8 Food Dishes That Are Absolute Symbols of Iowa

As a primarily farm state (over 85% of the land is farmland), Iowa cuisine tends to feature pork, beef, and corn. Iowa food is typically hearty and no-frills, with some truly unique and creative local dishes. Furthermore, some of these local favorites have German and Dutch influences from the settlers who came to Iowa in the 1800s. Keep in mind that Iowa is a large state. Some local favorite dishes are regional, while some may overlap with other midwestern states. Despite these regional differences, we’ve come up with a list of eight food dishes that are absolute symbols of Iowa.

Corn on the Cob

You can’t mention foods from Iowa without bringing up sweet corn. The United States is the world leader in corn production, and Iowa leads the pack. Iowa grows more corn (around 2.5 billion bushels annually) than any other state. Iowans know sweet corn is best when it’s fresh and in season. Freshly picked corn has better flavor, aroma, and more nutrients than the kind sitting for weeks on the store shelf. The typical way to prepare fresh-picked corn on the cob is to boil it for three to four minutes and serve it with butter and salt.

Taco Pizza

If you have never spent time in the Midwest, you may have never heard of taco pizza. This invention, created in Davenport in 1972 by Joe Whitty, founder of Happy Joe’s Pizza, is an Iowan favorite. To make taco pizza, you start with a pizza crust smeared with a refried bean sauce. Then, top it with seasoned sausage, beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and crumbled taco chips.

Blue Bunny Ice Cream

There is a good reason LeMars, IA, is the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.” Wells Enterprises Inc., the makers of Blue Bunny ice cream and other dairy products, is located in the small town of LeMars. One of the most popular flavors of Blue Bunny is bunny tracks, made with peanut butter bunnies, chocolate-covered peanuts, amid swirls of caramel and fudge.

Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

The iconic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is a staple in diners and small-town restaurants across Iowa. The pork tenderloin is made by pounding it until it’s thin and often ends up as big the size of a dinner plate. Next, the pork gets breaded and deep fried until it’s tender inside and crispy on the outside. Finally, the whole thing gets plopped inside a tiny bun topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles.

Scotcheroo

In Iowa, you’ll likely see scotcheroos served at potlucks, birthday parties, and other get-togethers. They grew popular when the recipe showed up on a box of Rice Krispies in the 1960s. Today, scotcheroos are still popular in the Midwest, especially Iowa. Scotcheroos contain chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, and Rice Krispies. 

Loose Meat Sandwich

Think of a cross between a sloppy joe and a hamburger. The iconic Iowa diner Maid-Rite made the loose meat sandwich famous in the 1920s. Today, they still serve it with seasoned ground beef on a warmed bun. You can top it with the usual toppings you would put on a hamburger.

Sour Cream Raisin Pie

The original recipe for a sour cream and raisin pie is likely from Germany by Mennonite communities that settled in Iowa. It’s such a famous pie in the state that there’s an entire baking contest at the Iowa State Fair devoted to it. It’s a custard-based pie of vanilla, spices, and raisins and topped with a billowy, light meringue.

Ham Balls

Another classic food dish that’s a symbol of Iowa is ham balls. Although they appear to be meatballs in a red sauce, they aren’t your typical meatballs. Iowa ham balls are made of ham loaf (a mixture of ground ham and ground pork) mixed with a sticky, sweet tomato-based sauce. Also, instead of the usual bread crumbs or ground crackers for binding, ham balls use ground graham crackers.

Summary of 8 Food Dishes That Are Symbols of Iowa

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