Chocolate and cake, cheese and chicken wings. Foods that start with the letter C are some of the most delicious foods out there! You can find a variety of foods that begin with the third letter of the alphabet.
You can cook C-lettered dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as desserts and snacks! Some even go hand in hand such as cheese and crackers, chocolate and cake, you get the point.
We’ll explore 51 foods that start with the letter C. These foods are from all over the world, giving you the largest variety possible. How many of these foods have you tried?
Contents
51 Foods That Begin with The Letter C
Let’s check out 51 foods that begin with the letter C. We’ll break down each food with a short description, letting you know what it is and where it came from.
Crepe
Crepes originated from a northwest region of France. They are a flat pancake that is then folded and stuffed with fillings. Fillings range from sweet to savory and can be served at breakfast or as a dessert.
Cashew
Cashews are a kidney-shaped seed. Yep, I said seed. Technically speaking, they grow inside a cashew fruit. The outer shell of cashew is toxic, which is why cashews are always sold de-shelled.
Chow Mein
Chow Mein is a dish consisting of fried noodles, vegetables, and meat such as chicken, pork, shrimp or steak. It originated in China, but has become popular around the world.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a type of vegetable that appears similar to iceberg lettuce. It can come in several different varieties and colors. Cabbage can be boiled, sautéed, stuffed, fried…the possibilities are endless!
Cheese Dip
Cheese dip is the anthem to gatherings. If you’re having a get together, cheese dip is a must! It can be paired with chips, vegetables, crackers, meats and many others. You can go with a classic cheddar or something spicier.
Chicken
Chicken is a poultry that pairs with almost any dish. Chicken can be cooked in a variety of ways with a variety of sauces and spices. Pair it in pasta, salads, rice, or all by itself.
Cherries
Cherries are a fruit that comes from a variety of plants in the Prunus genus. Cherries are used in a variety of dishes such as pies, tarts, and even alcoholic beverages.
Croissant
Croissants originated in Austria, although many think it came from France. They are a flaky pastry of layered dough that is folded over a number of times. Croissants are named for their crescent shape.
Celery
Celery is a marshland plant. We see it as a side with spicy wings because it’s a good way to cool the mouth down from spicy foods. It’s also used in chicken salad, soups, and stuffing.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a type of vegetable thought to have originated in the Mediterranean. Cauliflower can be roasted, put in casseroles, fried, sauteed, and even used a substitute for pasta and bread.
Chocolate
Chocolate comes from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans grow on Cocoa trees, which live in hot, tropical places. Did you know? During the 1400s, the Aztec government made people pay taxes in the form of cocoa beans.
Catfish
Catfish are named because of their barbels that resemble cat’s whiskers. It is a popular dish in rural areas of the southern states in the United States. It’s often served fried with lemon.
Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken Pot Pie is an American dinner pie that is filled with chicken or turkey and a variety of vegetables such as onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. It looks and is cooked similar to a dessert pie.
Chili
Chili is a type of stew that consists of meat, spices, and peppers. It is a popular dish in the winter time, used to warm up after time spent outside. It can be made with beef chuck or venison.
Chocolate pudding
Chocolate pudding is a dessert with chocolate flavors. There are two versions. The first is boiled and then chilled, while the second is steamed or baked. Top it with your favorite candy to add some flare!
Coconut
Coconut is a fruit of the coconut palm tree, which grows in tropical regions. There are many uses for coconut including coconut water, milk, and oil. You can also eat the inside of the fruit itself, called the kernel.
Cod
Cod are a type of fish common in the North Atlantic and the eastern and western Pacific oceans. Cod is best baked with garlic or lemon or else served fried.
Corn
Corn is also called maize. It was first domesticated in southern Mexico. Corn is produced more than wheat or rice, and is used in manufacturing a variety of different foods.
Cream Cheese
Despite the fact that cream cheese doesn’t have a typical cheese texture, it is considered cheese. It became popular in the 1800s, with the most production being from Philadelphia – figures!
Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan is an Italian dish. The chicken is braded and then topped with marinara sauce and cheese, usually parmesan. Chicken parm can be its own dish or can be served with a side of pasta.
Cranberry
Cranberries were originally named ‘crane berry’ due to the flowers’ resemblance to the head and bill of a crane. They are bitter fruit used in sauces, juices, and even beverages.
Cupcakes
Cupcakes are single-serving cakes cooked in heat-resistant liners. The term came from the early 19th century, when cupcakes were made in teacups instead of the typical cupcake pans we see today.
Chicken Livers
Chicken livers are organ meat from chickens. They contain a lot of nutrients such as iron, folate, biotin, and protein. Chicken livers should be cooked before eaten and are best paired with fresh greens.
Curry
Curry is a broad term used to refer to a number of dishes and powders. Curry can be a paste, a powder, a stew, a sauce, and even roux cubes which are similar to bouillon.
Custard
Custard is another umbrella term for a variety of food. It can be thin or thick, depending on the ingredients used. In general, custard is made with sweetened milk, cheese, or cream.
