© Getty Images

Alabama - Cheese grits -

Nothing feels more like home in Alabama than a warm dish of cheese grits. Creamy, cheesy, and scrumptious, what more could you ask for?

© Shutterstock

Alaska - Salmon -

Alaska is famous for their fresh salmon for a reason—it's some of the best in the world. That fact isn't lost on Alaskan residents, either. Any way you cook it, salmon is one of the greatest comforts in Alaskan cuisine.

© Shutterstock

Arizona - Chicken and waffles -

Chicken and waffles is an adored brunch dish all over, but the people of Arizona share a particular affinity for this match made in heaven. There are countless spots around the state fully dedicated to chicken and waffles, ensuring this divine comfort is always within reach.

© Shutterstock

Arkansas - Cheese dip -

A gooey, decadent cheese dip is a welcome and familiar dish at any dinner party, but many people might not know that spicy cheese dip likely originated in Arkansas. Legend has it that it was first invented at the Mexico Chiquito restaurant in the city of Little Rock in 1935, and remains a top comfort food to this day.

© Shutterstock

California - Tacos -

California is undeniably the best state north of the border to get tacos. Countless shops and trucks slinging delicious tacos can be found all around the state, and are sure to make any good day just that much better.

© Shutterstock

Colorado - Chicken chili -

A warm bowl of spicy chicken chili is one of the greatest culinary comforts you can find in Colorado. Especially when the harsh winter settles over the mountainous state, mixing up a pot of chicken chili is just what the doctor ordered.

© Shutterstock

Connecticut - Pizza -

Pizza is probably the most universally popular comfort food in the world, but Connecticut has a particularly special relationship with these cheesy pies. While maybe not as famous as Chicago or New York pizza, New Haven pizza provides all the comfort Connecticut needs.

© Shutterstock

Delaware - Scrapple and eggs -

Scrapple is a Delaware favorite. When paired with a few perfectly fried eggs, pork and cornmeal scrapple become the ultimate comfort food.

© Shutterstock

Florida - Key lime pie -

It just makes sense that Floridians love the tart and delicious Key lime pies named after their own famously juicy limes from the Florida Keys.

© Shutterstock

Georgia - Peaches -

Peaches are one of Georgia's proudest exports. Nothing makes a hot summer afternoon more bearable than a cold, juicy peach in the shade.

© Shutterstock

Hawaii - Loco moco -

Loco moco is a staple of modern Hawaiian cuisine, and it has "comfort food" written all over it. The standard loco moco consists of a delectable stack of rice, hamburger, and fried eggs, topped with a delicious and savory gravy.

© Shutterstock

Idaho - Mashed potatoes -

Idaho is famous for their potatoes, and indeed they produce over 1,300 million pounds (61 million kilograms) of spuds each year. Of course, most Idahoans know their way around a potato, and who isn't comforted by a warm bowl of buttery mashed potatoes?

© Shutterstock

Illinois - Grilled cheese -

A toasty, gooey grilled cheese is a classic comfort food, and is particularly beloved in Illinois. In Chicago and beyond, grilled cheeses are crafted with love and eaten with joy.

© Shutterstock

Indiana - Pork tenderloin sandwich -

Indiana is famous for their delicious and deceptively simple pork tenderloin sandwiches, the state's staple comfort food. A nice piece of deep fried pork tenderloin is placed between burger buns and topped with cream cheese, pickles, and coleslaw.

© Shutterstock

Iowa - Loose meat sandwich -

The name for Iowa's favorite comfort food really says it all. Loose burger meat, mixed up with onions, spices, and cheese, is piled up on a burger bun and makes for a perfect quick and delicious snack.

© Shutterstock

Kansas - Fried chicken -

Fried chicken is a hallmark comfort food in pretty much every US state, but Kansas is particularly committed to the art of deep-fried wings and drumsticks. Crawford county is known as the Chicken Capital of Kansas, and has a homegrown tradition of fried chicken that spans back centuries.

© Shutterstock

Kentucky - Hot Brown -

Invented in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1926, the Hot Brown sandwich has become a comfort food staple across the state. This open-faced sandwich is made up of thick cuts of turkey and ham, topped with bacon and bechamel sauce. The full construction is thrown under the broiler for a crispy bread and perfectly browned top.

