AMERICA HAS SPOKEN: THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR CHRISTMAS DISHES IN EVERY STATE
When it comes to the holidays, it's all about the food. And Christmas is notorious for an abundance of both sweet and savory dishes. There are the classics many of us know—prime rib and glazed ham—plus comforting sides like green bean casserole and potatoes. Then there's the sweeter side of things: namely, all of the cookies.
But everyone's traditions are different. Across the country, you'll find specialities and regional favorites shaped by local cuisine and culture. We did some digging to find the most popular Christmas dish in every state. What's being prepared where you live?
Here's a hint of what to expect. First, let's talk savory. Christmas in New Mexico is all about tamales, and in Louisiana, it's gumbo. Alaskans go for crab legs, and kālua pig & cabbage is the ultimate comfort food for Hawaiians. Plenty of states have more of a tooth. Parts of the Midwest, like Michigan and Minnesota, keep it classic with Christmas cookies, while Wisconsin prefers Danish kringle. Elsewhere, you'll find staples like flan and bread pudding.
Curious what’s cooking near you? Keep reading for the most iconic Christmas dishes in all 50 states—plus recipes so you can try them at home.
Alabama: Crescent Recipes
There are so many things you can make with crescent rolls—danishes, rings, pinwheels, and more. Alabama has mastered them all. No need to hunt for a centerpiece, because our Bacon-Brie Crescent Wreath doubles as both appetizer and showpiece. Want a vegetarian option? Swap in sautéed mushrooms for the bacon.
Get the Bacon Brie Crescent Wreath recipe.
Alaska: Crab Legs
Snow crab legs are one of life’s greatest luxuries, but the price tag can make cooking them at home feel daunting. Here’s the secret: crab legs are ridiculously easy—and super popular at an Alaskan holiday meal. With these tried-and-true methods (Instant Pot included!), you can feel fancy in minutes
Get the Crab Legs recipe.
Arizona: Flan
It only makes sense that Arizonans love a good Christmas flan. The classic baked custard popular across Latin America and Spain never goes out of style. Want to jazz it up? Make our Chocoflan this year—the dramatic layers of chocolate cake and silky flan are mind-blowing.
Get the Chocoflan recipe.
Arkansas: Pecan Pie
Light brown sugar, plenty of pecans, corn syrup—this is where Arkansas shines. Our pecan pie’s craggy, crunchy top gives way to a rich, nut-packed interior. We include directions for a flaky, buttery homemade crust, but the pie is almost as good with a thawed frozen crust.
Get the Pecan Pie recipe.
California: Stuffing
Sure, California’s stuffing tends to be more fruit- and veggie-forward than most, but they’re still stuffing-obsessed. We’ll allow it—especially if it means our Apple Stuffing. Apples and cranberries add brightness that balances the hearty side.
Get the Apple Stuffing recipe.
Colorado: Popovers
After a morning romping in the snow, what better way to warm up than a Christmas brunch with popovers? Coloradans have the right idea. Think of them as the sweet cousins of Yorkshire pudding—perfect for impressing guests. Pair with oven-cooked bacon, a big batch of scrambled eggs, and a pitcher of mimosas for the ideal spread.
Get the Popovers recipe.
Connecticut: Turkey
Turkey is consistently the most-searched holiday term in Connecticut. Folks in Connecticut, we’re guessing you’ve got great turkey tips to share. If you’ve never brined your bird, this is your year. Our version leans into fall herbs for cozy flavor, plus two types of citrus for lift.
Get the Turkey Brine recipe.
Delaware: Gingerbread Cookies
There’s no contest in Delaware—Christmas means a big batch of gingerbread. For us, the cookie should lean hard on ground ginger, with a bit of cinnamon and just a whisper of cloves. It’s the perfect holiday formula.
Get the Gingerbread Cookies recipe.
Florida: Cranberry Relish
This iconic side might feel simple for Florida, but their sauces often hit with extra citrus (when in Florida…). Low on oranges? Other winter citrus works: try lemon or grapefruit zest, grated ginger, and warm spices like cardamom, cloves, or star anise with your cranberries.
Get the Fresh Cranberry Relish recipe.
Georgia: Green Bean Casserole
Georgia may not get super cold, but comfort food still reigns. Enter the green bean casserole. We skip canned soup and go fresh: sauté mushrooms with thinly sliced onions in butter to build a deeply flavorful base before folding everything together
Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Hawaii: Kālua Pig
Special holidays call for a special meal, and Kālua pig and cabbage—Hawaiʻi’s ultimate comfort food—fits the bill. This pork dish is the star, whether it’s a plate lunch with macaroni salad and poi (pounded taro) or a generous bowl in Mom’s kitchen after a long day.
Get the Kālua Pig & Cabbage recipe.
Idaho: Prime Rib
At year’s end, searches for "prime rib" always spike—and Idaho is all in. Prime rib (aka standing rib roast) is a true showstopper: juicy, deeply flavorful, and far easier to make than it looks!
