The Weirdest Food Each State Is Known For

1. Alabama - Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy

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Ah, biscuits. America's favourite dinnertime delicacy - but we reckon you've never had them like this. Well, in Alabama, they regularly eat biscuits not with the normal accompaniment of choice, gravy, but with a chocolate sauce. This thick chocolate gravy is made with just sugar, cocoa, flour, and butter, so we recommend giving it a try one day.

2. Alaska - Akutaq

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In the northern reaches of the North American continent, Alaska doesn't share many traditions with the rest of the US, which is why you might never have had akutaq, otherwise known as Alaskan ice cream. The main ingredients? Whipped fat, meat, and frozen berries.

3. Arizona - Fried Rattlesnake

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What to do if you see a rattlesnake? Run as fast as you can away from it? Or, attempt to trap it and then cook a delicious dinner? In Arizona, it's the second option. In fact, this a pretty common restaurant option in the state, where it's served with chipotle ranch sauce for a sweet and spicy dip.

4. Arkansas - Brains and Grits

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 Grits are a popular breakfast staple in the US (it's a bit like porridge made with cornmeal), but we bet you've never had it with brains. Not human brains, obviously, but pork brains which are fried up with scrambled eggs and served with the grits as a breakfast platter. Delicious!

5. California -

Deep-Fried Fluffernutter Sandwich

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We'll get to the fluffernutter sandwich a bit further down this list (it was invented somewhere other than California), but for now, just know that it's a delicious PB&J with added marshmallow fluff. In California, though, they take that sandwich and then deep fry it in a pan for the ultimate breakfast-dessert combo.

6. Colorado - Beef Rolls

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A popular snack option at school in Colorado, these are a take on a meat-filled sandwich. Beef is wrapped in a roll (similar to cinnamon roll dough), but then topped with nacho cheese. It might sound weird, but it's the perfect combination of salt and fat that will keep you going all day!

7. Connecticut - Clam Pizza

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If you didn't know, Connecticut lies on the east coast of the US, which means it's famed for its seafood. One of these peculiar delicacies is clam pizza. Essentially, this is just a regular American pizza topped with Romano cheese and oregano, but with added clams as a topping.

8. Delaware -

Creamed Chipped Beef

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The name of this dish doesn't really give away what it actually is. Known as a typical comfort dish in Delaware, it's made of chopped, dried beef in a white sauce (the cream bit), and is traditionally served over toasted bread or sometimes hash browns. In the end, it's not as weird as it sounds.

9. Florida - Gator Tail

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Now, this dish is definitely weird. Have you ever had the urge to eat an alligator? Well, in Florida - home of many gators - it's a weird delicacy. You can eat almost all of an alligator (if you wanted to), but gator tail is the most prized part, which is often deep-fried to make it more palatable.

10. Georgia - Boiled Peanuts

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Peanuts are an American staple, most often found in peanut butter. However, in Georgia, they've taken peanuts back to their origins and gone for an easy dish of boiled peanuts in their shells. They are served in the shell but sometimes flavoured with spice mixes like Cajun seasoning.

11. Hawaii - Opihi

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Opihi is a huge staple food in Hawaii, and chances are if you've visited the island state, you've seen it on a menu. It refers to a limpet that lives on rocks around the coast of Hawaii, and once you've pried it off its rock home (which is surprisingly difficult to do), you can eat them raw or grilled.

12. Idaho - Ice Cream Potato

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Take one look at this dessert, and you'd think that you were eating potato. But, spoiler alert, the ice cream potato isn't actually a potato at all. Instead, diners in Idaho have cleverly disguised vanilla ice cream with cocoa powder to make it seem like a crispy baked potato. The sundae is served with whipped cream and Oreos.

13. Illinois - Horsehoe

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This mammoth dish is actually referred to as a horseshoe sandwich, though it doesn't look like any sandwich we've ever had. On your plate, you'll find toasted bread, a hamburger, french fries, and cheese sauce. It's not the easiest thing to eat and doesn't look particularly appetizing, but it's delicious all the same.

