The 3 Foods That Define What It Actually Means to Eat Like a Minnesotan.

In many ways, Minnesota has helped shape America's taste buds. America's favorite Italian chain, Olive Garden, was created here. Cheerios, Pizza Rolls, Spam, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, etc., all link back to the land of 10,000 lakes.

Those foods and brands have clearly gone mainstream, but they aren't the foods we identify as ours, according to a recent survey conducted by Hello Fresh.

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The meal-kit delivery company recently polled people on their "state food." The takeaway? It’s all about nostalgia. Whether it’s Louisiana gumbo or a New York slice, people choose the flavors that remind them of home. Minnesotans selected three foods, and I'm willing to bet you've tried them all.

If You Haven't Had These 3 Foods, Are You Even a Minnesotan?

HOT DISH - A 2025 survey conducted by Taste of Home revealed that hot dish is the comfort food that Minnesotans can't live without: "The Land of 10,000 Lakes might have many hot dish recipes, all creamy casseroles baked until golden and bubbly. But the Tater Tot–topped version is the queen of them all."

JUCY LUCY - You can find cheese-stuffed burgers all over the place now, but if you want to try the original, you've got to head to either Matt's Bar & Grill or the 5-8 Club in Minneapolis. Both of these classic spots claim to have invented the Juicy or Jucy Lucy.

WALLEYE - A Reader's Digest survey showed that walleye sandwiches are Minnesota's favorite sandwich. "People fry up this freshwater fish all over the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Crisp lettuce, tangy tartar sauce, and lemon wedges—not to mention cold beer—are optional accouterments.