American Recipes
5,721 recipes
Ham and Cheese Stuffed Baked Potatoes with Vegetables
Ham and Swiss Baked Penne with Cheese Sauce
Mushroom Onion Beef Stew with Red Wine and Orange Peel
Mushroom Spinach Eggs Benedict with Crispy Pancetta
Navy Bean Squash Soup with Smoky Ham
Old-Fashioned Lean Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
Classic Homemade Vanilla Pudding with Cornstarch
Slow-Baked Beef Brisket with Tangy BBQ Sauce
Peaches and Cream Waffle Dippers with Peach Yogurt
Classic Pineapple Sour Cream Meringue Pie
Pan-Seared Salmon Sliders with Sun-Dried Tomato Aioli
16-Bean Soup with Tomatoes and Lemon
Chocolate Pecan Turtle Tart with Homemade Caramel Sauce
Classic Vanilla Egg Cream Soda
Coffee-Rubbed Steak with Smoky Chipotle Crust
Broiled Buttery Lobster Tails with Garlic Lemon
Homemade Honey Elderberry Immune Syrup
Classic Chocolate Buttermilk Pie with Cream Cheese Crust
Baked Apple Dumplings with Cinnamon Butter Sauce
Trio of Chocolate-Covered Pretzels with Peanut Butter, Yogurt, Caramel
Slow-Roasted Eye of Round with Garlic and Rosemary
Cincinnati Chili with Warm Spices and Cocoa
Creamy Vegan Dill Dip with Avocado
Prickly Pear Margarita with Salt Rim
American cooking draws from every corner of the world. German immigrants brought bratwurst. Italians taught us marinara. Chinese takeout became General Tso's chicken.
Think beyond burgers. Jambalaya simmers rice with andouille sausage at 325F for 45 minutes. New England clam chowder starts with salt pork rendered until crispy. Texas chili uses zero beans and 3 pounds of chuck roast per batch.
Most American recipes rely on the oven. Set it between 350F and 425F for nearly everything. Cast iron skillets go from stovetop to oven without thinking twice. Sheet pans handle 80% of weeknight dinners.
The pantry matters. Stock all-purpose flour, kosher salt, unsalted butter, and neutral oils like canola. Keep brown sugar, baking soda, and vanilla extract for cookies. Buy garlic powder and onion powder in bulk.
Regions define themselves through food. Louisiana builds flavor with the holy trinity: onions, celery, bell peppers in a 2:1:1 ratio. Kansas City slathers ribs in molasses-based sauce. Maine serves lobster rolls two ways: hot with butter or cold with mayo.
American breakfast deserves its own cookbook. Pancakes need buttermilk for tang and lift. Biscuits require cold butter cut into flour until pea-sized. Hash browns crisp best when potatoes soak in cold water for 20 minutes first.
Desserts lean sweet. Apple pie needs 6 cups of sliced Granny Smiths. Chocolate chip cookies improve with 36 hours of dough rest in the fridge. Cheesecake bakes in a water bath at 325F to prevent cracks.
This is food for feeding people. Casseroles stretch budgets. Slow cookers work while you're gone. Sheet pan dinners minimize dishes.
Forget fancy. American cooking values flavor over presentation. A perfectly seared burger beats molecular gastronomy every time.
Essential Ingredients
Key Techniques
FAQ
What oven temperature do most American recipes use?
Set your oven to 350F for 70% of American baking. Cookies need 375F for crispy edges. Roasted vegetables caramelize at 425F. Slow-roasted meats work at 275F to 300F. Pizza cranks up to 500F. Casseroles bubble away at 350F for 45 to 60 minutes. When in doubt, 350F rarely fails.
Which oils work best for different cooking methods?
Canola oil handles high heat up to 450F for frying chicken or searing steaks. Olive oil works under 400F for sautéing vegetables. Butter adds flavor but burns above 350F unless clarified. Vegetable oil stays neutral for baking. Peanut oil deep fries at 375F without smoking. Bacon grease saved in a jar seasons cast iron and flavors greens. Mix butter with oil to raise the smoke point while keeping butter flavor.
How do I convert between salted and unsalted butter?
One stick of salted butter contains 1/4 teaspoon salt. When recipes call for unsalted butter plus salt, reduce added salt by 1/4 teaspoon per stick if using salted butter. For 2 sticks salted butter, cut 1/2 teaspoon from the recipe's salt. Baking needs precision, so unsalted butter gives better control. Salted butter works fine for sautéing or spreading on bread.
What defines Midwest versus Southern cooking?
Midwest cooking uses Campbell's cream soups in 50% of casseroles, bakes at 350F for 45 minutes, and tops everything with crushed crackers or fried onions. Southern cooking starts with a roux, adds the trinity of vegetables, and simmers low for 2 to 3 hours. Midwest browns ground beef first. The South renders bacon or salt pork for fat. Both love cheese, but the Midwest grates mild cheddar while the South crumbles sharp white cheddar.