14. Indiana - Brain Sandwich

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Now, this is something that doesn't sound appetizing. At all. And no, we're not joking, this is actually a brain sandwich. Calves brains are sliced and then deep fried before being served in a burger bun. Just pretend you're eating a cheeseburger and fries and you'll be fine.

15. Iowa - Walking Taco

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What happens when you mix a pack of Doritos with taco meat and guacamole? You get a walking taco! It's portable! And handheld! And less messy than a real taco! These are a staple at Iowa State Fairs, where you can find them made with either Doritos or Fritos. Both make for a great snack.

16. Kansas - Cinnamon Roll and Chilli

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Cinnamon rolls are definitely not weird. Chilli sauce isn't either. But cinnamon rolls served together with chili? That's definitely weird. However, in Kansas, it's become something of a staple, and you can find kids eating this from a young age. The jury's still out on whether this tastes good.

17. Kentucky - Wilted Lettuce

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Okay, this is more on the 'sad' side than 'weird'. Who wants to eat wilted lettuce? Not me! But the people of Kentucky swear by this salad, which they make with shredded wilted lettuce, green onions, salt, and pepper. Then, it's all coated with a dressing of apple cider vinegar and melted bacon drippings.

18. Louisiana - Nutria

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The nutria rodent is something of a menace in Louisiana. The solution? Kill it, cook it, and eat it! Yes, in Louisiana, they eat literal swamp rats, which are often fried and then put in a burger. In case you were wondering, it apparently tastes like a mix of turkey and pork. Not keen on eating rodents? Us neither.

19. Maine - Tomalley

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Now, there's nothing weird about eating lobster, especially if you're by the coast like in Maine. What makes this dish different is the existence of tomalley, which is the green gloop found in the body of lobsters (if you want to get specific, it's the liver and pancreas). Usually, this is taken out and disposed of, but in Maine, they like to make a sauce of the tomalley to serve with lobsters.

20. Maryland - Muskrat

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Yes, we're back to eating rodents in Maryland. This time, we're not talking about the swamp rat, but the muskrat. Yes, they're both rodents. This state loves the furry little creature so much that every year there's a Muskrat Festival and Cooking Contest. Join in if you dare.

21. Massachusetts - Fluffernutter

So, we've established that a fluffernutter can be deep-fried - it's a particular delicacy in California. However, Massachusetts is the true birthplace of this strange sandwich. What is it, you ask? White bread with one side coated in peanut butter and the other side coated in marshmallow fluff.

22. Michigan - Detroit-Style Coney Dog

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In fact, the Coney dog has nothing to do with New York's Coney Island but is named after the Coney Island restaurants, a style of restaurant that grew up in Michigan. The dog is slightly different from your average hot dog, as it's topped with a chilli meat sauce, raw onion, and mustard. It's a classic, and we'd recommend trying it if you're ever in the Motor City.

23. Minnesota - Pickle Dog

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We're staying in the hot dog arena with our next food, which is definitely weirder than Detroit's hot dog. In Minnesota, they love to substitute the classic hot dog meat with... a pickle. The pickle lays on a bed of cream cheese and is then wrapped in pastrami, resulting in a juicy, creamy, salty hot dog. Not for those who don't like pickles!

24. Mississippi - Koolickle

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If you thought the pickle dog was weird, then you'll be shocked by Mississippi's weird food creation. They love pickles here, too, but only if they're doused in a good helping of Koolaid. Yes, that's right - pickles marinated in Kool-Aid. These candied pickles are meant to be delicious, but we'll give this one a miss.

25. Missouri - Provel Cheese

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Now, American cheese has a rocky history. It certainly doesn't have the same prestige as European cheeses like brie or gruyere. But the Provel cheese is here to change that. This processed cheese is created by blending English cheddar, Emmental-style Swiss cheese, and Italian Provolone cheese to create a gooey, buttery cheese that is all the rage on pizza in St. Louis.

