As we all know fair food had always been a bit out of the ordinary from wacky combinations to a lot of deep-fried everything! But more recently, state fairs have been stepping their game with foods that aren't your typical go-to's! If your planning on attending your next state fair or your curious about scrumptious fair food-- Check out the list of our 40 favorite deep-fried state-fair foods!
1. Funnel Cake
What is a fair without a funnel cake? This is where all of the powdered fun begins! From powdered sugar all over your face to whip cream, you can't miss this State fair treat!
This battered squiggly cake comes topped in many flavors. The real Cake Up Call- It's recommended to try the classic flavor with strawberry syrup, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. You can call this the batch made from heaven!
2. Fried Pickle Chips
Pickles are great in our hamburgers or even aside dish for some crunch! But who thought of a pickle chip? These salty and crispy crunched pickle chips are the perfect snack.
You can't forget the side of southern smokey creamy sauce that comes on the side. Watch out after the first dip, you might just be hooked!
3. Homemade Corn Dogs
Everyone buys frozen Corn dogs, but nothing can compare to homemade battered corn dogs! Having a Homemade corn dog is a whole experience in itself; from the creation to biting a soft, warm, pillowy package of escaping steam and curred meat.
You will be so happy you tried this heavenly wrapped hotdog on a stick. For these buds a bunch of sides isn't necessary the corn dog in itself is full of bashing flavors.
4. Apple Cider Doughnuts
Donut worry, be happy! Especially when it comes to these heavenly donuts, it's not hard to get super happy! These Apple Cider Cinnamon donuts can be smelled from a mile away.
These classic state fair donuts are deep-fried and then coated lots with cinnamon and sugar! They are so delicious they practically melt in your mouth. On that note, keep them rolling because these look heavenly!
5. Homemade Pretzels
Pretzels are all you Knead! What is better than soft buttery bread with a salty Crumbley coat on top? Absolutely nothing. These twisted breads can be paired with your favorite side--jalapeno cheese, pizza sauce, guac.
Really, there are no guidelines as to what pretzels can be paired with. Once they have been discovered you will find that something a little salty will taste good with almost anything. The possibilities are endless.
6. Fried Deviled Eggs
When you want to add a new dish to the State Fair menu, rule number one is to FRY. Although deviled eggs are delicious on their own, deep frying them brings them to the next level.
These fried deviled eggs are a delicacy that you never thought you needed. You can choose from coated bread crumbs to coated with breaded pork rind crumbs. Either way, they're a blessing.
7. Deep-Fried Oreos
Deep-Fried Oreos is a state fair classic! These iconic Oreo cookies are dunked into a thin batter, then fried in hot oil. To finish they are topped with powdered sugar and whip cream.
These treats end up looking like fried crisp sandwiches and even taste more cake-like. After one bite into the newly transformed cookie, you are transcended into another world!
8. Golden Corn Fritters
Feeling like getting a taste of the South? Fresh Corn Fritters look almost exactly like hush puppies but better. Imagine a less-sweet donut but with corn, and topped with maple glaze!
Try these Fritters out of the fryer and you will see what is considered crunchy perfection. Nonetheless, these little buds will get you warmed up on a cool night.
9. Homemade Candy Apple
There are all sorts of candied apples that can be found at the state fair, from caramel apples to chocolate-covered apples and many other flavors!
Usually, people will eat their candy apple right off of the stick, it can get very sticky and messy. We recommend asking the vendor to cut the apple into wedges, for an easy snack to munch on.
10. Beer-battered Fried Pickles
You must of not thought an ordinary pickle would make it to the state fair, but it sure did! The beer batter and bread crumb combo takes this ordinary pickle chip to a crunch of heaven!
Don't be surprised, it will make you drool! Make sure you get your perfect deep-fried pickles with a side of jalapeno ranch or buffalo sauce for dipping!
11. BBQ Nachos
Who doesn't love the mess on a nachos plate? BBQ nachos take you right into the fair mood with all of its blasting flavors. Also if you don't feel like having typical BBQ food this could be for you!
From Jalapeno peppers, cheese, onions, a lot of meat, and of course chipotle sauce! On this note, if someone tries taking a bite of your BBQ, please tell them-- "Nacho cheese!".
12. Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies
Caramel-apple pies are home to the United States! And at the state fair, there is no better place to find a variety of flavors, sizes, and preparations of hand pies.
Besides, the classic delicious salted- caramel apple pie. Some other fun flavors include pumpkin, cherry, and peach. While some state foods are hard to recreate, these are easy and will remind you of the time at the fair.
