I’ve heard it all about Midwestern cuisine- “nothing but casseroles, weird combos, that’s not a salad!” But I think we have some pretty tasty dishes!

First off, what is considered Midwest? The Midwest region includes North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Each area has their own signature dishes, with most inspiration coming from German and Scandinavian influences. These simple, hearty dishes include dairy, corn, wheat, and other staple crops of the region.

The list below is in in no particular order. They are my personal opinions of “must-try” foods. I enjoy each of these dishes because of their taste and the nostalgia they bring back to me.

1. Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

What makes a Chicago dog? A Vienna Beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, neon-green sweet pickle relish, chopped white onion, tomato slices, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and celery salt. I break that rule by bringing my own ketchup when visiting my favorite spots- Gene & Jude’s and Wieners Circle.

Key takeaways:

1) It must be an all-beef Vienna. Trust me, it’s fantastic.

2) True Chicago hot doggeries will not serve ketchup.

3) The neon-green relish is necessary. I don’t know what they do to make it look that way, but the taste is definitely different from other relishes.

2. Scotcheroos

My family has made these for Christmas for as long as I can remember. I recall bringing some of these into work once and having to explain, “No, these are not rice Krispie treats with chocolate.” The combination of peanut butter, sugar, and rice cereal, topped with chocolate and butterscotch chips can not be beat. Scotcheroos can be whipped up quickly as a no-bake dessert.

Find the recipe here.

3. Orange Fluff

This one is a classic. My great-grandma and grandma made this for nearly every potluck growing up. It is similar to Watergate salad or Ambrosia salad, but made with orange Jell-O® and cottage cheese. Yes, it sounds weird, but don’t panic! The cottage cheese adds to the multi-dimensional texture of this side or dessert.

Find the recipe here.

4. Puppy Chow

Sometimes referred to as Muddy Buddies or Reindeer Chow, this is a delicious treat that is guaranteed to disappear fast. Chex® cereal (any type you like- I prefer corn), butter, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and powdered sugar are all you need.

Can you tell we like our sweets around here? This is one that kids have fun helping with- as long as the bag is sealed properly when shaking on the powdered sugar. 😉

Find the recipe here.

5. Cheese Curds

A Wisconsin treat! Cheese curds are not simply chunks of cheese. The curd is separated from the whey during the cheesemaking process and left unformed. You can tell the freshness of your curds by how squeaky they are.

These are a great on-the-go snack with many varieties to choose from. Try them fried with ranch or marinara for a yummy appetizer.

6. Tuna Noodle Casserole

I ate so much tuna noodle casserole growing up that I refused to eat it again until well into my 20’s. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grow to appreciate this frugal dish. The main ingredients include egg noodles (or whatever you have in your pantry), cream of mushroom soup, tuna, and potato chips.

Yes, potato chips. My mom used to use the crumbs at the bottom of the chip bag. The chips give it a salty, crunchy finish that cannot be duplicated by bread crumbs. Give it a try- you might be surprised!

Find the recipe here.

7. Cincinnati Chili

We called this chili-mac growing up. There are many disputes about how to make this famous dish, but any Cincyan will tell you that it does NOT contain cocoa. The variations cleverly called 3-way, 4-way, or 5-way.

The 3-Way consists of chili, spaghetti, and cheese. The 4-Way is the 3-Way plus onions or beans, and the 5-Way is spaghetti, chili, cheese, beans and onions.

5-way was the go to in our household- which way do you prefer?

Find the recipe here.

8. Corn Casserole

You knew corn would be in here somewhere, right? I mean, this is the Corn Belt…

This scrumptious casserole is served at all the major Midwestern holidays. With simple ingredients and a taste similar to a slightly under-cooked cornbread.

I know we’re all watching our waistlines these days, but don’t try to lighten this one. The full-fat version is the way to go!

A nice thing about this dish is you can make it ahead by preparing in the dish the night before or refrigerate after baking and reheat for your event.

Find the recipe here.

There you are!

Eight delicious Midwest foods you never knew you needed in your life. Have you tried any of these? Which is your favorite?