I Worked At The State Fair One Summer & These Recipes Still Haunt My Dreams
Smelling like corn dogs for two weeks not included.
It’s safe to say that come summertime, we’re VERY into our hometown state/county fair. Riding high on the Ferris wheel, winning stuffed prizes along the midway, visiting livestock up close and personal, catching a death-defying show… what more could you want? The absolute best part? The FOOD. There’s something particularly wild about the deep-fried, sticky sweet snacks on offer at a carnival or state fair—it’s not the kind of stuff we always reach for, but somehow when we're there, it’s exactly what we want. Though you may not be able to get to a carnival year-round, you CAN enjoy the most famous carnival foods from the comfort of your own kitchen. Take a ride through our list of 35 state fair recipes for inspiration!
When we dream of our favorite carnival foods, what first comes to mind is EVERYTHING deep-fried. While we’ll of course forever be happy with the classics like French fries (the secret is double frying them!), corn dogs, or fried chicken, like deep-fried Oreos or funnel cake. We’re not always willing to get a pot of hot oil going for just anything, but for things like churros or zeppole, we think it’s worth it.
If you disagree (or just don’t have a deep enough pot for frying!), try one of our deep-fried dupes, like cornflake-crusted “fried” ice cream or air-fried or oven-fried pickles (we swear, even pickle haters are into them!). There's also always all the sticky sweet options at the carnival. Caramel corn, candy apples, and popcorn balls are classic, and surprisingly easy to make at home (though you do have to have some patience).
Craving something savory? One of our favorite things about the fair is getting to try different foods from around the world, like our Canadian poutine, our Mexican street corn, our Japanese yakitori, and our Italian sausage, peppers & onions. Whether you're looking to be transported to another country or just to the midway, they're sure to hit the spot.
Roasted Turkey Legs
Slow-roasting turkey legs will create a fall-off-the-bone texture in just a few hours, no visit to the state (or Renaissance!) fair required. It’s a very forgiving cooking tactic and difficult to mess up—this is one to keep in your pocket for Thanksgiving too.
Get the Roasted Turkey Legs recipe.
Churros
We don't often feel like getting a deep fry going. But when you have an easy churro recipe this delicious, it's absolutely worth it. They only take a few minutes to fry and will actually still taste good at room temp, making them a great party dessert!
Get the Churros recipe.
Funnel Cake
No need to wait for the carnival to come to town to enjoy this tasty treat. We were shocked at just how easily these came together and taste like they came right from your favorite fair vendor. Try our Flamin' Hot Cheetos funnel cake next!
Get the Funnel Cake recipe.
Deep-Fried Oreos
Ahh, the classic deep-fried Oreo. It's a state-fair favorite that's worth every single calorie. Now, you can make them right at home with those lingering Oreos you have (IF that ever happens). It's the perfect treat for any occasion!
Get the Deep-Fried Oreos recipe.
Toasted Ravioli
These fried (not actually toasted!) ravioli are traditionally served as a snack or appetizer, almost always with warm marinara on the side and showered with Parmesan. The most important thing to know, though? You can easily make them at home with great results. (Seriously, they’ll go fast if you’re serving them to a crowd, so make extra!).
Get the Toasted Ravioli recipe.
Caramel Popcorn
Making from-scratch caramel corn couldn't be easier, but don't be hesitated to rush it—baking at a low temperature for about an hour is key to caramel corn with that irresistible crunch. Want something a little less sweet? Try our kettle corn next.
Get the Caramel Popcorn recipe.
Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
Elote (AKA Mexican street corn) is an unbelievably popular antojito—little craving or street food—that pops up at fairs all over the U.S. In our recipe, grilled corn is covered in a creamy mayo and Mexican crema mixture before being topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and plenty of lime juice.
Get the Elote (Mexican Street Corn) recipe.
Poutine
The national dish of Canada and popular at state fairs all across the U.S., poutine is the comfort food we at Delish can't get enough of. Made with French fries, gravy, and cheese curds, this recipe is not only customizable, but it's also much simpler to make at home than you may think.
Get the Poutine recipe.
Homemade Lemonade
Does anything scream summer more than an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade? While we love adding fruity twists to this warm-weather drink, this recipe is our go-to when we’re looking for simple, classic, and ridiculously refreshing.
Get the Homemade Lemonade recipe.
Soft Pretzel Bites
Using canned biscuits to make pretzel bites is the best hack ever. The pretzels won't look gorgeous as they come out of the boiling water, but don't worry—they will brown and crisp up and be oh-so-beautiful when they come out of the oven!
Get the Soft Pretzel Bites recipe.
Korean Corn Dogs
With toppings like fries, puffed rice, and crushed ramen, and with a finishing sprinkling of sugar, South Korean corn dogs have become one of the most popular street foods and fair foods in the world.
Get the Korean Corn Dogs recipe.
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries can sometimes have a bad reputation—they’re often a floppy, bland pile of under-seasoned sadness when you make them at home, but it doesn’t have to be that way! There’s a way to get crisp and savory sweet potato fries fresh out of the oven, and we've got all the tips.
Get the Sweet Potato Fries recipe.
Cream Puffs
If you’re looking to get started in the world of pastry making, then there is no better place to start than cream puffs. They combine two basic pastry components: a pâte à choux, a dough used in a lot of French pastry applications made of flour, butter, milk, water, and eggs, and pastry cream.
Get the Cream Puffs recipe.
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Once we discovered the magic of the air fryer, we knew we had to develop an egg roll recipe for our new favorite gadget. Quick to make and even easier to clean up, this recipe uses less oil than the usual deep-fried versions, making it one of our new go-to dishes for an easy snack or appetizer.
Get the Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe.
Baked Bloomin' Onion
The Bloomin' Onion is a cult favorite, and for good reason. We opted to bake instead of fry for a slightly healthier approach. Don't worry, it still has everything you love about the favorite, including the sauce.
Get the Baked Bloomin' Onion recipe.
Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream
Love soft serve but tired of waiting in a hot, long line at the fair? Make your own. Featuring just five ingredients and nothing more complicated than a handheld mixer, this simple soft serve recipe will have you piping cones all summer long.
Get the Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Corn Fritters
Crispy golden corn fritters are filled with everything we love about spicy jalapeño poppers—crispy bacon, jalapeños, cheddar, AND cream cheese. 😍
Get the Jalapeño Popper Corn Fritters recipe.
Onion Rings
Any kind of onions will work here, but we use the Vidalia variety for a sweeter ring. Because salt can draw out water from the onions and make them sweat, we reserve salting for after the fry is done—this helps to keep the batter on the onion and not a mess in your frying pot.
Get the Onion Rings recipe.
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks recipe
Although they’re a classic at state fairs, neighborhood bars, and the freezer section of the grocery store, this party app is also so simple to make at home! The secret? It’s all in the magic air fryer.
Hush Puppies
Hush puppies are similar to cornbread in that they're both made from a cornmeal batter, but hush puppies are shaped into balls and deep fried to give that crispy exterior with a soft middle while cornbread is baked in the oven. Essentially, you can think of hush puppies as deep fried balls of cornbread...and who wouldn't want that?
Get the Hush Puppies recipe.
