Is Hot Dish MN’s ‘Most Iconic Food’? The Food Network Says So

MINNESOTA — You may not agree, but the Food Network says the most iconic food in Minnesota is Hot Dish.

The network listed the foods each of the 50 states is known for in its 2024 “United Plates of America” report released earlier this year.

Here’s what the Food Network says about Hot Dish:

It might look like a casserole to you, but ask any Minnesotan what they call this combination of beef or chicken, veggies and canned cream of mushroom soup traditionally topped with tater tots, and the response will be "hot dish."

This easy to make casserole can be found everywhere from church suppers to family reunions. It’s even at the center of a highly competitive culinary competition that pits the state’s congressional delegation against one another to see just who makes the best hot dish.

While it’s mostly a dish made at home, Mason Jar Kitchen & Bar located in Eagen serves a version that will remind you of your grandmother’s cooking, if your grandmother made everything from scratch. Seasoned ground beef and corn are stirred into a rich house-made cream of mushroom soup and draped over tots. Melted cheddar cheese and a few more tots crown the top for rib-sticking glory.

The Food Network says its list is “packed with iconic local flavors that share its history and define its geography.” The list also includes the best place to find these foods.

If Hot Dish doesn’t suit your tastes, other iconic foods in the region include:

• Wisconsin: Fried Cheese Curds
• Illinois: Deep-Dish Pizza
• Iowa: Sweet Corn
• North Dakota: Cheese Buttons
• South Dakota: Lefse