51 Weird Food Combinations People Actually Love

From spicy and sweet to creamy and salty, here are 51 weird food combinations that people actually like, no matter how weird they may seem!

If you’ve ever had a food combination that you love but others look upon with a questioning eye, then this post is for you. We’ve rounded up 51 of the weirdest and most enjoyed food combinations around! Whether you enjoy sweet and spicy, creamy and salty, or sweet and salty there is a food pairing for everyone.

Our inspiration for these unique combos comes from our Facebook group, weird food combination reddit threads, and our own experiences from eating around the world! So if you’re looking for weird food combinations that are good, let these trusted combos be your delicious inspiration. Let’s dig in!

51. Salt and apples

Salt and apples might seem like a strange combination, but is salty and sweet really that odd? Salt has the well documented effect of drawing out flavors of sweetness, sourness, and umami. So when adding salt to apples, it just tastes more ‘appley’!

50. fries and a milkshake

If you grew up going to any burger joint, you probably thought you invented this combination, only to discover just about every other kid does the same thing. And when you think about the sweet/creamy and salty combination, it’s not that different in premise to something like poutine or loaded fries.

49. peanut butter and pickles

Ok, this one was mentioned in our Facebook group SO many times, so it must be a winner! Given pickles have a vinegary bite to them and salty peanut butter is pretty robust, it makes sense to pair these two unlikely friends.

48. pizza and ranch

Nearly everyone knows someone who dips their pizza in ranch. The theory is that the cold ranch cools down the hot pizza. If you want to give this a try, try it with our Air Fryer Pizza and Kefir Ranch Dressing.

47. sriracha and peanut butter

Peanut butter is a common ingredient in asian cooking. Between peanut ginger sauce and peanut curry, it makes sense that sriracha and peanut butter would go together. In fact, they make a tasty base to my favorite spicy Thai peanut sauce.

46. chocolate and potato chips

Trader Joe’s knows this is a popular weird food combination. They have had two different chocolate potato chip combinations over the years – chocolate covered potato chips and clusters. It’s the ultimate sweet, salty, and crunchy bite that we highly encourage you to try!

45. lemon sorbet and peanut butter cups

I am sure that the artisan shops in Italy never intended their lemon sorbetto to be paired with peanut butter cups, but you have to do what the heart says! The refreshing lemon sorbet (or lemon ice cream) paired with salty and sweet peanut butter cups that don’t harden in the cold ice cream is perfection.

44. balsamic vinegar and ice cream

This is another sweet and savory combination. And, I must say it is tasty but it does depend on the type of ice cream. But before you go thinking this is in the category of gross food combinations, hold that thought. The tangy balsamic vinegar tasted delicious with classic vanilla ice cream. And because of another ‘weird food combination’, watermelon and balsamic, I would say balsamic vinegar would also be food on watermelon sorbet.

43. Strawberries and cheese sauce

I think fondue when I see this food combination. Which warm cheese with cool and sweet strawberries doesn’t sound bad and would make an awful pretty and enticing charcuterie board!

42. cucumber and honey

Is anything not good when you add natures’ sugar to it? If you want to be fancy, you can try adding a unique honey (like avocado honey) to your cucumber snack.

41. sugar and tomato

My grandma taught me this trick as a way to make tomatoes not bitter. Which, ketchup is basically tomato sugar paste. Sugar just helps to enhance the natural sweetness already present in tomatoes.

40. avocado and chocolate

Did you know that the Mayans are credited with bringing both chocolate and avocados to the world? And while avocados are widely regarded as a savory fruit, the Mayans regularly enjoyed chocolate and avocado together. So before you go thinking this is a strange food combination, just look to history! Thankfully, this combination is making a come back as people realize how perfect creamy avocado is for making delicious chocolate mousse!

39. hummus and cottage cheese

Ok, so this combination can be used in a variety of ways. Some people enjoy both on toast, some use cottage cheese to make high protein hummus, and some use them both to make sandwiches. Which ever way you choose to enjoy, we are confident it will be tasty and protein-filled!