26. Montana - Rocky Mountain Oysters

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What's that? Montana isn't even by the coast? Yes, you're right. However, in this cowboy state they have their own version of the humble oyster - but you're not gonna like what's in it. Actually, a Rocky Mountain Oyster is made of nothing less than bull testicles, usually deep-fried. Ew!

27. Nebraska - Hot Beef Sundae

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Apparently, America has a thing for making things look like ice cream when they're not. Is that weird? Probably! In Nebraska, they've taken some delicious ingredients - mashed potato, roast beef, gravy, cheese - and turned them into a very believable ice cream sundae. Our question is, why?

28. Nevada - Grilled Cheese Doughnut

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Las Vegas is known for being a seat of hedonism and excess. Well, now, they've gone a little bit too far with the indulgence by creating the grilled cheese doughnut. Essentially, it's two traditional sugar doughnuts filled with a gooey grilled cheese concoction. Is it over the top? Yes. Does it also sound kind of delicious? Yes.

29. New Hampshire - Cider Doughnuts

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We're keeping with the doughnuts theme now, but heading over to the East Coast, where they've come up with another new, and very apt, flavour. These are popular throughout the year but particularly in autumn. They're made with an apple cider reduction to give you a good hit of the apple flavour.

30. New Jersey - Sloppy Joe

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Deli sandwiches are a staple throughout America, particularly in New Jersey. Here, they've created their own staple sandwich, the Sloppy Joe, which seems to cram every deli staple into two slices of rye bread. Expect deli meats like turkey, ham, or pastrami, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

31. New Mexico - Green Chile Sundae

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Now, green chillies are delicious, we're not denying that. But do they need to be included in a frozen sundae? In New Mexico, this dessert is a staple at fairgrounds and consists of frozen vanilla custard, a green chile sauce, and salted pecans. It's sweet, salty, and spicy, but certainly weird.

32. New York - Garbage Plate

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Now this is a wild plate of food. What's even on it? Created by Nick Tahou Hots in Rochester, New York, the garbage plate manages to serve up everything you'd expect of a diner on one plate: home fries, macaroni salad, baked beans, french fries, meats, fish, and bread.

33. North Carolina - Livermush

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This one definitely doesn't sound appetising! In reality, it's even less appetising than it sounds. Livermush is popular all over the South, but in particular in North Carolina, and is made with pig liver, pig head, cornmeal, and spices. It's usually eaten as breakfast, but can you imagine cracking into pig head first thing in the morning?

34. North Dakota - Lutefisk

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Lutefisk is just as mystifying as livermush on the first read. In actual fact, it's a type of fish that is dried, brined in lye, soaked, and then steamed. You're left with a flaky white fish, usually served with a cream or butter sauce. It has its origins in Scandinavia, but now Americans get to enjoy (or not enjoy, as it goes), this Holiday staple.

35. Ohio - Skyline Chili

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This hefty meal has been made famous by Skyline Chili, a chain of restaurants around Cincinnati, Ohio. At first glance, you'll probably just be able to discern the existence of grated cheese on this plate, but underneath all that, you'll find spaghetti with a thin chilli sauce, and sometimes extra onions and hot sauce. It's so popular that it's even served in schools.

36. Oklahoma - Lamb Fries

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Once again, we're back to testicles (you might remember these from Rocky Mountain Oysters). Lamb fries are made of lamb testicles which are cut into thin slices, breaded and then deep-fried. They're often served with cocktail sauce to make them easier to stomach.

37. Oregon - Gooseneck Barnacles

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Gooseneck barnacles are surely some of the freakiest things taken from the sea. These weird crustaceans are hugely popular on the Pacific coast of Oregon, and apparently taste very similar to lobster or clams - a mix of sea salt and sweet. If you really love them, you can also go foraging for them yourself.

