A State-by-State Guide to the Most Iconic Foods in America

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Iowa: Taco Pizza

Iowa’s most iconic dish is a quirky fusion that reflects Midwestern creativity: the taco pizza. This inventive combo was introduced by Joe Whitty, founder of Happy Joe’s Pizza in Iowa, back in the 1970s, and it quickly became an Iowa mainstay. As the name suggests, a taco pizza marries the elements of an American-style taco with a pizza crust. It usually starts with a thin layer of refried beans or taco-seasoned sauce on the crust, which is then topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and crushed taco-flavored tortilla chips. Some versions even add taco sauce, black olives, or sour cream after baking. The result is a playful, crunchy, and flavorful pie that has just enough resemblance to a taco to feel familiar, yet is entirely its own thing. Iowans have a nostalgic love for taco pizza – it’s often associated with childhood birthday parties or Friday night family dinners. While visitors might raise an eyebrow at first, one bite of this peppery, cheesy, salad-topped pizza and they’ll understand why Iowa claims it as an icon of local cuisine.