The Great White North offers so much more than just stunning scenery. You will find incredible flavor and delicious dishes in Canada.
I still crave a huge bowl of poutine or a sweet Nanaimo bar to this day. Have you ever tried a Caesar cocktail or a classic butter tart?
Get ready to make every single item on this list of 20 Canadian foods.
1. Cinnamon Sugar Beaver Tails
Canadian kids grow up eating beaver tails. Adults happily run to stands for a dose of that nostalgia too.
These fried dough pieces get a coating of cinnamon sugar. They taste like donuts but look flat like the tail of a beaver.
I have eaten them with peanut butter or a sweet glaze on top. These big warm treats are worth every calorie.
2. Montreal Steak Seasoning
You create this delightful blend with paprika, salt, pepper, garlic, and onion. It also features coriander, dill, and crushed red pepper.
I recommend making a large batch to keep with your spices. This mix enhances more than just steak.
It tastes fantastic on grilled chicken. I use it as a rib rub to add unbelievable depth of flavor.
3. Easy Bannock Bread
Scottish fur traders brought this bread to Canada. Many Indigenous people adopted the simple fried recipe.
It remains super popular today. You only need six ingredients for the yeast free dough.
It requires zero rest time. I just mix the sticky dough with a fork and fry it immediately.
This camping favorite dates back to the 18th Century.
4. Timbits
Tim Horton’s serves these famous Timbits. Every Canadian I know grabs a box for school or work occasionally.
They are a classic sweet treat covered in powdered sugar or glaze. You can buy them filled with chocolate spread, custard, or strawberry jam.
Baking powder makes them cakier than typical donuts. They are light and delicious.
5. Poutine
You can find versions with chicken tikka or bacon and ranch now. Nothing beats a classic plate of poutine though.
My first experience happened at a Toronto hockey game. It could not have been more Canadian.
I got hooked immediately on the melted cheese curds and thick cut fries. The heavenly gravy seals the deal.
6. Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread cookies somehow just got even better. These tender treats feature a heavenly maple glaze for extra sweetness.
You keep it simple with just sugar, butter, and flour. Avoid handling the dough too much.
Remove them from the oven before they turn golden. They will melt right in your mouth.
7. Nova Scotia Style Donair
This dish comes specifically from Halifax in Nova Scotia. A Greek chef modified his traditional recipe to suit Canadian tastes.
Thus the donair was born. It features spiced beef inside a pita.
You top it with tomato and onion. A drizzle of sweet garlic sauce finishes it off.
8. Baked Maple Glazed Donuts
These baked donuts are wonderfully tender. They are lightly spiced with clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
A maple glaze adds tons of flavor on top. You do not need to fry any dough since they bake in the oven.
The glaze really sets them apart. Make sure you use 100% pure maple syrup rather than synthetic pancake stuff.
9. Tourtière: A French-Canadian Meat Pie
This pie is a thick slice of onions, ground meat, and savory seasonings. Mashed potatoes are the secret ingredient that helps the beef hold its shape.
They bind everything together perfectly. You can build the filling pretty high this way.
The potatoes also add plenty of moisture to the pie.
10. Calgary Ginger Beef Recipe
This Canadian Chinese fusion dish features sliced sirloin or flank steak. The beef gets deep fried and tossed in sweet chili sauce.
Plenty of ginger provides a warm spice flavor without overpowering the dish. Texture is just as important as the sauce here.
Restaurants fry the beef twice to ensure maximum crunch.
11. No-Bake Vegan Nanaimo Bars
Nanaimo is a funky port town on Vancouver Island. I ate many of these bars during my trip there.
The classic recipe uses a chocolate and coconut base with a custard filling. This vegan version swaps in dates, cocoa powder, and cashews.
The filling mixes coconut milk, maple syrup, turmeric, and cashews. I have also used pistachios for a lovely green color.
12. Classic Canadian Caesar Recipe
Caesars are practically a religion in Canada. The cocktail resembles a Bloody Mary with vodka, Tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce.
It also includes BBQ sauce and pickle juice. The main ingredient is tomato juice infused with clam juice.
You should try it if you feel adventurous.
13. Canadian Salmon in a Maple Syrup Marinade
I usually love a sweet chili glaze on my fish. This quick maple marinade caught my eye though.
You whisk together salt, cumin, black pepper, chopped ginger, and green chili. Add lemon juice, olive oil, and maple syrup to the mix.
You will have a tasty piece of fish after 30 minutes.
14. 5-Ingredient Maple Candy (Toffee)
You might not believe this candy is gluten free and paleo friendly. It is true though.
You simply mix water, maple syrup, butter, and coconut sugar. Boil the mixture until it reaches the hard crack stage.
Pour it onto a baking sheet. I like to top mine with chopped nuts or dark chocolate chips.
15. Hawaiian Pizza
You can thank our northern neighbors for Hawaiian pizza. Many people adore the salty and sweet combination.
Pineapple pairs perfectly with ham or bacon. Canadian bacon makes it even better if you can find it.
It really is a classic choice.
16. Montreal Bagels
New York bagels are sensational. These Montreal bagels come in a very close second though.
The ingredient list includes maple syrup. Makers poach these chewy delights in sweetened water.
This creates a lovely flavor profile.
17. Nova Scotia Lobster Rolls
Nova Scotia has its own version of this famous sandwich. You do not want to overpower the delicate meat.
The dressing is a simple blend of lemon juice, mayo, salt, and parsley. Lemon enhances the lobster flavor perfectly.
I add a few dashes of hot sauce to mine.
18. French Canadian-Style Crockpot Split Pea Soup
This recipe title sounds complex. It is actually extremely straightforward.
You just throw everything into the slow cooker. Let it go for a few hours until you have a delicious soup.
You only need to break the ham apart once it falls off the bone.
19. Old-Fashioned Butter Tarts
I have tried raspberry and pecan varieties of this treat. Nothing beats the original recipe.
They resemble mini pecan pies with raisins in the mix. You need a flaky and buttery pie crust.
It should be slightly sweet and unbelievably tender.
20. Homemade Garlic Fingers and Donair Sauce
Garlic fingers are basically slices of garlic bread. Canadians cut a garlic pizza into slivers to make them shareable.
You start with tender pizza dough. Cover it in mozzarella cheese and garlic butter.
The sauce pushes this side dish over the edge.