Introduction
I hope everyone had an excellent 4th of July weekend. I got some vegan American recipes to share with you that are more than junk food. The United States has vast gastronomy with many food inventions and innovations.
Here are 50 traditional vegan American recipes that you can try today, one for every state, including but not limited to the following.
- Shrimp and Grits
- Salmon
- Pozole
- Fried Okra
- Cobb Salad
If you have more ideas on what foods best represent your state, comment below.
1. Shrimp and Grits (Alabama)
Shrimp and grits is a popular breakfast dish in Alabama, especially with the fishers. This is also eaten in other states, like South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. If you want a vegan version, have some vegan shrimp and grits from The Vegan Atlas.
For more breakfast ideas, here’s my vegan breakfast blog post.
2. Salmon (Alaska)
Alaska is famous for its seafood, especially wild salmon. I vacationed in Alaska but eat any salmon there because I’m vegan.
A plant-based alternative is this vegan salmon recipe from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
3. Pozole (Arizona)
Mexico has heavily influenced Arizona’s cuisine because it used to be a part of Mexico and due to many Mexican Americans residing there. That’s why pozole is famous there. Luckily, you can make a vegan pozole with the help of Mexican Made Meatless.
If this sounds good, you may also enjoy my blog post on vegan Mexican recipes.
4. Fried Okra (Arkansas)
Another Southern favorite is fried okra. Okra came from Africa to the United States due to slavery. Try some vegan fried okra from FatFree Vegan.
You may like more okra recipes.
5. Cobb Salad (California)
In the ’30s, Bob Cobb invented the Cobb salad in his Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, California. This was also the birthplace of the Shirley Temple. Today, a replica of this well-known eatery is one of the dining options at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
Eating Bird Food has a vegan Cobb salad recipe and a chicken one.
6. Lobster Mac and Cheese (Colorado)
Lobster mac and cheese is a typical dish served in Denver restaurants. I hope you enjoy this vegan lobster mac and cheese from Rabbit and Wolves.
If this recipe sounded familiar, it was also in my vegan mac and cheese blog post.
7. Lobster Rolls (Connecticut)
You can find tons of lobster rolls across New England, not just in Connecticut. The East has lots of seafood, being by the Atlantic Ocean. Maine and Massachusetts, in particular, are the biggest lobster producers in America.
Enjoy some vegan lobster rolls from The Edgy Veg. If you want additional plant-based seafood alternatives, you may like my blog post on plant-based Lent recipes.
8. Apple Butter (Delaware)
Apple butter was invented in European monasteries, and it came to colonial America through immigration. Delaware in particular has lots of apple butter and lemon butter.
Make some vegan apple butter with the help of Minimalist Baker.
9. Key Lime Pie (Florida)
Key lime pie was invented in Key West, Florida, and it is super popular throughout the Florida Keys. Here’s some vegan Key lime pie from Food with Feeling.
For more pies, here’s my vegan pie blog post.
10. Chicken and Dumplings (Georgia)
Chicken and dumplings is a Southern comfort food. Try some vegan chicken and dumplings from Bohemian Vegan Kitchen.
11. Poke Bowl (Hawaii)
Poke is a Hawaiian dish made out of raw fish. Today, poke bowls are trendy across the United States. Here’s a vegan poke bowl from Bianca Zapatka.
12. Huckleberry Ice Cream (Idaho)
I first had huckleberries on our vacation to Traverse City, Michigan, and they are also grown a lot in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho’s state fruit is huckleberry.
Make some vegan huckleberry ice cream thanks to LaRena’s Corner.
13. Chicago-Style Pizza (Illinois)
Many American cities have their version of pizza. Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizzas. Create vegan Chicago-style pizza from Seitan Beats Your Meat.
You may also like my vegan pizza blog post.
14. Corn Dogs (Indiana)
One of my siblings told me that the best food that characterizes a state’s cuisine is state fair food, and a crowd favorite in Indiana is a corn dog. Indiana is also home to Bristol, the Corn Dog Capital of the Word.
Make these vegan corn dogs from Make It Dairy Free.
15. Maid-Rite (Iowa)
I’ve always lived in Iowa. One Iowa classic is a Maid-Rite, a loose meat sandwich similar to a sloppy joe. It was invented by an Iowa restaurant chain called Maid-Rite.
For a plant-based alternative, have a vegan Maid-Rite from Ugly Vegan Kitchen.
16. Barbecue (Kansas)
My Irish twin studied piano at the University of Kansas, and he loved going to Kansas City to have some tasty barbecue. I don’t know the difference because I don’t like condiments, but when I visited Kansas City on a mission trip with my college's Catholic church, everyone else was pleased by how yummy the barbecue was.