13. Fried Macaroni and Cheese Bites
Mac and Cheese are perfect all on their own, but when they are tossed into a ball and fried, you have an amazing appetizer.
This cheesy mac and cheese ball is the calling card of a long state fair food lineup. Folks have no problem waiting, and it gives their evening a fun kick!
14. Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes are a time-honored tradition in the south and are delicious! The unriped tomatoes are perfectly seasoned with cornmeal and then fried until crispy.
At the state fair, finding things that are fried isn't that hard, but fried tomatoes is a little higher on the priority list for fried foods. This crunchy and seasoned combo is definitely worth the trip to the fair!
15. Chocolate Covered Bacon
Bacon is one of the foods that go with almost everything! But who would of thought that bacon would be skewered and dipped into chocolate?!
This sweet and salty mix is to die for! Some people make this even more over-the-top and add more bacon bits on top of the chocolate. More bacon equals more extravaganza!
16. Hotdogs with Pickles Parsley and Relish
If you're going to the state fair, you'll have to at least eat one hotdog. Hotdogs are one of the popular foods that customers demand. But having a hotdog at the fair looks a lot messier then your hotdog at home.
State Fair hotdogs are covered will all sorts of toppigs-- from onions, relish, parsley, and lots of sauces. When you're at the state fair you must relish the times with your friends!
17. Buffalo-style Waffle Fries
We'd definitely wait all night long to have a taste of these waffle fries! These crispy golden fries are topped with a tangy sauce mixture. If you're looking for some spice it can even be coated with buffalo hot sauce.
Or to make it even heartier at the state fair, you can request from your vendor to top it off with pulled pork or crispy bacon pieces.
18. Cotton Candy
Cotton Candy can go by many names, including candy floss and fairy floss. Whatever you call it, it is delicious and is a fair staple!
Cotton candy comes in many different flavors and colors, and at the state fair, they have all of them! This sweet treat gets powder poured into a hopper and gets spun into a ribbon of candy.
19. Carmel-Peanut Popcorn
Nothing can compare to hot fresh caramel from the state fair. The excitement of having it popped right in front of you makes the experience that more special.
Once the popcorn is popped, molten caramel is poured all over the top. This salty and sticky snack is the perfect snack to walk around with on the hunt for you're next treated.
20. Buffalo Chicken Bites
We love wings and we love buffalo sauce! Frying wings can be messy and involved. But This tasty combo will have you licking your sauce fingers throughout the whole meal.
In the case of buffalo wings, they get fried, tossed in buffalo seasoning, and then finally sauced up! The crispiness mixed with the soft saucy flavor makes this a hit!
21. Air Fryer French Fries
The best french fries are air fryer french fries -delicious, crispy, and crunchy! They can probably be considered one of the healthiest options at the far since they are in fact not fried.
These fries taste incredibly indulgent and delicious. When given its usually served with some type of dipping sauce like ranch or spicy remoulade.
22. Alabama Hush Puppies
Deep-fried cornbread? This creation should be considered genius! This heavenly basic hush puppy recipe is made with simple ingredients but its a sweet goddess!
With bits of onion for pops of flavor this southern Alabama classic is perfect for the fair. These hush puppies are best when they are dipped in tartar sauce for a bomb wonderful tangy flavor.
23. Cherry Slushie
With booze or without booze, cherry slushie is the science to an amazing fair day. Slushies are--cold, refreshing, and slightly intoxicatingly too sweet.
Nonetheless, the care-free beverage comes in many different flavors such as blue freeze, lime, coconut, and many other flavors. Just a heads up-- watch out for a brain freeze!
24. Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
Homemade mom-and-pop ice cream is a dime a dozen at the country fair! All fresh and natural this ice cream is made with fresh strawberries and cubed angel food cake.
If you hooked after the fair, it's going to be hard finding something similar to this outside. This ice cream is a once-a-year deal and is worth all the licking!
25. Tater Nachos
They can be called tater nachos but they can also be called totchos! Totchos are fun and delicious and bring a twist to the traditional nachos. While tortilla chips usually have the role, they are replaced with crispy tater tots!
The tater tots are covered with homemade taco seasoning and then are baked. Finally, the tots are loaded with our favorite nacho toppings-- homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, black olives, and scallions.
26. Frito Pie
Frito pie had to make it on our favorite deep-fried state fair foods! If you don't know it as Frito pie you might know it as--nachos in a bag, or walking taco.
You're probably wondering how it's done. A bag of Frito chips is popped open, then topped off with --chili, onions, and cheese, and then out of the bag with a fork. This fair snack is easy but surely memorable!
