The Ultimate Foodie Road Trip: 20 Must-Try Recipe Dishes Across The USA

1. New Orleans, Louisiana – Gumbo

A flavorful stew with seafood, sausage, and okra.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup flour
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 lb andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 cup okra, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Make a dark roux by cooking oil and flour over medium heat, stirring constantly.
2. Add onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes.
3. Pour in broth, tomatoes, and seasoning. Add sausage, okra, and bay leaves. Simmer for 45 minutes.
4. Stir in shrimp and cook for 5 minutes. Serve hot over rice.

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2. Chicago, Illinois – Deep-Dish Pizza

A thick, buttery crust filled with layers of cheese, sauce, and toppings.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups flour
• ½ cup cornmeal
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 packet yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ lb Italian sausage

Instructions:

1. Mix yeast with warm water and let it bloom. Add flour, cornmeal, salt, and oil. Knead until smooth.
2. Let the dough rise for an hour.
3. Press into a greased deep-dish pan.
4. Layer cheese first, then sausage, then sauce.
5. Bake at 425°F for 30 minutes.

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3. Austin, Texas – BBQ Brisket

Slow-smoked beef brisket with a crispy bark and juicy interior.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole beef brisket (10-12 lbs)
• ¼ cup salt
• ¼ cup black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder

Instructions:

1. Rub brisket with seasonings and let it rest overnight.
2. Smoke at 225°F for 10-12 hours until tender.
3. Let rest for 30 minutes before slicing.

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4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philly Cheesesteak

Thinly sliced beef and melted cheese on a soft hoagie roll.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ribeye steak, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 hoagie rolls
• 8 slices provolone cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook onions in oil until caramelized.
2. Sear steak slices until browned.
3. Melt cheese over the steak.
4. Serve in hoagie rolls.

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5. New York City, New York – Bagels with Lox & Cream Cheese

Chewy bagels topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and capers.

Ingredients:

• 4 bagels
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 oz smoked salmon
• 1 tbsp capers
• ½ red onion, sliced

Instructions:

1. Slice bagels and toast.
2. Spread cream cheese, add salmon, capers, and onion.

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6. Nashville, Tennessee – Hot Chicken

Crispy, spicy fried chicken served with pickles and white bread.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tbsp cayenne
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Marinate chicken in buttermilk for 2 hours.
2. Dredge in seasoned flour.
3. Fry at 350°F until golden brown.
4. Brush with cayenne oil and serve with pickles.

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7. San Francisco, California – Sourdough Bread Bowl with Clam Chowder

A creamy, hearty chowder served in a fresh sourdough bread bowl.

Ingredients:

• 4 small round sourdough bread loaves
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 can (6.5 oz) chopped clams, with juice
• 1 cup diced potatoes
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cut a hole in the top of each bread loaf and remove some inside bread to create a bowl.
2. In a pot, melt butter and sauté onion, celery, and garlic until softened.
3. Sprinkle flour, stir well, and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add broth, cream, clam juice, potatoes, and thyme. Simmer until potatoes are tender.
5. Stir in clams and heat for 5 minutes.
6. Serve in sourdough bread bowls.

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8. Miami, Florida – Cuban Sandwich

A pressed sandwich with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles.

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf Cuban bread (or French bread)
• ½ lb roast pork, sliced
• ½ lb ham, sliced
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• ¼ cup yellow mustard
• ¼ cup sliced pickles
• 2 tbsp butter

Instructions:

1. Slice the bread in half and spread mustard on both sides.
2. Layer Swiss cheese, ham, roast pork, and pickles.
3. Close sandwich and spread butter on the outside.
4. Press in a panini press or cook in a skillet with a heavy pan on top until golden brown and cheese melts.

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9. Seattle, Washington – Salmon Teriyaki

Fresh grilled salmon glazed in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, mix soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in cornstarch mixture and cook until thickened.
3. Grill salmon for 4 minutes per side.
4. Brush with teriyaki sauce before serving.

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10. Los Angeles, California – Tacos Al Pastor

Flavorful, marinated pork tacos topped with pineapple and cilantro.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pork shoulder, thinly sliced
• 2 dried guajillo chilies
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 8 small corn tortillas
• ½ cup diced pineapple
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro

Instructions:

1. Blend guajillo chilies (soaked), pineapple juice, vinegar, and spices.
2. Marinate pork for at least 3 hours.
3. Grill pork until slightly charred.
4. Serve in tortillas with pineapple and cilantro.

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11. Charleston, South Carolina – Shrimp & Grits

A creamy, savory Southern favorite.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup grits
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 2 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ cup chicken broth

Instructions:

1. Boil water and milk, stir in grits, and cook until creamy. Add butter and salt.
2. Cook bacon until crispy, then remove.
3. Sauté shrimp in bacon fat with Cajun seasoning.
4. Add garlic and broth, simmer for 3 minutes.
5. Serve shrimp over grits, topped with bacon.

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12. Kansas City, Missouri – Burnt Ends

Smoky, caramelized brisket cubes.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs brisket point
• 2 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions:

1. Season brisket with spices and smoke at 225°F for 8 hours.
2. Cut into cubes, toss with BBQ sauce, and smoke for 1 more hour.

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13. Boston, Massachusetts – Lobster Roll

Fresh lobster salad in a toasted, buttered roll.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb cooked lobster meat
• ¼ cup mayo
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped celery
• 4 split-top hot dog buns
• 2 tbsp butter

Instructions:

1. Mix lobster, mayo, lemon juice, and celery.
2. Butter and toast buns.
3. Fill buns with lobster salad.

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14. Albuquerque, New Mexico – Green Chile Cheeseburger

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 4 green chilies, roasted and chopped
• 4 slices pepper jack cheese
• 4 hamburger buns

Instructions:

1. Season beef, form patties, and grill.
2. Top with cheese and green chilies.
3. Serve on toasted buns.

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15. Portland, Oregon – Voodoo Doughnuts

Unique flavored doughnuts with fun toppings.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup milk
• 2 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

1. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine.
2. Roll out dough, cut doughnuts, and fry until golden.

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16. Denver, Colorado – Rocky Mountain Oysters

A regional delicacy—deep-fried bull testicles.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Rocky Mountain oysters
• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Slice, coat in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
2. Fry until golden brown.

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17. Memphis, Tennessee – Dry-Rub Ribs

Smoky, spice-rubbed ribs with no sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2 racks pork ribs
• 2 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Rub ribs with spices.
2. Smoke at 225°F for 5 hours.

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18. Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati Chili

Spiced meat sauce over spaghetti.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 cup tomato sauce

Instructions:

1. Brown beef and onions. Add spices and tomato sauce.
2. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve over spaghetti.

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19. Minneapolis, Minnesota – Juicy Lucy

A burger with molten cheese inside.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 slices American cheese
• 4 hamburger buns

Instructions:

1. Form patties around cheese.
2. Grill until cheese is melted inside.

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20. Savannah, Georgia – Peach Cobbler

Sweet peaches with a crispy topping.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups sliced peaches
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup butter

Instructions:

1. Mix peaches with sugar and cinnamon.
2. Crumble flour and butter on top.
3. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.