Get the Perfect Prime Rib recipe.
Illinois: Hot Chocolate
In Illinois, it’s not uncommon to see full hot-chocolate bars running the length of the Christmas table. We might have to steal that idea—more cocoa and more hot-chocolate bombs, please.
Get the Hot Chocolate Bombs recipe.
Indiana: Sweet Potato Casserole
Plenty of casseroles hit the holiday table, but in Indiana, the sweet-potato version—extra marshmallows, please—wins out. We top ours with pecan streusel and then marshmallows, so it stands out above all the rest.
Get the Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows recipe.
Iowa: Apple Cake
Iowans love an apple cake at Christmas, and so do we (we'll take cake anyway you slice it, really). Our apple-crumble cake layers: a tender, lightly spiced apple cider cake with apple-pie filling, buttery crumble, and salted caramel—guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake recipe.
Kansas: Mashed Potatoes
Does this surprise anyone? Kansans may ease up on BBQ (a little) for the holidays, but not on potatoes. We co-sign—pass another scoop of these garlic-and-feta mashed potatoes.
Get the Garlic & Feta Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Kentucky: Bread Pudding
Now this is a Christmas pudding we can get behind: make bread pudding a true Kentucky experience with a splash of bourbon before baking.
Get the Bread Pudding recipe.
Louisiana: Gumbo
Would any Creole Christmas be complete without gumbo? Whether you go shrimp, sausage, or both, it’s a guaranteed holiday hit.
Get the Gumbo recipe.
Maine: Oyster Stuffing
Maine brings plenty of protein stars (baked chicken, lobster, etc.), but consider oyster stuffing. If you’re new to it, you’re in for a treat—oysters add briny, savory depth that sends guests back for seconds… and thirds.
Get the Oyster Stuffing recipe.
Maryland: Crab Cakes
Maryland crab cakes reign in any season. Ready in 30 minutes, they’re an easy, restaurant-worthy appetizer—just add lemon wedges and tartar sauce and pretend it's a seaside escape.
Get the Air Fryer Crab Cakes recipe.
Massachusetts: Cranberry Sauce
We have a lot to thank Massachusetts for—namely, those gorgeous cranberry bogs that bring New England’s most iconic side, cranberry sauce, to the table.
Get the Cranberry Sauce recipe.
Michigan: Sugar Cookies
You could argue there’s nothing more classic than a plate of sugar cookies for Santa—better yet, a whole batch. Michiganders have always known what’s up.
Get the Cut-Out Sugar Cookies recipe.
Minnesota: Christmas Cookies
Minnesota is all about cookies, plural: gingerbread, meringues, and (very likely) buttery spritz cookies. From snowflakes to Christmas trees, spritz can take on every festive shape.
Get the Spritz Cookies recipe.
Mississippi: Pecan Pie
Can you blame Mississippians for wanting pecan pie at every holiday? It’s that good! We took it a step further with the pecan pie cheesecake: an extra-creamy base + a sweet, sticky pecan topping = dessert heaven.
Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake recipe.
Missouri: Butter Cake
Butter cake is a St. Louis staple and an especially welcome sight at the holidays in Missouri. It’s rich, sweet, and, well, buttery. The method feels untraditional, but it works every time—and we’re so glad it does.
Get the Gooey Butter Cake recipe.
Montana: Ribeye
Montana goes big on luxe, meat-centric meals. We don’t blame them for loving ribeye—one of our favorite cuts. Yes, you can cook a restaurant-quality steak at home in about 15 minutes. The keys: a super-hot skillet and a dry, well-seasoned steak before searing.
Get the Cast-Iron Skillet Steak recipe.
Nebraska: Catfish
Nebraskans love their red meat, but they’re also passionate about holiday fish—especially catfish. Baking it keeps things easy, with no oil splatter to clean up.
Get the Best Baked Catfish recipe.
Nevada: Beef Stew
Nevada leans into cozy soups at Christmas, from hearty sopa de res to simpler beef stew—the warming bowl that ties the whole meal together.
Get the Beef Stew recipe.
New Hampshire: Pumpkin Pie
Did you know New Hampshire’s state fruit is the pumpkin? If you’re lucky enough to be feasting there, expect seriously good pumpkin pie.
Get the Pumpkin Pie recipe.
New Jersey: Fish
Going to New Jersey for the holidays? Expect the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Chalk up the tradition to heavy Italian influence, and celebrate with something hearty like cioppino.
Get the Cioppino recipe.
New Mexico: Tamales
New Mexico’s Christmas table is a flavorful, multicultural feast. Tamales have become the beloved staple, and we’d happily pick them over ham any day! Make it a party by inviting friends or get the whole family involved.
Get the Tamales recipe.
New York: Apple Pie
No surprise: New York goes big on apples at Christmastime. Our spin is apple butter pie—somewhere between pumpkin and Dutch apple, finished with an irresistible crunchy crumble.