38. Pineapple and pizza

This highly controversial topic has led to many, many pointless (because pineapple does belong on pizza) arguments among friends. The sweetness of the pineapple is the perfect pairing to a pizza with either salty ham or spicy jalapeños. Or, if anyone has had Round Table’s Maui Zaui pizza with crispy bacon, ham, and juicy pineapple, it is truly magnificent!

37. Creamed Corn and Mashed potatoes

For any Midwestern folks out there, creamed corn and mashed potatoes is a staple at dinner time. The creamy corn helps to make the mashed potatoes not so gloopy (no offense to my grandmas potatoes) while also adding a little texture and sweetness.

36. Apple pie and cheese

Cheese and apples are a common pairing, but apple pie and cheese? I can confirm, it is also delicious! And if you don’t feel like making a whole pie to try it, you can get a quick taste by making our Savory Apple Tart with feta and ricotta cheese.

35. Avocado and sugar

I actually saw a video of someone sprinkling raw sugar on an avocado to eat on TikTok. I won’t knock it because I love chocolate desserts so it only make sense. If you don’t want to try straight avocado and sugar, I recommend starting with it in our Easy Avocado Ice Cream.

34. tuna and olives

This is another combination that was highly recommended in our Vegetarian facebook group and I guess it has a similar flavor profile to tuna and relish. I get it though! A tuna sandwich with creamy mayo and briny olives is the ultimate salty and creamy combination.

33. peanut butter and celery

I did not know that this was a weird food combination until I asked folks. I grew up eating “ants on a log” (celery, peanut butter, and chocolate chips) and loved it because the very water filled and crunchy celery was the perfect vessel for getting more peanut butter into my mouth without it sticking.

32. watermelon and balsamic vinegar

I know I mentioned this one earlier, but watermelon and balsamic vinegar is a popular weird food combination for good reason! The sweetness of the watermelon is perfect alongside the tangy vinegar. It’s a common dressing for watermelon salads, like my Grilled Watermelon Mint Salad, for this exact reason!

31. cream cheese and olives

Another combination that can be found in the Midwest. It is commonly used in an appetizer includes ham that has cream cheese spread on it and a pickle rolled up in the middle. It’s then sliced perpendicular to the pickle and served as an hor d’ourve known as Midwestern Sushi.

30. grilled cheese and ketchup

Cheese and ketchup seems to be a common weird food combination. And when you break it down, it’s not much different that cheese on tomato soup and grilled cheese with tomato soup (yum!).

29. peanut butter and mayo

If you haven’t figured it out, peanut butter can be paired with just about everything and probably tastes good! This weird food combination involves mixing mayonnaise and peanut butter and dipping bananas into it.

28. marmite and banana

Marmite is a savory and salty spread that is common in the UK. It is often described as having an umami flavor so it makes sense that it would pair well with sweet banana. It’s similar to pairing banana and peanut butter.

27. chili and cinnamon rolls

I love a good spicy and sweet combination so this weird food pairing has my name written all over it! The type of chili can vary depending on if your rolls are flavored. I would try Fresno chilis with these Campfire Orange Cinnamon Rolls or a chipotle glaze to bring out the smokeyness!

26. cereal and orange juice

This pairing use to be quite common for those with a dairy intolerance before there were milks made from plants. Today, it is much less known but some people still prefer refreshing orange juice with their cereal.

25. ham & cheese sandwiches and jelly

If you have ever been to a church potluck, you probably have had ham and cheese sandwiches with jelly on them. The idea behind his combination is to pair sweet jelly with salty ham and cheese. I mean, I can’t fault the theory!

24. Ice cream and popcorn

Similar to fries and milkshakes, salty popcorn and sweet ice cream is equally as good. There are even buttered popcorn flavored ice creams with chunks of popcorn in them!

23. Zucchini and cinnamon

If you’ve ever had zucchini bread then you know just how tasty cinnamon and zucchini is together! The warm spice of the cinnamon and refreshing and juicy texture of zucchini make for a perfect bite.

22. Peanut butter and cheese

This might sound like an odd one, but hear me out. The creamy cheese and salty peanut butter make total sense because creamy and salty are meant to go together! I mean, that’s what feta is – a salty creamy cheese.

