100 FOODS THAT START WITH THE LETTER C (With Images)

Ready to explore the world of foods that start with the letter C? From comforting classics to creative bites, I’ve rounded up a tasty collection that’s sure to surprise you. Whether you’re curious, hungry, or just having fun with food lists—this lineup of C-named favorites is packed with flavor and variety. Let’s dive in!

1. Cabbage

2. Cake

3. Calamari

4. Cannoli

5. Capers

6. Cappuccino

7. Caramel

8. Caraway

9. Cardamom

10. Carp

11. Carrot

12. Cassava

13. Casserole

14. Catfish

15. Cauliflower

16. Cauliflower rice

17. Caviar

18. Celery

19. Ceviche

20. Chai

21. Chalupa

22. Champagne

23. Chard

24. Cheddar

25. Cheese

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
1	Cabbage	Vegetable	Europe	Soups, slaws, stir-fries	Mild, slightly sweet	Yes	One of the oldest cultivated vegetables in history.
2	Cake	Dessert	Global	Celebrations, dessert	Sweet, soft	No	Cakes date back to ancient Egypt and were originally bread-like.
3	Calamari	Seafood	Mediterranean	Fried, grilled	Chewy, savory	No	Calamari is the culinary name for squid.
4	Cannoli	Dessert	Italy (Sicily)	Sweet treat	Crispy, creamy	No	Filled with sweet ricotta cheese and often topped with pistachios.
5	Capers	Condiment	Mediterranean	Flavoring, sauces	Salty, tangy	Yes	Capers are unopened flower buds pickled in brine.
6	Cappuccino	Beverage	Italy	Hot drink	Bold, creamy	No	Made with espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam.
7	Caramel	Confection	Global	Desserts, sauces	Sweet, buttery	No	Created by heating sugar to high temperatures.
8	Caraway	Spice	Europe	Bread, soups	Earthy, peppery	Yes	Often used in rye bread and sauerkraut.
9	Cardamom	Spice	India	Tea, baking	Sweet, aromatic	Yes	Known as the “queen of spices.”
10	Carp	Fish	Asia/Europe	Grilled, fried	Mild, firm	No	Popular in Eastern European holiday meals.
11	Carrot	Vegetable	Afghanistan	Raw, juiced, cooked	Sweet, crunchy	Yes	Originally purple before orange became standard.
12	Cassava	Root	South America	Boiled, fried	Starchy, mild	Yes	Used to make tapioca and gluten-free flour.
13	Casserole	Dish	France	Main meal	Rich, hearty	No	Baked meals with mixed ingredients in one dish.
14	Catfish	Fish	USA/Asia	Fried, grilled	Mild, tender	No	Named for its whisker-like barbels.
15	Cauliflower	Vegetable	Cyprus	Roasted, mashed, rice substitute	Mild, nutty	Yes	Comes in white, purple, green, and orange varieties.
16	Cauliflower rice	Vegetable	Modern/USA	Low-carb rice substitute	Light, mild	Yes	Made by pulsing raw cauliflower in a food processor.
17	Caviar	Seafood	Russia/Iran	Gourmet topping	Salty, rich	No	Made from salt-cured fish eggs, usually sturgeon.
18	Celery	Vegetable	Mediterranean	Snacking, soups	Fresh, crisp	Yes	Contains only 10 calories per stalk.
19	Ceviche	Seafood	Peru	Appetizer	Citrusy, fresh	No	Fish is “cooked” in citrus juice, not heat.
20	Chai	Beverage	India	Tea	Spiced, sweet	No	“Chai” means tea; spiced chai is called “masala chai.”
21	Chalupa	Dish	Mexico	Snack, meal	Crispy, savory	No	Served in a thick boat-shaped fried tortilla shell.
22	Champagne	Alcohol	France	Celebrations	Dry, bubbly	No	Can only be called Champagne if made in the Champagne region.
23	Chard	Leafy green	Mediterranean	Sautéed, soups	Bitter, earthy	Yes	Also called Swiss chard, it has colorful stems.
24	Cheddar	Cheese	England	Sandwiches, melting	Sharp, creamy	No	One of the world’s most popular cheeses.
25	Cheese	Dairy	Worldwide	Snacking, cooking	Varies	No	Over 1,800 types of cheese exist globally.

