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40 Deep-Fried Recipes To Recreate the Most Delicious State Fair Foods At Home

40 Deep-Fried Recipes To Recreate the Most Delicious State Fair Foods At Home

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

July 30, 2020

Micah A. Leal

Let’s be real—Southerners don’t go to the state fair, or even the county fair, just to win a stuffed monkey at the ring toss or get seasick on the Tilt-A-Whirl. We go for the iconic fair foods, all gloriously deep-fried and full of flavor, whether sweet (hello, fried Oreos), salty (say no more, fried macaroni and cheese), or something else entirely. Dill pickle chips, green tomatoes, and apple cider doughnuts get the excitement going way more than any amusement ride.

While you might not always be in the radius to hit the once-a-year state fair—though, the legendary State Fair of Texas with its annual competition for most bizarre fried foods is a bucket-list item in itself—you can easily recreate the same dishes at home. We’re stocked with plenty of delicious renditions of all of the deep-fried state fair foods of our childhood, as well as a few special standouts that go beyond the fryer. Think old-school cherry cola slushies, Texas frito pie in the bag, and classic caramel apples.

Here are 40 deliciously deep-fried and beyond recipes that copy your favorite fair foods right in your kitchen.

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Funnel Cakes

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Funnel Cakes

There isn't a fairground out there—big or small—that doesn't run on the sweet, sugary scent of funnel cakes wafting in the air. Turns out, they aren't hard to make at home, either.

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Fried Pickle Chips

Recipe: Fried Pickle Chips

Typically dipped in a comeback sauce of sorts, fried pickles are a Southern delicacy you'll see at bustling state fairs and beachside seafood shacks alike.

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Homemade Corn Dogs

Southern Living

Recipe: Homemade Corn Dogs

Yep, we're bringing this all-time favorite to your kitchen—and you'll be so glad you made the deep-fried hot dogs on a stick with homemade comeback sauce. They're to-die-for.

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Apple Cider Doughnuts

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Apple Cider Doughnuts

Most state fairs take place in autumn, which means apple treats as far as the eye can see—and nose can smell. This classic apple cider doughnuts are deliciously coated in cinnamon sugar.

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Homemade Pretzels

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Homemade Pretzels

Make sure to pick up cream cheese and mustard at the grocery store. These homemade pretzels are good enough by themselves, but who doesn't love some extra flair?

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Fried Deviled Eggs

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Fried Deviled Eggs

The motto of any state fair: When in doubt, deep-fry it. These fried deviled eggs are a delicacy you never knew you needed.

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Deep-Fried Oreos

Jessica Snead

Recipe: Deep-Fried Oreos

Maybe the most quintessential fair food out there besides funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos are a bite of sweet, melty heaven—and doing them at home is as easy as grabbing a box of Bisquick.

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Golden Corn Fritters

Southern Living

Recipe: Golden Corn Fritters

Nothing sets off a twinkle in a Southerner's eye like a crispy, golden corn fritter fresh out of the fryer. This recipe is sheer crunchy perfection.

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Homemade Candy Apple

Micah Leal

Recipe: Homemade Candy Apple

Just a handful of ingredients is standing between you and recreating this classic apple snack at home, starting with crisp apples from the farmers' market.

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Beer-Batter Fried Pickles

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Beer-Batter Fried Pickles

Using sandwich slice-sized dill pickles makes this recipe gloriously hand-held, and the spicy ranch dipping sauce is so good you'll want to bathe in it.

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Memphis Style BBQ Nachos

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Memphis Style BBQ Nachos

At any fair, you'll find nachos. At any Southern fair, you'll find pulled pork barbecue nachos. Here's the easiest, cheesiest remake to try tonight.

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Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies

Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs

Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies

Is there anything cuter than a miniature pie? Plus, you get more caramel-dipped apple flavor by the bite.

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Fried Macaroni and Cheese Bites

Photo: Jennifer Davick, Styling Buffy Hargett, Food Styling Vanessa McNeil Rocchio and Angela Sellers

Recipe: Macaroni-and-Pimiento Cheese Bites

Fried macaroni and cheese is the calling card of any very serious state fair food lineup, and this recipe includes a pimiento-studded spin that gives a fun kick.

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Fried Green Tomatoes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

At the fair, anything fried goes—and this Southern classic is bound to make an appearance.

