Here Are Recipes for the Most Searched Dish From Every State—Plus DC

By Zee Krstic
July 13, 2018
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
Every state has their go-to foods. And we have ways to make them healthier. 
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Credit: Getty: AfricaImages

Earlier this month, to celebrate July 4, Google published a doodle that included the most-searched dish from every state from the last 12 months.

The doodle is worth looking at. It's essentially an interactive map that lets you click on each state to see which dishes home cooks are searching for the most—plus a list of the most-popular recipes for each of these meals. 

RELATED: 50 Recipes for the Most Iconic Food In Each State

Many are not too surprising (Marylanders like to make crab dip, natch). But some of the results are curious. Why do Utahans search so much for zucchini bread? And why aren't potatoes the most popular dish in Idaho?!

You may think you know what the home cooks in your state are making the most, but the list just might prove otherwise. Either way, we've dug through the list and found our healthy version of every state's most searched for recipe.

When it comes to delicious and healthy dishes that are popular in your home state, we've got you covered.

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Alabama: Broccoli Salad

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad

You hardly need a recipe to make a perfect broccoli salad—but we like a creamy dressing (slash the fat by combining canola mayo with Greek yogurt), toasted nuts for crunch, dried fruit for sweetness, and chopped bacon (because bacon!). Watch how to make Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad here. 

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Alaska: Halibut

Credit: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Roasted Halibut With Herb Salad

Take this recipe to the next level by putting fresh herbs and lemon slices under the fillets while you cook them in the oven to perfume the fish.

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Arizona: Spanish Rice

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick
View Recipe: Spanish Chicken and Rice with Saffron Cream

This rich, creamy twist on traditional savory rice gets an alluring Spanish accent from smoky cured chorizo and the unmistakable fragrance and flavor of saffron.

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Arkansas: Potato Soup

Credit: Photo: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Paleo Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup

This recipe is ideal for a weekend, when you can check on the slow cooker after just a few hours; though you won't be able to leave the soup unattended all day, this still offers the benefit of hands-free, fuss-free cooking.

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California: Quinoa

Credit: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Quinoa Bowl with 6-Minute Egg

This simple quinoa meal is crowned with a soft-boiled egg; the nutrient-rich yolk creates its own creamy sauce. 

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Colorado: Spaghetti Squash

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

Spaghetti squash is a favorite ingredient for those seeking a lower-carb, gluten-free alternative to pasta. If you’ve cooked it before, you’ve likely cut it in half lengthwise to form two “boats.” Try this instead: Cut the squash into rings to preserve the length of the strands. See our step-by-step guide using the link below.

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Connecticut: Quiche

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Bulgur and Greens Mini Quiches

Mini quiches are quick, easy go-tos for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Try chard, collards, or spinach and goat cheese, cheddar, or Swiss in this recipe.

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Delaware: Baked Salmon

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Roasted Pistachio-Crusted Salmon and Kale Salad

For even cooking, look for a fillet that is about the same thickness throughout, or ask at the fish counter to trim off the tail end. While the salmon roasts, you can whisk together the Dijon mustard vinaigrette and add the salad ingredients to the bowl.

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District of Colombia: Crab Cakes

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Crab Cakes with Spicy Rémoulade

These light, tender crab cakes are ready in just 20 minutes, making them an easy, elegant main. Look for fresh lump crabmeat at the fish counter for a sweet, clean flavor. Serve with a salad of mixed greens and fennel.

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Florida: Ceviche

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Halibut Ceviche with Lime and Seaweed

Seaweed goes well beyond sushi; in ceviche, it gives a punch of savory crunch that balances that bright twang of lime and herbal fragrance of cilantro.

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Georgia: Squash Casserole

Credit: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Squash-Chickpea Crumble

Traditional squash casserole can be a caloric pitfall at dinner—but creamy chickpeas add a nice hit of protein to this fast sautéed summer squash while the crispy breadcrumbs add great crispy texture. It's a healthier, deconstructed version of this Southern staple.

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Hawaii: Asian Shoyu Chicken

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Sticky Asian Chicken Wings

Traditional "shoyu" chicken relies on a heavy soy sauce-based glaze, which can lead to a bit of a salt bomb at dinner time. This recipe is an adaptation that uses the same flavor profile on skinned chicken wings.

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Idaho: Crêpes

Credit: Cooking Light
View Recipe: Tangy Mascarpone Crêpes and Honeyed Berries

Store-bought crêpes are a super-smart shortcut—look for them in the produce section of your grocery store. Mascarpone cheese makes an indulgent creamy filling, especially when stirred together with your favorite fruits.

View recipe: Tangy Mascarpone Crêpes and Honeyed Berries

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Illinois: Italian Beef Recipes

Credit: Cooking Light
View Recipe: Slow-Cooked Italian Beef Stew

Hello, Instant Pot! This slow-cooked stew comes together in just one pot and you can set it and forget it.

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Indiana: Sweet Buckeyes

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Mummy Buckeyes

We have a lightened version of Indiana's favorite recipe for Halloween celebrations. Our two-bite treats are scary-simple to make and a ghoulishly good addition to your spread of haunted sweets.

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Iowa: Hamburgers

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Banh Mi Burgers

Here, a classic beef burger—Iowa's favorite—takes some cues from the classic Vietnamese sandwich and cranks its flavor up to 10. We enjoy our burgers cooked to medium (140°F) for more juiciness, and we always purchase the meat from a trusted source.

