Heartland Cuisine

Heartland Cuisine celebrates the comforting, hearty dishes of America’s agricultural interior. Rooted in the farms, small towns, and close-knit communities of the Midwest and Great Plains, these recipes showcase the region’s abundance of dairy, grains, beef, pork, and seasonal produce. From church potlucks and family suppers to iconic regional specialties, Heartland cooking reflects the warmth, resourcefulness, and hospitality that have long defined life in the American heartland.

Upper Midwest

  • Common ingredients include dairy products, freshwater fish, beef, pork, wild rice and berries

  • Characterized by hearty casseroles and is heavily influenced by Scandinavian, German and Eastern European cuisines

  • Popular dishes include hotdish, fried cheese curds, corn & beef, chicken booyah and fried walleye

Mormon

  • Dishes include funeral potatoes, jello salad, Hawaiian haystacks

  • Read more about mormon cuisine here

Great Plains

  • Common ingredients include beef, pork, wheat and corn

  • Popular dishes include loose meat sandwiches, runzas, corn casserole, bierocks

Recipe Archive
South Dakota Chislic
South Dakota Chislic

Region: South Dakota

Runza
Runza

Region: Nebraska

Chili and Cinnamon Rolls
Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Region: Great Plains, Mountain States

Hotdish
Hotdish

Region: Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin)