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America’s Food Fight: 7 Most Hated and 12 Most Loved Dishes

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Some foods spark pure joy, while others start arguments at the dinner table. We all have strong opinions about what deserves a second helping and what should never show up on a plate again. From divisive classics to beloved staples, America’s most hated and most loved dishes tell us a lot about our taste—and maybe even our personalities. Ready to see where your favorites (and least favorites) land?

Steak

A plate with two pieces of chicken fried steak with milk gravy.
Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


 

Golden, crunchy, and drowning in rich gravy—this Southern-style chicken fried steak is the kind of dish America can’t stop loving.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken Fried Chicken With Gravy

Burgers

Two burgers on a platter with chips
Smash Burgers With Special Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

Juicy, crispy, and dripping with special sauce—these smash burgers are proof that America still knows how to do comfort food right.
Get the Recipe: Smash Burgers With Special Sauce

Bacon

Bacon standing up in parchment paper in a cup.
Spicy Candied Bacon With Just 3 Ingredients. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Bacon lovers unite—this sweet, spicy, and crispy candied version is one of the most addictive bites in the country.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Candied Bacon With Just 3 Ingredients

Sliders

Barbecue hamburger sliders on a platter.
Bourbon Bbq Hamburger Sliders. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

These bold BBQ sliders pack major flavor in a mini bite—Americans love them for game day, parties, or anytime cravings hit.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Bbq Hamburger Sliders

Mac and Cheese

A spoon scooping out creamy mac and cheese from a black bowl.
Southern Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This old-school mac and cheese is everything we want—cheesy, creamy, and baked to perfection. No wonder it’s still beloved coast to coast.
Get the Recipe: Southern Old Fashioned Macaroni And Cheese Recipe

Mashed Potatoes

Butter on top of a bowl of mashed potatoes.
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Mascarpone Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fluffy, buttery, and make-ahead friendly—these mashed potatoes are America’s most dependable sidekick for any meal.
Get the Recipe: Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Mascarpone Cheese

Grilled Cheese

Close-up of a golden-brown grilled cheese sandwich, cut in half to reveal melted cheese oozing between two slices of toasted bread.
Ultimate Big City Grilled Cheese. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Melty cheese and golden bread—this grilled cheese goes big on flavor and nostalgia, making it a national favorite.
Get the Recipe: Ultimate Big City Grilled Cheese

Cobblers

A baking dish of chocolate cobbler topped with ice cream.
Gooey Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding (Chocolate Cobbler). Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This rich, fudgy cobbler is hot, gooey, and topped with melting ice cream—basically everything Americans dream of in dessert form.
Get the Recipe: Gooey Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding (Chocolate Cobbler)

Chocolate Cake

A piece of chocolate cake on a dessert plate.
From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Mississippi mud cake is the dessert of legends—layers of chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and frosting that never go out of style.
Get the Recipe: From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting

Pizza

Pepperoni pizza bites on a plate.
Baked Mini Tortilla Pizzas In A Muffin Tin. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

These tortilla pizza bites win hearts everywhere—fast, cheesy, and bite-sized fun that no one can resist.
Get the Recipe: Baked Mini Tortilla Pizzas In A Muffin Tin

Chicken Sandwich

A close-up of a sesame seed bun sandwich filled with leafy green lettuce, melted cheese, pickled red onions, and a breaded patty, served next to a pile of potato chips.
Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Photo credit: Savor the Best.

This crispy chicken sandwich is a fan favorite for a reason—golden, crunchy, spicy, and layered with creamy chipotle aioli. It’s fast food’s finest, done better.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Tex Mex

A juicy burger with melted cheese, red onion, fresh cilantro, and guacamole on a soft golden bun, served on a dark slate board.
Tex Mex Burgers with Guacamole. Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

Tex Mex flavors are bold, crave-worthy, and wildly popular—especially when wrapped up in a juicy burger with guac and spice. A true crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Tex Mex Burgers with Guacamole

Asparagus

Balsamic vinegar being poured over asparagus and mushrooms.
Roasted Balsamic Asparagus And Mushrooms. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Asparagus may be elegant, but it’s also one of America’s most divisive veggies. This balsamic-roasted version might convert a few skeptics—or not.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Balsamic Asparagus And Mushrooms

Anchovies

A skillet of salmon fillets with a spatula and a lemon.
Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Anchovies are the ultimate food fight ingredient—intensely salty, boldly fishy, and guaranteed to stir debate. This dish doesn’t hold back.
Get the Recipe: Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter

Pickles

Rows of yellow dried mango slices, half-dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with flaky sea salt, are arranged on parchment paper—perfect for adding a sweet and salty twist to your dessert dishes.
Chocolate Covered Pickles Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Chocolate-covered pickles? For some, it’s quirky genius. For others, it’s a snack straight out of a culinary nightmare.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pickles Recipe

Raisins

A serving spoon of noodle kugel.
Noodle Kugel Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This sweet noodle casserole has fans—but even more critics who can’t get past raisins in a pasta dish. One of America’s most misunderstood plates.
Get the Recipe: Noodle Kugel Recipe

Olives

A bowl of Greek salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese on a white surface—perfect for spring recipes. Small bowls of olives and feta are nearby.
Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Olives spark instant division. Whether tossed in salad or served solo, they’ve earned a top spot on America’s most polarizing foods list.
Get the Recipe: Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing

Collard Greens

A white plate filled with cooked collard greens and chopped onions, with two serving spoons placed on either side of the dish. The plate rests on a textured cloth.
Southern Vegan Collard Greens. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Bitter, leafy, and boldly Southern—collard greens are a cultural staple that plenty of Americans still refuse to warm up to.
Get the Recipe: Southern Vegan Collard Greens

Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts and crispy bacon pieces on a baking sheet, with caramelized edges and a golden-brown finish.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Tabasco Honey Glaze. Photo credit: Spicy Southern Kitchen.

No veggie has sparked more dinner-table drama than Brussels sprouts. Even with bacon and glaze, they still top the hate list for many.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Tabasco Honey Glaze

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