Some Classics Are Better Left in the History Books
From Chicago's loaded hot dogs to New York-style pizza, America has plenty of bizarre dishes that are, strange as they might seem on the surface, worth trying for non-Americans. That said, not everything invented by the red-white-and-blue can be trusted—among all the greats, you'll also find some questionable ones. Even major foodies might be better off skipping these 20 American classics.
1. Ambrosia Salad
You'd think anything called ambrosia must be amazing, even if it's a salad. But you'd also be in for a surprise: this Southern classic contains canned fruit, marshmallows, coconut, and, of course, whipped topping or sour cream. Unless all of that sounds appealing to you, trust us, you’re probably not missing much.
2. Chipped Beef on Toast
Technically, you get exactly what it says on the tin with this one: chipped beef on toast. Take one bite, though, and you'll realize it's dry beef with a thick white gravy poured over bread. If it reminds you of military food, that's because it is, and you're probably better off not putting yourself through the experience.
3. Scrapple
Popular in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas, scrapple is a type of loaf made with pork trimmings, cornmeal, flour, and seasonings. Before it gets fried and served (and honestly, even after), it's a gray, gray mess, and you might even question what else is mixed in it...
4. Green Bean Casserole
Casserole anything might sound delicious, but green bean casserole? Though this dish is a Thanksgiving staple, the ingredients may make you do a double-take: essentially, it's a mash of canned green beans with mushroom soup and crispy fried onions. Fancy eating mush?
5. Twinkies
Any American reading this probably just gasped. How could anyone not like Twinkies? It's a classic! But these golden sponge cakes with cream filling are practically just processed junk, so if you're craving a snack-like dessert, there are much, much better things to pick.
Christian Cable from Canterbury, United Kingdom on Wikimedia
6. Salisbury Steak
Salisbury steak doesn't seem that bad... It's just steak, right? Not really. It's actually a ground-beef patty with brown gravy, the "king" of TV dinners. There's nothing necessarily wrong with it, but take our advice and get yourself an actual steak.
7. Liver and Onions
Yep, you read that right. Liver and onions. If you're not the type to get queasy eating organ meat, you might have no problem trying this dish. That is, if you can get past all that metallic flavor and dense texture. It's, for lack of better words, certainly an acquired taste.
8. Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole might sound more appetizing than the green bean one, but you should know nearly every ingredient in this one is canned. Canned tuna, canned soup, canned peas. It's practical comfort food, sure, but there are better casseroles out there.
9. Jell-O Salad
You thought ambrosia salad was weird? What about gelatin filled with fruit, vegetables, and other surprise ingredients? It doesn't stop there: mayo and cottage cheese and even seafood sometimes get thrown in the mix, too. In other words, if your aunt brings over a weirdly colored gelatinous blob, don't eat it.
10. Chicken à la King
Diced chicken in a cream sauce doesn't sound that bad, but even with all its ingredients—mushrooms, peppers, meat, rice—it's actually pretty bland. There are countless better ways Americans prepare chicken, and this is simply not one of them.
11. Creamed Chipped Ham
Similar to chipped beef on toast, creamed ham is basically chopped or sliced ham covered with a cream sauce. Spooned over biscuits or potatoes, you can see how it's a pretty inexpensive meal—but we say it's better to spend a couple extra dollars and avoid this salty, processed mess.
12. Bologna Sandwiches
A bologna sandwich is, well, a bologna sandwich. Once a popular inexpensive lunchbox staple, it's now something that should probably just exist in memory. Unless you want to chase nostalgia, there are plenty of tastier lunches you can fix up.
13. Pop-Tarts
Those colorful Pop-Tarts might look tempting, but these frosted pastries are really nothing to write home about. For one, they're too sweet and too processed to be considered a breakfast meal or a snack in general. In fact, they're probably even worse than Twinkies.
14. Cheese Whiz Cheesesteak
A Philadelphia cheesesteak can absolutely be worth trying, but not the Cheese Whiz version. Never the Cheese Whiz version. You want the real deal, the provolone and white American cheese, not the processed orange kind.
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15. Spam
Canned pork, anyone? Fry up Spam alongside eggs is a familiar breakfast for all Americans, but watch out—eat one too many and its intense saltiness can be all you taste for the rest of the day. Unless processed meats are already your thing, there are more appealing ways to start the morning.
16. Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati chili is very different from the thick bowl of meat and beans you probably picture when you hear the word "chili." For one, it's commonly served over spaghetti and topped with a heaping amount of cheese. It certainly has its niche supporters, but it's not worth ruining your taste buds for this one.
17. Hotdish
Because Americans love mashing together everything they find in their pantry, hotdish is another Frankenstein invention that combines meat, vegetables, creamy canned soup, and tater tots in one casserole dish. The tater tots might save the day for this one, though there are plenty of better comfort foods out there.
18. Ham Salad
Want a foolproof way to reuse your leftovers? Mix chopped ham with mayo, relish, and other seasonings, and you've got ham salad. Now all you have to do is spread that pink goop onto bread or crackers. Not a fan of mayo? Too bad. This one gives you lots of it.
19. Cottage Cheese and Fruit
Cottage cheese is fine enough on its own, but why not throw some canned peaches or pineapple in it? Voilà: sweet fruit with salty cheese curds. Totally appetizing, right? Well, if you didn't grow up eating this dish, you probably don't want to start now.
20. Meatloaf
A good homemade meatloaf can certainly be satisfying, but any version you pick up from the grocery store or the cafeteria is bound to be as bad as you've heard it. With so many better comfort foods to choose from, do yourself a favor and skip this gray, greasy, dense loaf.
