16 Strange Fried Foods You’ll Only Find At The Texas State Fair
Every fall, the Texas State Fair transforms Dallas into a wonderland of wild culinary experiments that would make health inspectors faint.
Food vendors compete fiercely for the coveted Most Creative and Best Taste awards, pushing the boundaries of what belongs in a deep fryer. From beverages to breakfast items, nothing escapes the golden embrace of bubbling oil at this legendary event.
Get to know the most extraordinary creations the Texas State Fair has to offer.
1. Fried Coke
Picture this: cola transformed into bite-sized pieces of heaven that somehow capture the fizzy essence of your favorite soda.
This groundbreaking creation uses cola-flavored batter that gets fried into golden nuggets, then drowns in Coca-Cola syrup, fluffy whipped cream, sweet cinnamon sugar, and tops it all with a bright red cherry.
Back in 2006, this revolutionary treat earned the Most Creative award and proved that liquid refreshments could become handheld snacks. Fair-goers couldn’t resist the novelty, snapping up 10,000 cups in just two weeks.
The genius behind this creation essentially bottled childhood memories and served them on a stick.
2. Deep-Fried Butter
Abel Gonzales Jr. looked at a stick of butter and thought, “This needs more grease.” His frozen butter nuggets get wrapped in batter and fried until the outside turns crispy while the inside melts into pure dairy decadence.
The 2009 Most Creative winner became an instant fair-food icon, proving that sometimes the simplest ingredients create the most outrageous results. Each bite delivers a burst of molten butter that coats your mouth in rich, creamy indulgence.
Health-conscious visitors might want to look away, but adventurous eaters consider this the ultimate guilty pleasure that only Texas could perfect.
3. Fried Bubblegum
Childhood nostalgia gets the fryer treatment in this whimsical creation that tastes exactly like your favorite pink gum without the chewing. A fluffy marshmallow gets dipped in bubblegum extract and wrapped in bubblegum-flavored dough before taking its hot oil bath.
The finished product emerges covered in bright blue icing and topped with colorful Chiclets that add extra sweetness and crunch. I remember watching kids’ faces light up when they realized they could actually eat this without getting in trouble for swallowing gum.
The 2011 Most Creative winner proves that fair vendors can turn any flavor into edible magic, even ones that traditionally stay in your mouth.
4. Fried Jell-O
Wobbly gelatin dessert meets blazing hot oil in this surprisingly successful experiment that earned the 2016 Best Taste award. Cherry Jell-O pieces get flash-fried in a delicate, crisp crust that somehow preserves the jiggly texture inside while adding textural contrast.
The final creation gets dusted with powdered sugar and dolloped with whipped cream, transforming a simple childhood treat into sophisticated fair food. Each bite delivers familiar cherry sweetness wrapped in unexpected crunchiness.
The genius lies in the quick-frying technique that creates contrast without completely destroying the signature Jell-O bounce that makes this dessert so memorable and fun to eat.
5. Deep-Fried Latte
Coffee lovers rejoice because someone finally figured out how to make your morning caffeine fix into a handheld dessert. This coffee-flavored creation joined the early wave of Texas fair oddities back in 2007, earning the Most Creative award for pure innovation.
The components blend coffee essence with fried dough magic, creating a dessert that delivers familiar latte flavors in a completely unexpected form. Each bite provides rich coffee taste with creamy undertones, minus the liquid mess of traditional beverages.
Fair-goers can now get their caffeine fix while walking around, proving that Texas vendors understand the importance of portable comfort foods that satisfy multiple cravings simultaneously.
6. Texas Fried Fritos Pie
The beloved Southwestern classic gets completely reimagined as handheld fair food that won the 2010 Best Taste award.
Traditional Fritos pie typically arrives as a messy bowl of corn chips topped with chili and cheese, but Texas fair magic transforms it into a neat, portable package.
Everything gets battered and fried into one cohesive, golden creation that captures all the original flavors without the fork requirement. Each bite delivers crunchy corn chips, savory chili, and melted cheese in perfect harmony.
During my first encounter with this creation, I couldn’t believe how they managed to keep all the components distinct yet unified.
The genius lies in creating familiar comfort food that travels easily through crowded fairgrounds.
7. Fried Thanksgiving Dinner
November holidays arrive early at the Texas State Fair thanks to this ambitious creation that literally fries an entire festive meal. Balls of traditional stuffing and roasted turkey get dipped in creamed corn, then coated in cornmeal batter before their hot oil transformation.
The golden orbs emerge ready for gravy and cranberry sauce accompaniments, delivering complete Thanksgiving flavors in portable form. The 2013 Most Creative winner proves that fair vendors can compress any multi-course meal into handheld convenience.
Each bite provides familiar holiday tastes without the hours of cooking, cleanup, or family arguments. Homesick college students and busy parents finally found their solution for instant holiday comfort food that requires zero preparation time.
8. Deep-Fried Jambalaya
Louisiana’s signature rice dish gets the Texas treatment through this innovative creation that earned the 2012 Most Creative award.
House-made jambalaya featuring shrimp, spicy sausage, and traditional seasonings gets formed into manageable portions, then breaded and fried until golden.
Each piece emerges crispy outside while maintaining the complex flavors and textures that make jambalaya so beloved.
The accompanying spicy ranch dipping sauce adds a cooling contrast to the bold Creole spices. Fair-goers can now enjoy this typically messy rice dish without utensils or the risk of dropping ingredients.
