Midwestern cuisine tends to reign supreme when it comes to the coziest comfort foods, so it’s only natural that the Midwest’s iconic regional dishes lend themselves to the quintessential “get-together.” From Cincinnati Chili and Maid-Rite Sandwiches to Scotcharoos and Gooey Butter Cake, our collection of essential Midwestern recipes will make you feel right at home.
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Juicy Lucy Cheddar Burgers
Brie Goldman / Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman / Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
If you have not had a Juicy Lucy before, you’re in for a treat. Originating in Minneapolis, this big burger has the cheese on the inside, instead of on top. The result? A lava of ooey-gooey cheese with every bite. Make sure to let the burger rest for a few minutes before digging in, or you may just burn the roof of your mouth.
Calico Bean Casserole
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Whether served as a main dish or a side, this hearty bean bake is a surefire crowd-pleaser. The recipe calls for canned kidney beans, lima beans, and butter beans, but you can substitute a different bean variety according to your preference or what you have on hand!
Scotcharoos
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
If you’re unfamiliar with scotcharoos, plan to be delighted by these next-level rice crispy treats. The combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch paired with crispy rice cereal is utterly irresistible.
Sugar Cream Pie
This yummy dessert, also called Hoosier pie, hails from Indiana, where its said to appeared in the early 1800s among the Quaker, Shaker and Amish communities in the area. “My favorite pie ever,” said one Allrecipes reviewer. “Everyone that try’s it loves it. This is my staple to take to parties.”
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
While hot dogs are a common staple for potlucks and cookouts around the country, the Chicago-style dog must adhere to specific standards. This iconic frank has to start with an all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun; from there, the dog should be topped with yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, chopped white onion, tomato wedges, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers, and celery salt. No ketchup allowed.
Real Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“I made half a batch of these for my boyfriend (born & raised in WI!) and he loved them! It was my first ‘Fried Cheese Curd’ experience, but they were fantastic and I would definitely make them again,” says one Allrecipes reviewer. “One trick I read elsewhere-let the curds get to room temperature & they will sweat a little… use the moisture to your advantage and coat them with a little flour before battering. It makes the batter stick a lot better!”
Maid-Rite Sandwiches
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Maid Rites—otherwise known as “loose meat sandwiches”—are similar to sloppy Joe’s, but without the saucy factor. Maid-Rites call on seasoned finely-ground beef while Sloppy Joes swim in a tangy tomato-based sauce.
Cincinnati Chili
No list of Midwestern favorites would be complete without Cincinnati chili. Flavored with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and chocolate, the distinctive chili is a tasty change-of-pace from a standard pot of beef and bean. Traditionally, Cincinnati chili is served over spaghetti noodles.
Big Al’s K.C. Bar-B-Q Sauce
Jen Causey / Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling / Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
Whether ribs or pulled chicken, if barbecue is on the menu, you can’t go wrong with this Kansas City-style sauce. The sweet and tangy, tomato-based condiment will bring any smoked meat to life.
Borscht
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Did you know North Dakota has the highest percentage of Russian Americans in the country, and the 7th highest percentage of Ukrainian Americans? That’s how this delicious soup came to be in the Midwest speciality. “Just a good, hearty soup great for cold nights,” said one Allrecipes member. “Highly recommend!”
Buckeye Balls
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Buckeyes are an easy-to-prepare confection consisting of peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate coating. You can stash them in the refrigerator and enjoy within about a week or freeze them for up to two months.
Beer Cheese Dip
This decadent slow cooker dip is a delicious way to get the party started. The recipe is made with Guinness, but feel free to use your favorite Wisconsin beer for a true Midwestern experience (PBR, anyone?). Serve it with chips, veggies, or soft, baked pretzels.
Gooey Butter Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This iconic St.Louis dish has been a beloved Midwestern dessert since the Great Depression. The name says it all, this cake is irresistibly gooey and buttery. Better still, it couldn’t be easier to make. You’ll only need six basic ingredients.