27. Curly Chips
Curly fries can be described as a curly fry and a potato chip being mashed together! These thin and curly-shaped chips are fried into crispy perfection.
When found at the state fair, they can be requested plain or they can come with loaded toppings--cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives. Either way, these twisted chips are delicious!
28. Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Bites
Cinnamon sugar is one of the best combinations and having this flavor all in one bite-size, sounds even better. These donut bites are fried until slightly puffy and until golden.
Once they're out of the oil, they are tossed in cinnamon sugar and are served piping hot. This fair food can be also topped with ice cream or honey for a twist!
29. Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
These delicious bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers go faster than the corndogs at the country fair. If you're looking for an appetizer to start out your day at the fair--this is for you.
This mix of flavors of bacon, jalapeno, and cream cheese will have you opening your appetite for the meal. If you're worried about the spiciness, most poppers are prepared without the seeds.
30. Soft Caramels
All candy at the fair is a real treat but the most flavorful of them all is soft caramels. These sweet beautiful creations are usually made of the copper kettle and then are cut into small squares, and then wrapped up.
Once this candy is placed in your mouth, they melt and it might cause a major sugar rush. If that's the case, it's worth having it happen a few times.
31. Boiled peanuts
Boiled peanuts are always happening at the state fair and are a staple of the south. Even though boiled peanuts can be found all around the state fair is a fun place to be cracking open these buds.
They usually come in two varieties, plain and spicy but at the state fair, you never know what fun combinations you will find.
32. Funnel-Cake Ice Cream Sandwiches
You probably thought the funnel cake looked delicious. But yup, we went there, these look a trillion times better. The more sweetness the more delicious, that's how its done at the state fair!
These funnel cake ice cream sandwiches are made by-- making two mini funnel cakes and filling them in with ice cream. Any homemade ice cream will be the perfect fit for this treat.
33. Fried Catfish
If you on a southern state fairground, this is the real deal. Fried catfish is perfectly seasoned and spiced with loads of flavor then is deep-fried until golden.
Fried catfish is served usually with a dipping sauce of tartar sauce. If your curious about sides --coleslaw is a great addition to have for your meal.
34. Homemade Pulled Candy
Homemade pulled candy is an old-fashion favorite and can be also called ribbon candy. This candy can be colored and flavored any way you like.
Pulled candy starts with simple sugar syrup and then colored and flavored. Once made this candy ends up looking like an editable piece of art.
35. Beef Tamale Pie
Pies can always be found at the state fair, but this beef tamale pie with loads of cheese and flavorful beef is a fan favorite. Usually, the meat is grilled on the pan with caramelized onions and peppers and then all the toppings are added.
This is the perfect warm late-night snack at the fair or even dinner after a long night of riding carnival rides and checking out the animal booths.
36. San Antonio Beef Puffy Tacos
San Antonios beef puffy tacos are a classic. The puffy taco has a 'puffy' exterior, which is made by frying the corn masa in oil. Besides the puffy shell, everything else looks more familiar.
The typical taco contains; lettuce, tomato, cheese, and your favorite choice of meat. If you like you can add toppings such as onions, salsa or avocado.
37. Fried Shrimp and Okra Sandwich Po'Boys
aIf you're in for Louisiana's favorite ingredients--shrimp and okra made into the best po'boy sandwich. These sandwiches are classically filled with shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, and dill pickles.
Finally, they are sauced with mayonnaise and a couple of spashes of good Ol' Lousiana hot sauce. These flavors present traditional foods of -Creole, Cajun, Spanish, and French.
38. Chicks In a Blanket
Could this name be any cuter? Well, besides the cute name this dough-wrapped chicken is actually delicious! These wrapped blankets can be customized with any sausage and dressing of your choice.
Rather than your typical hotdog, why not experiment with these fun treats! Well, it is about time appetizers received a slight revamp! And we are here for it!
39. Banana Fritters
Banana pancakes what? Forget banana pancakes, banana fritters are where it's at! These fritters are made with cake batter and fried to perfection, then topped off with a sugary glaze.
Banana fritters can be served savory or sweet, but if you're at the state fair it's the place to sweeten things up. Just once you try it, don't go too bananas!
40. Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken pot pie is one of the most traditional state fair dishes. Most state fairs hold a competition, for the best chicken pot pie. Well if you are not in the mood to make one this is the perfect occasion to try.
This classic comfort food is full of chicken, carrots, peas, and delicious homemade creamy chicken sauce. Don't look in you're freezer for Marie Callenders classic chicken pot pie, attend your state fair for a homemade dish!