We Bet You Can't Guess The Most Popular Christmas Dish In Every State (2024)

There are so many things you can make with crescent rolls—danishes, rings, pinwheels, and more. Alabama has mastered them all. No need to look for a centerpiece, because our bacon brie crescent wreath doubles as both appetizer and centerpiece. And if it's a vegetarian app you're after, we'd suggest subbing in sautéed mushrooms for the bacon.

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Snow crab legs are one of life's greatest luxuries, but their high price can make preparing them at home feel a little daunting. But we have a secret: Crab legs are ridiculously easy to make and super popular at an Alaskan holiday meal. With these tried-and-true cooking methods (including the Instant Pot!), you can feel fancy in a matter of minutes.

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It only makes sense that Arizonans would love a good Christmas flan. Flan (AKA the classic baked custard often served in Latin America & Spain) is always in style. Jazz up your usual caramel flan by making our Chocoflan this year; the beautiful contrasting layers of chocolate cake and flan are totally mind-blowing.

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Light brown sugar, plenty of pecans, corn syrup—all places where Arkansas shines. Our recipe has a craggy, crunchy top gives way to that delicious, rich interior FULL to the brim of nuts. We provide instructions for a flaky, buttery pie crust, but this pie tastes nearly just as good with frozen pie crust. Make sure to thaw it before baking.

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Sure, California's take on stuffing is generally more fruit- and veggie-packed than the rest of the country's, but they're still hyped on stuffing. We'll allow it, especially if it means our recipe for apple stuffing. In this recipe, apples and cranberries add a freshness to balance out the hearty side.

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After a morning of romping in the snow, what better way to warm up than enjoying a Christmas brunch with popovers? Coloradans have all the right ideas. They're the sweet version of savory Yorkshire puddings, perfect for impressing your guests at breakfast brunch. Pair with oven-cooked bacon, a big batch of scrambled eggs, and a pitcher of mimosas for the ideal spread.

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Turkey is consistently the most-searched food term around the holidays in Connecticut. Guessing all the Conneticuters out there now have great turkey recipes you can share? If you've never brined your Thanksgiving turkey, this is your year. Our version is filled with the best fall herbs for that cozy, holiday feel, plus two types of citrus for brightness.

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There's no contest here—those who celebrate Christmas in Delaware just don't do it without a big batch of gingerbread. For us, gingerbread cookies should have a lot of ground ginger, a bit of cinnamon, and a tiny amount of cloves. It's the perfect Christmas formula.

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Though this iconic side may seem a bit basic for Florida, know that there is usually a bigger hit of citrus in their sauces. Because when in Florida, etc. If you're low on oranges, tons of other winter citrus will work: Lemon or grapefruit zest, grated ginger, and warm spices like cardamom, cloves, or star anise go beautifully with cranberries too.

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Though it may not get super-cold in Georgia, there's still need for serious, soul-warming comfort food. Hence the ubiquity of green bean casseroles at Christmas. For this recipe, we ditched the canned cream of mushroom soup and went for fresh instead. By sautéing mushrooms with thinly sliced onion in butter, you're building a base with some serious depth of flavor.

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Special holidays mean a special meal, and as Kālua pig and cabbage is Hawai'i's ultimate comfort food, it's a true treat at the holidays. This pork dish is the star of the show, whether it’s served as a plate lunch alongside classic sides like macaroni salad and poi—a paste pounded from taro root—or ladled generously into a bowl in Mom’s kitchen after a long day.

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At the end of every year, searches for "prime rib" recipes unfailingly spike, and Idahoans are definitely all about it. Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is a beautiful piece of meat. Whenever we need a truly showstopping holiday roast, we turn to it. A well-cooked prime rib is juicy, full of flavor, and not at all difficult to make, either!

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Fun fact, it's apparently not so uncommon to see entire hot chocolate bars lined along a Christmas table in Illinois. We just might have to steal that idea (so we can make more hot chocolate and more hot chocolate bombs).

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Lots of casserole options to be had at Christmas, but in Indiana, the sweet potato one—extra marshmallows preferred—prevails. We went ahead and topped ours with a pecan streusel and then marshmallows which helps this casserole stand out above ALL the rest.

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Iowans love an apple cake at Christmas. And so do we (we'll take cake anyway you slice it, really). Featuring three layers of tender, lightly spiced apple cider cake sandwiched with apple pie filling, buttery crumble, and salted caramel, this apple crumble cake recipe will delight and impress anyone who’s lucky enough to snag a piece.

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Does this really come as a surprise? Though Kansans do let up on the BBQ (a little) for the holiday, they do no such thing with their potatoes. We totally agree, which is why we'll take an extra serving of these garlic and feta mashed potatoes.

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Now this is a Christmas pudding we can get behind. Make bread pudding a true Kentucky experience by adding a little bourbon before baking. 😉

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Would any kind of Creole Christmas be complete without it? No matter what you put in your gumbo—though most have shrimp or sausage in theirs—it's sure to be a Christmas hit.

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There are plenty of protein stars at a Maine Christmas (baked chicken, lobster, etc.), but have you considered adding oyster stuffing to the mix? If you're new to the oyster stuffing game, you're in for a treat. Oysters lend a briny, super savory flavor to your stuffing that will keep your guests coming back for second and third helpings.

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No matter the season, really, Maryland crab cakes will always reign supreme. Ready in 30 minutes, this is the perfect easy appetizer to serve up when you want to feel transported to a seaside escape. Paired with lemon wedges and tartar sauce, these classic cakes are truly restaurant-worthy.

Get the Air Fryer Crab Cakes recipe.