Pastrami on Rye
These epic sandwiches are meaty heaven when grabbed from a Jewish deli. But they're also well-preserved recipes from our immigrant past, and absolutely worth the bellyache you get after finishing a whole behemoth.Chicken-fried steak
Country-fried steak is a plate full of American frugality -- a cheap cut of meat, turned into a full, tasty meal thanks to spiced breading. The Texas "chicken-fried" variant takes the already delicious dish and makes it bigger and better, like they do in that state, by deep-frying it and then covering it in just the right amount of peppery gravy to sop up at a cafe somewhere in cattle-country.Fried chicken
When done right, fried chicken combines brown bags (we stand on the shoulders of the gents who brought brown bag lunches.), milk, and lard to provide you with the crispiest, most delicious thing you've ever put on top of waffles.
CARRIE DENNIS/THRILLIST
Hamburger
We didn’t invent the hamburger, but we turned it into the beautiful, sometimes crazy, perfect bite that it is.PB & J sandwich
Made by Mom. Crusts optional. AND NO, NOT FLUFF.Buttermilk biscuits
Remember what we said about bread? Flaky, salty buttermilk biscuits are even better, even if they’re just sandwiching butter.Apple pie
All cliches aside, apple pie actually is American -- the pilgrims were real-big fans. If it’s made from an old family recipe or just cooked by your granny, all the better. Plus Jason Biggs had sex with it once in a movie I wasn't allowed to see in theaters.Buffalo wings
Sports bar. Football game. Beer. Patriotism. Gross fingers.Chilidog
With a dousing of chili, dogs move from cheap backyard food to baseball fare. So thank chili for uniting two of the most American ideals we have.S’mores
It’s the simplest of desserts, made by hand and cooked outdoors, usually on a camping trip with friends and family and Rick. There are lighting bugs twinkling, and you eat the s'mores around a campfire, while telling scary stories that are definitely made up. Your hands get chocolatey and marshmallowy and start to stick to pine needles and attract bugs. It's messy, delicious, nostalgic, and simple. It's America as the Founding Fathers intended it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find a sharp stick.