One signature characteristic of American cooking is the fusion of multiple ethnic or regional approaches into completely new cooking styles. For example, spaghetti is Italian, while hot dogs are German; a popular meal, especially among young children, is spaghetti containing slices of hot dogs.

American cuisine is also known for its use of barbecue, which involves slow-cooking meat over an open flame. Barbecue is a popular cooking technique in the Southern United States and is often served with a range of sauces and sides such as coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread.

Diversity in American Food As technology advances and populations change, food culture in America has adapted as well. With this wide variety of cuisines, American food culture often combines food from different countries, regions, and ethnicities to create entirely new dishes that are unique to the US.