28 Canadian Recipes You Really Need to Try (2024)

Although a lot of non-Canadians wouldn’t be able to name any Canadian recipes except poutine, that doesn’t mean this cuisine isn’t delicious, because there are some wonderful options to whip up and indulge your tastebuds. Perhaps you can’t wait to try poutine for yourself or maybe you would prefer butter tarts, Canadian lobster rolls, a Caesar cocktail, date bars, or something else. This collection of some of the best Canadian dishes offers something for everyone.

Homemade Beaver Tail

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Indulge in a classic Canadian dessert with this delicious beaver tail recipe, perfect for any occasion from movie nights to Canada Day parties. These mini donut-like treats, shaped like a beaver’s tail and coated in cinnamon sugar, are a must-try for anyone looking to experience the flavors of Canada.
Get the Recipe:Homemade Beaver Tail

Hot Turkey Sandwich

Hot turkey sandwiches are a beloved treat in Canada but their popularity is growing rapidly everywhere. The combination of succulent turkey, thick fluffy bread slices, peas, butter, gravy, and cranberries is truly a magical one.
Get the Recipe: Hot Turkey Sandwich

Atlantic Canada Lobster Roll

Indulge in the taste of the Atlantic with this flavor-packed lobster roll recipe, perfect for seafood lovers. The combination of lobster tail meat with garlic, shallot, hot pepper, dill, and lemon creates a mouthwatering filling that’s best served in a buttery or split-top hot dog bun.
Get the Recipe:Atlantic Canada Lobster Roll

Caesar Cocktail

Discover Canada’s national drink – the classic Canadian Caesar, a flavor-packed cocktail perfect for Canada Day celebrations. Made with clamato juice, lime juice, and a blend of spices, this drink is a must-try, especially when paired with other famous Canadian dishes like poutine.
Get the Recipe:Caesar Cocktail

Loaded Poutine

Indulge in Canada’s most beloved dish, the delicious poutine, which is perfect for satisfying any comfort food cravings. Smothered with cheese curds, bacon, and gravy, this tasty dish is a must-try for fry lovers.
Get the Recipe:Loaded Poutine

Butter Tarts

Indulge in a Canadian classic with homemade butter tarts. With a sweet, vanilla-scented filling and flaky pastry shell filled with nuts and raisins, this recipe is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Get the Recipe:Butter Tarts

Confetti Squares

These peanut butter butterscotch confetti squares are the perfect no bake treat for any occasion. With colorful mini marshmallows and butterscotch chips, they’re sure to be a hit at your next party or potluck! This Canadian classic bar is always a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Confetti Squares

Spiced Shrimp with Saskatchewan Dry Rub

Experience the taste of Canadian cattle country with these smoked spiced shrimp flavored with a homemade Saskatchewan dry rub. This copycat Traeger blackened Saskatchewan rub is easy to prepare, and when combined with juicy shrimp, creates the perfect appetizer or main dish.
Get the Recipe:Spiced Shrimp with Saskatchewan Dry Rub

Canadian Date Bars

Indulge in these delicious and hearty Canadian date bars with an oatmeal crumble topping. Packed with dates, oats, coconut, and cinnamon, these bars make a perfect breakfast or brunch addition and even an unconventional dessert option. Plus, they’re sure to be a hit and far superior to their American cousin, the date bar.
Get the Recipe:Canadian Date Bars

Nanaimo Bars

Experience the unforgettable taste of the best Nanaimo bars, a classic Canadian dessert that will leave you craving more. This no-bake, frozen bars are a perfect treat for any occasion. They are packed with layers of sweet flavors, making them an irresistible summer or holiday dessert that will quickly disappear from your freezer.
Get the Recipe:Nanaimo Bars

Apple Cinnamon Cocktail

This apple cinnamon cocktail is the ultimate comfort drink that combines the flavours of a classic apple pie with a fun cocktail. This heady cocktail is perfect for any occasion and season and is made with fireball whisky, vanilla vodka, and apple cider.
Get the Recipe:Apple Pie à la Mode Cocktail

Bannock Bread

Bannock is a traditional Indigenous bread that has been a staple in Canada for centuries. This versatile bread can be made in many ways, using pantry staple ingredients, and can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for other dishes.
Get the Recipe: Bannock Bread