© Shutterstock

Louisiana - Gumbo -

A vibrant and aromatic pot of gumbo is an image synonymous with Louisiana. A steaming bowl of gumbo stew, chock full of meat, seafood, and the southern "holy trinity" of bell peppers, celery, and onions, is truly one of the most comforting meals in the country.

© Shutterstock

Maine - Lobster rolls -

Maine is famous for their lobster, but eating a full lobster is far too much of an ordeal to be considered comforting. Enter: the Maine lobster roll. All of that delicious lobster meat mixed with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, made accessible in between a fluffy bread roll.

© Shutterstock

Maryland - Crab cakes -

The accessibility issue of Maine's lobster is also a problem with Maryland's famous crabs. Instead of creating crab rolls, however, Maryland gets its crab comfort fix by making delicious and flavorful crab cakes.

© Shutterstock

Massachusetts - Mac and cheese -

Mac and cheese is an easy and beloved dish all around the United States, but nowhere is it as popular as it is in Massachusetts. Whether made from a box or cooked from scratch, a piping hot serving of mac and cheese is the ideal warm-up meal during Massachusetts' long and cold winters.

© Shutterstock

Michigan - Tart cherry pie -

Michigan is a haven for tart cherry lovers. It's proximity to the Great Lakes makes it a perfect spot for growing tart cherries, and bakeries and diners across the state make good and frequent use of Michigan's favorite fruit. Tart cherry pies are savored and enjoyed by families and restaurant patrons year round.

© Shutterstock

Minnesota - Tater tot hotdish -

Also known as a tater tot casserole, it doesn't get much more comforting than Minnesota's tater tot hotdish. What's not to love about a casserole dish filled with ground meat, veggies, tater tots, and a creamy chicken sauce?

© Shutterstock

Mississippi - Mud pie -

Everyone loves chocolate cake, but Mississippi mud pie is a beast all its own. Chocolate cake is topped with a sizable serving of chocolate pudding and whipped cream, all set in a decadent crumbly chocolate crust.

© Shutterstock

Missouri - Toasted ravioli -

Cheesy, crunchy, toasted ravioli is a Missouri favorite. Allegedly invented in St. Louis, so-called "T-ravs" are a go-to comfort food across the state.

© Shutterstock

Montana - Chicken fried steak -

Chicken fried steak might sound like an incomprehensible jumble of words to many, but in Montana it spells bliss. Served with mashed potatoes and gravy, these thin and breaded deep-fried steak cutlets are the pinnacle of comfort in the Wild West.

© Shutterstock

Nebraska - Runza -

Runzas are a beloved state treasure in Nebraska. Invented by Sally Everett in the 20th century, these pastry rolls are filled with cheese, ground beef, onions, and sometimes sauerkraut.

© Shutterstock

Nevada - Bone-in ribeye -

Steaks are a prize choice of protein in most places in the United States, but Nevada is particularly fond of the bone-in ribeye cut. Nevadans join most meat lovers around the world in believing that leaving the bone in transforms the flavors of the steak.

© Shutterstock

New Hampshire - Apple cider donuts -

New Hampshire locals are proud of their perfectly crisp apples, and have hundreds of uses for them. One of their sweetest offerings are their apple cider donuts.

© Shutterstock

New Jersey - Taylor ham sandwich -

The Taylor ham sandwich is a New Jersey specialty. Made with slices of the iconic Taylor pork roll and cheddar cheese, this sandwich is a perfect comfort fix in a rush.

© Shutterstock

New Mexico - Pozole -

From green hatch chiles to Frito pies, New Mexico is no stranger to unique comfort foods. Pozole really takes the cake for the most comforting New Mexican dish, though. Made with dried hominy maze kernels and meat, this delicious stew is a homecooked favorite all across the state.

© Shutterstock

New York - Hot dogs -

It should be a crime to visit New York City and not buy a link from one of the city's innumerable hot dog carts. Hot dogs are available around every corner, making them a cheap and accessible comfort food.

© Shutterstock

North Carolina - Red sauce barbecue -

Barbecue is a beloved culinary tradition all across the southern states, but some states are more famous for their BBQ than others. North Carolina's barbecue is characterized by its unique and delicious vinegar red sauce, which is spread over slow-cooked meats with care. An afternoon barbecue can't get much more comforting than a plate of baby back ribs coated in North Carolina red sauce.

© Shutterstock

North Dakota - Kuchen -

In German, kuchen simply translates to "cake." In North Dakota, however, it means much more. Kuchen can be made sweet or savory, and is a mixture of pie and cake. Junks and juices, fruits and doughs, they all enjoy each other's company in a crumbly kuchen crust.

