Alton Brown Posts Video Trying Midwestern Food Combo, Internet Spirals

Alton Brown is no stranger to bold food experiments, but this one? Let’s just say the internet’s still chewing on it.

In a Facebook Reel that’s making the rounds, the former “Good Eats” host tagged Lincoln, Nebraska, as he tried a combo that might sound unhinged to outsiders: chili served with a cinnamon roll. Yep, you read that right. And he actually dunks the roll into the chili and takes a bite like it’s no big deal.

Predictably, people from the area flocked to social media with some thoughts.

What’s the Deal with This Combo?

If you’re from Nebraska (or parts of Iowa or Kansas) this pairing is probably your childhood in a school lunch tray. Chili and cinnamon rolls are a classic in the region, often served together as a balanced sweet-and-savory meal. Think spicy stew followed by gooey dessert or having a grilled cheese and then a slice of cake for afters.

According to The Smithsonian, “no one really knows when and where this culinary combo began.” But it is apparent that this tradition goes back decades, with schools and cafeterias embracing it as a budget-friendly comfort food option. Even Runza, a local fast-food chain in Nebraska, keeps the love alive by offering the combo to this day.

Fans Are… Confused, But Still Hungry

Here’s where things got spicy: folks online were not ready for that chili-on-roll action. Some Midwesterners defended the combo but were quick to say Alton did it wrong.

“Okay Nebraska born and bred and there was never any dipping you just eat the two at the same meal. That’s it people 😂” said one Facebook fan. “South Dakotan here…we do the cinnamon roll/chili combo here too. But the cinnamon roll is a side to the chili. We don’t dip or eat them in the same bite,” another person agreed.

Still, most fans respected his enthusiasm. It’s not every day a food celebrity highlights a regional dish that doesn’t get national love; and even fewer would go all in like this. One commenter summed it all up perfectly, “When I dip you dip we dip! As a Lincolnite, I don’t care how you eat your chili/cinnamon roll combo, the only rule is that nobody goes home hungry!”

Whether you’re here for the combo or crying in chili-soaked horror, one thing’s clear: Alton Brown isn’t afraid to stir the pot. Fans can keep up with all of his culinary antics (and bold food experiments) over on his social media (Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram), where things are never, ever boring.

The post Alton Brown Posts Video Trying Midwestern Food Combo, Internet Spirals appeared first on EntertainmentNow.