We hear talk of traditional Minnesota foods over and over again, but for the most part, we’re getting laughed at. We still can’t live down lutefisk, and we still can’t let go of that whole grape salad thing either (we swear, our Thanksgivings are top-notch), so it’s time to do a quick roundup of foods that are truly 100% Minnesotan, and 100% delicious. Eat it: literally.

  1. Juicy Lucys

Flickr/Kim No matter how many times they are argued about, burgers full of molten hot delicious cheese are still our most prized invention.

  1. Bundt Cake

Flickr/Eliza Adam We’re the home of Nordic Ware, so bundt cakes are literally bred into our next generation of cooks. And nobody’s ever angry about that.

  1. Venison

Flickr/Jeremy Keith In a state with more deer than college students, we certainly know how to make some good venison.

  1. Walleye

Flickr/Bill Roehl There’s just no Minnesota summer without chowing down on some Walleye fresh from one of our 10,000 lakes.

  1. Lefse

Flickr/Sean Hayford Oleary Nothing says comfort food quite like lefse during the holidays. Probably because the best is made by Minnesotan grandmas.

  1. Swedish Meatballs

Flickr/Karl Baron Another tie to our nordic heritage, the Swedish meatballs in MN are seriously uff-da hook. And no, we aren’t talking about the ones at Ikea.

  1. SPAM (Attention! SPAM is not from Hawaii!)

Flickr/Patricia Booth Another made in MN food. If you don’t like it - you’re eating it wrong! This stuff is so amazing people collect it in every size, shape, and flavor. Who else can’t wait for the museum to reopen this spring?

  1. Nut Goodies

Jo Magliocco One of MN’s own candies. We consume them in large quantities strictly to support local businesses. I’m sure it has absolutely nothing to do with how delicious they are.

  1. Tater Tot Hotdish

Flickr/moleofproduction And for all those who complain about hotdish being such a large representative of our state… majority wins. This is what keeps us warm during the winter so we can go snowmobiling, skiing, and play all that hockey.

Which Minnesota foods are you tired of trying to defend? Tell us your deepest grievances in the comments – or just share with us your favorite recipes. That works too.

Flickr/Kim

No matter how many times they are argued about, burgers full of molten hot delicious cheese are still our most prized invention.

Flickr/Eliza Adam

We’re the home of Nordic Ware, so bundt cakes are literally bred into our next generation of cooks. And nobody’s ever angry about that.

Flickr/Jeremy Keith

In a state with more deer than college students, we certainly know how to make some good venison.

Flickr/Bill Roehl

There’s just no Minnesota summer without chowing down on some Walleye fresh from one of our 10,000 lakes.

Flickr/Sean Hayford Oleary

Nothing says comfort food quite like lefse during the holidays. Probably because the best is made by Minnesotan grandmas.

Flickr/Karl Baron

Another tie to our nordic heritage, the Swedish meatballs in MN are seriously uff-da hook. And no, we aren’t talking about the ones at Ikea.

Flickr/Patricia Booth

Another made in MN food. If you don’t like it - you’re eating it wrong! This stuff is so amazing people collect it in every size, shape, and flavor. Who else can’t wait for the museum to reopen this spring?

Jo Magliocco

One of MN’s own candies. We consume them in large quantities strictly to support local businesses. I’m sure it has absolutely nothing to do with how delicious they are.