Ginger Beef

Get ready for the ultimate takeout experience with this Canadian classic: Ginger Beef from Calgary! With crispy battered steak tossed in a sweet and spicy ginger sauce, you won’t believe how easy it is to make this restaurant favorite at home. This recipe is a piece of Western Canada’s culinary heritage, perfect for a quick and delicious dinner!
Get the Recipe: Ginger Beef

Maple Leaf Cookies

These Maple Leaf Cookies with a delicious maple butter filling are a Canadian treat that melts in your mouth. Made with real maple syrup, they were a childhood favorite and are now a beloved indulgence for any maple lover.
Get the Recipe: Maple Leaf Cookies

Québécois Maple Pudding

Indulge in the rich, comforting flavor of classic Québécois maple pudding, a dessert that celebrates the sweetness of maple season. Learn about its origins and bake it at home for a delightful treat that pairs perfectly with a scoop of ice cream. For those who crave the unique flavor of maple, this dessert is a must-try!
Get the Recipe: Québécois Maple Pudding

Montreal Bagels

Making authentic Montreal bagels at home is easier than you think! These sweet and chewy bagels have a unique flavor thanks to their malt extract dough and honeyed water boil. Try this Canadian recipe and enjoy a taste of Montreal in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Montreal Bagels

Halifax Donair

Halifax’s traditional Donair is a Canadian treasure with bold flavors and convenient ingredients, making it a guaranteed family favorite. Invented by Peter Gamaoulakos, this unique recipe features a special sauce and beef instead of lamb, earning it the title of official food of Halifax in 2015. This is one of the top easy Canadian recipes.
Get the Recipe: Halifax Donair

Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder

Nova Scotia seafood chowder is a rich and creamy soup that can be easily made from scratch with bacon and fresh dill for extra flavor. This East Coast classic comes together quickly and can be customized with your choice of seafood, making it a must-try recipe for any seafood lover!
Get the Recipe: Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder

Maple Apple Whiskey Sour

Smooth whiskey pairs up with sweet apple cider and maple syrup, zingy fresh lemon juice, and frothy egg white to make this Canadian take on the classic whiskey sour recipe.
Get the Recipe: Maple Apple Whiskey Sour

Saskatoon Berry Pie

Saskatoon berry pie, a Canadian dessert favorite, is made with a unique pie filling that is cooked on the stovetop to soften the berries and blend the flavors for a richer, thicker, and more flavorful filling. With a hint of almond, this dessert is distinct from other berry pies and a must-try for any lover of Canadian cuisine.
Get the Recipe: Saskatoon Berry Pie

French Canadian Sugar Pie

French Canadian Sugar Pie, also known as Tart au Sucre, is a beloved Canadian classic known for its ultra-flaky crust and creamy, sweet filling. Served with ice cream, whipped cream, or a sprinkle of flaky salt, this pie will surely be a hit at any gathering or as a special treat for yourself! This is one of the best traditional french Canadian dessert recipes.
Get the Recipe: French Canadian Sugar Pie

Bouilli or Pot au Feu Québécois

Bouilli, a traditional Quebecois beef stew inspired by the French pot au feu, is a simple and comforting meal with root vegetables, beef, and pork belly cooked slowly until tender. This dish evokes memories of visiting grandparents in remote villages and being greeted with the comforting aroma of a cast iron pot simmering on the stove.
Get the Recipe: Bouilli or Pot au Feu Québécois

Blueberry Grunt

Blueberry Grunt is a classic and popular dessert in Atlantic Canada, made with fresh blueberries and fluffy dumpling dough and often served with a scoop of ice cream for the ultimate east coast experience! This stewed fruit dessert includes seasonal blueberries that have been cooked down into a jam-like consistency, topped with dumplings, and steamed until cooked through.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Grunt

Québécois Pea Soup

Quebec pea soup has roots in the cargo carried by French explorer Samuel de Champlain to the New France settlement, consisting of dry beans, cured meats, and salted fish. The traditional recipe consisted of dried yellow peas, cubes of salted pork, carrots, bay leaf, and lots of lard, as animal fat was more available and less expensive than imported olive oil.
Get the Recipe: Québécois Pea Soup

Tourtiere Meat Pie

This French Canadian Tourtiere is a traditional meat pie often served on Christmas Eve in Quebec, but it’s the perfect comfort food for the cooler months all year round. The warming spices give it a cozy feel, like a big warm hug on a cold winter’s day – in pie form!
Get the Recipe: French Canadian Tourtiere