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Kansas: Lamb and Beet Meatballs

Credit: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Lamb and Beet Meatballs

These lamb, beet, and bulgur meatballs are a great example of using meat as a supporting player rather than the star and getting more veggies and whole grains into your diet. 

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Kentucky: Vegetable Soup

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Vegetable Soup au Pistou

A traditional French pistou is a nut-free pesto, but the spinach pesto (or any refrigerated brand) is delicious here. Don't rinse the canned beans after draining; any remaining starches will help bring the soup together.

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Louisiana: Gumbo

Credit: Cooking Light
View Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

We call for all-purpose flour in the roux of this gumbo because whole-grain flours may burn in the pan and become too bitter. But in place of the usual white rice, this deeply spiced stew goes over convenient precooked brown rice.

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Maine: Apple Pie

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Salted Caramel Apple Pie

A quick homemade caramel sauce that’s folded into fresh apple slices and baked in a whole-grain crust takes this classic pie to the next level. Crisp, sweet Fuji apples bake beautifully and will contrast the salty caramel. You can also use Cripps Pink or Honeycrisp apples.

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Maryland: Warm Dips

Credit: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: French Onion With Sweet Potato Chips

Ditch the sodium-bomb seasoning packets and sour cream-and-mayonnaise–laden dip (which can pack a small meal’s worth of calories and sat fat into a single serving) for our homemade dip.

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Massachusetts: Haddock

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Almond-and-Flax-Crusted Fish

Earthy ground flaxseed and nutty-sweet almond flour join forces to create a super crisp gluten-free breading for a fish like haddock—though you can also use it on chicken too.

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Michigan: Goulash

Credit: Photo: Nina Choi
View Recipe: Hungarian Goulash

Classic goulash calls for heavy beef chuck, so we cut calories by 40% with tasty pork tenderloin—simmered until fork-tender in a cozy stew of tomatoes, beer, onion, and spices. A bit of bacon (just one slice) adds a nice salty kick the mix. A dollop of sour cream adds a creamy finish to this flavor-packed dish, served over a bed of warm, buttery egg noodles.

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Minnesota: Sloppy Joes

Credit: Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Turkey and Swiss Sloppy Joes

This twist on a classic sandwich swaps the sweet, barbecue-style sauce for a white sauce enriched with nutty Swiss cheese.

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Mississippi: Taco Soup

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Go ahead and flag this recipe—it’s sure to become a family favorite. A pot of pure comfort, it’s a slightly thickened, creamy chicken soup complimented with rice with a finishing garnish of smoky bacon. All the flavors of a classic taco soup without the guilt!

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Missouri: Hamburger Recipes

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Hamburger Steak with Onion Gravy

These smothered burger patties are a unanimous family favorite—easy, filling, and fun. Serve with speedy sides like frozen mashed potatoes and microwave-in-bag haricots verts (slender green beans).

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Montana: Classic Chili

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Hearty Bulgur Chili

The amount of chipotle we call for in this vegetarian-friendly chili yields a medium level of spice; use more or less to suit your family's taste.

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Nebraska: Taco Seasoning

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Family-Style Taco Seasoning

The taco seasonings that one of our editor's makes from scratch are quite close to what you might find in a packet of taco mix, but it's a simple homemade blend of basic pantry spices, and it takes about three minutes to measure and stir up.

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Nevada: Chicken Adobo

Credit: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Chicken Adobo

Adobo is a revered Filipino dish that calls for chicken (or pork) stewed in a soy and vinegar broth, which is then reduced to a glaze and served with rice. The marinade cooks down to an intensely flavored sauce that makes this dish irresistible. Many recipes call for sugar in the braising liquid, but we've omitted it to avoid added sugar.

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New Hampshire: Apple Crisps

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Mom's Rhubarb-Apple Crisp

Rhubarb's bracingly tart flavor pairs perfectly with sweet fruit in crisps and pies. Honeycrisp and Golden Delicious apples hold their shape well and won't get too mushy after baking. Brown sugar lends deep molasses flavor to the topping.

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New Jersey: Grilled Flounder

Credit: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Flounder Grilled on Banana Leaves

Many cooks only grill thick fish steaks because thin fillets break and fall into the fire. But a banana leaf solves the problem elegantly. It’s naturally nonstick, covers the rack, and lends subtle grassy sweetness to thinner fillets like flounder, snapper, tilapia, and sole, along with smoky grilled flavor.

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New Mexico: Posole

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Easy Pork Posole

Most pork posole recipes call for pork shoulder, but we use ground pork instead. Hominy is a hallmark of posole; find it canned in the Latin and Mexican foods section. This low-stress soup is great for serving a crowd and even better for leftovers the next day. If the soup thickens too much after being refrigerated overnight, stir in up to 3 tablespoons stock or water for every serving that is reheated.

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New York: Chicken Cutlet Recipes

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Cutlets with Ham and Jam

This recipe is a play on chicken cordon bleu that's far easier to prepare. Instead of stuffing chicken breasts with jam and cheese, we broil cutlets until done and simply top them with ham, cheese, and a touch of jam. We also tested the dish with cheddar, which you could use in a pinch, but the nutty, tangy flavor of Havarti makes it feel more special.

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North Carolina: "Snow" Cream

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Soft Serve "Nice" Cream

If you’re unfamiliar with the term “snow cream,” it refers to an ice cream–like concoction made by using fresh snow from outside. Sounds...dangerous, right? So make "nice" cream instead! Our version takes on a smooth, creamy, soft-serve texture with the addition of a little coconut milk.