The Most Popular 4th of July Dish in Every U.S. State

At a West Virginia cookout, someone always brings pepperoni rolls. They don’t require a grill, a plate, or even utensils—just hungry hands and a cooler. These soft bread rolls filled with pepperoni (and sometimes cheese) have coal-mining origins, once packed into lunch pails for underground shifts.

On the 4th, they’re tossed into baskets, unwrapped between lawn games, and eaten while waiting for dusk. They’re warm or room temp, savory, and just a bit greasy, like the best comfort foods tend to be. It’s not a dish that demands attention. It’s the one that disappears before anyone even notices they’re gone.