Flickr/moleofproduction

And for all those who complain about hotdish being such a large representative of our state… majority wins. This is what keeps us warm during the winter so we can go snowmobiling, skiing, and play all that hockey.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Minnesota Foods September 29, 2022 Tori Jane What are some totally iconic Minnesota foods?   Minnesota, like anywhere else, certainly has its fair share of iconic foods and food-based traditions. There are actually quite a few options when it comes to Minnesota foods, but one of our favorite dishes has to be SweeTango apples. They’re perfectly crisp, sweet, and tangy, and when we mention crisp, we mean crisp – they’re famous for having the loudest crunch upon being bitten into! Another example of food Minnesota is known for is the “strawberry delight”, which is made of cream cheese, milk, graham crackers, strawberries, and strawberry gelatin. We promise it’s way better than it sounds like it should be.   What are some foods Minnesota is known for?   Of course, the list of Minnesota cuisine isn’t limited to the things listed above. There are so many foods you’ll find to be popular in Minnesota that simply aren’t so beloved anywhere else, and we think that’s part of what makes life in Minnesota so sweet. Other foods Minnesota is known for include such tasty gems as “glorified rice”, an interesting dessert made of rice, whipped cream, and pineapple chunks, as well as Morcella cheese, which originated right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It’s made of sheep’s milk and often peppered with delicious, locally sourced morel mushrooms.   Where are some of the best restaurants in Minnesota?   Believe it or not, Minnesota is an excellent state for foodies. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of incredible options when it comes to places to eat in Minnesota. Luckily for those who don’t enjoy traveling so much, many of these restaurants are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Some of the best, highest-rated restaurants in Minnesota include the Birchwood Café in Minneapolis, Lindey’s Prime Steakhouse in Arden Hills, and Revival MPLS, which is also in Minneapolis. There are loads of great places to eat in Minnesota!  

The OIYS Visitor Center

Minnesota Foods

September 29, 2022

Tori Jane

What are some totally iconic Minnesota foods?   Minnesota, like anywhere else, certainly has its fair share of iconic foods and food-based traditions. There are actually quite a few options when it comes to Minnesota foods, but one of our favorite dishes has to be SweeTango apples. They’re perfectly crisp, sweet, and tangy, and when we mention crisp, we mean crisp – they’re famous for having the loudest crunch upon being bitten into! Another example of food Minnesota is known for is the “strawberry delight”, which is made of cream cheese, milk, graham crackers, strawberries, and strawberry gelatin. We promise it’s way better than it sounds like it should be.   What are some foods Minnesota is known for?   Of course, the list of Minnesota cuisine isn’t limited to the things listed above. There are so many foods you’ll find to be popular in Minnesota that simply aren’t so beloved anywhere else, and we think that’s part of what makes life in Minnesota so sweet. Other foods Minnesota is known for include such tasty gems as “glorified rice”, an interesting dessert made of rice, whipped cream, and pineapple chunks, as well as Morcella cheese, which originated right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It’s made of sheep’s milk and often peppered with delicious, locally sourced morel mushrooms.   Where are some of the best restaurants in Minnesota?   Believe it or not, Minnesota is an excellent state for foodies. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of incredible options when it comes to places to eat in Minnesota. Luckily for those who don’t enjoy traveling so much, many of these restaurants are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Some of the best, highest-rated restaurants in Minnesota include the Birchwood Café in Minneapolis, Lindey’s Prime Steakhouse in Arden Hills, and Revival MPLS, which is also in Minneapolis. There are loads of great places to eat in Minnesota!  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Minnesota, like anywhere else, certainly has its fair share of iconic foods and food-based traditions. There are actually quite a few options when it comes to Minnesota foods, but one of our favorite dishes has to be SweeTango apples. They’re perfectly crisp, sweet, and tangy, and when we mention crisp, we mean crisp – they’re famous for having the loudest crunch upon being bitten into! Another example of food Minnesota is known for is the “strawberry delight”, which is made of cream cheese, milk, graham crackers, strawberries, and strawberry gelatin. We promise it’s way better than it sounds like it should be.  

What are some foods Minnesota is known for?  

Of course, the list of Minnesota cuisine isn’t limited to the things listed above. There are so many foods you’ll find to be popular in Minnesota that simply aren’t so beloved anywhere else, and we think that’s part of what makes life in Minnesota so sweet. Other foods Minnesota is known for include such tasty gems as “glorified rice”, an interesting dessert made of rice, whipped cream, and pineapple chunks, as well as Morcella cheese, which originated right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It’s made of sheep’s milk and often peppered with delicious, locally sourced morel mushrooms.  

Where are some of the best restaurants in Minnesota?  

Believe it or not, Minnesota is an excellent state for foodies. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of incredible options when it comes to places to eat in Minnesota. Luckily for those who don’t enjoy traveling so much, many of these restaurants are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Some of the best, highest-rated restaurants in Minnesota include the Birchwood Café in Minneapolis, Lindey’s Prime Steakhouse in Arden Hills, and Revival MPLS, which is also in Minneapolis. There are loads of great places to eat in Minnesota!