Hotdish is as inextricably tied to Minnesota's identity as cornfields, state fairs, and piles of winter snow
But how, exactly, did hotdish come to be? Well, it has its roots in the early 20th century.
According to "Minnesota Hotdish: A Love Story," the dish's earliest ancestor was the hot pot, which emerged in the 1910s during World War I rationing when many Americans battled to survive.
Hot pot was marketed to many Americans as an easy way to stretch a single pound of meat to feed an entire family.
These meals were cooked in one pot, and contained all aspects of a rounded meal, including protein, vegetables, and starch.
And though hot pot was a popular dish, it wasn't until the 1930s that the dish known as hotdish fully developed as a Minnesota staple.