The Minnesota State Fair is a beloved tradition, but for those with dietary restrictions or health goals, navigating the food scene can be a challenge. This guide highlights alternatives to classic fair foods, along with other healthy and dietary-conscious options available at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Gluten-Free Delights
For fairgoers seeking gluten-free options, several vendors offer satisfying alternatives to traditional fair fare.
- Auntie M's: This stand is a go-to for gluten-free versions of classic fair foods. Their gluten-free corn dogs are a popular choice, often accompanied by a long but worthwhile line. Auntie M’s also serves a GF funnel cake that hits every perfect deep-fried, crispy-doughy, sugar-dusted note. And also this is the only state fair stand doing classic GF curds.
- French Meadow Bakery & Cafe: This bakery offers gluten-free sconuts, which are a hybrid of scones and donuts. These treats come in various flavors, including chocolate, Nutella, marshmallow, powdered sugar, or buttermilk.
- Sugar Mama’s GF Sweet Treats: Located just outside the fairgrounds, this vendor specializes in gluten-free mini donuts and chocolate chip cookies, providing a Sweet Martha's-adjacent GF fix.
- Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken: Gluten-friendly potato skins with topping choices galore.
Vegan and Dairy-Free Discoveries
Finding vegan and dairy-free options at the State Fair requires a bit more exploration, but several vendors offer delicious choices.
- Daryl's Dog House: This spot offers vegan corn dogs, including a jumbo option for those with a larger appetite.
- Tasti Whip: This vendor serves soft-serve in flavors like strawberry, lemon, pineapple, and mango, all of which are vegan and available as floats.
- Quench'd: Their lemon sorbet, served in a frozen half-shell of lemon, is a vegan, ice-cold, and tart treat perfect for a hot fair day.
- West End Brewery: For adults, the new soft-serve royal raspberry beer is a dairy-free option.
- French Meadow Bakery & Cafe: Offers cowgirl cookies (also vegan!). Plus, Nana’s Caramel Sundae Cake, which is a gluten- and dairy-free slice of heaven (aka apple spice cake).
- The Herbivorous Butcher: Vegan headquarters at the Fairgrounds.
- Strawberries ’n Creme: Fresh strawbs with non-dairy whip on top?
Healthy(ish) Alternatives and Hidden Gems
Beyond specific dietary restrictions, the State Fair also offers options that provide a break from the typical fried fare.
- The Perfect Pickle: While known for breaded, fried pickle chips, this vendor also offers the unsung hero: a giant pickle on a stick.
- Pickle Dog: A quarter dill pickle, coated in cream cheese, and wrapped in a thick-cut slice of pastrami.
- Fried Fruit & Fried Olives: The deep-fried olives offer a salty and snackable alternative to cheese curds.
- 1919 Root Beer: Made in small batches in New Ulm, Minnesota, this draft root beer is a refreshing choice.
- Apple Cider Freezies (Horticulture Building): Reminiscent of freezer pops, these are made with delicious Minnesota apple cider instead of sugary, artificial flavors.
- The Produce Exchange (Midtown Global Market): Grilled Colorado Mountain Lion peaches topped with local goat cheese and herbs offer a simple and crave-able treat.
- Slow your calorie count for the day with a stop at The Produce Exchange.
- Island Noodles: This stand’s signature dish, the Island Noodles, include 20 vegetables (!!) and buckwheat noodles.
- Holy Land: Vegan and gluten-free friends, gather ’round for the basil hummus with spicy walnut topping! In the other hand, the homemade garlic parmesan chips it comes with are not V or GF.
Classic Fair Foods, Reimagined
Even when sticking with tradition, there are ways to enjoy classic fair foods while being mindful of dietary needs or health goals.
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- Footlong Hot Dog: Opt for sauerkraut, well-done onions, and a little mustard for a flavorful topping combination.
- Cheese Curds: While gluten-free cheese curds are available at Auntie M's, consider portion size and balance with other lighter options.
- Mini Donuts: Share a bag of mini donuts to satisfy cravings without overindulging.
- Gizmo: An Italian-style loose meat sandwich, made of ground beef and Italian sausage covered in red sauce and seasonings, topped with real melted mozzarella cheese and served on the perfect roll.
New Foods of 2025
- Greater Tater: A new vendor for 2025, serves Tater Kegs - jumbo deep-fried tots stuffed with savory fillings - in five flavors: Bacon Jalapeño; Bacon Cheddar; Breakfast Skillet; Cheese Bomb; and Reuben.
- White cheddar cheese curds coated in a funnel cake batter, deep fried, and topped with a scoop of fresh lemon whipped cream. Finished with a drizzle of berry sauce.
- Bison and bacon meatballs, from Minnesota-based Eichten's Bison and Hidden Stream Farm, topped with bison gravy, quick-pickled cucumbers, crispy fried onions and sour cream.
- Cannoli chips topped with a scoop of cannoli-flavored gelato. Finished with chocolate sauce, rainbow sprinkles and a cherry.
