To much of the world, America is best known as the birthplace of fast-food icons like cheeseburgers, deep-dish pizza, and hot dogs. But there's so much more to the country's incredibly diverse cuisine – from Nashville hot chicken and Cincinnati's iconic chili to all kinds of weird and wonderful local delicacies. Here, we’ve rounded up the most beloved dishes born across the USA, counting down to the one that captures the nation’s appetite best.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the greatest dishes invented in the USA. How many have you tried?

We’ve based our selections on the enduring popularity of each food in its place of origin and beyond. They're also regularly checked and updated. This list is unavoidably subjective.

The best homegrown dishes invented in every US state, ranked