The 12 funkiest foods to try at the 2024 Wisconsin State Fair

The 2024 Wisconsin State Fair is almost here, which means it’s time to fill your belly with funky (and delectable) dishes, from alligator tacos to something called “funnel cake root beer battered cheese curds.”

The Wisconsin State Fair is more than oohing and aahing at farm animals or screaming with joy on carnival rides. Another important part of the fun is checking out what weird and wacky culinary concoctions are available. (Spoiler alert: the messier, the more delicious!) Naturally, being in the Dairy State, there are a lot of cheese-filled options and riffs on the state’s official cocktail, Brandy Old Fashioned.

RELATED: 5 Must-Try Foods from the Wisconsin Products Pavilion at the 2024 Wisconsin State Fair

Among the 100 new additions to the food and drinks roster are these 12 foods that we can’t stop thinking about and can’t wait to try. (BTW, this year’s dates are Aug. 1-11 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis!)

1. Alligator Taco

Step aside pork and beef because the newest taco filling is alligator. This reptile’s meat is smoked, chopped, and dressed up with taco seasoning—along with toppings like chopped jalapenos, Cajun-flavored sour cream, salsa, and cheese.

Available at Exotic Meat Grill

2. Brandy Old Fashioned BBQ Brat Za

There may be a lot going on in this dish but it’s actually not all that intimidating because you’ve probably had each component—just not all at once. Topping this pizza is a smoked brat.

Available at Pop’s Paradise

3. Cheesy Sriracha Funnel Cake Bites

For this perfect balance of sweet and savory, chunks of funnel cake are deep-fried and feature two cheeses (mozzarella and Parmesan) but that’s not where the cheesiness ends. Next, it’s topped with a six-cheese sauce infused with chives, and you get to choose either Sriracha aioli, ranch, or garlic butter as a dipping sauce on the side.

Available at Funnel Cakes

4. Cool Ranch Doritos Pickle

It isn’t a State Fair food round-up without a pickle, right? Before it’s deep-fried, a large dill pickle is spiral cut, popped onto a stick, and rolled in crushed-up Cool Ranch Doritos. Ranch dressing on the side allows for dipping.

Available at Deep-Fried Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick

5. Cricket Cookie Sandwich

The best cookies are crunchy, including this sweet treat: buttercream frosting spread between two chocolate-chip cookies sprinkled with dry crickets on the sides and top. (Don’t worry: those bugs are completely edible.)

Available at All Things Jerky

6. Deep Fried Strawberry Golden Oreos

This twist on Golden Oreos (vanilla sandwich cookies with white frosting between) dips the store-bought cookies in a strawberry funnel-cake mix and then deep fries them. They’re then topped with powdered sugar, strawberry syrup, and whipped cream.

Available at Molly’s Sweet Shoppe

7. Elvis Nachos

The late rock-and-roll singer was known for his love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and this nacho recipe is a definite ode to him. Peanut butter/banana sauce is drizzled on top of deep-fried tortilla chips then topped with chopped peanuts, chopped banana chips, and crumbled bacon.

Available at Slim McGinn’s Irish Pub

8. Funnel Cake Root Beer Battered Cheese Curds

Cheese curds are a normal snack in Wisconsin but it’s rare to find them on the sweeter side like this. Battered in funnel-cake batter and root beer before getting deep-fried to a crisp, these white-cheddar cheese curds are also topped with powdered sugar.

Available at Charcoal Grill Roadhouse

9. Jalapeno Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough on a Stick

Kora & Mila’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is dipped and coated in jalapeno chili-infused milk chocolate before it’s topped with two surprising ingredients: Flaming Hot Cheetos and crispy jalapeno pieces.

Available at Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough

10. Pizza Cheese Curd Taco

Wisconsin cheesemakers offer many innovative flavors and seasonings for curds—including pizza—but what makes this food item different is that the pizza-flavored curds are wedged into a taco, along with pepperoni and Italian sausage, then topped with marinara sauce.

Available at Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos

11. Wisconsin Bacon Brandy Old Fashioned Bubble Waffle

Bubble waffles are a Hong Kong delicacy and are different from regular waffles in that the egg-shaped bubbles pop outward. For this weird and wacky treat, the waffle is infused with bacon, brandy, and maple syrup, then topped with maraschino cherries.

Available at Bubble Tea & Waffle

12. Wisconsin Mac and Cheese Roll served with Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dipper or Beer Cheese Dipper

Referred to as The Cheesehead, this roll is stuffed with mac and cheese (featuring Wisconsin cheese, of course) and then served with your choice of a “dipper” (sauce): bacon cheddar ranch or beer cheese, adding even more cheese to the roll.

Available at Badger Bites

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.