Table of Contents
Hamburgers and Cheeseburgers Reign Supreme
By mid-2024, hamburgers, french fries, and grilled cheese sandwiches ranked as the most popular American dishes, with roughly 84 percent of respondents expressing positive opinions – levels that have largely held steady into 2025. There’s something deeply satisfying about biting into a juicy burger that makes Americans come back for more. The nation consumes billions of hamburgers each year, which honestly sounds crazy until you realize how many places serve them. The versatility of burgers means you can pile on whatever toppings your heart desires, from classic American cheese to gourmet options featuring truffle aioli and candied bacon.
Pizza Takes an Unexpected Podium Position
One in eight Americans chow down on a pizza slice on any given day, which frankly seems low when you consider how pizza places dominate practically every street corner. What makes pizza so compelling is how it bridges the gap between quick comfort food and something you’d actually order for a celebration. Some Americans have pizza for breakfast, proving this dish has transcended traditional meal categories entirely. The thing is, pizza’s universal appeal means it rarely disappoints, whether you’re grabbing a dollar slice or sitting down at a fancy wood-fired pizzeria.
Mashed Potatoes Prove Comfort Food Still Matters
Italian food may be the most liked cuisine among Americans at 88%, but mashed potatoes individually top the dish list with a whopping 85% popularity. Let’s be real, there’s something about creamy, buttery mashed potatoes that just hits differently. Gen X particularly adores mashed potatoes, with a favorability rate of 87%, though every generation seems to have their own nostalgic connection to this side dish. Women show slightly higher preference rates for certain comfort foods, appreciating mashed potatoes about four percent more than men do.
Fried Chicken Stays in America’s Good Graces
Chicken is the most widely eaten meat in America, with the average person consuming about 100 pounds per year, contributing to the roughly 220 pounds of meat Americans eat annually. The crispy, seasoned coating paired with tender meat underneath makes fried chicken a staple at everything from family dinners to gas station quick stops. Southern-style fried chicken earned itself an especially devoted following, though it’s slightly less popular than its traditional counterpart with a favorability score around 79 percent. Fast-food chains have built entire empires around perfecting this dish, with some locations becoming cultural institutions in their own right.
Anchovies Top the Most Hated List
Here’s where things get uncomfortable for some dishes. Anchovies, liver, and sardines topped the list of foods disliked or hated by the largest share of American adults, according to recent polls. The strong, salty flavor of anchovies can be overwhelming, and a 2016 Harris Poll found that anchovies were the least liked pizza topping. The pungent taste simply doesn’t translate well for most American palates, despite these tiny fish being loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. It’s fascinating how polarizing seafood tends to be across the board.
Cookie Salad and Regional Oddities Puzzle the Nation
Originating from Minnesota, cookie salad is a simple dessert made by combining fudge stripe shortbread cookies, buttermilk, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and mandarin oranges, though berries may be included while Oreo cookies are strictly prohibited. TasteAtlas lists it among poorly rated American foods. Some regional dishes just don’t translate beyond their home territories, no matter how beloved they are locally. Minnesota’s glorified rice and frog eye salad from the Midwest similarly confuse outsiders who can’t fathom why anyone would mix these particular ingredients together.
Cranberry Sauce Divides Thanksgiving Tables
Cranberry sauce is the number one least favorite dish for over a quarter of Americans at 27%, which honestly might surprise anyone who grew up thinking it was a Thanksgiving essential. A recent Instacart survey conducted by the Harris Poll found cranberry sauce topped the least favorite Thanksgiving side dishes list, followed by green bean casserole, pecan pie, roasted vegetables and yams. The gelatinous texture and tart-sweet flavor profile just don’t resonate with everyone, especially younger generations who feel less bound by traditional holiday expectations. Still, some families wouldn’t dream of skipping it.
Blue Cheese and Liver Round Out the Bottom
Characterized by its sharp, tangy flavor and blue veins of mold, blue cheese is another one of America’s least favorite foods, as many people think it tastes just as weird as it looks. Liver occupies similarly despised territory among protein options, probably because of its distinct metallic flavor and unusual texture that feels nothing like conventional meat. Following anchovies, 45% of Americans hate black licorice, showing a generational and gender divide when it comes to polarizing flavors. It’s hard to say for sure, but maybe we’re just more honest now about foods we’ve been pretending to enjoy for decades.