50 Foods that Start with B

Ready for a bit of fun foodie trivia? Below you’ll find 50 Foods that Start with B, from sweet to savory and all that comes between.

Have you ever wondered how many foods out there start with the letter B? Turns out, there’s tons, and we’ve rounded up 50 to get you started. From veggies and grains, to savory dishes, to sweet treats and desserts, we hope you’ll be inspired by this comprehensive roundup of foods that start with B. Who knows? You might be one letter away from your next favorite ingredient or dish! 

Fruits, Veggies, Legumes & Grains

Let’s start this party with a bang. First up: fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes and more healthy foods that start with the letter B!

Bananas

Bananas just might be the quintessential food that starts with B! This tropical fruit is easily recognizable across the world for it’s long, yellow shape, and known for being rich in nutrients. Banana is a popular ingredient in everything from baked goods like banana bread and cakes, to smoothies and banana cream pie.

Barley

Barley is a cereal grain, and one of the first grains farmed by ancient civilizations! This hearty grain is full of fiber and often found in breads, or malted to use when brewing beer. You’ll also find Barley front and center in recipes like beef barley soup!

Basmati Rice

Traditionally grown in India, Pakistan, and Nepal, basmati is a type of long grain rice you’ll often find in these countries’ cuisines. Considered an aromatic rice, basmati rice is a favorite to use in dishes like curries and biryani.

Beans

There are countless varieties of beans out there – baked beans, kidney beans, Great Northern beans, black beans, pinto beans, and broad beans, to name a few. A versatile ingredient, cuisines all over the world make use of beans, from Mexican cooking to Mediterranean dishes.

Beets

Beets, or beetroot, are a root vegetable rich in folate, a vitamin that helps grow and repair cells in our bodies. Some might call them a superfood, and they’re delicious in beet salads and side dishes, or even pickled on their own!

Bell Peppers

Red, green, yellow, orange – you’ll likely encounter bell peppers in any of these colors as a common sight in most produce aisles. Enjoy peppers fresh, grilled, sauteed, or roasted, served in tons of recipes, from pastas to pizzas and beyond!

Black Eyed Peas

Black eyed peas are a legume eaten all over the world, known for being highly nutritious. In the Southern US, Hoppin’ John is a traditional black eyed peas recipe that’s seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity when served on New Year’s Day.

Blueberries

Blueberries are a seasonal fruit native to North America, in the same family as cranberries and huckleberries. These famous berries are blue (obviously) and known for their antioxidant properties. Blueberries are popular in recipes for cobblers, pies, muffins, and other baked goods.

Bok Choy

Bok choy is the other name for pak choy, a crunchy green cabbage that’s especially popular in Chinese cuisine. The flavor is cabbage-like and similar to celery, and you’ll often see it used in soups and stir-fries, or as a filling in dumplings.

Boysenberries

A boysenberry is a cross between a raspberry, blackberry, and a loganberry. The taste is juicy like a blackberry, sweet like a raspberry, with a bit of tang. You can use boysenberries in just about any recipe where you’d otherwise find a raspberry or blackberry, like pies.

Broccoli & Broccoli Rabe

Broccoli is a green cruciferous veggie, in the same family as kale and cabbage. You can eat the whole plant, stalk, leaves, head and all! Broccoli is a popular veggie side dish. You’ll find it roasted, steamed, or baked into casseroles. Then there’s broccoli rabe, or rapini, which looks a bit like slender broccoli but is actually more closely related to turnips! 

Brown Rice

Brown rice is the whole grain of refined white rice. This means that it contains the nutritious bran and germ, whereas white rice has had this removed to make it softer and quicker to cook. Brown rice makes a nourishing choice for rice dishes like rice pilaf and chicken and rice. 

Brussels Sprouts

Next on the list of foods that start with B, Brussels sprouts! Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Brussels sprouts are a versatile member of the cabbage family. You’ll find them roasted, baked into casseroles, wrapped in bacon, and tossed in brussels sprouts salads. They get their name from the city of Brussels, Belgium, where they’ve long been a culinary staple.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a “pseudo-cereal”: a grain that’s used like a cereal, but that doesn’t grow on grasses like cereal grains do. Quinoa and amaranth also fall into this category, and pseudo-cereals like Buckwheat actually don’t contain wheat at all! Making it a popular choice of grain in gluten-free diets and recipes like buckwheat pancakes.

Butter

Everything’s better with butter, as they say. The reason butter is so rich and creamy on the palate is because it literally melts in the mouth: the melting point for butter is 98.6°F, exactly the same temperature as inside the human mouth! 

Butternut Squash

Butternut squash, also known as pumpkin in some countries, has a taste that’s very similar to what Americans recognize as pumpkin. It’s a winter squash shaped a bit like a bottle, named after its buttery texture and nutty flavor. It often makes an appearance on Thanksgiving tables as a vegetable side dish, in salads, or as a cozy soup!

