29 Fried Foods That Go Way Beyond Fish and Chips
Good news for anyone whose appetite for crunchy snacks outpaces their counter space: You don’t need a deep fryer to make excellent fried foods at home. So long as you have the right cooking oil for the job and keep an eye on the temperature, you can whip funnel cakes, onion rings, jalapeño poppers, and more from the comfort of your kitchen.
Before we get into this list of our favorite fried foods, a warning—well, perhaps it’s more like an apology. We’re going to say "crispy” and “crunchy” a lot. There’s really no way around it—no synonyms are quite as evocative—and ultimately, it’s a big part of why you’re here, right? The crisp and crunch of it all? (We imagine you’re nodding.)
On to our crispiest, most golden-brown fried foods for your crunching pleasure.
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Photograph by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food Styling by Luciana Lamboy1/29Buttermilk Fried Chicken
This comfort-food classic in the elite winner’s circle of fried foods—and there are so many directions to go with it. This fried chicken recipe has a spiced brown sugar brine and buttermilk dredge, but a classic Nashville-Style Hot Chicken has, well, heat. Whatever style you choose, be sure to serve the chicken with plenty of paper towels.
Photograph by Shawn Michael Jones, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Micah Morton2/29Glazed Funnel Cake With Fruit Confetti
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling Micah Marie Morton3/29Falafel
“Perfect, perfect, perfect. I will be making these over and over again,” writes one reader. (We agree—and we do.) Tuck them into split pitas with tahini sauce and shredded cabbage, or serve them with leafy greens.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Leslie Raney Garetto4/29Fritto Misto
The fresh herbs in this easy batter make for an especially flavorful crust. Mix up the ratio of shrimp to calamari, or substitute different veggies such as mushrooms or squash.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood5/29Fried Green Tomatoes
Swapping the traditional cornmeal in the batter for panko (can you tell we’re fans of panko?) gives this Southern favorite maximum crunch. Pop one onto a BLT, eggs Benedict, or grilled pimento cheese sandwich—or simply serve them as a side dish.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon6/29Scotch Eggs
If you’ve never tried this UK gastropub staple, we urge you to right away. It involves a crispy brown crust, a layer of pork sausage, and, at the center, a jammy boiled egg—and it pairs perfectly with a pint of beer. (Come to think of it, one could say it scratches the same itch a corndog does.) To see a pro at work on one, watch our video with chef Ed Szymanski, owner of Lords in New York City.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca7/29Chicken Karaage
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson10/29Fried Eggplant With Crispy Basil and Whipped Honey Feta
Fried eggplant can be mushy, soggy, and—let’s face it—disappointing. Using panko for the breading keeps these fritters beautifully crunchy. And speaking of fried vegetables, there’s more where this recipe came from: Try our zucchini fries and our fried pickles with spicy mayo.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Gözde Eker11/29Air Fryer Garlic-Nori Fries
Of course, there must be a French fry recipe on this list. You could go classic, but we’re partial to these easy, Taiwanese-style ones. Other options include Air Fryer Chile-Honey-Glazed Fries or Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges, a method you could also apply to sweet potatoes if that’s your thing.
Alex Lau14/29Mozzarella Sticks
Many cultures have their forms of fried cheese: In the Balkans, you’ll find saganaki; in Latin America, queso frito; the American Midwest has cheese curds; and the Italian-Americans have mozzarella sticks (and fried ravioli, FWIW). We’re partial to the latter, and we’ve got a tip for making them: Using canola or vegetable oil instead of olive oil helps hand-cut mozzarella slices crisp quickly, attaining the ideal ratio of gooey, melty, and crunchy.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styled by Sean Dooley15/29Gochujang-Glazed Fried Chicken Sandwich
“Loved this enough we made it 2x in one week,” one reader raves. Inspired by Korean fried chicken, the spicy, four-ingredient glaze clings to the tender chicken thighs, which sit like kings on pillowy, potato-bun thrones.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua16/29Juicy Chicken-Fried Steak With Creamy Gravy
Pounding steak cutlets until they’re thin means they cook quickly in a deep-sided pan (a cast-iron skillet is ideal). Blanketed in peppery white gravy, this Texas specialty is pretty much irresistible.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood17/29Fried Catfish
Brining the fillets in salt water and hot pepper sauce before you coat them in cornmeal makes them extra flavorful. For more fish recipes, try our Fried Fish Sandwiches and our Fried Fish With Piri-Piri Sauce.
Photograph Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Maeve Sheridan, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano18/29Pizza Piroshki
Fast food, this is not: You’ve got to break out the stand mixer. But the results? Golden ovals that are faintly crunchy on the outside and soft and puffy within. Try the Cheesy Spinach and Corn Piroshki next.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski19/29Crispy Fried Shallots
This fried food isn’t a dish on its own, but we include it here because, well, fried shallots make just about everything better, from Thai-inspired mango salads to turkey sandwiches. Starting them in cold oil guarantees that each one is perfectly caramelized.
Photograph by Joshua Kissi, food styling by Roscoe Betsill, prop styling by Amy Wilson20/29Corn and Crab Beignets With Yaji Aioli
Photo by Laura Murray, Styling by Judy Mancini23/29Churros With Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce
Dusted with cinnamon-sugar and dipped in silky chocolate sauce, these churros are an excellent snack, dessert, or even breakfast.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon25/29Corn Fritters With Hot Honey
Christopher Testani26/29Crispiest Potato Chips
Soaking sliced potatoes in a mixture of water and white vinegar before frying ensures maximum crispiness. Sprinkle the chips with plain salt or level up with homemade nori or paprika salt.
Photo by Isa Zapata, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Nicole Louie29/29Cardamom-Cream-Filled Sugar Doughnuts