- Limeade juice topped with cherry Dole Soft Serve, garnished with a lime slice and a cherry.
- Beef bacon strips double-breaded in tempura flour and fried. Garnished with fresh parsley and served in a cup.
- Freshly baked flaky pie crust strips covered in cinnamon and sugar. Served with a side of whiskey-flavored caramel dipping sauce.
- Croissant pressed in a waffle iron and topped with fresh whipped sweet cream, a drizzle of fruit puree and a cloud of cotton candy.
- Bites of breaded tofu, deep fried and tossed in a tangy, spicy sauce. Served on a bed of pineapple and napa cabbage slaw. Topped with sesame seeds and scallions.
- Brewed black tea infused with dill pickle flavor and served with a dill pickle spear. Garnished with a rim of chamoy, Tajín, salt and dill.
- Seasoned shredded chicken stuffed in rolled corn tortillas and fried.
- Chicken-fried vegan bacon served with vegan fried chicken strips infused with bacon flavor.
- Vanilla ice cream, created by Minnesota Dairy Lab, sandwiched between two pieces of Grandma Doreen's Coffee Cake - a family recipe from Elgin, Minn. - made by Wrecktangle Pizza.
- Tart green apple ice cream with swirls of sweet caramel - flavored like a caramel apple lollipop - served in a cup. Created by A to Z Creamery.
- Hand-cut yeast-raised donut frosted with homemade jalapeño cream cheese.
- Three pizza dough balls stuffed with cheese curds, pepperoni, herbs and Parmesan cheese. Brushed with garlic butter and topped with more pepperoni, herbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Slow-smoked pork collar caramelized with Hawaiian barbecue sauce, inspired by the flavors of traditional Hawaiian Kalua pork.
- A Bridgeman's Marble Sundae of Butter Brittle Ice Cream layered in a cup with a trio of mini Nadia Cupcakes - Creme Brulee, Loaded Pistachio and Chocolate Bliss.
- Two pastries from Patisserie 46:Apple Glaze: Pull-apart donut dough baked with Minnesota-grown Honeycrisp apples. Pimento cheese - a blend of cheddar cheese, mayo and pimento peppers - wrapped in puff pastry and deep fried. Served with a side of pepper jelly.
- Cheesy garlic mashed potatoes folded into flaky dumplings, by Twin Cities-based Saturday Dumpling Co., and deep fried.
- A mixture of ground pork and shrimp combined with Hmong aromatics - lemongrass, ginger, garlic, shallots and Thai chilis - seasoned with fish sauce, spread on Texas toast and deep fried.
- Smashed seasoned ground beef and Gouda cheese grilled on a flour tortilla.
- A blend of Somali Beef Suqaar - spiced beef, vegetables, cheese and herbs - piled atop a bed of french fries. Topped with white garlic sauce and green jalapeño hot sauce.
- Spiced tandoori chicken layered with a blend of Monterey Jack & mozzarella cheese and a mixture of sauteed onions, mixed bell peppers, jalapeños, corn, cilantro and green chilis.
- A savory mixture of Italian sausage, mozzarella, cream cheese and barbecue rub piped into three large manicotti shells, then wrapped in bacon.
- Chocolate mini donuts dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate icing, and topped with chocolate sprinkles and mini milk chocolate chips.
- Midtown Global Market's Irie Jamaican serves oxtail (jerk or barbecue) with festival (a sweet, fried bread); sweet plantains; coconut shrimp skewers; and a ginger & hibiscus drink.
Vendor Locations
- Auntie M’s:
- Daryl's Dog House:
- Tasti Whip:
- Quench'd:
- West End Brewery:
- The Perfect Pickle: Carnes Avenue.
- Fried Fruit & Fried Olives:
- 1919 Root Beer:
- Apple Cider Freezies: Horticulture Building
- The Produce Exchange: Northwest corner of Carnes Ave.
- Island Noodles:
- Holy Land:
- Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken:
- Strawberries ’n Creme:
- Blue Moon Dine-In Theater: Carnes Ave.
- Sausage by Cynthia: East side of Liggett St.
- Sweet Martha’s Cookies: North side of West Dan Patch Ave. between Liggett St.
- Harry Singh’s Caribbean Restaurant:
- Duke’s: North side of Judson Ave.
- Corn Roast: Southeast corner of Dan Patch Ave.
- Cinnie Smiths: Murphy Ave.
Tips for a Healthy(ier) Fair Experience
- Plan Ahead: Review the State Fair's food vendor list online and identify options that align with your dietary needs and preferences.
- Hydrate: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, especially on hot days.
- Portion Control: Be mindful of portion sizes and consider sharing dishes with others.
- Balance: Choose a mix of indulgent and healthier options to create a balanced eating experience.
- Walk and Explore: Get plenty of exercise by walking around the fairgrounds and exploring different exhibits.
Read also: Comprehensive Weight Loss in Minnesota
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