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

Recipe: Funnel Cake Bites

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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? 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

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

Recipe: Homemade 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. 

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. 

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. 

Recipe: Mini Apple Pies

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

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. 

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Bites

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

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. 

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. 

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). 

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.

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

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Recipe: Funnel Cake Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Yep, we went there. Make miniature funnel cakes to use in lieu of cookies for ice cream sandwiches. Any one of our homemade ice cream recipes will pair deliciously. 

Recipe: Fried Delacata Catfish

At the most Southern of fairgrounds, you'll find real-deal cornmeal-fried catfish. Make at home with hushpuppies and grits for the most comforting meal ever. 

Recipe: Homemade Pulled Candy

Pulled taffy is a soft, chewy candy Southerners love, and the process of making it is easy and enjoyable enough to do with the whole family on any afternoon. 

Recipe: Beef Tamale Pie

Typically served in a more hand-held form at the fair, this skillet recipe topped with a corn muffin mix dotted with jalapeños is perfect for an easy weeknight supper. 

Fried masa makes these crunchy puffed-up tacos the perfect segway for seasoned beef and toppings. 

Recipe: Fried Shrimp-and-Okra Po'Boys

Fried shrimp just belongs on chewy sub bread with a generous slathering of mayonnaise, and you can't go wrong with this recipe that adds fried okra for good measure. 

Recipe: Chicks in a Blanket

Dough-wrapped chicken-apple sausages are a quick update to basic pigs in a blanket. Customize with any sausage of your choice, from andouille to spicy Italian.

Recipe: Banana Fritters

Forget banana pancakes—banana fritters are where it's at. These fried bites of banana-infused batter are a pure delight to eat. 

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Hand Pies

Savory hand pies deserve a shoutout, and you can make these with any pot pie filling you'd like.