50 States, 50 Flavors: Favorite Memorial Day Meals Across America

Memorial Day is a time to honor our fallen heroes, spend time with loved ones, and of course, indulge in delicious food!

At our house, we like to pull out the Traeger smoker and throw some meat on it. We usually have macaroni or potato salad and some garlic bread with it. I’m considering doing a brisket this year, but we usually do ribs or tri-tip.

I’m always curious about other people’s traditions, so I searched for the most popular meal for Memorial Day in each state.

Here’s a look at each state’s favorite Memorial Day meal, showcasing the diverse culinary traditions that make America so tasty.

Alabama: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Tender, smoky pulled pork piled high on a soft bun, topped with tangy coleslaw.

Alaska: Grilled Salmon

Freshly caught salmon, grilled to perfection and often enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon.

Arizona: Sonoran Hot Dogs

Hot dogs wrapped in bacon, topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and jalapeño sauce.

Arkansas: Fried Catfish

Crispy fried catfish fillets served with hushpuppies and coleslaw.

California: Grilled Fish Tacos

Grilled fish tacos with fresh cabbage slaw, avocado, and a zesty lime crema.

Colorado: Bison Burgers

Juicy bison burgers, often topped with cheddar cheese and a spicy BBQ sauce.

Connecticut: Lobster Rolls

Chunks of sweet lobster meat lightly dressed in mayo served in a buttered roll.

Delaware: Crab Cakes

Golden, crispy crab cakes made with fresh blue crab meat and served with a tangy remoulade.

Florida: Key Lime Pie

A refreshing and tangy key lime pie, perfect for a sweet end to the meal.

Georgia: Peach Cobbler

Warm, gooey peach cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Hawaii: Kalua Pork

Slow-roasted, tender kalua pork with a hint of smoky flavor, often served with rice and macaroni salad.

Idaho: Grilled Trout

Freshly caught trout, seasoned and grilled to perfection.

Illinois: Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

All-beef hot dogs topped with mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, pickles, and a sprinkle of celery salt.

Indiana: Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

Breaded and fried pork tenderloin served in a sandwich with pickles and mustard.

Iowa: Corn on the Cob

Sweet corn on the cob, grilled and slathered in butter.

Kansas: BBQ Ribs

Slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs with a rich, smoky sauce.

Kentucky: Bourbon-Glazed Ham

Ham glazed with a sweet and savory bourbon sauce, perfect for grilling.

Louisiana: Crawfish Boil

Spicy crawfish boil with corn, potatoes, and sausage.

Maine: Lobster Bake

A classic lobster bake with steamed clams, mussels, corn, and potatoes.

Maryland: Steamed Blue Crabs

Maryland blue crabs steamed with Old Bay seasoning and served with melted butter.

Massachusetts: Clam Chowder

Creamy New England clam chowder with tender clams, potatoes, and a touch of bacon.

Michigan: Coney Dogs

Hot dogs topped with a flavorful beef chili, onions, and mustard.

Minnesota: Juicy Lucy Burgers

Cheese-stuffed burgers that ooze melted cheese with every bite.

Mississippi: BBQ Shrimp

Spicy BBQ shrimp served with French bread for sopping up the sauce.

Missouri: Burnt Ends

Deliciously charred and flavorful burnt ends from smoked brisket.

Montana: Bison Steaks

Grilled bison steaks, often served with a hearty side of potatoes.

Nebraska: Runzas

Dough pockets filled with ground beef, cabbage, and onions, baked to perfection.

Nevada: Shrimp Cocktail

Chilled shrimp served with a tangy cocktail sauce, a Vegas favorite.

New Hampshire: Maple-Glazed Chicken

Chicken grilled with a sweet and smoky maple glaze.

New Jersey: Italian Sausage and Peppers

Grilled Italian sausage with sautéed bell peppers and onions.

New Mexico: Green Chile Cheeseburgers

Burgers topped with roasted green chiles and melted cheese.

New York: Grilled NY Strip Steak

Juicy New York strip steak grilled to perfection often served with garlic butter.

North Carolina: BBQ Pulled Chicken

Pulled chicken smothered in a tangy vinegar-based BBQ sauce, served on a soft bun.

North Dakota: Knoephla Soup

A rich and creamy potato and dumpling soup, perfect for cooler Memorial Day weather.

Ohio: Cincinnati Chili

Spaghetti topped with a unique blend of spiced chili, shredded cheese, and onions.

Oklahoma: Chicken-Fried Steak

Breaded and fried steak topped with creamy gravy, served with mashed potatoes.

Oregon: Cedar-Planked Salmon

Salmon fillets grilled on cedar planks impart a delicious smoky flavor.

Pennsylvania: Philly Cheesesteaks

Thinly sliced steak with melted cheese and sautéed onions served in a hoagie roll.

Rhode Island: Stuffies

Stuffed quahogs (large clams) with a savory bread and herb filling.

South Carolina: Lowcountry Boil

A mix of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes boiled with Old Bay seasoning.

South Dakota: Buffalo Burgers

Lean and flavorful buffalo burgers, often topped with cheese and grilled onions.

Tennessee: BBQ Ribs

Tender, smoky BBQ ribs with a tangy Memphis-style sauce.

Texas: Brisket

Slow-smoked brisket with a flavorful bark and juicy interior.

Utah: Jello Salad

A quirky favorite, often featuring fruit and whipped cream mixed into jello.

Vermont: Maple-Glazed Salmon

Salmon fillets brushed with a sweet and savory maple glaze, then grilled.

Virginia: Ham Biscuits

Soft biscuits stuffed with thinly sliced, salty Virginia ham.

Washington: Grilled Oysters

Fresh oysters grilled and topped with a zesty garlic butter.

West Virginia: Pepperoni Rolls

Soft rolls stuffed with spicy pepperoni, a local favorite.

Wisconsin: Bratwurst

Grilled bratwurst sausages served with sauerkraut and mustard on a bun.

Wyoming: Elk Burgers

Juicy and flavorful elk burgers often served with a side of grilled vegetables.

Whats your favorite Memorial Day Meal?