Why Tater Tot Hotdish Defines Minnesota Comfort Food

Even though it's still technically summer, now that cooler fall weather has hit Minnesota, if you're like me, you're ready for some of that good 'ol comfort food, am I right? And, as it turns out, there's one cozy dish we're craving the most in Minnesota again this year.

When it comes to comfort foods, Minnesotans are no slouch. We have a TON of foods that just hit the spot when you need some cheering up, right? And, I don't know about you, but my mouth is already watering with thoughts of a fall pot roast in the Crock Pot, some chili simmering on the stove, or a steaming helping of mac and cheese. While they're all great, which comfort food is our favorite these days in the Bold North?

That's the question a recent survey set out to answer. Remember a few years ago when a national survey said grape salad was Minnesota's favorite Thanksgiving dish? Yeah, not so much. But this latest survey listing the iconic comfort foods from each state TOTALLY nails it.

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The gang over at Taste of Home set out to find the comfort foods that are truly iconic in all 50 U.S. states. They partnered with Reader's Digest and asked cooks across the country to list the foods that define their state. And while some of them were a little surprising to me-- looking at you, Michigan, with your Coney Island Hot Dog favorite comfort food-- the Minnesota entry hit it out of the ballpark (which would be Target Field, of course.)

Minnesota's Favorite Comfort Food Is Tater Tot Hotdish

So just what IS the comfort food we crave the most in Minnesota? You guessed it: Tater Tot Hotdish!

Why Tater Tot Hotdish Is a Minnesota Comfort Food Classic

Here's how Taste of Home describes our favorite Minnesota dish:

The Land of 10,000 Lakes might have many hot dish recipes, all creamy casseroles baked until golden and bubbly. But the Tater Tot–topped version is the queen of them all.

And that totally makes sense, because what food is more Minnesota than Tater Tot Hotdish?!? Tater Tot Hotdish IS something Minnesotans have been comfort eating for decades now. Heck, when Al Franken was still one of Minnesota's U.S. Senators, he even started the Minnesota Congressional Delegation Hot Dish-Off, spurred by his love of uniquely Minnesota hot dishes.

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BTW, speaking of that contest, before he was elected governor, Tim Walz's Turkey Trot Tater Tot Hotdish won that event several times, and it sounds amazing! You can check out his recipe HERE.

How Minnesota's Favorite Comfort Food Compares With Other States

We appear to be the only state where that Minnesota delicacy is the favorite, however. Behind the Cheddar Curtain over in my home state of Wisconsin, their favorite comfort food is fried cheese curds, which also totally makes sense. And, down in Iowa, it's the somewhat odd combo of chili and cinnamon rolls, likely popularized by the Great Cinnamon Roll Challenge held at the Iowa State Fair every year.

Now, of course, Tater Tot Hotdish might be our favorite comfort food, but keep scrolling to check out some other foods that are totally Minnesota as well. How many have YOU tried?