Get the Apple Butter Pie recipe.
North Carolina: Cornbread Dressing
This stuffing is wildly delicious and very special to North Carolinians. Wondering about stuffing vs. dressing? The short version: dressing is baked outside the bird, stuffing goes in the cavity. These days, most "stuffing" is technically dressing. The more you know!
Get the Cornbread Dressing recipe.
North Dakota: Lingonberry Hearts
Norwegian, Swedish, and German roots shape many North Dakota traditions, such as lefse, mulled wine, and our favorite: lingonberry hearts. Swap lingonberry preserves into a Linzer cookie, and you’re instantly in a cozy, snowy North Dakota Christmas.
Get the Linzer Cookies recipe.
Ohio: Buckeyes
Loaded with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate, Ohio’s buckeyes are basically homemade Reese’s cups in truffle form. They’re easy to tote to parties—just add a warning label. No one stops at one.
Get the Buckeyes recipe.
Oklahoma: Cinnamon Rolls
Whether they’re served right when the whole fam wakes up or brought out right around dessert time, there’s a reason Oklahoma cinnamon rolls are so famous
Get the Cinnamon Rolls recipe.
Oregon: Roast Turkey
Oregonians are big on a full turkey dinner for Christmas, regardless of having just done one for Thanksgiving—and we respect that. Our foolproof method has been tested (and tested and tested) by the Delish kitchen—trust us, it's the best.
Get the Roast Turkey recipe.
Pennsylvania: Pizzelles
Pizzelles originate from Abruzzo, Italy, so it’s no wonder so many Italian-Americans in Pennsylvania make them every Christmas. Many call them the oldest cookie in the world (at least according to Italians), with either a crunchy or soft bite, and that beautiful lace design.
Get the Oven-Baked Pizzelles recipe.
Rhode Island: Apple Pie
As big traditionalists, Rhode Islanders will unfailingly turn to a homemade apple pie. You could argue that makes them the most iconic dessert makers of all.
Get the Apple Pie recipe.
South Carolina: Pecan Pie
Again, it's such a Southern staple, especially come Christmas. Why not spice things up by making our pecan pie bites this year?
Get the Pecan Pie Bites recipe.
South Dakota: Ham
You'd think we'd have seen more Christmas ham across the country, but maybe that's what makes it such a unique tradition in South Dakota. Even if you're not in South Dakota, you can bake this ham covered in eye-popping pineapple rings and bright maraschino cherries.
Get the Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham recipe.
Tennessee: Sweet Potatoes
You’ll find sweet potatoes in just about any way, shape, or form you can imagine at a Tennessee Christmas celebration—and we’re so happy about that, especially in gratin form.
Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.
Texas: Deep-Fried Turkey
Sure, there are Texans who prefer their annual turkey fix simply roasted, but there’s an even bigger contingent that wants it deep-fried. Every. Single. Time. For our version, we opted for a different kind of fryer: an air fryer.
Get the Air Fryer Garlic Herb Turkey Breast recipe.
Utah: Green Bean Casserole
No surprise, the undisputed king of all holiday side dishes was the most popular in Utah. Although we love the classic casserole, we love shaking up tradition a little with these Parmesan green beans. This side is like green beans dressed up as cheesy garlic bread. 😍
Get the Parmesan Roasted Green Beans recipe.
Vermont: Pancakes
Talk about an iconic Vermont dish. Inspired by the breakfast staple, these easy white chocolate chip blondies highlight a very underutilized baking ingredient: maple syrup.
Get the Maple Butter Blondies recipe.
Virginia: Peanut Butter Pie
Virginia's most famous crop? The peanut! And this banana-cream-style pie is all the better for the addition of creamy, salty peanut butter.
Get the Peanut Butter Banana Pie recipe.
Washington: Mulled Wine
Whether it’s the alcohol, the warmth, or the straight-up deliciousness, Washingtonians will likely be drinking this for many Decembers to come.
Get the Mulled Wine recipe.
West Virginia: Hot Buttered Rum
When it's freezing outside, rum is the only thing that'll do, and that's absolutely the case for West Virginians. Add in butter, sugar, ice cream, and a healthy dose of cinnamon, and you've got heartwarming wintertime magic in a glass.
Get the Hot Buttered Rum recipe.
Wisconsin: Kringle
During Christmas in Wisconsin, you’re more than likely to run into the delicious pastry known as kringle. It’s the official state pastry for a reason: stuffed with creamy almond filling and glazed with icing, these flaky ring-shaped pastries are equal parts decadently rich and irresistibly delicious.
Get the Danish Kringle recipe.
Wyoming: Fudge
Nothing rings in the holidays quite like Christmas fudge, and that's exactly how Wyomingites roll. Rich and chocolatey, it's one of our favorite holiday desserts to bring to a potluck or showcase at our Christmas celebration. Plus, it's a perfect last-minute homemade gift to share with friends, family, and neighbors.
Get the Christmas Fudge recipe.