Tater Tot Hot Dish
ALLRECIPES/VICTORIA JEMPTY
“I’ve made this recipe a few times and everyone who has had it raved about it!,” says rosaliew. “I usually make it for my family/coworkers so I double the batch and use a 50-ounce can of cream of mushroom instead of four smaller cans of cream of mushroom and cream of celery and it turns out perfect.”
Puppy Chow
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
According to Southern Living, “Puppy chow is thought to have originated in the Midwest, and Chex quickly caught wind of how their product was being enjoyed and published a recipe for “Muddy Buddies” on their boxes to capitalize on the popularity of the snack.” But make no mistake: This sweet, crunchy snack mix is most definitely not puppy-friendly. That said, your human guests will absolutely love it.
St. Louis Toasted Ravioli
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
You can thank St. Louis’ historic Italian population for this delicious appetizer. Prepared ravioli are dredged in bread crumbs and deep-fried to golden, crispy perfection. Serve them with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
Michigan Olive Burger
Peyton Beckwith
This one-of-a-kind burger originated in Lansing, MI and is over 100 years old. It’s a beef patty with a cream cheese-pimento olive spread, Swiss cheese, and crunchy iceberg lettuce. “I loved the flavors,” said one Allrecipes reviewer. “I made with the hamburger and the next day made without the burger and I’m hard pressed which one is better. Yummy!”
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
This is one of those Midwestern “non-salad” salads that really belongs on the dessert table. “I love this recipe,” says one Allrecipes member. “The salty pretzel and the sweetness of other ingredients are a definite winner. It’s become a pot luck favorite.”
Runzas (Bierocks)
Patricia Kaowthumrong
Yeasted dough is stuffed with ground beef, onion, and cabbage mixture to these savory and satisfying handheld pockets—which originated in Nebraska. “I remember these from when I was a kid,” said one Allrecipes member. Several reviewers stated these are even better the next day.
Traditional Rub for St. Louis-Style Pork Ribs
Slather this rub on your spare ribs the next time you are hosting a get-together. Compared to baby back ribs, St. Louis spare ribs are longer, flatter, and straighter — which makes even cooking easier. This style of ribs also tends to be a bit meatier and more succulent.
Wild Rice Salad
Minnesota has more acres of natural wild rice than any other state in the country, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The grain is an important ingredient for the region’s Native American tribes, as well as rural Minnesota communities—it’s also the star of this great salad, that balances salty, sweet, chewy and fresh.
Wisconsin Bratwurst
Sheboygan, WI is touted as the “Bratwurst Capital of the World” thanks in great part to Wisconsinites obsession with the beer brat—they are boiled in beer before hitting the grill. The flavor imparted is out of this world. “Made this for a neighborhood party,” said one Allrecipes member. “Easy, and I got great kudos!”
Italian Beef Sandwich
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This Slow Cooker Italian Beef recipe has over 2,000 5-star ratings. “It’s easy to make in a slow cooker and tastes just like my all-time favorite sandwich that I used to get at a local restaurant when I lived in a suburb of Chicago,” says Allrecipes member Maureen Burr, who shared the recipe. “Serve on crusty rolls with roasted sweet or hot peppers.”
Liver Pâté
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Found in Wisconsin supper clubs and fancy eateries—this speciality dish becomes the star of the show during the holidays, or special celebrations in homes across the Midwest. “[This recipe has] turned me into a Liver Pate addict,” said one Allrecipes member. “I was recently caught by my husband, at 2 a,m., inside the fridge scooping liver pate with an assortment of cracker. Best Pate ever!”
Detroit-Style Pizza
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Try this Detroit-style pizza recipe the next time you want a crunchy, crispy, cheese-laden slice,” says Chef John, who shared this recipe. “Detroit-style pizza is a crispy, crusty, crazy-good pizza. It has the flavor elements of a slightly charred thin-crust pizza and the texture of a light and airy focaccia. If you use a properly shaped pan, the edges of your crust get wonderfully crunchy, making for a truly unique experience.”
Tater Tot Casserole
ALLRECIPES/VICTORIA JEMPTY
“Delicious,” raves Lori Hankins Carter. “I added onion rings (the kind on green bean casserole) and mixed it with the tater tots. Really good!”
