Have you ever wondered how food pairings came to be? Did some random chef combine the only ingredients he had in his cup and strike gold? Or was it a scientist who explained why two flavors naturally go together?

Either way, there are some famous food pairings and ones that have yet to achieve the fame they are due. We aren’t talking about peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti and meatballs. These are some of the more bizarre pairings that everyone should try.

1. Ice Cream and Fries

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Stop giving your friends a hard time when they dip their fries in their frosty or milkshake. These taste buds are on another level and deserve some respect.

The fusion of salty and sweet is a delightful surprise. The hotness of the fries combined with the cool ice cream is so unique that the ice cream brand Coolhaus sells a special blend of fries, malt balls, and vanilla ice cream.

2. Coca-Cola and Chicken

When you hear the combination of the famous soda and fried chicken, you might think of it as a normal lunch. But, we are talking about frying the chicken with Cocal-Cola.

That’s right. Some chefs fry the battered chicken in a Coca-Cola/oil mixture, resulting in a semi-sweet chicken. This shouldn’t be a surprise combination. BBQ and teriyaki are sweet and work incredibly well with chicken.

3. Strawberries and Balsamic

The tart acidity of balsamic vinaigrette is a great way to bring out the strawberry’s natural sweetness. Surprisingly, the balsamic makes the fruit even sweeter.

You might find this exciting food combination on the menu in new-age Italian and Mediterranean restaurants. If you ever see if in a dessert shortcake recipe, give it a try. Trust me.

4. Banana and Bacon

Everyone who loves this flavor combo can thank the late, great Elvis Presley for bringing these flavors together. The famous dinger paired the sweet bananas with the salty bacon for a very savory sandwich.

The result of the banana, peanut butter, and bacon sandwich will be forever enshrined in Elvis. Still, this may have been the precursor to the newer breakfast items that combine savory and sweet, like chicken and waffles or blueberry pancakes and sausages.

5. Watermelon and Salt

You might wonder why you would mess with one of the best-tasting fruits; hold tight. Adding a pinch of salt to a tasty watermelon will bring out its sweetness and decrease the bitterness of the unripe fruit.

Ever since I discovered this life hack, I have salted my watermelon. I always get weird looks, but they forgive me once they taste how great the fruit is.

6. Mango and Chili Powder

Is it sweet, spicy, or both? Mango’s tropical taste has always been a complimentary flavor to spice.

Adding mango to a heat source is a standard in Mexican, Thai, and Chinese cuisine. Look for this fruit in salsas, sauces, stir-fries, and dressings. You could also substitute the mango for pineapple, papaya, or lime for a similar yet unequal taste to the mango.

7. Honey and Pizza

All of the pizza purists who will argue about pineapple on pizza might want to cover their ears. While this isn’t fruit, it is a sweetness that some pizza supremacists find unappealing.

I’m still all for it. The honey counteracts the saltiness of the pepperoni and can even add a heat element. Especially if you have pepperoni that cups up and collects grease, that is the perfect recipe for that sticky, sugary addition to the pie.

8. Hamburger and Peanut Butter

How can you improve a perfectly grilled burger? You might guess a slice of cheese, caramelized onions, or a zesty aioli, but what about peanut butter?

Those who have tried this sticky concoction rave about the flavor combo. The nuttiness of the peanut butter pairs incredibly with the greasy fatness of the ground beef. And, if you want to get a little wild, you can add a few slices of bacon to add some saltiness to the mixture. Dare I say add a few banana slices? Or is that too much?

9. Avocado And Chocolate

Avocados and chocolate. Both have the same consistency, but you would expect them to be on different plates. Or would you?

Many creative vegan chefs have been using avocados’ creaminess in puddings and milkshakes. These fruits blend beautifully with the soft chocolate and take over the flavor profile. Will you soon start seeing avocado and chocolate bars at the checkout line? Who knows, but vegans will continue to combine these two ingredients for delicious results.

10. Pickles And Ice Cream

I feel like this food pairing started out as a pregnancy joke in an 80s sitcom. Someone must have craved it and realized how delicious it was because the combo stuck, and people swear by how good it is.

Now, there are many different flavors of ice cream, so which one is best? Well, these flavor experts recommend starting with vanilla. They say the sweetness of the cream and the briney, salty pickle chips will have your taste buds dancing. I’ll let you try it. I’ll stick with chocolate syrup.

11. Apple Pie And Cheddar Cheese

The combination of a cheese slice on top of an apple pie has always been folklore to me. I have heard about its flavor but have never seen anyone attempt it. That was until one day I was convinced by my wife’s uncle one Thanksgiving, and the world I knew was shattered.

It is hard to describe how the savory cheese pairs with the sugar apples. It mellows out the sweetness but elevates it at the same time. You have to try it. It will make you wonder what other pies deserve a slice of cheddar.

12. Steak And Blueberries

Asking for a bottle of ketchup for your perfectly cooked steak might garner some side-eye from the chef, but I’m not sure if blueberries will. While a blueberry jam might be too sweet, the subtle hints from fresh blueberries might be just enough to enhance the flavors of the meat.

Try adding some pureed blueberries at your next cookout. Or throw some in a pot the next time you are cooking up a stew. It could become your next favorite pairing.

13. Ramen And Peanut Butter

Instant noodles and peanut butter sound like something I would try as a poor college student suffering from a serious case of the munchies. That being said, this combo had to be invented by a student with a similar mindset.

As it turns out, the pairing is quite delicious. The mixture of the ramen juice, soy sauce, and peanut butter creates a thicker, savory broth. The sweetness encompasses the salty soy sauce, and an addition of hot sauce makes it a perfect flavor to scoop up the noodles.

I imagine the kid who discovered this is running NASA right about now.

14. Proscuitto and Melon

Once again, we have proof that sweet and salty might be the perfect pairing. This Italian classic is a staple in beach picnics and summer BBQs.

It’s not just prosciutto, either. Almost any type of deli meat would be a nice treat. As for the melon, try a ripe honeydew or cantaloupe. The cantaloupe is a tad sweeter and would pair best with saltier meats like salami or prosciutto.

15. Bloody Mary and Steak

It doesn’t surprise me that steak and bloody marys go together. Have you ever been to a fancy brunch and gotten a bloody? These days, they come with full meals as garnishes these days.

Okay, no one is putting a full steak on a skewer and sticking it in their breakfast drink yet. But home chefs are discovering how delicious a Bloody Mary marinated steak can be. The spicy tomato juice apparently makes a phenomenal steak. Someone try it and DM me.