Savory Foods

Next up, savory ingredients and dishes ranging from breads, to herbs, to meats, and more. But these foods all share one thing in common: they start with the letter B!

Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush (you might also see it spelled “baba ghanoush” or “baba ghanouj”)  is an appetizer of Eastern Mediterranean origin. It’s a lot like hummus, only made of roasted and pureed eggplant instead of chickpeas. Serve is as a spread, or as a dip!

Bacon

This cured meat is famous all over the world, especially in the States, where it’s a beloved breakfast food you’ll find on many tables! There are many different varieties: applewood or hickory smoked bacon, and flavors such as maple and brown sugar. Bacon is easy to cook up on the stove, in the oven, or even in the air fryer. It’s a classic addition to dishes like quiches, pizzas, salads, or even sweet-savory desserts!

Bagels

Another popular North American deli staple, bagels are popular breakfast items, especially smeared with cream cheese. Though you’ll also find them filled as bagel sandwiches or even made into pizzas! There are typically two types: fat and fluffy New York bagels, and thinner, denser Montreal bagels (with an ongoing debate as to which is best!). These doughy baked goods come in many flavors: you’ll find plain bagels, cinnamon raisin bagels, then there’s Everything bagels and even air fryer bagels. 

Baguettes

For many, the baguette is synonymous with French culture. This long, thin bread fittingly gets its name from the French word for “baton” or “stick”.  And the French take their baguettes seriously: there is a bread law (yes, a law) in France that states that traditional baguettes must only contain wheat flour, water, salt and yeast. Meanwhile, across the world on US soils, the baguette is a popular bread side or appetizer, paired with dips and used in recipes like bruschetta. 

Baked Beans

Baked beans is a popular side from the United States all the way to the United Kingdom! Making baked beans involves parboiling white beans and then baking or slow cooking them in syrupy sauce. In the US, baked beans are a classic Southern side dish you’ll often see served with BBQ. 

Banh Mi

Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich made with a crusty short baguette and savory fillings. The bread is sliced lengthwise and then filled with ingredients like cold cuts, chicken, Vietnamese meatballs, and pickled vegetables. It’s a staple street food in Vietnam, and you’ll find many variations and adaptations stateside, like these lettuce wraps and banh mi meatballs!

Bannocks

Bannocks are a type of quick bread that originated in the British Isles. Originally, Scottish bannocks were dense, round flatbreads made from barley or oatmeal dough, cooked on a stone or griddle. Nowadays, most modern day bannocks include leavening, so they’re lighter and more airy. 

Basil

You may have eaten basil in pesto, pasta dishes, or on a margherita pizza. It’s easily recognizable as a fragrant herb with a fresh, peppery aroma and flavor.

Béarnaise Sauce

One of the French mother sauces, Béarnaise is the “child” of Hollandaise. Béarnaise sauce involves emulsifying egg yolks with butter into a sauce with white wine vinegar, shallots, and herbs like tarragon and chervil. You’ll often see it served over steak, especially in fine dining rooms and steakhouses.

Beef

From ground beef in burgers, pastas, and tacos, to classic beef dishes like filet mignon and beef wellington, this is one popular ingredient! The US and Brazil are the top two beef producers in the world, and it’s one of the most widely consumed types of meat.

Birria 

Traditional birria is a flavorful Mexican stew made with slow braised goat meat.  Nowadays, you’ll find many adaptations made with beef. The stew, birria de res, is served with the braising liquid, while the meat is chopped up to make quesabirria tacos.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is a semi-soft cheese with a distinct salty, sharp flavor. The “blue” or green spots and lines that you see throughout blue cheese is actually harmless, edible mold. But don’t let that deter you, blue cheese makes a delicious addition to dishes from salads and dressings, to burgers and dips, and more!

Borscht

Borscht is a traditional Eastern European sweet-sour soup. The Ukrainian version gets its bright red color from beetroots, though other variations exist such as green borscht and white borscht, too. These tart soups usually contain bone broth and sauteed vegetables, along with fermented beet sour to give it the distinct borscht flavor.

Bratwurst

A popular German sausage, bratwurst is almost always made from pork. Bratwurst gets its name from the Old German Brät, meaning “chopped meat”, as well as the more modern term braten, which means “to fry”. And it’s true – authentic bratwurst is poached and then pan-fried. You’ll often find it served with sauerkraut or mustard between a crusty roll.

Brie Cheese

Brie cheese is a soft cheese that often comes in a wheel or wedge. It’s well-loved in the world of appetizers, as part of a charcuterie board, or in recipes like baked brie. You’ll also see it rolled up in pastry, or melted in paninis and grilled cheese!

Brisket

Beef brisket is one of the primal cuts of beef, known for being exceptionally good for slow cooking and smoked barbecue recipes. You can cook brisket in a smoker, in the oven, or even in the crockpot or Instant Pot. 

