Typical Funeral Food by U.S. state

In the United States, funeral food traditions vary by region and cultural practices, but there are some dishes that are strongly associated with funerals across many states. Here’s a general overview of funeral foods and their prevalence, presented in a state-by-state table format.

Best recipes for each state speciality are linked below.

State	Synonymous Funeral Food	Description
Alabama	Fried Chicken	A Southern staple, often served as part of a comfort meal at post-funeral gatherings.
Alaska	Salmon	Common in Alaskan Native communities; salmon dishes are often served at gatherings.
Arizona	Tamales	In many Hispanic and Native communities, tamales are a common comfort food served at funerals.
Arkansas	Deviled Eggs	A popular side dish at Southern funeral gatherings, easy to prepare and share.
California	Casseroles (e.g., tuna or chicken)**	A go-to for many regions, casseroles are easy to make and serve to large groups.
Colorado	Green Chile	In the Southwest, green chile dishes are often served at communal events, including funerals.
Connecticut	Cold Cuts and Deli Platters	Many gatherings in the Northeast serve deli meats, cheeses, and sandwiches for funeral receptions.
Delaware	Crab Cakes	Given Delaware’s proximity to the coast, seafood like crab cakes may be common at funeral receptions.
Florida	Cuban Sandwiches	In Cuban-American communities, Cuban sandwiches and other cultural dishes are often shared at funerals.
Georgia	Sweet Tea and Southern Desserts (e.g., pies)	Sweet tea is a staple at Southern funerals, along with desserts like pecan pie or cobbler.
Hawaii	Poi and Kalua Pork	In Hawaiian traditions, poi and kalua pork are often served during family gatherings after a funeral.
Idaho	Funeral Potatoes	A cheesy potato casserole that is a traditional dish at many Mormon funerals.
Illinois	Italian Beef Sandwiches	In many parts of Illinois, Italian beef sandwiches are commonly served at funerals.
Indiana	Ham and Bean Soup	A comforting dish served at gatherings in many Midwestern funerals.
Iowa	Jello Salad	A popular side dish at many funerals, especially in rural areas.
Kansas	Funeral Casserole	Funeral gatherings often feature a wide array of homemade dishes brought by community members.
Kentucky	Burgoo	A hearty stew often served at gatherings, including funerals, in rural Kentucky.
Louisiana	Gumbo	In Cajun and Creole communities, gumbo is a comfort food served at funerals.
Maine	Lobster Rolls	A regional delicacy, often served at gatherings after funerals.
Maryland	Crab Soup	With its coastal traditions, Maryland funerals may include crab soup or other seafood dishes.
Massachusetts	Clam Chowder	In New England, clam chowder is a common dish at gatherings, including funeral receptions.
Michigan	Cabbage Rolls	Popular in Polish-American communities, cabbage rolls are often shared at post-funeral meals.
Minnesota	Lutefisk and Hotdish	In Scandinavian communities, lutefisk and hotdish (a casserole) are often served at funerals.
Mississippi	Macaroni and Cheese	A Southern comfort food that’s frequently found at post-funeral meals.
Missouri	BBQ Pork	In Missouri, barbecue dishes like pulled pork or ribs are common at large gatherings, including funerals.
Montana	Bison Stew	A common dish in Native American communities and rural areas, bison stew is often shared at funerals.
Nebraska	Fried Chicken and Cornbread	A staple comfort food at gatherings, particularly in rural communities.
Nevada	Lasagna	Lasagna or other pasta dishes are commonly served at many gatherings in Nevada.
New Hampshire	Baked Beans	A traditional side dish at many New England funerals, often served alongside ham.
New Jersey	Bagels and Lox	In Jewish communities, bagels, lox, and other deli foods are commonly served after funerals.
New Mexico	Enchiladas	A common dish in Hispanic communities, often served at post-funeral gatherings.
New York	Deli Meats and Bagels	Particularly in Jewish and Italian-American communities, deli meats, cheeses, and bagels are typical.
North Carolina	BBQ and Slaw	Barbecue, especially pulled pork, is a common dish at funerals in North Carolina.
North Dakota	Knoephla Soup	A traditional German soup served at many rural North Dakota funerals.
Ohio	Pierogi	In Polish and Eastern European communities, pierogi are often shared at funeral meals.
Oklahoma	Chicken and Dumplings	A Southern comfort dish commonly served at gatherings, including funerals.
Oregon	Salmon Patties	In coastal regions, salmon is often served at funeral gatherings.
Pennsylvania	Philly Cheesesteak	A common dish at larger gatherings, including funerals, particularly in the Philadelphia area.
Rhode Island	Stuffed Clams	A seafood dish commonly served at funeral receptions in coastal regions of Rhode Island.
South Carolina	Shrimp and Grits	A Southern dish often served at large gatherings, including funeral receptions.
South Dakota	Chislic	A traditional dish of cubed, deep-fried meat served at funerals, particularly in rural areas.
Tennessee	Biscuits and Gravy	A Southern comfort dish often served at gatherings, including funerals.
Texas	Brisket and BBQ sides	Texas BBQ, especially beef brisket, is a staple at many funeral gatherings.
Utah	Funeral Potatoes	A traditional Mormon dish of cheesy potato casserole served at many funerals.
Vermont	Maple Baked Beans	A dish made with local maple syrup, often served at New England funerals.
Virginia	Country Ham Biscuits	A traditional Southern dish often served at gatherings, including funerals.
Washington	Salmon and Wild Rice	A regional dish often served at large gatherings, including funerals.
West Virginia	Pepperoni Rolls	A regional specialty, pepperoni rolls are often served at funeral receptions.
Wisconsin	Cheese and Sausage Platters	In many communities, especially those with German and Scandinavian heritage, cheese and sausage are common.
Wyoming	Elk Stew	A traditional dish in rural areas, often served at gatherings including funerals.