Try a vegan BBQ sandwich from Minimalist Baker.
17. Fried Chicken (Kentucky)
When I think of Kentucky, I first imagine fried chicken because of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), one of the biggest food chains worldwide. Even though the first KFC restaurant opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, Colonel Sanders first made his famous fried chicken recipe in Corbin, Kentucky.
Have some vegan fried chicken from Sweet Simple Vegan. This recipe may also work for a vegan graduation party.
18. Gumbo (Louisiana)
Louisiana is the home of Cajun cuisine, which includes but is not limited to jambalaya, a crawfish boil, and gumbo. Try some vegan gumbo from Loving It Vegan.
19. Maple Syrup (Maine)
Maine and other parts of New England are excellent maple syrup producers. Here is a vegan maple syrup recipe from Veggie Balance.
20. Crab Cakes (Maryland)
Maryland is famous for its crab cakes. Make some vegan crab cakes with the help of FoodByMaria.
21. Boston Cream Pie (Massachusetts)
Massachusetts’s state dessert is Boston cream pie. Don’t be confused by its name because it’s a cake. Bake a vegan Boston cream pie from Nora Cooks.
For more cakes, here is my vegan cake blog post.
22. Pasties (Michigan)
The difference between pasties and pastries is the same as how pot pies aren’t the same as pies. Pastries are like pies because they are sweet desserts while pasties and pot pies are alike because they are savory dishes.
Here are some vegan pasties from Domestic Gothess.
23. Pizza Rolls (Minnesota)
Minnesota native Jeno Paulucci invented pizza rolls in the ’60s. After Pillsbury bought and rebranded his company, Jeno’s Pizza Rolls are now known as Totino’s Pizza Rolls.
Try making these vegan pizza rolls from Eat Figs, Not Pigs.
24. Hush Puppies (Mississippi)
Hush puppies are a Southern favorite. If you want a different side besides fries, have some vegan hush puppies from The Vegan 8.
25. Butter Cake (Missouri)
Butter cake is made a lot in St. Louis, Missouri. You can find this vegan butter cake recipe on House Foods’ website and on the recipe writer’s blog (HealthyHappyLife).
26. Chicken Fried Steak (Montana)
In Montana, chicken fried steak is also served for breakfast. Here is some vegan chicken fried steak from The Edgy Veg.
27. Reuben Sandwich (Nebraska)
There is a debate on if the Reuben sandwich came from New York or Nebraska. Either way, it’s a sandwich that many Nebraskans love.
Try a vegan Reuben sandwich from The Curious Chickpea.
28. Prime Rib (Nevada)
No matter where you go in Nevada, you’re bound to find some prime rib on your menu, in the buffet, available in the deli, you name it.
For a plant-based option, have some vegan prime rib from Made by the Mountain.
29. Cider Donuts (New Hampshire)
Before I went vegan, I ate some cider donuts at a local apple orchard in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and they’re pretty good. Cider donuts are much more prominent in New England with their array of apple orchards.
If you like donuts, bake some vegan cider donuts from Vegan Richa. Then, feel free to read my blog post on vegan apple recipes.
30. Disco Fries (New Jersey)
Even though the disco days are long gone, disco fries remain one of the best things to eat in New Jersey. Here are some vegan disco fries from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen.
31. Breakfast Burrito (New Mexico)
Even though burritos came from Mexico, a New Mexican restaurant was supposedly the first to put breakfast burritos on its menus. Thanks to Tia Sophia’s, millions have enjoyed the wonders of breakfast burritos at fast food chains, as frozen single-serving meals, and made from scratch at home. Have some vegan breakfast burritos from Love and Lemons.
If you prefer tacos over burritos, here is my vegan taco blog post.
32. Eggs Benedict (New York)
Eggs Benedict is a breakfast dish that was invented in Manhattan.
If you have an egg sensitivity like my youngest sister or prefer eating plant-based, you may enjoy this eggs Benedict recipe from Sweet Simple Vegan.
33. Krispy Kreme Donuts (North Carolina)
One of my cousins loves glazed donuts, and Krispy Kreme is one of the best donut shops around. The first Krispy Kreme opened in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it is now well-known across America.
Sadly, we don’t have any Krispy Kreme locations nearby. Instead, I’ll settle for making vegan Krispy Kreme glazed donuts at home thanks to The Big Man’s World.