26. Cheesecake

27. Cherries

28. Chestnut

29. Chicken

30. Chicken wings

31. Chickpeas

32. Chili

33. Chimichanga

34. Chives

35. Chocolate

36. Chorizo

37. Churros

38. Ciabatta

39. Cilantro

40. Cinnamon

41. Cioppino

42. Citron

43. Citrus

44. Clafoutis

45. Clam

46. Clementine

47. Clotted cream

48. Cobb salad

49. Cobnut

50. Cocoa

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
26	Cheesecake	Dessert	Greece	Dessert	Rich, creamy	No	Ancient Greeks served cheesecake to Olympic athletes.
27	Cherries	Fruit	Europe/Asia	Snacking, baking	Sweet or tart	Yes	Each cherry tree produces enough cherries for about 28 pies.
28	Chestnut	Nut	Asia/Europe	Roasting, baking	Sweet, starchy	Yes	They’re lower in fat than most other nuts.
29	Chicken	Meat	Worldwide	Main dish	Savory, mild	No	Chicken is the most consumed meat globally.
30	Chicken wings	Appetizer	USA	Snack, starter	Spicy, tangy	No	Buffalo wings were invented in Buffalo, New York.
31	Chickpeas	Legume	Middle East	Stews, salads, hummus	Nutty, earthy	Yes	Main ingredient in falafel and hummus.
32	Chili	Stew	USA/Mexico	Main dish	Spicy, rich	No	Some recipes include chocolate for depth of flavor.
33	Chimichanga	Dish	USA (Tex-Mex)	Main dish	Crispy, savory	No	It’s a deep-fried burrito.
34	Chives	Herb	Europe/Asia	Garnish, flavoring	Mild onion-like	Yes	Chives are part of the onion family.
35	Chocolate	Confection	Mexico	Desserts, baking	Sweet, bitter	No	Derived from cacao beans and once used as currency by the Aztecs.
36	Chorizo	Sausage	Spain/Mexico	Main or side	Spicy, smoky	No	Spanish chorizo is cured; Mexican chorizo is fresh and spicy.
37	Churros	Dessert	Spain	Snack, sweet	Crispy, sugary	No	Often dipped in chocolate or served with cinnamon sugar.
38	Ciabatta	Bread	Italy	Sandwiches, dipping	Crusty, airy	Yes	Means “slipper” in Italian due to its shape.
39	Cilantro	Herb	Mediterranean	Garnish, salads	Citrusy, fresh	Yes	Known as coriander leaves in some countries.
40	Cinnamon	Spice	Sri Lanka	Baking, beverages	Sweet, warm	Yes	Made from the bark of the cinnamon tree.
41	Cioppino	Stew	USA (San Francisco)	Main dish	Seafood-rich, savory	No	Italian-American seafood stew with tomato broth.
42	Citron	Fruit	India	Preserves, zest	Very sour, aromatic	Yes	One of the original citrus fruits from which others developed.
43	Citrus	Fruit group	Asia	Juice, flavoring	Sweet to tangy	Yes	Includes lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits.
44	Clafoutis	Dessert	France	Sweet dish	Custardy, fruity	No	Traditional version includes black cherries and a flan-like base.
45	Clam	Seafood	Global	Soups, pasta	Briny, chewy	No	Used in clam chowder and spaghetti alle vongole.
46	Clementine	Fruit	Algeria	Snacking, juicing	Sweet, juicy	Yes	Easy-to-peel and seedless—great for kids.
47	Clotted cream	Dairy	England	Spread for scones	Rich, creamy	No	A staple of traditional English afternoon tea.
48	Cobb salad	Salad	USA	Main or side	Fresh, savory	No	Invented at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood.
49	Cobnut	Nut	UK	Snacking, baking	Sweet, nutty	Yes	A type of cultivated hazelnut grown in Kent.
50	Cocoa	Ingredient	Central America	Desserts, drinks	Bitter, earthy	Yes	Main base for chocolate; made from cacao beans.

