41 Classic New England Food Dishes to Try

Chop Suey is a Chinese-American dish with unclear origins.

However, there is an even more American version of this noodle dish that you can find in New England.

American Chop Suey is a comforting dish with macaroni noodles, ground beef, tomato, and spices. It is also known as goulash. 

Many parts of the country have their baked bean recipe. Beans may include brown sugar, honey, onion, maple syrup, or tomato sauce.

If you want baked beans the New England way, add molasses and salt pork.

Molasses was originally a popular additive to this dish in the 18th century to avoid British sugar taxes. 

Despite the name of this dessert, a Boston cream pie is a cake.

Its name has historical significance because the words “cake” and “pie” used to be used interchangeably.

The vanilla sponge cake includes a vanilla pastry cream filling and a chocolate ganache topping. I love this classic cake flavor because it feels light and decadent simultaneously. 

Clam chowder is perhaps one of the most well-known New England foods.

It is a creamy and comforting soup often served with oyster crackers and parsley.

There are a few different recipes for this soup you can try. In general, expect ingredients like clams, potatoes, bacon, vegetable stock, milk, and herbs.  

Hotdogs and baseball go together like a bat and a ball.

Most big baseball cities have their take on the perfect ballpark dog, and Boston is no exception when it comes to Fenway franks.

This dish includes a grilled bun, frank, yellow mustard, finely chopped onion, and sweet pickle relish. 

Not only is it fun to say, but this sandwich is delicious to eat. It is beautiful in its simplicity, consisting of white bread, marshmallow fluff, and peanut butter.

The creaminess of the marshmallow fluff beautifully compliments the nutty peanut butter.

This sweet treat is popular among New Englanders, young and old. 

Hoodsie cups are a true New England favorite with a bit of history.

They rose in popularity in the 1940s, and generations of children in New England have been enjoying them ever since.

While you can buy them in stores, you can also easily make your own. This simple ice cream treat consists of a paper cup with half vanilla and half chocolate ice cream. 

At first glance, you may think this dish is pancakes.

While johnny cakes look similar to pancakes, there are a few simple yet vital differences. Corn, an important ingredient in the history of the United States, plays a big role in this dish. 

Besides cornmeal, Johnny Cakes include sugar, salt, water, and butter.

While maple syrup is a classic johnny cake topping, my favorite is a mix of maple butter and apple sauce. 

Maple is an essential ingredient in New England cuisine. You can enjoy it in its purest form with maple candy.

Maple syrup is the only ingredient in this treat. However, you can also add walnuts.

I adore maple candy on its own or paired with other dessert components, such as a white chocolate mousse.

While pumpkin pie is a generally quintessential American food, it has deep origins in New England since pumpkins are native to North America.

This pie evolved since its earliest iterations, but pumpkin remains the star. The pie consists of a pie shell filled with spiced pumpkin custard.  

Pumpkin pie is a classic Thanksgiving dessert, but you can enjoy it year-round if you want!

Quahogs are a popular little clam that does well with several preparations.

Besides being used in clam chowder, these little bivalves are popularly steamed, stuffed, or in clam cakes.

I will pretty much eat these however they are presented to me. However, stuffed is my favorite. They are common throughout New England, especially in Rhode Island. 

Pot roast is one of those quintessential foods that meat lovers adore.

However, while there is meat present in a Yankee pot roast, the root vegetables are the differentiating factor between this and other pot roasts.

Originally, vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips helped add bulk to this dish on cold winter nights. 

Baked haddock may be a simple recipe with only a few ingredients, but it is a delicious bite.

I love what a perfect balance this dish is between light and hearty. This recipe includes haddock or other white fish, salt, pepper, melted butter, and bread or cracker crumbs.

If you want to stick to New England tradition, you must use Ritz crackers in the crust. 

Innovation with seafood is one of my favorite aspects of New England cuisine.

You can not find a scallop bake everywhere, but you can certainly find one in New England.

To make it yourself, all you need is panko crumbs, parmesan, olive oil, melted butter, scallops, lemon juice, and garlic. 

Corn chowder is a beautiful option if you want a cozy and creamy soup but you are not a big shellfish fan.

It is also quite easy to make vegan or vegetarian by using coconut milk, vegetable broth, and omitting the bacon.

Depending on the seasoning you use you can shape a corn chowder into a springy or summery meal. 

Fish and chips is a classic dish from merry old England and New England alike.

There are a few slight variations you can find of this dish. In general, expect lightly breaded white fish and potato fries.

Common accompaniments include lemon, malt vinegar, tartar sauce, and coleslaw.  

Andama bread includes some of the ingredients central to New England, including cornmeal and molasses.

This heavy bread is a hearty accompaniment to soups or as the foundation of a sandwich.

I also love it with a bit of maple butter or New England cheddar. 

Butternut squash is a delicious autumnal treat popular throughout the United States, especially in New England.

While it is a fantastic component of soups, salads, and tacos, it is also delicious on its own or as a side dish.

I love baking a butternut squash with butter and some warm spices. You can also easily microwave it. 

Clam cakes are a slightly more complex way to enjoy your New England clams.

These little fried bites of goodness include a fried dough mixture filled with chopped clams.

While you can find these at restaurants and road stands throughout New England, you can also easily make them at home so you can snack whenever you want.  

As you may have noticed, many New England foods also play a role in autumnal events such as Thanksgiving.

However, you can enjoy cranberry sauce in New England all year round if you want to.

Even if you are a canned sauce loyalist, it is worth trying a homemade variety with orange juice. 

Franks and beans are another New England dish with a popular Old England counterpart.

