This is a list of American foods and dishes where few actually originated from America but has become a national favourite. There are a few foods that predate colonization, and the European colonization of the Americas brought about the introduction of many new ingredients and cooking styles. This variety continued expanding well into the 19th and 20th proportional to the influx migrants from additional foreign nations. There is a rich diversity in food preparation throughout the United States.
This list is not exhaustive, nor does it cover every item consumed in the U.S., but it does include foods and dishes that are common in the U.S. (highly available and regularly consumed), or which originated there. The list is representative only. For more foods in a given category, see the main article for that category.