Let’s be honest; Utah isn’t exactly well-known for its culinary innovations. But if you grew up in the Beehive State, there are some foods that you probably can’t imagine living without. Here are 10 classic dishes that are popular in Utah. Which ones do you love?
- Funeral Potatoes
Mark Manguerra/flickr It doesn’t seem like a casserole made with canned soup would taste good, but somehow when you mix it with frozen hash browns, sour cream and cheese, then top it with corn flakes, it’s just amazing. While this dish got its name because Mormon women tend to serve it at funeral luncheons, Utahns now make it for dinner at home.
- Pastrami Burger
Lucky 13/Google Utahns didn’t invent the pastrami burger, but we definitely appreciate it. Several locally-owned burger chains offer this delicacy, including Crown Burger, Astro Burger, JCW’s, Lucky 13 and many more.
- Lion House Rolls
The Lion House/Facebook Once you’ve had a Lion House Roll, all others pale in comparison. These light, flaky rolls are legendary.
- Jello Salad
Scudder/flickr The two words “Jello” and “Salad” should never go together, but in Utah it’s a thing. Combine jello (typically lime) with apples or shaved carrots and call it a salad. It’s not - it’s still sugary gelatin with a tiny bit of fresh produce, but it’s wildly popular here.
- Homemade Raspberry Jam on a Mile High Biscuit
Kris Parks/Google Get yourself some Bear Lake raspberries and turn ‘em into jam. Then, put them on a Mile High Biscuit at Ruth’s Diner. You can’t replicate this anywhere else in the country.
- Ice Cream
Leatherby’s Family Creamery/Facebook Utahns don’t mess around with ice cream. Aggie ice cream at Utah State University is a favorite, but you can’t go wrong with the confections at Leatherby’s or the thick shakes at Iceberg.
- Utah Scones
Wally Gobetz/flickr When people in other parts of the country hear “scones,” they think of a hard, fairly tasteless cookie that’s served with tea or coffee. In Utah, a scone is a fluffy, pillowy bit of fried dough that’s served with a side of honey butter.
- Navajo Tacos
Matt Malone/flickr The same scone as mentioned above, with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, green onions and salsa. You can get these in other states in the Southwest, but let’s be honest…they taste better when you’re surrounded by beautiful Utah scenery.
- Dirty Sodas
Swig/Facebook The dirty soda trend had its run in other states, but it just seems to hang on forever in Utah. Maybe because mixing a diet coke and coconut syrup is the most “mixology” people who don’t drink alcohol can experience, and many Utahns avoid the hard stuff.
- Fry Sauce
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr OK, fry sauce is a condiment, not actually food. But let’s be honest - love it or hate it, it’s definitely something that Utahns are passionate about. And truly, it tastes pretty good on that pastrami burger.
- Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler
Jeff Harmon/flickr With all the Boy Scouts in Utah, it’s no wonder that we’re experts at dutch oven cooking. Peach cobbler seems to be a favorite, and we have to admit that it does taste better when made in a dutch oven. Or maybe that’s because we just hiked 20 miles, so any dessert would taste fabulous?
- Zucchini Everything
Like_the_Grand_Canyon/flickr Zucchini bread, zucchini casserole (made with cream cheese!), even zucchini cookies. These hardy vegetables do well in Utah’s climate, so ever gardener on the block seems to have a huge surplus every August.
What other food items would you add to this list?
Mark Manguerra/flickr
It doesn’t seem like a casserole made with canned soup would taste good, but somehow when you mix it with frozen hash browns, sour cream and cheese, then top it with corn flakes, it’s just amazing. While this dish got its name because Mormon women tend to serve it at funeral luncheons, Utahns now make it for dinner at home.
Lucky 13/Google
Utahns didn’t invent the pastrami burger, but we definitely appreciate it. Several locally-owned burger chains offer this delicacy, including Crown Burger, Astro Burger, JCW’s, Lucky 13 and many more.
The Lion House/Facebook
Once you’ve had a Lion House Roll, all others pale in comparison. These light, flaky rolls are legendary.
Scudder/flickr
The two words “Jello” and “Salad” should never go together, but in Utah it’s a thing. Combine jello (typically lime) with apples or shaved carrots and call it a salad. It’s not - it’s still sugary gelatin with a tiny bit of fresh produce, but it’s wildly popular here.
Kris Parks/Google
Get yourself some Bear Lake raspberries and turn ‘em into jam. Then, put them on a Mile High Biscuit at Ruth’s Diner. You can’t replicate this anywhere else in the country.
Leatherby’s Family Creamery/Facebook
Utahns don’t mess around with ice cream. Aggie ice cream at Utah State University is a favorite, but you can’t go wrong with the confections at Leatherby’s or the thick shakes at Iceberg.
Wally Gobetz/flickr
When people in other parts of the country hear “scones,” they think of a hard, fairly tasteless cookie that’s served with tea or coffee. In Utah, a scone is a fluffy, pillowy bit of fried dough that’s served with a side of honey butter.
Matt Malone/flickr
The same scone as mentioned above, with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, green onions and salsa. You can get these in other states in the Southwest, but let’s be honest…they taste better when you’re surrounded by beautiful Utah scenery.
Swig/Facebook
The dirty soda trend had its run in other states, but it just seems to hang on forever in Utah. Maybe because mixing a diet coke and coconut syrup is the most “mixology” people who don’t drink alcohol can experience, and many Utahns avoid the hard stuff.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr
OK, fry sauce is a condiment, not actually food. But let’s be honest - love it or hate it, it’s definitely something that Utahns are passionate about. And truly, it tastes pretty good on that pastrami burger.
Jeff Harmon/flickr
With all the Boy Scouts in Utah, it’s no wonder that we’re experts at dutch oven cooking. Peach cobbler seems to be a favorite, and we have to admit that it does taste better when made in a dutch oven. Or maybe that’s because we just hiked 20 miles, so any dessert would taste fabulous?
Like_the_Grand_Canyon/flickr
Zucchini bread, zucchini casserole (made with cream cheese!), even zucchini cookies. These hardy vegetables do well in Utah’s climate, so ever gardener on the block seems to have a huge surplus every August.
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