© Shutterstock

Ohio - Pierogies -

Ohioans go crazy for their favorite type of dumpling: the pierogi. These savory potato dumplings have been the go-to comfort food of Ohio for centuries, ever since the first Eastern European settlers brought them over the sea.

© Shutterstock

Oklahoma - Country fried steak -

To the untrained observer, there's no difference between chicken fried steak and country fried steak. In Oklahoma, however, it is known that country fried steak beats chicken fried steak every time. Made with a richer gravy and fried with less of a crisp, country fried steak is the most comforting meal around.

© Shutterstock

Oregon - Dungeness crab -

Dungeness crab is an Oregonian delicacy, and one of the most popular breeds of crab in the world. Caught off the Pacific coast of Oregon, Dungeness crabs are savored by seafood lovers all over the state.

© Shutterstock

Pennsylvania - Philly cheesesteak -

Pennsylvania is justly famous for its prime comfort food: the Philly cheesesteak. Made with chopped beef, grilled onions, and copious amounts of cheese, it's hard to think of a better hot sandwich.

© Shutterstock

Rhode Island - Johnny cakes -

Johnny cakes are a breakfast and brunch favorite for Rhode Islanders of all ages. Johnny cakes are similar to pancakes, but are made with corn flour instead of wheat, giving these cakes a slightly sweeter and more rustic taste and texture.

© Shutterstock

South Carolina - Shrimp and grits -

Shrimp and grits are a southern delicacy, especially in South Carolina. This deceptively simple meal combines the irresistible sensations of creamy grits and crispy shrimp, culminating in one of the most pleasurable meals in the country.

© Shutterstock

South Dakota - Pot roast -

Pot roasts are one of the coziest meals in the world. Cooking a piece of chuck roast beef in a sea of juices, gravies, and stocks, along with vegetables and spices of all kinds, for hours on end, will leave you with a soft, warm, and delicious comfort meal.

© Shutterstock

Tennessee - Nashville hot chicken -

The Nashville hot chicken is the king of chicken sandwiches. Lovingly seasoned and marinated with healthy heaps of spicy cayenne pepper, huge pieces of chicken are breaded, fried to perfection, and nestled in between soft burger buns and topped with coleslaw.

© Shutterstock

Texas - Texas BBQ -

Barbecue is the pride and joy of Texan cuisine. Unlike Carolina barbecue, the Texas tradition prefers large brisket cuts to ribs, and typically they only season the meat with salt and pepper. The real flavors come from the types of wood used to smoke the meat.

© Shutterstock

Utah - Fry sauce -

It might seem strange to classify a dipping sauce as a comfort food, but ask anyone from Utah and they'll agree that fry sauce is the pinnacle of comfort. Made by mixing ketchup, mayonnaise, pickle juice, and Worcestershire sauce, there's no better fry sauce than, well, fry sauce!

© Shutterstock

Vermont - Ben & Jerry's -

Vermont is famous for many things, but Ben & Jerry's ice cream might be their biggest claim to fame. Everyone agrees that there's nothing as cozy as eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's right out of the container, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch.

© Shutterstock

Virginia - Country ham -

Country Virginia ham isn't your average cut of pork. These slices are cut as thick as steaks and grilled to perfection before being paired with green beans or potatoes. It's hard to think of a simpler and more comforting meal.

© Shutterstock

Washington - Sockeye salmon -

South of Alaska, there's no better state to eat salmon than Washington. The state's wild-caught sockeye salmon is best during the summer when the fish are in season.

© Shutterstock

West Virginia - Pepperoni rolls -

West Virginians are obsessed with their pepperoni rolls, and for good reason. Gooey cheese and spicy pepperoni are baked inside of soft bread to make for a delightfully cozy snack.

© Shutterstock

Wisconsin - Fresh cheese curds -

There's only one place in the world to eat authentic cheddar cheese curds, and that place is Wisconsin. Made and delivered to shops daily, you know you're eating truly fresh cheese curds when they squeak as you bite through them!

© Shutterstock

Wyoming - Beef jerky -

It doesn't get more Wild West than the great state of Wyoming, so of course their greatest comfort food is a meat treat fit for the gruffest cowboy: beef jerky.

Sources: (Comfortable Food) (TheStreet) (The Kitchn)

See also: Surprising food facts you had no idea about

© Shutterstock