Bruschetta

Classic bruschetta is an Italian antipasto, featuring slices of crusty bread that are grilled and then brushed with garlic and olive oil. A popular variation is tomato bruschetta: grilled bread topped with a mixture of chopped tomatoes and herbs tossed in oil and balsamic vinegar. You can also make bruschetta with other flavors, like this strawberry and goat cheese bruschetta recipe.

Burritos

Burritos are a staple of Tex-Mex cooking, made from wrapping various ingredients like rice, black beans, meats, and veggies up in a large flour tortilla. These flavorful bundles, along with burrito bowls, are staples in Mexican restaurants all over the US. Their popularity has even spread to the breakfast table, with the advent of breakfast burritos!

Desserts that Start with B

Like any meal, no list of foods that start with B is complete without dessert. Check out these fun and tasty treats featuring our leading letter!

Babas

Rum Baba is a type of classic sponge cake soaked in rum syrup. The recipe originated in France (known in French as baba au rhum), though it’s also a common patisserie in places like Italy, sometimes filled with pastry cream.

Babka

A traditional Jewish dessert from Eastern Europe, a babka is braided sweet dough that falls somewhere between a bread and cake. Variations include chocolate babka, apple babka, cinnamon babka, and others.

Baked Alaska

Baked Alaska, a.k.a. Bombe Alaska, is an American dessert made from cake and ice cream inside in a shell of toasted meringue. New Orleans chef and creator Antoine Alciatore supposedly named the dessert in celebration of the US acquiring Alaska in 1867.  

Baklava

Baklava is a traditional sweet pastry or strudel made with layers of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey. The dessert has its roots in Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East, though the Hungarians later adopted the recipe into their culture.

Banana Bread

Cozy and comforting, there aren’t many baked goods that are more loved than banana bread! Easy to make and full of warm spices, many families have their own banana bread recipes passed down for generations. It’s a nostalgic breakfast-dessert, with variations that include chocolate banana bread, blueberry banana bread, and banana muffins.

Banana Split

The classic All-American ice cream parlor dessert! A banana split consists of scoops of ice cream between a banana that’s split lengthwise down the middle. Topped with chocolate sauce and other ice cream toppings, it’s a truly delightful (and decadent) frozen treat.

Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster is a New Orleans dessert, featuring bananas cooked in a flambéed buttery rum sauce, then served over ice cream. The recipe is named after Richard Foster, a loyal customer of the restaurant where the dessert originated in the 50s. Bananas Foster has inspired many dessert spin-offs, like cheesecake and as a topping for crepes!

Banoffee Pie

A sensational British dessert, banoffee pie consists of layers of bananas and toffee (often dulce de leche) and whipped cream on a biscuit base. The name marries the two main ingredients – banana and toffee – with the recipe credited to restaurateur Nigel Mackenzie, who first made it in the 1970s.

Beignets

A bit like a fritter or a small square donut, a beignet is a deep fried pastry popular in French, Italian, and American cooking. They’re a famous dessert in New Orleans, enjoyed dusted with powdered sugar, or filled with things like sweet fruit.

Black and White Cookies

You might recognize these classic half-moon cookies from the Seinfeld episode, or you may have eaten one while visiting NYC yourself! Black and white cookies are a New York bakery staple. These moist, tender cookies have a texture similar to cake, frosted half with vanilla and half with chocolate icing.

Blondies

Brownies’ fairer friends! Blondies are buttery, vanilla-based and made with brown sugar, compared to chocolate-based brownies. They’re not quite as fudgy, but just as delicious!  

Boston Cream Pie

Boston cream pie is a classic dessert featuring vanilla cake filled with cream, then topped with chocolate icing. The cream inside is actually pastry cream, or creme patissiere, which is the same custard filling you’ll find in Boston cream donuts! 

Bread Pudding

This old-fashioned dessert is known in many cuisines, with different variations. At its heart, bread pudding is made from simple pantry items including old or stale bread, sometimes with fillings and spices. It involves soaking the bread in a custard of eggs, milk, and sugar (similar to the kind you would dip French toast in), and then baking it.

Brioche

Brioche is a light and fluffy style of French bread. It gets its rich texture and golden color from the high amount of butter and eggs in the dough, and the taste is often slightly sweeter. This makes variations of brioche ideal for French toast, burger buns, and dinner rolls!

Brownies

No, brownies aren’t blondies that have gone to the Dark Side. Melted chocolate and cocoa is what gives a brownie that classic, fudgy texture and dark chocolatey color! These popular dessert bars come in all kinds of variations, including peanut butter brownies, swirled brownies, and more.

Butterscotch

Butterscotch is a confection that’s a lot like caramel only, well, more buttery. The flavor of butterscotch comes from brown sugar and butter, and you’ll find it in the form of candies, puddings, and sauces. Butterscotch chips are also key to classic treats like Scotcheroos!

Find hundreds more foods that start with B, and other every letter of the alphabet using the recipe finder!