Famous South Dakota Recipes
Famous South Dakota Recipes include hot beef sandwiches, Indian tacos, kolaches, lefse, rhubarb pie, kuchen, and pasties. These popular recipes will remind you of the best part of being in South Dakota.
Check out our 50 states unit study for some fun states info!

Don’t forget to check out this South Dakota Unit Study as well to learn more about fun state facts and history.
South Dakota boasts Mt Rushmore and the Black Hills. It also features the infamous Calamity Jane. In addition, you’ll find Native American reservations and expansive buffalo fields.
These ten food categories include three recipes from notable professional chefs and home chefs, with the recipe testing and dish development done for you. All you need to do is enjoy the wonderful combinations that make these dishes uniquely South Dakota.
Hot Beef Sandwich
The cook places a slice of toasted bread on a plate. They also add slow-cooked shredded beef on top. Furthermore, they pour savory gravy over the sandwich.
- Slow Cooker Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches
- Instant Pot Hot Beef Sandwich and Mashed Potatoes
- Hot Roast Beef Sandwich with Gravy
Indian Tacos
Fry bread is topped with seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and cheddar. These are perfect for lunch or dinner.
- Indian Tacos with Indian Fry Bread
- Navajo Tacos (Indian Fry Bread)
- Indian Taco Recipe on Navajo Fry Bread
Kolache
These round pastries are made with sweetened yeast dough and filled with fresh fruit. They are a delicious snack, dessert, or breakfast.
Lefse
These traditional Norweigan potato bread are thin and look like tortillas. They are topped with butter, sugar, cinnamon, or fruit.
Rhubarb Pie
Rhubarb is a vegetable that can’t be eaten raw and has a tart flavor. It’s delicious with other, sweeter fruit and baked in pies and is a famous South Dakota recipe.
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Kuchen
Kuchen means “cake” in German. This dessert is made with various fruits, brown sugar, butter, and flour.
Pasties
Cooks fill pastry dough with cubed beef, potatoes, rutabaga, and onions. They also bake it until golden brown. In addition, this creates a famous British dish.
Fry Bread
Cooks fry pieces of flat dough, creating a traditional Native American bread. It also turns out savory and chewy. In addition, you can top it with meat or vegetables.
Fish and Chips
Fried strips of flaky white cod or walleye fish are served with thick-cut french fries. This famous British dish is popular all over South Dakota.
Bierocks
These German rolls are made with dough stuffed with ground beef and cabbage and then baked into little balls. They are a delicious appetizer or handheld dinner.
- Bierocks (German Stuffed Rolls)
- My Grandma’s Super Easy Recipe for Bierocks
- Bierocks (German Beef and Cabbage Stuffed Rolls)

More South Dakota Resources
- Interesting Facts about South Dakota Everyone Should Know!
- See Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, South Dakota
- South Dakota Crafts for Kids