34. Knoephla (North Dakota)
Knoephla is a famous soup in the Dakotas and Minnesota due to its high German ancestry. Have some vegan knoephla from Zsu’s Vegan Pantry.
You may like these soup recipes.
35. Buckeyes (Ohio)
Ohio is known for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Ohio Buckeye (its state tree), and buckeye candy. Try some vegan buckeyes from The Conscious Plant Kitchen.
36. Pecan Pie (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma’s official state meal includes some pecan pie for dessert. Bake some vegan pecan pie from Wow, It’s Veggie?!.
37. Tater Tots (Oregon)
Tater tots were invented in Ontario, Oregon, by the Nephi and Golden Grigg, owners of Ore-Ida. The company initially fed potato scraps from their French fries to cattle, but after learning the waste was more than expected, they repurposed them and invented a new potato dish called tater tots.
Make homemade tater tots with the help of Romy London.
38. Chocolate Bars (Pennsylvania)
Pennsylvania is the home of Hershey’s, one of the biggest candy brands worldwide. Milton Hershey started making candy in the late 1800s, and his recipes live on through Hershey’s milk chocolate bars and Hershey’s Kisses. Also, Reese’s was initially made with Hershey’s chocolate before it became a part of Hershey’s.
If you prefer a dairy-free or vegan candy bar, have some vegan chocolate bars from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen. I also wrote a blog post about vegan and vegan-friendly candy brands.
39. Calamari (Rhode Island)
Calamari is huge in Rhode Island. Try some vegan calamari from hot for food.
40. Pimento Cheese (South Carolina)
Even though South Carolina didn’t invent pimento cheese, this state stepped this recipe up with sharp cheddar cheese, pimentos, and Duke’s mayonnaise. Here is some vegan pimento cheese from Glue & Glitter.
41. Cookies and Cream Ice Cream (South Dakota)
Shirley Seas invented cookies and cream ice cream in 1979 at South Dakota State University. Make some vegan cookies and cream ice cream from Loving It Vegan.
42. Cosmic Brownies (Tennessee)
Little Debbie is one of the brands of McKee Foods, both based in Tennessee. My favorite of Little Debbie’s products is Cosmic Brownies. Here are some vegan Cosmic Brownies from Six Vegan Sisters.
You may like these brownie recipes.
43. Frito Pie (Texas)
The most believable origin of Frito pie is it was created by Daisy Doolin in Texas. She was the mother of Fritos’ founder, Charles Elmer Doolin. We have a similar concept in Iowa called a walking taco that uses Doritos in a bag instead of Fritos.
Make some vegan Frito pie from Holy Cow Vegan.
44. Jello (Utah)
Utah has the highest jello consumption per capita in the United States. Here’s a vegan jello recipe from Detoxinista.
45. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (Vermont)
I’m familiar with strawberry rhubarb desserts because my family makes many of them in late spring and early summer. It’s also a thing in Vermont because they like their strawberry rhubarb pie. Bake a vegan strawberry rhubarb pie from From My Bowl.
For more inspiration, I wrote blog posts on strawberries and rhubarb.
46. Biscuits and Gravy (Virginia)
Biscuits and gravy has been a popular breakfast dish in the South for over 200 years, especially in Virginia. Have some vegan biscuits and gravy from The Simple Veganista.
47. Almond Roca (Washington)
Almond Roca is a chocolate-covered toffee that was invented in Tacoma, Washington. Make some vegan Almond Roca with the help of Curated by Jennifer.
48. Skillet Cornbread (West Virginia)
A massive difference between cornbread made in the South and the North is that Southern cornbread is usually made in a skillet instead of a baking pan. Here’s some vegan skillet cornbread from Choosing Chia.
You may also like my vegan corn blog post.
49. Cheese Curds (Wisconsin)
While one of my younger brothers attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of his favorites was their cheese curds. Make some vegan cheese curds from Serene Trail.
50. Cowboy Cookies (Wyoming)
The last American recipe I have for you is some cowboy cookies, which are super popular in Wyoming. Have some vegan cowboy cookies from Simply Whisked.
If you like cookies, you may enjoy my vegan cookie blog post.
Conclusion
Even though the USA is less than 250 years old, America has changed so much regarding gastronomy. We have fast food chains, various local cuisines, and much influence from our immigrant ancestors.
My apologies for not getting this blog post done before the 4th of July. I’ll try to write the holiday blog posts more in advance moving forward.
If you liked this blog post, I will write some more holiday blog posts, including but not limited to vegan Halloween recipes, vegan Thanksgiving recipes, and vegan Christmas recipes. Have a great July!