1. Pizza
When we think of pizza, we immediately picture a classic Italian dish, but this beloved food was reinvented in America by Italian immigrants. While pizza’s roots trace back to Naples, it wasn’t until Italian immigrants settled in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that it began to evolve into the form we recognize today. They adapted traditional recipes to local ingredients, eventually creating New York-style pizza and the deep-dish pizza from Chicago, both of which became American staples. The first pizzeria in the U.S. was opened in New York in 1905, and pizza quickly became a fixture in American cuisine shares Britannica.
Today, pizza has taken on an identity all its own in the U.S., with numerous regional variations and toppings that would be unrecognizable to Italians. It has been fully embraced by American culture, even influencing other countries’ takes on the dish. Despite its Italian heritage, the American versions, especially with their unique crusts and toppings, are distinctively “American.” Pizza is now considered a quintessential American comfort food, and you can find it in nearly every town, often with a distinctly American twist adds the Takeout.
2. Hot Dogs
The hot dog is often considered an American classic, but its origins can be traced back to German immigrants. German sausages, such as the Frankfurter and the Wiener, made their way to the U.S. in the 19th century, where they were sold by vendors at sporting events and fairs. Over time, these sausages were served in a bun, and the hot dog as we know it today was born. Immigrant vendors popularized it at events like baseball games, making it an instant hit says Chowhound.
What truly made the hot dog an American icon, though, was its transformation into a symbol of American culture and cuisine. The combination of the sausage and bun became a universal snack, often associated with summer barbecues, sporting events, and quick meals. While the hot dog has international roots, it has been so rebranded in the U.S. that it’s now synonymous with American fast food. Whether topped with mustard, ketchup, or chili, the hot dog is undeniably American in its current form adds Reader’s Digest.
3. Bagels
The bagel, now a beloved breakfast food in the U.S., was brought to America by Jewish immigrants from Poland. While the bagel has a long history in Eastern Europe, it was in New York that it began to gain popularity. Jewish immigrants started baking them with a slightly sweet dough, boiling the bagels before baking them to achieve the perfect chewy texture. The bagel was initially a simple and affordable snack for immigrants but quickly became a mainstream food item in the U.S.
In America, the bagel was transformed into a breakfast staple, often served with cream cheese, lox, and various toppings. The rise of bagel shops and the creation of the “bagel craze” in the late 20th century made the bagel a permanent fixture in American breakfasts. While bagels still hold cultural significance for Jewish Americans, they have become so ingrained in U.S. food culture that they’re now a symbol of American breakfast foods. The bagel is now commonly found in supermarkets, delis, and cafes across the country.
4. Chop Suey
Chop Suey, often seen as a classic American-Chinese dish, was invented in the U.S. rather than China. Legend has it that Chinese immigrants in the 19th century created the dish by combining leftover meat, vegetables, and a sauce as a way to serve their customers quickly and cheaply. Chop Suey became popular in the U.S. in the early 20th century, particularly among Chinese restaurant owners who wanted to adapt traditional Chinese ingredients to American tastes.
Despite its Chinese roots, Chop Suey has no direct counterpart in traditional Chinese cuisine. In fact, many Chinese immigrants found it amusing that Americans thought of it as “authentically Chinese.” Over time, Chop Suey became a symbol of Americanized Chinese food, found in almost every Chinese restaurant in the country. Today, it remains a staple of American Chinese cuisine, even though its original concept is a fusion of Chinese and American culinary traditions.
5. Apple Pie
Apple pie is often called “as American as apple pie,” but its origins are much older and rooted in Europe. Early American colonists adapted recipes for pies brought from England, the Netherlands, and France. These early pies were filled with various fruits, including apples, which were abundant in the U.S. By the 19th century, apple pie had become a symbol of American tradition and home cooking.
The phrase “as American as apple pie” emerged in the early 20th century, solidifying the idea that apple pie is a quintessential American dessert. Today, apple pie is a staple in American homes, especially during holidays like Thanksgiving. Though the recipe’s roots lie in European baking traditions, the association of apple pie with American culture is now so strong that it’s hard to imagine it as anything other than American.
6. Tacos
Tacos, as we know them today, are a product of Mexican immigrants adapting their cuisine to American tastes. While the taco itself has deep roots in Mexico, the Americanized version began to take shape in the early 20th century as Mexican immigrants moved to the U.S., particularly to the Southwest. The traditional taco, often made with soft corn tortillas and fresh ingredients, was reinterpreted with hard-shell tortillas and ground beef, making it more suitable for mass production and American palates.
