20 Traditional American Recipes

American cuisine is a vibrant tapestry woven from diverse cultural influences, reflecting the country's rich culinary heritage. This collection of 20 traditional American recipes showcases the beloved classics that have become staples in households across the nation.

From the hearty comfort of Southern fried chicken and New England clam chowder to the sweet indulgence of apple pie and pumpkin pie, these dishes embody the flavors and traditions that define American cooking.

Whether you're looking to recreate a familiar favorite or explore a new classic, these recipes offer a delicious journey through America's gastronomic landscape.

1. Classic Hamburger

A staple of American cuisine, the classic hamburger is made with ground beef, seasoned, and grilled to perfection. Serve on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and your favorite condiments.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 hamburger buns
• Lettuce, tomato, pickles, and condiments

Instructions:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Form ground beef into four patties, and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill patties for 4-5 minutes per side.
• Assemble burgers with buns, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and condiments.

2. New England Clam Chowder

A creamy, hearty soup featuring clams, potatoes, and onions, New England clam chowder is a beloved dish from the northeastern United States.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh clams, chopped
• 2 cups potatoes, diced
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 4 cups clam juice
• 2 cups heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Cook onions and potatoes in clam juice until tender.
• Add clams and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in cream, season with salt and pepper, and heat through.

3. Southern Fried Chicken

Crispy, golden-brown fried chicken is a Southern classic. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk, dredged in seasoned flour, and fried until crispy.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• Oil for frying

Instructions:

• Marinate chicken in buttermilk for at least 2 hours.
• Mix flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 350°F.
• Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through about 10-15 minutes.

4. Apple Pie

This iconic American dessert features a flaky crust filled with sweet, spiced apples.

Ingredients:

• 2 pie crusts
• 6 cups apples, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbsp flour

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Mix apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour.
• Place one crust in a pie pan, add the apple mixture, and top with the second crust.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes until golden brown.

5. Macaroni and Cheese

A comfort food favorite, this dish combines elbow macaroni with a creamy cheese sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Cook macaroni according to package instructions.
• Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour, and cook for 1 minute.
• Gradually add milk, stirring until thickened. Add cheese and stir until melted.
• Combine cheese sauce with macaroni and serve.

6. Buffalo Wings

Spicy and tangy, Buffalo wings are a popular appetizer, especially during sports events.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• 1 cup hot sauce
• 1/2 cup butter
• Celery sticks and blue cheese dressing for serving

Instructions:

• Fry chicken wings until crispy.
• Melt butter and mix with hot sauce.
• Toss wings in sauce and serve with celery and blue cheese dressing.

7. Meatloaf

A hearty, classic dish, meatloaf is made with ground beef, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, then baked and topped with a sweet ketchup glaze.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, eggs, salt, and pepper.
• Shape into a loaf and place in a baking dish. Top with ketchup.
• Bake for 1 hour.

8. Jambalaya

A Creole and Cajun rice dish from Louisiana, jambalaya is made with sausage, chicken, shrimp, and vegetables, all cooked together with rice.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb sausage, sliced
• 1 lb chicken, diced
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cups rice
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning

Instructions:

• Brown sausage and chicken in a large pot.
• Add onion and bell pepper, and cook until softened.
• Stir in rice, broth, tomatoes, and seasoning. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until pink.

9. Biscuits and Gravy

A Southern breakfast favorite, this dish features flaky biscuits topped with a rich sausage gravy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 lb sausage
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to form a dough.
• Roll out dough and cut into biscuits. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
• Brown sausage in a skillet. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Gradually add milk, stirring until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve biscuits topped with gravy.

10. Chili

A hearty stew made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices, chili is a popular dish for gatherings and cold weather.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cans of kidney beans
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Brown ground beef and onion in a large pot.
• Add beans, tomatoes, broth, and spices.
• Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

11. Cornbread

A classic Southern side dish, cornbread is made with cornmeal and baked until golden brown.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Stir in milk, butter, and egg until combined.
• Pour batter into a greased baking pan.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

12. Pot Roast

A comforting, slow-cooked dish, pot roast is made with beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions in a savory broth.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs beef chuck roast
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 4 potatoes, chopped
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Brown roast in a large pot.
• Add onion, carrots, potatoes, broth, and garlic.
• Cover and simmer for 3-4 hours until meat is tender.

13. Southern Barbecue Ribs

Tender, flavorful ribs slow-cooked and coated in a tangy barbecue sauce are a Southern favorite.

Ingredients:

• 2 racks of pork ribs
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Season ribs with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 2.5-3 hours until tender.
• Brush with barbecue sauce and bake for an additional 30 minutes.

14. Pecan Pie

A classic Southern dessert, pecan pie is made with a rich, gooey filling and crunchy pecans.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups pecans

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla.
• Stir in pecans and pour into pie crust.
• Bake for 60-70

15. Philly Cheesesteak

A beloved sandwich from Philadelphia, the Philly cheesesteak is made with thinly sliced beef, sautéed onions, and melted cheese, all served on a hoagie roll.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ribeye steak, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 4 hoagie rolls
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp oil

Instructions:

• Heat oil in a skillet and sauté onions until caramelized.
• Add steak slices, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned.
• Place cheese slices over the meat and allow to melt.
• Divide the mixture among the hoagie rolls and serve immediately.

16. New York Style Cheesecake

Rich and creamy, New York-style cheesecake is a decadent dessert with a graham cracker crust and smooth, velvety filling.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 4 packages (8 oz each) of cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 eggs

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter; press into the bottom of a springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
• Pour filling over crust and bake for 50-60 minutes until set.
• Cool and refrigerate before serving.

17. Pulled Pork

Slow-cooked until tender and then shredded, pulled pork is a favorite for sandwiches and barbecue feasts.

Ingredients:

• 4 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Rub pork shoulder with paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Place in a slow cooker with onion, vinegar, and brown sugar.
• Cook on low for 8-10 hours until pork is tender.
• Shred pork and mix with barbecue sauce.

18. Chicken and Dumplings

A comforting dish of tender chicken and fluffy dumplings in a rich broth, chicken and dumplings is a Southern classic.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Cook chicken in broth until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove chicken, shred, and set aside.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to form a dough.
• Drop dough by spoonfuls into simmering broth. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Return chicken to pot, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

19. S’mores

A campfire favorite, s’mores are made by sandwiching toasted marshmallows and chocolate between graham crackers.

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate bars

Instructions:

• Toast marshmallows over a fire or broil until golden brown.
• Sandwich marshmallows and chocolate between two graham crackers.
• Press gently to melt chocolate and enjoy warm.

20. Pumpkin Pie

A quintessential fall dessert, pumpkin pie features a spiced pumpkin filling in a flaky crust.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Mix pumpkin puree, sugar, and spices. Beat in eggs and evaporated milk.
• Pour filling into pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes until set.
• Cool before serving.

These traditional American recipes offer a taste of the diverse and rich culinary heritage of the United States. From hearty main dishes to delectable desserts, these classics are sure to bring comfort and satisfaction to any meal.