Like with any region, there are certain types of foods North Dakota is known for. These special staples have become the most popular, well-loved foods in the entire state. A lot of it has to do with where the residents of North Dakota’s ancestors came from. Scandinavians and Germans-from-Russia, for example, have the biggest influence on the state’s favorite recipes that have been passed down for generations.
Regardless of where these came from, people from the Peace Garden State know how delicious these foods are, and if you haven’t had them yet you should try them ASAP.
- Lefse
Vrangtante Brun/Flickr Lefse is a Norwegian flatbread made primarily with potatoes. It is usually eaten with a bit of butter spread on or even with sugar, cinnamon, or peanut butter as various other toppings. Regardless of what you put on it, it is delicious and a North Dakota favorite.
- Knoephla
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr This mouthwatering soup is by far one of the most popular food staples in ND. It has a a creamy texture, chunks of potato, and yummy dumplings along with veggies such as celery. This is the best kind of homemade food that will bring you right back to grandma’s kitchen.
- Caramel rolls
Darcy’s Cafe/Facebook There’s nothing like a warm, fresh caramel roll from North Dakota! These are the better version of a cinnamon roll, topped with gooey, tasty caramel that will make you drool as soon as you see them. This state makes them the biggest and the best, and we love it!
- Cheese buttons
Déadra Moore/Facebook Cheese buttons, or kase knoephla, are one of those things where you can never have just one. They are the ultimate comfort food and they consist of (you guessed it) cheese wrapped in a dough and boiled or fried. They’re addictive!
- Tatortot hot dish
moleofproduction/Flickr If there is one dish you can always be sure shows up at a pot luck in North Dakota, it’s this. Tatortots, ground beef, a cream-of-something soup, and a mixture of veggies creates this perfect combination that’s perfect for any meal.
- Kuchen
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr Kuchen (which is the word for cake in German) is an absolutely yummy dessert and comfort food in North Dakota that people can’t get enough of. It comes in an endless list of flavors - usually including some kind of berry or fruit - and every North Dakotan has their favorite one.
- Hot beef (or turkey) sandwich
hawaiidiva/Flickr There’s nothing like satisfying a hungry stomach with a sandwich full of hot beef or turkey, split with a scoop of mashed potatoes in the middle, and absolutely smothered in gravy. This meal always hits the spot!
- Fleischkuekle
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr This one is a bit hard to spell and pronounce, but it’s also one of the state’s favorite foods - and for good reason. It is a dough stuffed with meat, like a meat pie except folded over, and came about from Germans-from-Russian immigrants that came to North Dakota.
How many of these have you tried already?
Vrangtante Brun/Flickr
Lefse is a Norwegian flatbread made primarily with potatoes. It is usually eaten with a bit of butter spread on or even with sugar, cinnamon, or peanut butter as various other toppings. Regardless of what you put on it, it is delicious and a North Dakota favorite.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
This mouthwatering soup is by far one of the most popular food staples in ND. It has a a creamy texture, chunks of potato, and yummy dumplings along with veggies such as celery. This is the best kind of homemade food that will bring you right back to grandma’s kitchen.
Darcy’s Cafe/Facebook
There’s nothing like a warm, fresh caramel roll from North Dakota! These are the better version of a cinnamon roll, topped with gooey, tasty caramel that will make you drool as soon as you see them. This state makes them the biggest and the best, and we love it!
Déadra Moore/Facebook
Cheese buttons, or kase knoephla, are one of those things where you can never have just one. They are the ultimate comfort food and they consist of (you guessed it) cheese wrapped in a dough and boiled or fried. They’re addictive!
moleofproduction/Flickr
If there is one dish you can always be sure shows up at a pot luck in North Dakota, it’s this. Tatortots, ground beef, a cream-of-something soup, and a mixture of veggies creates this perfect combination that’s perfect for any meal.
Kuchen (which is the word for cake in German) is an absolutely yummy dessert and comfort food in North Dakota that people can’t get enough of. It comes in an endless list of flavors - usually including some kind of berry or fruit - and every North Dakotan has their favorite one.
hawaiidiva/Flickr
There’s nothing like satisfying a hungry stomach with a sandwich full of hot beef or turkey, split with a scoop of mashed potatoes in the middle, and absolutely smothered in gravy. This meal always hits the spot!
This one is a bit hard to spell and pronounce, but it’s also one of the state’s favorite foods - and for good reason. It is a dough stuffed with meat, like a meat pie except folded over, and came about from Germans-from-Russian immigrants that came to North Dakota.
We’ll give an honorable mention to lutefisk, the North Dakota food staple you’ve probably heard of but likely don’t want to try. It’s certainly an acquired taste, but still an important dish of the state!
Want to know where you can get all these foods at more at restaurants in the Peace Garden State that serve home-cooked meals to die for? We’ve got you covered right here.
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