Search locations or food
OR
Sign up

What to eat in the United States of America? Top 8 American Cheese Dishes

Last update: Tue Apr 15 2025
Top 8 American Cheese Dishes
VIEW MORE
01

Appetizer

CHICAGO, United States of America
4.4
Flaming Saganaki
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Flaming saganaki is an American appetizer originating from Chicago's Greektown. Essentially, it's a different way of preparing saganaki – a dish that's originally from Greece, made by frying cheese in a small pan. Flaming saganaki was invented in 1968 at The Parthenon restaurant – after it has been fried, the cheese is flambéed with Metaxa or Ouzo and the flames are extinguished with a squeeze of lemon juice.


The cheese used in this dish is usually sheep's milk feta, halloumi, graviera, kasseri, or kefalotyri. This appetizer is traditionally prepared tableside.

MOST ICONIC Flaming Saganaki

1
2
3
02

Snack

MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES, United States of America and  one more country
4.2
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

A local delicacy in the cuisine of the Midwestern United States and Canada, deep-fried cheese curds are made from curds that form before cheeses like cheddar are formed into blocks or wheels and left to age. Fresh curds have a rubbery texture and squeak slightly when bitten into, which is why they are sometimes referred to as squeaky cheese.


The squeak is a sign of its freshness, and after about twelve hours, the curds begin to lose their squeak, so they should be eaten on the day they are produced. Since there are many cheese factories and dairies in Wisconsin, the best and freshest cheese curds are produced in that state. 

MOST ICONIC Cheese curds

View more
1
2
3
4
5
03

Cheese Dish

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
4.1
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Mozzarella sticks are one of America's favorite cheesy snacks consisting of battered, breaded, and deep-fried pieces of mozzarella cheese. Although they are traditionally served as an appetizer with marinara sauce, these cheesy sticks can also be paired with plum sauce, honey mustard sauce, raspberry sauce, Ranch dressing, or barbecue sauce.


Mozzarella sticks were not common before the late 1970s and the early 1980s, and some food experts believe that they were first served in sports bars and bowling alleys.

MOST ICONIC Mozzarella Sticks

View more
1
2
3
4
5
04

Side Dish

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
4.0
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

This simple fast food dish is made by topping french fries with melted cheese. Depending on the varieties of the dish, the cheese is sometimes enriched with the addition of various vegetables, meats, and spices. Although not much is known about the history of cheese fries, it is believed that it gained popularity after 1952, when canned cheese products became available in the United States of America.


What is known, however, is that this comforting side dish is a staple of numerous diners and fast food joints across the country.

MOST ICONIC Cheese Fries

View more
1
2
3
4
5
05

Sweet Pie

NEW ENGLAND, United States of America
4.0
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Cheese - specifically the sharp cheddar cheese - has left a whole nation divided between those who cannot imagine their apple pie without cheese, and those who refuse to spoil something as noble as a slice of American apple pie with cheese that is aged and slightly pungent.


Although believed to have its roots in New England, some suggest that cheddar cheese apple pie can be traced back to England, and even further to ancient times, when the combination of cheese, fruit, and nuts was common. The consumption of apple pie with cheese is typical of and often deeply rooted in the tradition of regions such as New England, Pennsylvania, and the Midwest, as well as certain parts of Canada and Britain. 

MOST ICONIC Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie

View more
1
2
3
4
5
06

Pasta

VIRGINIA, United States of America
3.9
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Mac and cheese—a seemingly simple combination of macaroni and melted cheese—is one of the most popular dishes in the United States. The preferred American combination consists of curved macaroni pasta and Cheddar cheese, but modern varieties include vegetables, breadcrumb toppings, or gourmet ingredients such as crab, lobster, or truffles.


Although it is an American staple, the dish was probably inspired by similar pasta dishes enjoyed in Italy and France. In the United States, it was popularized by none other than Thomas Jefferson. He fell in love with the combination of pasta and cheese during his European travels, and soon after returning, he started importing macaroni and had the pasta machine shipped to Virginia. 

MOST ICONIC Mac and Cheese

View more
1
2
3
4
5
07

Appetizer

TUCSON, United States of America
3.2
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Cheese crisp is an American dish originating from Arizona. It consists of a flour tortilla that is topped with shredded cheese in its most basic form. The tortilla is placed in a butter-brushed pan which is put under a broiler until it develops a crisp texture.


Cheeses such as Cheddar, Oaxaca, or Monterey Jack are typically used in the preparation of the cheese crisp. There are numerous variations, so the dish can also be topped with a variety of ingredients such as onions, carne asada, cilantro, jalapeños, bell peppers, and shrimp. 

MOST ICONIC Arizona Cheese Crisp

1
2
08

Casserole

KENTUCKY, United States of America
n/a
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Kentucky cheese pudding is a traditional casserole originating from Kentucky. It's usually made with a combination of soda crackers, cheddar cheese, hard-boiled eggs, hot peppers, flour, butter, half-and-half (equal parts whole milk and cream), salt, and pepper.


The flour and butter are whisked into a smooth paste and mixed with salt, pepper, and half-and-half over low heat until the sauce thickens. The sauce is poured into a greased casserole dish, topped with cracker crumbs, and layers of eggs, cheese, and pimentos are then arranged until all the ingredients are used up. 

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 8 American Cheese Dishes” list until April 15, 2025, 1,554 ratings were recorded, of which 1,405 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

Show Map
American Cheese Dishes