Crawfish
Crawfish is a dish popular in the state of Louisiana. Despite that, crawfish is still eaten all over the world. The most popular way to eat crawfish is Cajun style, but they can also be cooked with other spices.
Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce. It is typically served with croutons and parmesan cheese, but can contain all sorts of other toppings such as olives, egg, grape tomatoes, and more.
Cheese
A favorite topping for burgers, salads, pasta, and, well, pretty much everything! Cheese is created from the milk of animals such as cows, buffalo, goats, and sheep. Cheese comes in a wide range of flavors to fit any dish.
Chowder
Usually when we see chowder, we think of nothing more than New England Clam Chowder. However, this soup can be made with a variety of meats or with just vegetables.
Cheese Soup
Cheese soup is a creamy, thick soup with cheese as the main ingredient. The type of cheese depends on what flavor you are looking for. There is classic cheddar, or if you want a different flavor you might try Gouda or Muenster.
Carrots
Carrots are a type of vegetable with a signature orange color. Did you know? Carrots were originally white! A recessive gene gives them the orange color, and it is believed that farmers purposefully grew the brightly colored vegetables.
Crab
Crabs are found all over the world, including both oceans and fresh water. The most common types of crab used for meat are blue crabs, brown crabs, and blue swimming crabs.
Cornbread
Cornbread is popular in Native American cultures, as well as Greek, Portugal, and Turkish cuisines. It originated in the United States, and is best served warm or at room temperature.
Cucurucho
Cucurucho is a local food from Cuba. Specifically, it originates in the city of Baracoa. Cucurucho is a mix of coconut, sugar, orange, pineapple and guava wrapped in palm leaf.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are vegetables in the same family as watermelons, pumpkins, and squash. They are native to India, but are consumed all over the world. They are cool and refreshing, often put in drinks on a hot summer day.
Chakalaka
Chakalaka is a relish that originated in South Africa. It is best paired with a protein or a starch. This relish is made to be as spicy or as mild as you would like, and can be altered with different spices or vegetables.
Coffee Cake
Coffee cake is an umbrella term for any cake that is meant to be eaten with coffee or tea. In British culture it is two-layered, often with butter icing separating the layers. In the U.S. it is a single layer.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are a type of legume, sometimes called a garbanzo bean, Bengal gram, and Egyptian pea. Chickpeas are high in protein and fiber, and are the main ingredient in hummus.
Cassava
Cassava is native to South America. It is a starchy tuber vegetable, and is a source of nutrition for many in developing countries. Cassava should never be consumed raw, as it can cause cyanide poisoning.
Cheese Cake
Cheese cake is a decadent dessert made from soft, fresh cheese. The common cheeses used are cottage cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta cheese. Many cheese cakes are topped with fruit or chocolate.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
The ultimate partner to milk. Chocolate chip cookies are a classic dessert cookie consisting of a sugary and buttery cookie mixed with chocolate chips or chocolate chunks. Best dipped in cold milk.
Chives
Chives, scallions, and green onions…what’s the difference? While scallions and green onions come from the same species, chives are different. They are considered an herb and used as a garnish instead of an ingredient.
Cachupa
Cachupa is a slow-cooked stew from West Africa, specifically the Cape Verde Islands. Ingredients include a meat such as beef, pork, or chicken, corn, beans, cassava (see above!) and potatoes.
Chimichanga
Chimichangas are flour tortillas stuffed with rice, cheese, beans, and meat. The tortilla is then deep-fried and usually served with salsa and sour cream. It is a common Tex-Mex dish.
Clams
Clam is an umbrella term for several different kinds of molluscs. Clams can live in fresh or saltwater. Clams can be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, stuffed, in soup, and even on pizza!
Coconut Cream Pie
Coconut cream pie features a creamy pie with a flaky pie crust. The coconut flavor can come from just the topping thrown on vanilla pudding, or with coconut milk paired with shredded or flaked coconut.
Calamari
Calamari is an Italian word meaning ‘squid.’ A lot of people think calamari just means squid, but the phrase is used to describe many dishes that have squid, whether it’s fried, on a kabob, or served with peppers.
Cherimoya
Cherimoya is a fruit originating in the Andes mountains of South America. It is the size of a grapefruit, and has a sweet, tropical taste similar to pineapples, peaches, or strawberries.
Chakri
Chakri is a type of snack native to India. It is made during the Diwali holidays, and consists of steamed rice and flour mixed with spices and butter. This mixture is then deep-fried into spiral shape.
Chorizo
Chorizo is seasoned pork sausage, and is commonly found in Spanish and Mexican dishes. Chorizo comes in two different variations: Spanish and Mexican. The Spanish version is cooked or cured when bought, while the Mexican version is raw and must be cooked.
Chicken Noodle Soup
We’re polishing off the last of our list with one of the staple comfort foods. Chicken noodle soup is great for winter weather, consisting of chicken broth, noodles, carrots, and chicken.
Wrap Up
Hungry yet? There are plenty more foods that begin with the letter C, but we’ve rolled out 51 of them here for you to peruse and learn about. From breakfast to dinner, and everything in between. Try something new today!