, the dish was popular among the residents of New England. States like Rhode Island use a tomato base for their clam chowder instead of milk, but the flavor is still there. The best time to get clam chowder is in the fall when the best seafood catches take place.
Cuban sandwich
Contrary to its name, the Cuban sandwich was actually created in the United States. However, the idea for the sandwich comes from people with Cuban ancestry, which is how the name was derived. In the 1800s, people from Cuba came to the United States and settled in Florida. When they first arrived, they wanted to ensure some of their cooking traditions from home stayed with them. The combination of pork, ham, salami, cheese, mustard, and pickles is what the sandwich is made of.
For a long time, both Miami and Tampa have claimed they were the first home of the Cuban sandwich. However, there were numerous articles posted in Tampa newspapers during the 1910s, which was before anyone from Miami had mentioned the sandwich. In addition to this, the city of Tampa named the “Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich” as the official sandwich of the city. Tampa has gone to extreme lengths to take credit for the sandwich.
Chocolate chip cookies
It’s always a good time to make chocolate chip cookies in the United States. In millions of homes, children get excited when it’s time to lick the bowl clean, while tons of adults likely secretly hope that there’s plenty of leftover dough. The smell of fresh cookies spreads throughout the homes they’re made in. The combination of milk with the cookies has been eaten by plenty of people around the world.
One popular thing that people love to do during the holiday season is bake cookies and leave them out for Santa during his journey on Christmas Eve. The Toll House Inn in Massachusetts is the reason why society has chocolate chip cookies today. There are tons of conspiracies as to how Ruth Wakefield first created the recipe for her legendary dessert, but what matters the most is that she did.
Spaghetti and meatballs
It’s normal to think that pasta and meatballs would come from Italy, since that’s the home of countless different pasta recipes. However, spaghetti and meatballs is an American dish. It makes sense that the food was first created by an Italian immigrant who wanted to explore different combinations with the food Italians are known for. The dish was first created to be a comfort food, but has since exploded into an everyday item on menus.
The pasta combined with different meats in the meatballs is a wonderful way to enjoy a classic Italian-American dish. There are tons of wines and sauces that are added to each meal to make them special. It’s also cheaper to get the food in the United States to make the dish, which is why it costs more to buy whenever you’re in Italy.
Deep dish pizza
Pizza is one of the most popular foods to order in the United States. There are countless different toppings and sauces that people like putting on their pizza. However, deep dish pizza is far different than regular pizza. Rather than adding toppings on the outside of the pizza, the toppings are inside the pizza when it’s made deep-dish-style.
The pizza was first made popular in Chicago in the 1900s. People love eating deep dish pizza because of how filling it is and how many flavors are in each bite. Whenever you order a deep dish pizza, be ready to wait for up to an hour. Since the meats and vegetables are inside the crust, it takes longer for the food to cook. For more food content, click here to read about the most bizarre foods in the world.