38. Pennsylvania - Scrapple

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Mm, doesn't pork mush sound delicious? Scrapple is basically just that, a mushy mix of pork scraps, cornmeal, trimmings, and flour. It's formed into a brown loaf and then cut into slices, which are usually fried before serving. They were imported by the Dutch in Pennsylvania, so we have Europe to thank for this gross-sounding dish.

39. Rhode Island - Stuffies

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In Rhode Island, they've concocted a new way to enjoy the clams that appear all along the (admittedly, short) coastline. These Quahog clams are native to the coast here, and to make the stuffies, they're chopped up into pieces, mixed with breadcrumbs and herbs, and then baked in their natural clam shell.

40. South Carolina - Chitterlings

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Chitterlings - or, chitlins in the South Carolina dialect - are certainly a weird food of choice. They're actually made out of the small intestines of a pig. No, I'm not joking. These intestines are cleaned (a truly laborious process) and then either slow-cooked or deep-fried to bring out the pungent, punchy flavour.

41. South Dakota - Chislic

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They really have a  thing for obscure meat dishes in the 'southern' states. Over in South Dakota, they don't go for the intestines, but instead the bloody red meat of the animal. Chislic are small, bite-size, skewered cubes of red meat, sometimes mutton or lamb, that are deep-fried to medium-rare.

42. Tennessee - Slugburger

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Thankfully, there are no slugs present in a Tennessee Slugburger. Phew. In fact, it's just a different style of classic American burger. These patties are made out of pork or beef that is ground up and then 'extended' using soybeans, then deep fried in oil. As with a classic American burger, it's served with mustard, pickles, and onion. So, not that weird then?

43. Texas - Head Cheese

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Can you imagine ordering some head cheese in a restaurant? It doesn't sound particularly appetising. Oh, and you might squirm when you find out what it is actually made from slices from a calf or pig's head, including the tongue. Even grimmer, this jelly-style slice is usually eaten stone cold.

44. Utah - Pickle Pie

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Thankfully, we can leave pig's heads behind in Texas and return to America's favourite burger accessory: pickles! In Utah, they've come up with an ingenious way to honour the pickle, turning it into a sweet pie. Pickles are mixed with sugar and then baked in a classic pie crust and served with whipped cream. This is one for hardcore pickle fans!

45. Vermont - Sugar On Snow

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This food is weird only for its simplicity. Sugar on Snow basically just consists of hot maple syrup poured over ice. The frozen ice will freeze the maple syrup within a few minutes, leaving you with a taffy-like maple treat that you usually eat with - you guessed it - pickles!

46. Virginia - Peanut Soup

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Do you love peanuts? Then you need to try Virginia's weirdest dish, peanut soup. This one might be even weirder than the boiled peanuts we saw earlier. A soup broth - consisting of celery, onion, and chicken broth - is then mixed with peanut butter and cream and garnished with chopped peanuts.

47. Washington - Geoducks

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We thought those gooseneck barnacles looked weird, but these look even worse. Geoducks are a peculiar type of clam that's incredibly popular as a foodstuff in Washington. The large bit of the clam is called the siphon, and this meat supposedly has a deliciously crunchy and meaty flavour. We'll take your word for it!

48. West Virginia - Fried Squirrel

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Those cute little creatures who burrow for nuts and jump around the treetops? Well, in West Virginia, they like to cook and eat them. Actually, fried squirrel is a popular delicacy all around Appalachia, but it's most associated with West Virginia. Those poor little squirrels!

49. Wisconsin - Butter Burger

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This actually isn't as weird as it sounds. It's not - as you might think - an entire slab of butter deep-fried and put in a burger. Instead, this burger patty is fried on a griddle with local butter and then topped with a pat of butter before being sandwiched in a hamburger bun.

50. Wyoming - Jackalope Summer Sausage

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We're ending this list with a real meat extravaganza. The jackalope summer sausage is a salami-style sausage made of a mix of rabbit, venison and pork meat. It's named after the mythical animal the jackalope, said to be a cross between a jackrabbit and an antelope. Sadly, these don't exist, but the sausage is supposed to be an approximation of its meat.