21. French Fries and mayo

In Europe this would not be categorized as “weird” because mayo and french fries are just what is served. The thought behind this is that the milky texture of mayonnaise soothes the mouth with a hot fry than acidic ketchup.

20. Feta and strawberries

Feta and really any berries are delicious! The salty feta and sweet strawberries make for a delicious pairing on their own (like a whipped feta dip) or in a salad like this 7-Layer Summer Berry Salad Jar!

19. Honey and pizza

This combination can go two ways – either serving honey with pizza crust or drizzling honey on a spicy pizza. In Colorado, we call honey and pizza crust Mountain pizza. It’s basically warm, salty, and toasty bread with honey- who wouldn’t like that??

18. Vanilla ice cream and good quality extra virgin olive oil

This combination is a bit unexpected, but it has quickly taken the world by storm! The cold ice cream with smooth olive oil is decadent in taste and rich in healthy fats.

17. Cottage cheese and chips

Cottage cheese has this cool effect where it adds protein and makes things incredibly creamy! This means you can just enjoy chips dipped into cottage cheese or you could blend cottage cheese with something like avocado for another flavor.

16. Peanut butter and ramen

Peanut butter is an easy, tasty, and cheap way to amp up your ramen. Try mixing creamy peanut butter with sriracha for a delicious creamy sauce!

15. Egg whites and oatmeal

I love love love using egg whites in oatmeal. They add protein and creaminess with no added flavors or milk required! If you want to try it yourself, try my Quick Egg White Oatmeal!

14. Hot chocolate and cayenne

If you want a warm and cozy drink during the winter months, try a pinch of cayenne with hot chocolate. You can also find spicy chocolate bars to snack on!

13. Cottage cheese and mustard

This is rocking the TikTok world right now as a dip. All you need to do is mix cottage cheese and mustard for a creamy and tangy dip for veggies!

12. Vanilla ice cream and cracked black pepper

If you like sweet and savory, then this combination is for you! The kick of the black pepper paired with creamy vanilla ice cream is everything that is right in the world.

11. Egg whites and ketchup

Some people like salsa with eggs, but most like ketchup and eggs. And because egg whites are very neutral in flavor, they are even better when topped with ketchup!

10. Tomatoes and mayo

I’ve heard these called picnic tomatoes and I can only assume it’s because juicy tomatoes make a great base for a summer picnic. And, topped with creamy mayonnaise well that’s just the cherry on top!

9. Vanilla ice cream and soy sauce

This combination came from a weird food combinations reddit thread and it honestly makes so much sense! Try a drizzle of soy sauce onto vanilla ice cream for an umami flavor explosion!

8. peanut butter and eggs

This combination can come in a variety of ways. Some enjoy peanut butter with scrambled eggs, others peanut butter on toast with a fried egg on top, and some make omelets with peanut butter and jam.

7. Coffee and butter

Bullet proof coffee is where you would see this pairing. It’s coffee with added fats (hello butter!) with the hopes of slowing the absorption of caffeine and thus prolonging the effects.

6. Mac and cheese with mustard

Adding mustard to cream sauces is a great way cut the richness. It adds a zing and another depth of flavor. Try it out with my Truffle Mac and Cheese!

5. Chili and greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is a great addition to spicy dishes. It’s very similar to sour cream but better for you!Try adding a dollop to your chili (I love it with White Bean Chili!) next time.

4. Pickles sprinkled and koolaid powder

This combination may sound odd but it is taking the south by storm and is especially popular in San Antonio. You can either make pickles in Koolaid or, like they do in Texas, sprinkle Koolaid powder onto tangy pickles for a delicious snack!

3. Cheese burger and a donut

I think most burger joints have this burger on their menu at this point. It’s a burger with a doughnut bun for a sweet and salt take on the classic. I dare you to try it the next time eating out!

2. Bacon and chocolate

Everything is better with bacon! And even though chocolate is pretty great on it’s own, when paired with salty bacon the combination is unreal.

1. Apples and grilled cheese

Similar to apples and cheese on a charcuterie board, sweet apples in a warm and gooey grilled cheese is equally delicious!