This protein power punch includes plenty of beans and sliced hot dogs. If you want, you can also add bacon.

The sauce on this dish usually includes mustard, ketchup, molasses, and brown sugar. 

Fried whole belly clams are one of my favorite bites to have in New England.

This dish includes the entirety of soft shell clams, also known as Ipswich clams.

Besides the clams, you will need flour, buttermilk, an egg, and seasoning. I love eating this dish with a serving of tartar sauce. 

Fried clam strips are similar to fried whole belly clams in terms of procedure. The main difference is that the clams are without their bellies.

Besides finding fried clam strips on their own, you may be able to find sandwiches with these as a filling.

This iconic snack has a history that traces back to the 1800s.  

Harvard beets are one of the most delightful ways to enjoy the dynamic and dynamic flavor of beets.

Besides beets, you will need sugar, cornstarch, white vinegar, water, butter, salt, and pepper.

The result is a sweet and flavorful vegetable that I love to serve alongside meat or mushroom dishes. 

Hermit cookies are one of my favorite simple sweets on a cool autumn day.

They have some of the spice of gingerbread thanks to the presence of molasses and ginger. However, they are much softer and the addition of raisins lends moisture and textural intrigue.

While these are popular throughout New England, they are particularly popular in Massachusetts. 

If you want a truly New England holiday experience, you must make this cake.

This yellow bundt cake includes eggs, eggnog, nutmeg, and butter.

Top this cake with an eggnog glaze that includes powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and even more eggnog. The result is a beautifully moist cake with some subtle seasonal flavor. 

This makes for a great holiday dessert, especially in the New England area!

New England loves its moist and chewy cookies. So, it makes sense that Joe Froggers come from New England.

These cookies include rum, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. I love having one of these cookies with a hot cup of tea or coffee on a cold day. 

While this list includes a lot of fried foods, New England still knows how to provide an amazing boiled dinner.

Originally from Irish immigrants, this meal often includes boiled potatoes, corned beef, carrots, onions, and other root vegetables.

This highly customizable meal is a delicious option when you want a big cozy meal.  

Beets are the star of the show in this vibrant dish as they lend color to the hash.

Besides beets, the hash contains corned beef, potatoes, heavy cream, and butter. You can also add whatever leftovers you have to this dish.

I love making this dish when I need to clean out my fridge or when I want a hearty breakfast. 

Rhubarb is one of those ingredients that is highly seasonal. A simple rhubarb pie is a truly joyful New England experience.

Though it is somewhat bitter on its own, once you add sugar and some seasoning rhubarb becomes a delicious centerpiece to a pie.

Pairing a slice of this pie with some vanilla ice cream takes it over the top.  This is my favorite pie flavor!

One thing I love about food in New England is the names of foods are cute and logical.

New England steamers are exactly what they sound like: steamed clams ideally dipped in melted butter and served with lemon wedges.

To infuse more flavor into the clams, add some bay leaves, celery, peppercorns, and onions. 

Stuffies are clams especially found in Rhode Island. To make this dish, chop clams, mix them with breadcrumbs and seasoning, and add them to a half shell before baking.

Quahogs are a popular choice for this dish.

Stuffies are one of my favorite snacks to have in New England though I often eat enough to turn them into a whole meal.

Succotash is a Native American dish shared with European colonists.

While recreating this dish exactly is difficult due to lack of ingredient availability, you can get close with fresh corn, butter, cranberry beans or lima beans, salt pork, onions, and seasoning.

This dish is a great accompaniment to heavier dishes or a light meal on its own. 

Whoopie Pies are a sweet treat you are sure to love at first bite.

They are cookie sandwiches with soft chocolate cookies and marshmallow filling.

The rich chocolate of the cookie is a beautiful balance with creamy marshmallow fluff. These are some of the most popular American desserts you can find, especially in this region!

The light and fluffy popover is perhaps the greatest bread-adjacent dish since sliced bread.

Closely related to the English Yorkshire pudding, popovers simply consist of flour, milk, eggs, and salt.

The batter creates a light and fluffy treat that pairs beautifully with tea or stews. 

Sandwiches made out of rolls are one of the best New England meals you can get.

In addition to lobster, shrimp are another popular roll filling.

The shrimp can beautifully shine with the simple addition of mayo, lemon, and seasoning.   

When it comes to New England, you can rarely go wrong with any fish dish.

Fish chowder is another creamy soup with fish as the centerpiece rather than clams or corn. While you can use any fish in this, my favorite option is cod.

The light fish absorbs the flavor of the other ingredients, including onions, bacon, cream, and potatoes. 

If fish is not your thing, but you want some animal protein, turkey chowder is another delicious soup you can make with a New England edge.

It is also a unique dish to make with Thanksgiving leftovers.

Besides turkey, this dish can include thyme, turkey stock, red potatoes, onions, and celery. 

Truly embrace all New England has to offer with Cioppino.

This stew can include lobster, haddock, clams, mussels, and whatever you have on hand.

I love this dish because it is easy to make with fairly simple ingredients, but it can impress dinner party guests.

You have probably heard the saying, “ an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

This apple cider cake is so chock full of sweet fruit, it can keep the doctor away for a long time.

On top of the apples and apple cider in the cake, there is also a yummy glaze made with apple cider.  

Check out other apple desserts we love!

Sheperd’s pie is not unique to New England. However, it is still a very popular dish in the area.

This pie does not use a flour-based crust like other pies. Instead, the meat-based stew is topped with mashed potatoes.

In addition to meat, the filling can also have several vegetables.