I am very excited that this year we had 4 other people with us which allowed me to try more of the new Minnesota State Fair foods! My 2024 Stats: 5 Hours. 10 Food. 4 Beers Tasted. 11,000 Steps.
Get the breakdown below and let me know what foods you tried and/or plan to try this year!
Minnesota State Fair Food Review:
Every year we have a few tried and true places that are musts for us so I’m sprinkling those in below, too, because the fair isn’t only about new foods, it is about the BEST foods.
Walking Shepard’s Pie:
O’Gara’s Walking Shepard’s Pie: Two handmade hot pastries filled with braised ground beef, mashed potatoes and a blend of onions, carrots and peas tossed in herb gravy.
The Walking Shepard’s Pie is one of O’Gara’s new items this year and was on Husband’s list to try. I’ll admit Shepard’s Pie is not my favorite so this wasn’t one of my favorites, but I do think it has the right flavor profile. I think a gravy dip would be key, though.
Rueben Fritters:
O’Gara’s Rueben Fritters: Bite sized ruebens with thousand Island dressing.
These are not a new item, but they are a good item! If you head to O’Gara’s I would recommend trying these out.
Cheese-On-A-Stick:
Cheese-On-A-Stick: Battered and deep fried swiss cheese on a stick.
The Cheese On A Stick – Fresh Lemonade stand is my go-to stand for my favorite fair food – a cheese-on-a-stick. It’s not the fair without at least one.
Deep Fried Halloumi Cheese:
Holy Land Deli Deep Fried Halloumi Cheese: Halloumi cheese, crafted from a blend of sheep and goat milk, wrapped in pastry dough and deep-fried. Served with a side of sweet chili sauce. (Vegetarian)
This was my top new food this year. I am already obsessed with halloumi cheese on it’s own for how great it tastes grilled so the added deep-fried pastry dough puts it into a league of it’s own.
Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing:
LuLu’s Public House Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing: Ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder. Served with a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce. (Vegetarian)
This item was the one I was most excited to try because this is the most Midwestern fair food I’ve ever heard of. It had ranch tastes, but honestly was more of a cream cheese wonton with a smattering of ranch flavoring. While it was good, the line at LuLu’s is always massive (we waited for 30 minutes) so it hurts me to say this, but this one isn’t a must have and I think you could skip it.
Betty & Earl’s PB&J Biscuit
LuLu’s Public House Betty & Earl’s PB&J Biscuit: PB & J infused Betty & Earl’s biscuit topped with Strawberry Jam and Peanut Butter chips
Last year I had the Betty & Earl’s biscuit with fruity cereal milk so we were excited to try the PB&J version this year. This was good! Sweet and savory combined.
Ham and Pickle Roll Up on a Potato Skin:
Route 66 Roadhouse Ham and Pickle Roll Up on a Potato Skin: Three fried potato skins filled with a blend of sour cream, cream cheese, chopped pickles and ham. Topped with potato chip crumbles. (Gluten-Friendly)
This was a new food I was really excited about. I liked the toppings, but I wish the potato skin would have been deep-fried or infused somehow to give it more flavor. Pickle potato chips would have also made it pop!
Crab Boil Wings:
Soul Bowl Crab Boil Wings: Chicken wings marinated in hot sauce, grilled and then fried with corn, chicken apple sausage and potatoes. Tossed in a “crab boil” butter and finished with a lemon wedge and parsley. (Gluten-Free)
This was husband’s top new item to try this year and ended up being his favorite. I should have taken a picture of him with sauce all over his face haha.
Cheesy Sriracha Funnel Bites:
Funnel Cakes Cheesy Sriracha Funnel Bites: Funnel cake infused with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, deep-fried to a crisp golden-brown, and topped with an artisan blend of six different cheeses and chives. Served with Sriracha aioli.
This was a new food for us to try, but not a new food. It tasted like a little sweeter cheese curd. These are a must try!
Australian Battered Potatoes:
Australian Battered Potatoes: Battered and deep-fried sliced potatoes topped with cheese
This food is my sister’s go-to fair food. To the point where we were almost out the door and had to go back because we don’t leave the State Fair until everyone’s food dreams have come true haha.
Minnesota State Fair Drink Review:
Watermelon Crush Slushie: Citrus refresher made with Red Bull Red and Lift Bridge Hard Seltzer.
I tried the new slushie at O’Gara’s and it was my favorite drink of the fair. If you like a mix of caffeine with your alcohol I highly recommend!
Pickle Kölsch
Giggle’s Campfire Grill Pickle Kölsch
The Blacklist Dill Pickle Kölsch is one I got for the first time last year and knew I was going to be getting it again this year. Just enough of a pickle taste to add something, but not overpowering.
Grain Belt Blu
Schell’s Grain Belt Blu with a Frozen Topper
The frozen topper is available at the Schell’s booth in the West End Market and one of my favorites. The frozen topper provides a very refreshing cool down in the heat.
Mini Donut Beer:
Lift Bridge Mini Donut Beer w/ Sugar Rim
Available at the Ball Park Cafe, the Mini Donut beer is my yearly must have beer at the Minnesota State Fair. If you miss out, Lift Bridge does usually do a limited release in their taproom…no promises they’ll do it again though so don’t count on it as a reason to miss it.
Nordic Waffles Preview Event:
I was so excited to be invited back to the new food preview event held by Nordic Waffles. The Pickle Lemonade and the Bacon wrapped Waffle Dog from last year are both back and this year the new food is the Wrangler Waffle Burger.
Two smashed patties cooked to perfection and served up with patty melt sauce? Sold.
“Kind of a Big Dill” Pickle Lemonade: Lemonade mixed with tangy dill pickling spices, craft brewed by Urban Growler and garnished with a crunchy slice of pickle.
Wrangler Waffle Burger: Fresh all-beef patty and signature Whataburger Patty Melt Sauce layered with American cheese and served in a caramelized onion-infused Nordic Waffle..
You can come along on my visit by watching my reel
And that’s a wrap!
Let me know what foods you tried or think I missed out on!
Minnesota State Fair
Open through Labor Day
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