The Most Popular Breakup Food in Every State

Breakups are never easy. Whether you’re the one ending things or blindsided by the news, heartbreak has a way of making everything feel heavier—including your appetite. For some, that means losing their hunger entirely. For others, it means diving headfirst into a tub of ice cream, ordering an absurd amount of takeout, or inhaling a family-sized bag of potato chips in one sitting.

But when love goes sour, what comfort food do people turn to the most? To find out, we analyzed Google Trends search data from the past year to uncover the most popular breakup foods in every U.S. state. From milkshakes to mac & cheese, discover which treats Americans rely on to get them through the roughest of romantic woes.

According to search trends, milkshakes take the crown as the ultimate breakup food, topping the list in six states. Something about sipping a thick, creamy shake feels nostalgic—like a sweet, uncomplicated reminder of happier times. Grilled cheese follows closely behind, winning over five states, proving that gooey, melted cheese between crispy buttered bread is a reliable emotional support system.

Other heavy hitters include tacos (4 states), cupcakes (4 states), and chicken noodle soup (3 states). Tacos bring a satisfying mix of flavors and textures, while cupcakes deliver a bite-sized burst of sugar-fueled comfort. And then there’s chicken noodle soup—the classic “feel better” food, whether you’re battling a cold or a case of the post-breakup blues.

Sweet vs. Savory: What Do Heartbroken Americans Crave?

While sugar-loaded treats like cupcakes, cake, and candy made strong showings in states like New York, Maryland, and Kentucky, many states leaned toward savory and salty options. Grilled cheese, popcorn, and mac & cheese were among the top breakup comfort foods in states like Colorado, Illinois, and Maine. And in North Dakota and Vermont, the ultimate coping mechanism was garlic bread—because if love stinks, your breath might as well, too.

Meanwhile, states like Texas, Idaho, and Kansas turned to tacos for emotional support, proving that sometimes, heartbreak is best handled with a crunchy shell and a whole lot of salsa. In Oregon and Minnesota, waffles were the top-searched comfort food—perhaps a nod to those reflective, late-night breakfasts where syrupy bites help soften the sting of a lost romance.

Regional Breakup Food Trends

When looking at the data regionally, some clear trends emerge. The South has a serious sweet tooth when it comes to heartbreak—milkshakes (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) and cake (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia) dominate the region. Meanwhile, New Englanders seem to lean toward comforting, cheesy dishes, with states like Maine and New Hampshire choosing mac & cheese and Connecticut and Massachusetts preferring pizza as their breakup food of choice.

Out west, things get a little crunchier. Potato chips were the top breakup snack in Arizona, California, and Michigan, while French fries claimed the title in Nevada. Perhaps the West Coast embraces a “salty and crispy” coping strategy, swapping out ice cream for something with a little more bite.

And then there’s the Midwest, where grilled cheese (Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and West Virginia) came out on top—proving that in the heart of America, sometimes the best way to mend a broken heart is with melted cheese and a warm slice of bread.

State-by-State Standouts

Some states, however, stood apart from regional trends. South Dakota opted for burgers, because sometimes, nothing fixes heartbreak like a juicy, stacked cheeseburger. Rhode Island went for the ever-reliable ice cream, proving that sometimes, a spoon and a pint are all you need to move on. And in Hawaii, candy was the top-searched breakup comfort food—perhaps a nod to the islands’ uniquely tropical sweets like li hing mui gummies or chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.

Then there’s Washington and Utah, where cookies topped the list. Because sometimes, after a breakup, all you really need is something soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate chips.

No matter the choice, one thing is clear: after a breakup, food isn’t just food—it’s therapy on a plate (or in a cup, if you’re in the milkshake camp).

Heartbreak and comfort food go hand in hand, and as this study shows, the way we cope after a breakup varies across the country. Whether it’s the classic milkshake, the warm embrace of grilled cheese, or the indulgence of cake and cookies, one thing is certain—food has a way of softening life’s toughest moments.

At Love Life Academy, we know that moving on after a breakup isn’t just about finding the perfect pint of ice cream or devouring a plate of tacos. It’s about healing, rebuilding confidence, and rediscovering what makes you feel whole. Whether you’re navigating heartbreak or getting back out there, our team of certified dating coaches is here to help you turn the page and find love again—on your terms.

Because while comfort food might get you through the night, the right relationship is what truly feeds the soul 💙.

To determine the most popular breakup comfort food in every U.S. state, we compiled a list of common post-breakup foods from sources like Bustle, The Recipe, and Beanstalk Mums. We then analyzed regional interest in these foods using Google Trends search data from February 2024 to February 2025. Finally, we compared search interest to find the most popular breakup food in each state. We used high search interest as an indicator of preference, highlighting the go-to comfort foods Americans turn to after heartbreak.