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Southern-Style Caramel Apples

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Southern-Style Caramel Apples

Sweet melted caramel and the crisp, slightly sour crunch of an apple makes this a favorite fall treat to pick at any fair or make with kiddos at home.

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Hot Dogs with Pickle and Parsley Relish

Evin Photography

Recipe: Hot Dogs with Pickle and Parsley Relish

Hot dogs from the cart is a staple amongst any Southern community affair. Upgrade any home cookout with these relish-topped dogs with grilled buns.

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Buffalo-Style Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Buffalo-Style Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

We'd wait in line all night long for a taste of these waffle fries topped with a tangy hot sauce mixture, ranch, and blue cheese. To make it even heartier at home, top with pulled pork from your favorite barbecue joint or crispy bacon pieces.

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Mini Apple Pies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Mini Apple Pies

A muffin tin never looked so adorable. Meet hand pies' even tinier cousin, the mini apple pie.

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Caramel-Peanut-Popcorn Snack Mix

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Caramel-Peanut-Popcorn Snack Mix

Caramel corn is a fairground staple, and this snack mix ramps up the fun with dry-roasted peanuts and Reese's Pieces.

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Buffalo Chicken Bites

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Bites

Sure, you can mimic any of our tasty wing recipes, but these boneless buffalo bites don't require the grill.

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Air Fryer French Fries

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Air Fryer French Fries

There are always French fries to be found at any fair, and we'd like to introduce our super crunchy, mess-free recipe that can be made in the air fryer.

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Alabama Hush Puppies

Southern Living

Recipe: Alabama Hush Puppies

Deep-fried cornbread bites? Whoever thought up hush puppies should be considered a genius. If you've never made them at home, now's the time to try.

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Cherry Cola Slushie

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush

The bourbon is optional in this recipe for an old-fashioned cherry cola slushie. All you'll need for this frozen cocktail recipe is some Coca-Cola, cherry syrup, a few maraschinos to garnish, and your favorite bourbon (optional).

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Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Homemade mom-and-pop ice cream is a dime a dozen at the county fair, and we're partial to anything strawberry or peach. This recipe is made with fresh strawberries and cubed angel food cake.

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Tater Nachos

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Tater Nachos

Nachos, but make it tater tots. That might be the smartest thing we've heard all day, especially since it starts with frozen tots.

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Frito Pie

Southern Living

Recipe: Frito Pie

At the State Fair of Texas, you'll see this classic recipe of Texas chili, sour cream, and jalapenos served right out of the Frito bag.

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Chicken Fingers Coated with Cheesy Snack Crackers

Sheri Castle

Recipe: Chicken Fingers Coated with Cheesy Snack Crackers

Chicken fingers never go out of style, but we gave the dish a cheesy twist by using cheese snack crackers (such as Cheez-Its) to coat the outside.

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Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Bites

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Bites

These are almost too tempting to pop into your mouth one after the other. Serve with ice-cold chocolate milk for extra flair.

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Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

If these were to appear at the county fair, odds are they'd be coated and deep-fried. For now, these will do, for health's sake.

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Spiced Pear Hand Pies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Spiced Pear Hand Pies

Everybody loves a hand pie. Stray from the usual peach or apple by using pears spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger.

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Fresh Cherry Pie

Photo: Randy Mayor

Recipe: Fresh Cherry Pie

America's favorite dessert, our popular Cherry Flag Pie can be latticed any way you'd like, like the basic pattern shown here.

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40 Deep-Fried Recipes To Recreate the Most Delicious State Fair Foods At Home

1 of 40

Funnel Cakes

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Fried Pickle Chips

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Homemade Corn Dogs

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Apple Cider Doughnuts

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Homemade Pretzels

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Fried Deviled Eggs

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Deep-Fried Oreos

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Golden Corn Fritters

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Homemade Candy Apple

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Beer-Batter Fried Pickles

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Memphis Style BBQ Nachos

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Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies

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Fried Macaroni and Cheese Bites

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Fried Green Tomatoes

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Southern-Style Caramel Apples

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Hot Dogs with Pickle and Parsley Relish

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Buffalo-Style Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

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Mini Apple Pies

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Caramel-Peanut-Popcorn Snack Mix

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Buffalo Chicken Bites

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Air Fryer French Fries

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Alabama Hush Puppies

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Cherry Cola Slushie

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Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

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Tater Nachos

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Frito Pie