The 20 Greatest Food Pairings in the History of Food

It’s impossible to eat some foods without their beloved counterpart. Here are the best food pairings humanity has ever created. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut in half so you can see the ingredients oozing out. A jar of each is in the background behind the sandwich.
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You can’t beat creamy peanut butter paired with gooey jelly for a delicious treat reminding us of our childhoods. 

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Top view of a grilled cheese sandwich next to a cup of tomato soup on a cutting board.
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We don’t understand the mechanics of why a toasty grilled cheese pair perfectly with tomato soup, especially when you’re sick, but we wouldn’t have anything else. 

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

A bowl of mashed potatoes with swirled gravy on top.
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When was the last time you had mashed potatoes without gravy? They go together so perfectly that you rarely have one without the other. 

Salami and Cream Cheese

An appetizer toast with salami, cream cheese, and microgreens.
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The slight tang of salami pairs perfectly with the cool creaminess of cream cheese. Salami rolls filled with cream cheese make a perfect party appetizer. 

Chips and Sandwiches

deli sandwich and chips on a picnic tablecloth.
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I can’t even eat a sandwich without the delightful crisp of a potato chip. 

Burger and Fries

A gourmet cheeseburger on a plate with fries.
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Most burgers automatically come with fries, showing how ingrained in our culture the delicious pairing has become. 

Cheese and Crackers

A cutting board with sliced gouda cheese and crackers.
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What better way to sample various cheeses than with an edible serving platter?

Spaghetti and Meatballs

A giant bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.
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You could have vegetarian spaghetti, but the dish wouldn’t be the same without the mouthwatering spiced balls of meat. 

Eggs and Bacon

egg bacon and avocado breakfast.
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Eggs and bacon stand strong as the breakfast pairing of champions. The crisp bacon is a perfect complement to the gooey eggs however you like them. 

Fish and Chips

A serving of fish and chips with lemon and tarter sauce.
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The British perfected a perfect pairing of fried delicacies. Fried fish and potatoes go together so well that we’ll overlook the British definition of the word “chip.”

Biscuits and Gravy

Southern style biscuits smothered with sausage gravy. .
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 For a breakfast feast filled with carbs and protein, smother your biscuits in creamy sausage gravy. 

Rice and Beans

A bowl filled with half white rice and half beans cooked to look like a chili.
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The epitome of food pairings for poorer families offers loads of nutrients for reasonable prices. 

Bagel and Cream Cheese

Bagels on a wire platter with a jar of cream cheese next to them.
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I don’t know who first decided to smear cream cheese on their chewy bagel, but that genius started a trend that can’t be stopped. 

Salt and Caramel

A spoon scooping salted caramel sauce out of a jar.
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There’s something about the salty-sweet combo that teases the senses in the most delightful way. 

Tortilla Chips and Salsa

A platter of tortilla chips with a bowl of salsa in the middle. One chip is dipped in the salsa.
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Sit down, guac fans. Salsa will forever be a tortilla chip’s first love. 

Pork and Beans

A rustic serving of a stew with beans and big chunks of pork.
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The childhood staple continues to please as one of the most iconic food pairings ever invented. 

Chicken and Waffles

A big plate of chicken and waffles.
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Who thought pairing a standard dinner dish with a traditional breakfast dish would yield such fantastic results?

Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil

Caprese salad with Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil.
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Okay, we’re cheating a little here, but this lovely three-way pairing makes every Italian dish better. 

Cheese and Almost Anything

A cheese board with a variety of cheeses and some fruit and nuts.
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Why is cheese so good? It makes an iconic pairing with nearly anything you put it with. Cheese and wine, cheese and apples, cheesecake…the sky’s the limit for pairing this versatile food.

Bonus: Chips and Pizza

Frozen pizza after cooking in the oven.
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Now for the pairing you didn’t know you needed. Grab a bag of chips the next time you sit down with a greasy pizza. Forewarning: You’ll never be able to eat pizza without chips again.

The Best Potato Chip Pairings

Different chip varieties in little bowls on a table - view from above.
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You didn’t know you needed this ultimate list of potato chip pairings!

Your Ultimate Inflation Busting Grocery List

up close of grocery list woman is holding in a store in front of vegetable display
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Need help saving money at the grocery store? Check out our ultimate inflation-busting grocery list

Can You Eat on $20 per Month?

sad looking woman eating cheap noodles
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Food is expensive. The poorest among us may have very limited food budgets, so we did a thought experiment to see if it’s possible for someone to eat with only $20 per month. See how we’d stretch out food budgets if we had limited funds. 

Read it Here: How To Eat on $20 per Month 

The Best Frugal Food Hacks to Spice Up the Cheapest Meals

bowl of mac and cheese with bacon on top
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Store-bought mac & cheese, top ramen, and canned foods are some of the cheapest meals you can get. However, they aren’t very tasty. 

Here are some hacks that can help these cheap staples become meals fit for kings!

Foods You Must Eat in One Sitting

woman taking leftovers out of the fridge
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Leftovers are essential for maximizing your grocery budget, but not all foods make worthy leftovers. Find out which foods you should never save for later!