Recipes for Fried Food
Poppers, Fritters, and More: 19 Recipes for Fried Food, Truthfully, almost anything tastes good after a little deep-fryer treatment, but these recipes take fried deliciousness to the next level. For a hot and crispy treat, check out our no-fail recipes for fried food, including fried okra, plus poppers and fritters.
Mini Arancini
Arancini are a classic Italian treat. Stuffed with creamy Fontina and then deep-fried and served with marinara for dipping, this is one bite-sized treat that will please young and old, and everyone in between.
Recipe: Mini Arancini
Jalapeño Poppers
Spicy jalapenos are stuffed with cheese, then rolled in cornmeal and deep-fried to make these addictive snacks.
Recipe: Jalapeño Poppers
Grit Fritters with Country Ham and Cheese
A creative take on a Southern breakfast favorite — cheese grits — these crispy fried fritters are a tempting snack at any time of day.
Recipe: Grits Fritters with Country Ham and Cheese
Italian Fried Olives
Start a romantic Valentine's Day dinner with Giada DiLaurentiis's gorgonzola cheese- and thyme-stuffed fried olives.
Recipe: Italian Fried Olives
Fried Okra
For a taste of the Carolina Low Country, try this savory side of fried okra.
Recipe: Fried Okra
Buttermilk Onion Rings
Even people who think they don't like onions will fall for these onion rings from Bobby Flay, which are crisp on the outside and have a sweet, soft interior. Double dipping the onion rings helps to give them that extra crunchy coating. We love the extra-sweet taste of Vidalia onions, but if you can't find them in your market, any other sweet variety or even good old yellow onions will work well, too.
Recipe: Buttermilk Onion Rings
Fried Pickles with Spicy Mayonnaise
Chef Zak Pelaccio grew up eating fried pickles in Brooklyn Heights, New York. He coats his extra-crisp version in panko and fries them in schmaltz, or chicken fat, though vegetable oil works well, too.
Recipe: Fried Pickles with Spicy Mayonnaise
Fish Sticks Coated with Oats and Cornflakes with Hellman's Tartar Sauce
It's fun to make your own fish fingers. Make sure you get your fish from a sustainable source. And of course, the best accompaniment is loads of fries.
Recipe: Fish Sticks Coated with Oats and Cornflakes with Hellmann's Tartar
Corn Fritters with Yogurt Dip
These delicate fritters are a great way to shine the spotlight on sweet, summer corn. Serve them as a main course accompanied by a hearty salad or as an appetizer on their own.
Recipe: Corn Fritters
Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters
These Mario Batali fritters feature zucchini, garlic, and fresh sheep-milk ricotta cheese.
Recipe: Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters
Fried Cauliflower with Roasted Red Pepper-Walnut Sauce
If you think cauliflower isn’t for you, this recipe might change your mind. Golden fried florets accompanied by a classic red pepper-walnut dipping sauce should be enough to tempt even the most reluctant veggie-eaters.
Recipe: Fried Cauliflower with Roasted Red Pepper-Walnut Sauce
Beer-Battered Onion Rings
The buttermilk-beer batter, seasoned with cayenne, yields a golden coating on the fried rings that gets even better when spritzed with lemon juice.
Recipe: Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
This version of a crispy, comforting Southern classic comes from Deep South Dish blogger Mary Foreman.
Recipe: Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Crispy Coconut and Plantain Shrimp with Tropical Salsa
Coated with unsweetened coconut and crushed plantain chips, these crunchy fried shrimp are served with a tropics-inspired mango and papaya salsa.
Recipe: Crispy Coconut and Plantain Shrimp with Tropical Salsa
Fried Pork Tamales
Two types of chiles accompany tender braised pork shoulder in the filling of these fried tamales.
Recipe: Fried Pork Tamales
Rosemary Fried Chicken
A picnic and potluck must-have, this chicken contains a hint of fresh rosemary in the flour and is fried in rosemary-scented oil.
Recipe: Rosemary Fried Chicken
Fried Green Beans
Green beans fried until crisp and golden in a light, tempura-like batter are a delicious, vegetarian appetizer your guests will snap up in seconds.
Recipe: Fried Green Beans
Chile-Cheese Yucca Chips
Yucca, sometimes called cassava, is a starchy root that grows in very warm climates and makes super-crunchy chips. Here the chips are seasoned with Tim Love's Wild Game Rub, a peppery spice blend, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. To remove the tough outer skin, use a sharp, heavy knife rather than a peeler.
Recipe: Chile-Cheese Yucca Chips
Gingery Fried-Chicken Bites
Asian-influenced and bite-sized, this zippy take on an American favorite includes a hint of fresh or dried ginger in the white-wine marinade. Try this irresistible chicken with Chili-Garlic Peanut Sauce or Carrot-Ginger Dressing for dipping.