9. Chicken-Fried Bacon
Thick, peppered bacon strips get the full chicken-fried steak treatment through double-dipping and frying that creates the ultimate breakfast indulgence.
This 2008 Best Taste winner became a runaway hit during the early contest era, proving that bacon could always get better.
The process transforms already-perfect bacon into something even more decadent by adding layers of crispy coating that somehow enhances rather than masks the smoky pork flavor.
Each bite delivers maximum crunch followed by tender, flavorful bacon that melts in your mouth. I watched grown men weep tears of joy after their first taste of this creation.
The double-frying technique creates textural complexity that elevates simple bacon into gourmet fair food territory that satisfies the most demanding carnivores.
10. Fried Charcuterie Board
Sophisticated appetizer culture meets down-home fair food in this elegant creation that won both the 2022 Best Taste Savory award.
Fresh mozzarella, quality salami, and crisp green apple get combined with aromatic herbs and tangy balsamic, then wrapped in delicate wonton wrappers before frying.
The finished creation gets topped with creamy goat cheese and drizzled with hot honey that adds sweet heat to balance the savory elements. Each bite delivers complex flavors typically found in upscale restaurants, proving that fair food can be both indulgent and refined.
The genius lies in making fancy appetizers accessible and portable while maintaining the sophisticated flavor combinations that make charcuterie boards so appealing to food lovers seeking elevated experiences.
11. Deep-Fried Pho
Vietnamese comfort food gets the Texas treatment in this ambitious 2023 Best Taste Savory winner that somehow captures the essence of steaming soup in solid form. Rice noodles, fresh herbs, tender beef, and crunchy bean sprouts get formed into a cohesive, fryable package.
The creation comes served with simmered broth for dipping plus hoisin-sriracha sauce that provides authentic Vietnamese flavors. Each bite delivers the complex taste profile that makes pho so comforting, minus the slurping and potential spills.
Last year, I watched a Vietnamese grandmother nod approvingly after trying this creation, which felt like the ultimate endorsement.
The innovation lies in preserving authentic flavors while making this beloved soup completely portable and mess-free for fair consumption.
12. Texas Fried Cookie Dough
Raw cookie dough finally becomes safe to eat through this simple yet brilliant 2007 Best Taste winner that launched countless imitators.
Gooey cookie dough gets wrapped in protective batter and fried until the outside turns golden while the inside stays perfectly soft and sweet.
Each bite provides the forbidden pleasure of eating cookie dough without health concerns or parental warnings. The contrast between crispy exterior and molten interior creates textural magic that satisfies both cookie lovers and fried food enthusiasts.
This early classic proved that sometimes the most obvious ideas become the most successful innovations.
Fair-goers finally got permission to indulge in childhood’s greatest temptation through safe, delicious, and completely guilt-free enjoyment that parents could actually encourage rather than prevent.
13. Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll
Breakfast perfection gets amplified through this 2012 Best Taste winner that combines three morning favorites into one indulgent creation. A traditional cinnamon roll gets dunked in sweet batter, then rolled in bacon crumbles before taking its deep-fryer journey to golden perfection.
The finished product gets dusted with powdered sugar, creating a dessert that works equally well for breakfast or after-dinner indulgence. Each bite delivers warm cinnamon sweetness enhanced by smoky, salty bacon that creates perfect flavor balance.
During my morning fair visits, I’ve watched people debate whether this counts as breakfast or dessert, but everyone agrees it counts as delicious.
14. Fernie’s Holy Moly Carrot Cake Roly
Fernie’s creative team transforms traditional carrot cake into portable perfection through this 2015 Best Taste winner that showcases advanced fair food engineering.
Rich carrot cake and smooth cream cheese get carefully rolled together, then coated in a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, graham crackers, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The entire creation gets fried until the coating turns golden and crispy while the interior stays moist and flavorful. Each bite delivers familiar carrot cake comfort in a completely new form that travels easily and requires no utensils.
The rolling technique ensures perfect cream cheese distribution throughout every portion, while the complex coating adds textural interest without overwhelming the delicate cake flavors that make this dessert so beloved by multiple generations.
15. Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger
Two funnel cakes become hamburger buns in this ambitious 2017 creation that won both Best Taste Savory and Most Creative awards on the same day.
A traditional beef patty gets loaded with crispy bacon and creamy queso, then sandwiched between sweet, crispy funnel cake rounds.
The entire burger gets dusted with powdered sugar, creating a sweet-savory contrast that somehow works perfectly together. Each bite delivers familiar burger satisfaction enhanced by unexpected sweetness that transforms ordinary fair food into an extraordinary culinary adventure.
The double award recognition proves that sometimes the most outrageous combinations create the most successful results.
Fair-goers get dessert and dinner simultaneously through this innovative creation that challenges every assumption about proper meal structure and flavor combinations.
16. Fried Praline Perfection
New Orleans confection tradition meets Texas fair innovation in this 2006 Best Taste champion that helped establish the competition’s early reputation for excellence.
Traditional praline candy gets reimagined through the deep fryer, transforming the classic Southern sweet into something entirely new.
The frying process adds textural complexity to the already-perfect combination of pecans, butter, and caramelized sugar that makes pralines so irresistible.
Each bite provides familiar praline flavors enhanced by the crispy coating that only deep frying can achieve. As one of the earliest official winners, this creation proved that fair food could honor regional traditions while pushing creative boundaries.
Southern candy lovers found their beloved treat elevated to new heights through Texas ingenuity and fearless experimentation with beloved classics.