Classic Canadian Recipes from Coast to Coast

Canadian food might not be as famous globally as Italian or French cuisine, but it’s definitely worth trying. You should check out some of the tastiest Canadian dishes, like tourtiere, butter tarts, Halifax donaire, and, of course, classic poutine. There are some really great dishes from Canada, and the best part is, they’re not hard to make at all.

Butter Tarts

A gooey butter tart with a bite out of it on a wire rack. This is one of the best Canadian recipes. — Butter Tarts. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

Homemade Beaver Tail

Cinnamon sugar donuts on a cooling rack, perfect for Cinnamon Recipes. — Homemade Beaver Tail. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

Atlantic Canada Lobster Roll

best lobster roll recipe east coast style — Atlantic Canada Lobster Roll. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

Hot Turkey Sandwich

A plate of bread with peas, butter, and Canadian recipes. — Hot Turkey Sandwich. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

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

Canadian poutine on a plate. — Poutine – Smothered Fries. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

Maple Glazed Carrots

Tender-crisp baby carrots prepared in an easy maple syrup, brown sugar and butter glaze are an easy and delicious side dish!
Get the Recipe: Maple Glazed Carrots

Confetti Squares

A cut peanut butter marshmallow confetti square. — Confetti Squares. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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 (Peanut Butter Marshmallow) Squares

Spiced Shrimp with Saskatchewan Dry Rub

A close up of a shrimp with a rub. — Spiced Shrimp with Saskatchewan Dry Rub. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

A stack of homemade date bars. — Canadian Date Bars. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

A nanaimo bar on a wooden spoon. — Nanaimo Bars. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

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

Tarte au Sucre (Sugar Pie)

A slice of pumpkin pie on a plate garnished with a fork. — Tarte au Sucre (Sugar Pie). Photo credit: The Gourmet Bon Vivant.

Tarte au sucre (sugar pie) is a classic French Canadian dessert staple, and it’s easy to see why. It’s so delicious, and the brown sugar develops sweet, caramelized and complex flavor (it really reminds me of the topping on crème brulee).
Get the Recipe: Tarte au Sucre (Sugar Pie)

Maple Old Fashioned

A glass of whiskey with an ice ball in it, perfect for enjoying authentic Canadian recipes. — Maple Old Fashioned. Photo credit: The Gourmet Bon Vivant.

A maple old fashioned cocktail is booze-forward but balanced out by the maple flavor, hit with some citrus and cherry for an amazing, nuanced drinking experience.
Get the Recipe: Maple Old Fashioned

Puffed Wheat Squares

A plate of raisin bars on a wooden table. — Puffed Wheat Squares. Photo credit: Jo Cooks.

These chocolatey and chewy Puffed Wheat Squares bring together the satisfying crunch of cereal and the irresistible, gooey goodness of a cocoa-infused sweet syrup. Made with just six simple ingredients, this quick and easy, no-bake sweet treat never goes out of style!
Get the Recipe: Puffed Wheat Squares

Maple Leaf Cookies

Homemade maple leaf shaped cookies with cream center. — Maple Leaf Cookies. Photo credit: Food Nouveau.

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

Over head view of a homemade maple pudding. — Québécois Maple Pudding. Photo credit: Food Nouveau.

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

Halifax Donair

A donair cut in half being held in someone's hands. — Halifax Donair. Photo credit: Jo Cooks.

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

Overhead view of a pot of homemade seafood chowder. — Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder. Photo credit: Kelly Neil.

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

Québécois Pea Soup

Overhead view of a pot of pea soup being scooped into a bowl. — Québécois Pea Soup. Photo credit: Carmy.

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