51. Coconut

52. Coconut milk

53. Cod

54. Coffee

55. Coleslaw

56. Collard greens

57. Compote

58. Conch

59. Congee

60. Cookie

61. Coq au vin

62. Corn

63. Corn chowder

64. Cornbread

65. Corned beef

66. Cornflakes

67. Cornmeal

68. Cornstarch

69. Cottage cheese

70. Cotton candy

71. Couscous

72. Couscous salad

73. Crab

74. Crab cakes

75. Cracker

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
51	Coconut	Fruit	Tropics	Oil, milk, water	Sweet, nutty	Yes	Every part of the coconut is used in traditional cultures.
52	Coconut milk	Liquid	Southeast Asia	Curry, dessert	Creamy, sweet	Yes	Made by blending coconut meat with water.
53	Cod	Fish	North Atlantic	Grilled, fried	Mild, flaky	No	Cod liver oil is a famous health supplement.
54	Coffee	Beverage	Ethiopia	Hot drink	Bitter, bold	Yes	Second most traded commodity after oil.
55	Coleslaw	Salad	Netherlands	Side dish	Creamy, tangy	Yes (if egg-free)	Name comes from Dutch “koolsla,” meaning cabbage salad.
56	Collard greens	Vegetable	Africa	Boiled, sautéed	Bitter, hearty	Yes	Staple in Southern U.S. cuisine.
57	Compote	Dessert	France	Fruit topping	Sweet	Yes	Made by slowly cooking fruit in sugar syrup.
58	Conch	Seafood	Caribbean	Fritters, salads	Chewy, briny	No	Often served raw in ceviche in the Bahamas.
59	Congee	Porridge	China	Breakfast	Bland, savory	Yes (without meat)	Common comfort food across Asia.
60	Cookie	Dessert	Persia	Snacking, dessert	Sweet, crunchy	No	Originated as test cakes for oven temp.
61	Coq au vin	Dish	France	Main course	Rich, savory	No	Translates to “rooster in wine.”
62	Corn	Grain/Vegetable	Mexico	Boiled, grilled	Sweet, juicy	Yes	Domesticated by indigenous peoples over 9,000 years ago.
63	Corn chowder	Soup	USA	Appetizer	Sweet, creamy	No (if with cream)	A creamy soup often made with potatoes and corn.
64	Cornbread	Bread	USA (Native American)	Side dish	Sweet, crumbly	Yes (if no eggs)	Key dish in Southern U.S. cooking.
65	Corned beef	Meat	Ireland	Main dish	Salty, savory	No	Named after the coarse “corns” of salt used to cure it.
66	Cornflakes	Breakfast cereal	USA	Breakfast	Crunchy, mild	Yes	Invented by the Kellogg brothers.
67	Cornmeal	Ingredient	Americas	Polenta, baking	Grainy, mild	Yes	Main ingredient in grits and cornbread.
68	Cornstarch	Thickener	USA	Soups, sauces	Bland	Yes	Derived from the endosperm of corn kernels.
69	Cottage cheese	Dairy	USA/Europe	Breakfast, snack	Fresh, tangy	No	Low in fat and high in protein.
70	Cotton candy	Confection	USA	Fairs, carnivals	Very sweet	Yes	Invented by a dentist in 1897!
71	Couscous	Grain	North Africa	Salads, sides	Light, fluffy	Yes	Often mistaken for a grain, but actually a pasta.
72	Couscous salad	Salad	Mediterranean	Side, main	Fresh, zesty	Yes	Often includes veggies, herbs, and lemon juice.
73	Crab	Seafood	Worldwide	Main, soup	Sweet, rich	No	There are over 4,500 species of crab.
74	Crab cakes	Dish	USA (Maryland)	Appetizer	Savory, crispy	No	A famous dish in coastal Mid-Atlantic states.
75	Cracker	Snack	USA/Europe	Snack, appetizer	Crunchy, salty	Yes	Often paired with cheese or spreads.