In the U.S., tacos evolved further, with fast food chains like Taco Bell popularizing the hard-shell version and offering a variety of fillings like beef, chicken, and cheese. Tacos became a symbol of quick, affordable food in the U.S., embraced by people of all backgrounds. Despite their Mexican heritage, tacos in the U.S. have taken on a distinctly American identity, with new flavors, fillings, and toppings that reflect American tastes and convenience.
7. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is often thought of as a traditional Italian dish, but it was actually popularized in the U.S. by Italian immigrants. In Italy, pasta dishes were typically served with a small amount of meat, often in the form of a ragu or simple sauce. However, when Italian immigrants arrived in the U.S., they adapted their recipes to include larger meatballs, often made from beef or pork, and served them with pasta to create a more filling meal.
The combination of spaghetti and meatballs became a favorite in Italian-American households and eventually entered the mainstream American dining scene. It was Americanized further, with larger portions and a greater emphasis on the meatball. Today, spaghetti and meatballs is considered a classic American comfort food, and while it may have Italian roots, it has become a uniquely American dish.
8. Donuts
While donuts have roots in Dutch settlers who brought recipes for “olykoeks” (oil cakes) to the U.S., it wasn’t until American immigrants put their own spin on the treat that the modern donut was born. The donut hole, for instance, was introduced in the U.S. by an American immigrant named Hanson Gregory in 1847. He claimed to have invented it to solve the problem of uneven cooking in round donuts.
The donut quickly became a part of American food culture, thanks to the rise of donut shops and chains like Dunkin’ Donuts. The sweet, fried dough was rebranded into countless varieties, from filled donuts to frosted ones, and became a symbol of American convenience and indulgence. While it may have begun with Dutch influences, the donut is now fully embedded in American culinary traditions, particularly as a breakfast treat.
9. Falafel
Falafel, a deep-fried ball made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, originated in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt. When immigrants from the Middle East began arriving in the U.S. in the early 20th century, they introduced falafel to American diners. However, falafel underwent a transformation in the U.S., particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, when it became a popular vegetarian option in the growing health food movement.
While falafel remains a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, its popularity in the U.S. has made it an Americanized version of the dish. It is now commonly served in pita bread with vegetables and tahini, often as a quick, healthy meal option. The falafel’s transformation in the U.S. has led to its rebranding as an accessible and mainstream food, beloved by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
10. Caesar Salad
The Caesar salad, often thought of as an American classic, was actually invented by an Italian immigrant named Caesar Cardini. Cardini was a restaurant owner in Tijuana, Mexico, where he created the salad in the 1920s. The salad became popular with American tourists, and soon, the Caesar salad began to be served in restaurants across the U.S.
In the U.S., the Caesar salad underwent its own rebranding, with various twists on the original recipe, including the addition of chicken or shrimp and the use of pre-made dressing. Today, the Caesar salad is a fixture in American cuisine, often served as a side dish or appetizer. Though it was created by an Italian immigrant, it has become as American as any salad on the menu.
11. French Fries
Despite their name, French fries are actually believed to have been popularized in the U.S. by Belgian immigrants. The story goes that American soldiers stationed in Belgium during World War I were introduced to fries by locals and brought the dish back home. In America, fries became a beloved side dish, often paired with hamburgers and other fast food staples.
The U.S. took the concept of fried potatoes and turned it into a fast food phenomenon. French fries were rebranded as a quick, affordable snack, often served in large portions with various dipping sauces. Today, they are an essential part of American dining, found in nearly every fast food restaurant, and have become an iconic American food item, despite their Belgian origins.
12. Gyros
Gyros, a popular Greek dish made with spiced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, were introduced to the U.S. by Greek immigrants in the 1970s. While the dish has its roots in Greece, it was Americanized to cater to local tastes. The classic gyro consists of lamb or chicken, vegetables, and a yogurt-based sauce, all wrapped in pita bread.
In the U.S., gyros were embraced as a fast, flavorful meal that could be eaten on the go. The Greek immigrants adapted the recipe to suit American preferences, and over time, it became a popular street food in cities across the country. Though gyros remain an important part of Greek cuisine, their American version has taken on a life of its own, particularly in urban areas.
13. Philly Cheesesteak
The Philly cheesesteak, a sandwich made with thinly sliced steak, melted cheese, and a hoagie roll, is synonymous with Philadelphia, but its origins trace back to Italian immigrants. In the 1930s, two Italian immigrants, Pat and Harry Olivieri, are credited with creating the first cheesesteak sandwich. They combined beef, onions, and cheese on an Italian roll, and the sandwich quickly became a hit in Philadelphia.
Over the years, the Philly cheesesteak became rebranded as a quintessential American sandwich, closely tied to Philadelphia’s identity. It became a symbol of American fast food, served in restaurants and food trucks around the country. While the Philly cheesesteak’s Italian roots are clear, its evolution in the U.S. has made it a true American invention.