Recipe: Gingery Fried-Chicken Bites
Mini Arancini
Arancini are a classic Italian treat. Stuffed with creamy Fontina and then deep-fried and served with marinara for dipping, this is one bite-sized treat that will please young and old, and everyone in between.
Recipe: Mini Arancini
Jalapeño Poppers
Spicy jalapenos are stuffed with cheese, then rolled in cornmeal and deep-fried to make these addictive snacks.
Recipe: Jalapeño Poppers
Grit Fritters with Country Ham and Cheese
A creative take on a Southern breakfast favorite — cheese grits — these crispy fried fritters are a tempting snack at any time of day.
Recipe: Grits Fritters with Country Ham and Cheese
Italian Fried Olives
Start a romantic Valentine's Day dinner with Giada DiLaurentiis's gorgonzola cheese- and thyme-stuffed fried olives.
Recipe: Italian Fried Olives
Fried Okra
For a taste of the Carolina Low Country, try this savory side of fried okra.
Recipe: Fried Okra
Buttermilk Onion Rings
Even people who think they don't like onions will fall for these onion rings from Bobby Flay, which are crisp on the outside and have a sweet, soft interior. Double dipping the onion rings helps to give them that extra crunchy coating. We love the extra-sweet taste of Vidalia onions, but if you can't find them in your market, any other sweet variety or even good old yellow onions will work well, too.
Recipe: Buttermilk Onion Rings
Fried Pickles with Spicy Mayonnaise
Chef Zak Pelaccio grew up eating fried pickles in Brooklyn Heights, New York. He coats his extra-crisp version in panko and fries them in schmaltz, or chicken fat, though vegetable oil works well, too.
Recipe: Fried Pickles with Spicy Mayonnaise
Fish Sticks Coated with Oats and Cornflakes with Hellman's Tartar Sauce
It's fun to make your own fish fingers. Make sure you get your fish from a sustainable source. And of course, the best accompaniment is loads of fries.
Recipe: Fish Sticks Coated with Oats and Cornflakes with Hellmann's Tartar
Corn Fritters with Yogurt Dip
These delicate fritters are a great way to shine the spotlight on sweet, summer corn. Serve them as a main course accompanied by a hearty salad or as an appetizer on their own.
Recipe: Corn Fritters
Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters
These Mario Batali fritters feature zucchini, garlic, and fresh sheep-milk ricotta cheese.
Recipe: Zucchini-Ricotta Fritters
Fried Cauliflower with Roasted Red Pepper-Walnut Sauce
If you think cauliflower isn’t for you, this recipe might change your mind. Golden fried florets accompanied by a classic red pepper-walnut dipping sauce should be enough to tempt even the most reluctant veggie-eaters.
Recipe: Fried Cauliflower with Roasted Red Pepper-Walnut Sauce
Beer-Battered Onion Rings
The buttermilk-beer batter, seasoned with cayenne, yields a golden coating on the fried rings that gets even better when spritzed with lemon juice.
Recipe: Beer-Battered Onion Rings
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
This version of a crispy, comforting Southern classic comes from Deep South Dish blogger Mary Foreman.
Recipe: Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Crispy Coconut and Plantain Shrimp with Tropical Salsa
Coated with unsweetened coconut and crushed plantain chips, these crunchy fried shrimp are served with a tropics-inspired mango and papaya salsa.
Recipe: Crispy Coconut and Plantain Shrimp with Tropical Salsa
Fried Pork Tamales
Two types of chiles accompany tender braised pork shoulder in the filling of these fried tamales.
Recipe: Fried Pork Tamales
Rosemary Fried Chicken
A picnic and potluck must-have, this chicken contains a hint of fresh rosemary in the flour and is fried in rosemary-scented oil.
Recipe: Rosemary Fried Chicken
Fried Green Beans
Green beans fried until crisp and golden in a light, tempura-like batter are a delicious, vegetarian appetizer your guests will snap up in seconds.
Recipe: Fried Green Beans
Chile-Cheese Yucca Chips
Yucca, sometimes called cassava, is a starchy root that grows in very warm climates and makes super-crunchy chips. Here the chips are seasoned with Tim Love's Wild Game Rub, a peppery spice blend, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. To remove the tough outer skin, use a sharp, heavy knife rather than a peeler.
Recipe: Chile-Cheese Yucca Chips
Gingery Fried-Chicken Bites
Asian-influenced and bite-sized, this zippy take on an American favorite includes a hint of fresh or dried ginger in the white-wine marinade. Try this irresistible chicken with Chili-Garlic Peanut Sauce or Carrot-Ginger Dressing for dipping.
Recipe: Gingery Fried-Chicken Bites