76. Cranberry

77. Cranberry sauce

78. Crawfish

79. Cream

80. Cream cheese

81. Crepe

82. Crisp (dessert)

83. Croissant

84. Croquette

85. Croutons

86. Crumble

87. Crumpet

88. Cuban sandwich

89. Cucumber

90. Cucumber salad

91. Cumin

92. Cup noodles

93. Cupcake

94. Curd

95. Curry

96. Curry leaves

97. Curry powder

98. Currywurst

99. Custard

100. Cutlet

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
76	Cranberry	Fruit	North America	Juice, sauces	Tart, bitter	Yes	Native Americans used cranberries as food and dye.
77	Cranberry sauce	Condiment	USA	Side dish	Sweet, tangy	Yes	Staple in Thanksgiving meals.
78	Crawfish	Seafood	USA (Louisiana)	Boiled, stews	Sweet, briny	No	Also called “mudbugs.”
79	Cream	Dairy	Worldwide	Desserts, sauces	Rich, smooth	No	Rises to the top of milk when left to sit.
80	Cream cheese	Dairy	USA	Spreads, frosting	Mild, creamy	No	Key ingredient in cheesecake.
81	Crepe	Dessert	France	Sweet or savory	Thin, delicate	No	French crêpes can be sweet or filled with meats & cheese.
82	Crisp (dessert)	Dessert	UK/USA	Baking	Sweet, crunchy	No	Often made with fruit and oat topping.
83	Croissant	Pastry	Austria/France	Breakfast	Buttery, flaky	No	Its crescent shape honors the Ottoman defeat in battle.
84	Croquette	Appetizer	France	Fried snack	Crispy, savory	No	Usually made with mashed potatoes or meat fillings.
85	Croutons	Garnish	France	Soups, salads	Crunchy, savory	Yes	Made from stale bread for texture and flavor.
86	Crumble	Dessert	UK	Baking	Sweet, fruity	No	Often features apples or berries with crumb topping.
87	Crumpet	Bread	UK	Toasted snack	Spongy, mild	No	Best served with butter and jam.
88	Cuban sandwich	Sandwich	Cuba/USA	Lunch	Savory, cheesy	No	Includes pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles.
89	Cucumber	Vegetable	India	Salads, pickles	Fresh, crisp	Yes	Mostly water—great for hydration.
90	Cucumber salad	Salad	Asia/Europe	Side dish	Cool, tangy	Yes	Popular in Korean, Indian, and German cuisines.
91	Cumin	Spice	Middle East	Flavoring	Earthy, warm	Yes	Used in both Mexican and Indian cuisines.
92	Cup noodles	Instant food	Japan	Quick meal	Salty, umami	No	Invented by Momofuku Ando in 1971.
93	Cupcake	Dessert	USA	Baking	Sweet, soft	No	Originally baked in cups—hence the name.
94	Curd	Dairy	India	Side dish	Sour, creamy	No	Used in Indian meals to cool spicy food.
95	Curry	Main dish	India	Main course	Spicy, rich	Depends	Not a single dish—curry varies by region.
96	Curry leaves	Herb	India/Sri Lanka	Tempering	Aromatic, bitter	Yes	Used whole in South Indian cooking.
97	Curry powder	Spice blend	UK (inspired by India)	Flavoring	Warm, complex	Yes	A Western invention, not used in traditional Indian kitchens.
98	Currywurst	Street food	Germany	Snack	Spicy, savory	No	Served with ketchup and curry powder.
99	Custard	Dessert	Europe	Desserts, pies	Sweet, creamy	No	Made from milk, eggs, and sugar.
100	Cutlet	Dish	Europe/India	Snack, side	Crispy, spiced	Depends	In India, vegetable cutlets are popular street food.