The Midwest is a treasure trove of hearty, comforting foods that tell stories of immigrant heritage, farming traditions, and good old-fashioned hospitality. From cheese-laden specialties to sweet treats that grandma used to make, these regional delicacies might not always make national headlines, but they certainly deserve a spot on your food bucket list.
Grab your stretchy pants and join me on a mouthwatering tour of the Midwest’s most delicious offerings!
1. Juicy Lucy Burgers
Imagine biting into what seems like a regular burger only to be greeted by an explosion of molten cheese from the center!
Minneapolis claims this inside-out cheeseburger as its own invention.
Two competing bars, Matt’s Bar and 5-8 Club, still battle over who created it first. Just remember the golden rule: patience prevents cheese burns!
2. Cincinnati Chili
Not your typical chili, folks! This Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce is served over spaghetti and topped with a mountain of finely shredded cheddar.
Locals order it by numbers—two-way, three-way, four-way, or five-way—depending on toppings. The secret ingredient? Chocolate or cinnamon!
3. Toasted Ravioli
St. Louis transformed ordinary ravioli into something magical by breading and deep-frying it to golden perfection. These crispy pockets of meat-filled goodness aren’t actually toasted—that’s just what happens when Italian immigrants misunderstand English instructions!
Served with marinara for dipping and dusted with parmesan, they’re the ultimate bar snack or appetizer.
4. Hotdish
Minnesota’s ultimate comfort food isn’t fancy, but boy does it hit the spot! This one-pan wonder combines cream soup, meat, veggies, and—crucially—tater tots on top.
Church basements and family gatherings would be incomplete without it. Each family guards their recipe like treasure. The classic tater tot version reigns supreme at potlucks across the North Star State.
5. Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
More like a savory pie than a traditional pizza, this Windy City icon features a buttery crust that climbs up the sides of a deep pan. The toppings go in backward—cheese first, then toppings, crowned with a lake of chunky tomato sauce.
One slice could feed a small family! The knife and fork requirement might scandalize New Yorkers, but Chicagoans wouldn’t have it any other way.
6. Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
Despite the name, this addictive snack isn’t for dogs! Chex cereal coated in a melty mixture of chocolate, peanut butter, and butter, then tossed in powdered sugar creates a sweet treat that disappears at Midwest parties.
Kids make it at sleepovers, and adults pretend they’re making it for the kids.
7. Polish Boy Sandwich
Cleveland’s gut-busting contribution to sandwich lore starts with a kielbasa sausage stuffed into a bun. Then comes the avalanche of french fries, tangy coleslaw, and a generous drizzle of barbecue sauce.
Eating one without making a mess is impossible. The sandwich represents Cleveland’s Polish heritage with a uniquely American excess that makes napkins mandatory equipment.
8. Loose Meat Sandwich
Iowa’s contribution to sandwich artistry isn’t pretty, but it’s darn delicious! Think of a sloppy joe without the sauce—just seasoned ground beef served on a bun. The meat isn’t formed into a patty, hence the “loose” description.
Made famous by Maid-Rite restaurants, locals know to lean forward while eating unless they want a lapful of meat crumbles.
9. Runza/Bierock
Nebraska’s beloved pocket sandwich reflects its German-Russian immigrant heritage. These yeast dough pockets stuffed with seasoned ground beef, onions, and cabbage are the ultimate portable meal.
The Runza fast-food chain made them famous, but grandmas across the state still make them from scratch. They’re perfect for cold football games!
10. Detroit-Style Pizza
Motor City’s rectangular pizza is having a national moment! Baked in blue steel pans originally used for automotive parts, this pizza features a thick, airy crust with crispy, caramelized cheese edges that pizza lovers fight over.
The signature move? Stripes of tomato sauce ladled on top after baking.
11. Cheese Curds
Wisconsin’s squeaky cheese phenomenon is dairy at its most playful! Fresh curds should squeak against your teeth—a sign of ultimate freshness. The sound disappears after 12 hours, making them a true local delicacy.
While delicious fresh, they reach new heights of glory when beer-battered and deep-fried. Gas stations throughout Wisconsin sell them in bags!
12. St. Paul Sandwich
Despite the Minnesota name, you’ll only find this curiosity in St. Louis Chinese restaurants. An egg foo young patty (savory Chinese omelet) is stuffed into white bread with mayo, lettuce, pickles, and tomato.
Created by a Chinese chef who named it after his hometown, this fusion oddity costs about $5 and could feed two people.
13. Kansas City Burnt Ends
BBQ royalty! These crusty, caramelized cubes from the pointed end of a smoked beef brisket were once given away free as scraps. Now they’re the most prized part of Kansas City barbecue.
Double-smoked and coated in sweet-spicy sauce, they deliver an intense flavor bomb with the perfect bark-to-meat ratio. True KC joints often sell out of burnt ends before noon—the ultimate BBQ treasure hunt!
14. Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Indiana’s iconic sandwich defies physics and plate boundaries! A thin-pounded pork cutlet is breaded, fried until crispy, then served on a comically small bun. The meat typically extends 2-3 inches beyond the bread on all sides.
Old-school diners compete for who makes the biggest version. Hoosiers know the proper eating technique: Start with the crispy edges hanging off the bun before tackling the sandwich proper.
15. Gooey Butter Cake
St. Louis strikes again with this happy baking accident from the 1930s! A baker supposedly mixed up cake ingredient proportions, creating this flat, dense, sticky-sweet treat that’s part cake, part custard, part butterscotch candy.
The traditional version uses a yeasted base, though cream cheese variants now dominate.
16. Buckeyes
Ohio’s beloved candy pays homage to its state tree with these peanut butter balls partially dipped in chocolate to resemble buckeye nuts. The creamy-sweet interior balances perfectly with the chocolate exterior.
During football season, these treats multiply across the Buckeye State. The critical technique? Leaving a circle of peanut butter exposed to maintain the authentic buckeye appearance.
17. Fried Bologna Sandwich
Elevated lunch meat! Throughout the Midwest, especially in Ohio and Michigan, thick-cut bologna is fried until the edges curl up, creating a bowl-like shape that collects maximum flavor.
Served on white bread with yellow mustard and maybe American cheese, it’s working-class comfort food at its finest.
18. Sugar Cream Pie
Indiana’s state pie (yes, that’s a thing) dates back to pioneer days when fresh fruit wasn’t available. This simple custard pie uses pantry staples—sugar, cream, flour, and butter—to create something magical.
Often called “desperation pie” for its humble origins, the caramelized sugar top and creamy interior prove that simple ingredients can create extraordinary results.
19. Swedish Meatballs
The Upper Midwest’s Scandinavian heritage shines through these tender, spiced meatballs swimming in creamy gravy. Unlike their Italian cousins, these feature nutmeg, allspice, and sometimes cardamom for a distinctive Nordic flavor.
Church suppers and holiday tables throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas wouldn’t be complete without them.
20. Chicago-Style Hot Dog
A complete meal disguised as a hot dog! This Windy City classic follows strict rules: all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun “dragged through the garden” with yellow mustard, neon-green relish, onions, tomato wedges, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt.
Asking for ketchup might get you exiled from Chicago.