The Legendary Foods Born in Illinois

Illinois might not be known as the best state to live in, but it is definitely famous for some of the most iconic foods invented in the country. Maybe not pizza, hey, NYC pizza will always be number one in my book, but there’s a whole lot of other delicious food to try in Illinois.

When I moved here from the East Coast, I had no idea what a horseshoe sandwich or a Chicago-style hot dog even was. And what exactly is deep-dish pizza? Soon enough, I discovered these mouthwatering meals and why they’re so beloved in Illinois: because they were all created in the state.

Chicago-Style Hot Dog

I’ll never forget my first Chicago-style hot dog, and the looks I got when I put ketchup on it (I was 10, mind you). People acted like I’d committed a crime, and in a way, I guess I had! Lesson learned: NEVER put ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog. This famous meal, like many other classic Illinois creations, made its debut at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

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Horseshoe

Wait, isn’t that what goes on a horse? Not in Illinois.200252025 Who knew that a slab of meat on Texas toast, topped with French fries and a mountain of cheese, could be so delicious? I’ll be honest, I’ve never actually tried a horseshoe myself.

Why?

Well… the cheese. And we all know how much I hate cheese. But my husband orders it all the time, and I have to admit, it does look tempting (minus the cheese, of course). The horseshoe is considered an open-faced sandwich and was created in Springfield. You’ll mostly find this iconic dish in the central and southern parts of the state.

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Deep Dish Pizza

I could argue for hours about how NYC pizza is better than deep-dish, but for the sake of this article, let’s talk about deep-dish. Look, it’s fine, and for those who grew up with it, it’s probably the best pizza around, but there has to be a faster way to cook it. Deep-dish usually takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to bake all the way through.

And yeah, it’s delicious, I like it, but nothing will ever taste like the pizza I grew up with in New York. The iconic Chicago deep-dish pizza was invented at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago in 1943.

Other legendary foods invented in Illinois include Italian beef sandwiches, Twinkies, Cracker Jack, brownies, and even one of the most popular pantry staples, you guessed it, popcorn.

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See? Illinois does have some great things going for it… even if they might cost you a few extra pounds.