The Oklahoma State Fair opens this week, and as always, food will be one of the major draws. This year, two of the items already generating buzz are the pickle pizza and alligator corn dog, the former from a veteran fair vendor and the latter from a newcomer. The 2022 fair will have tons of local favorites back, and they’re joined by some promising new vendors.
The pickle pizza comes from Pizza on a Stick, a popular vendor at the fair every year with pizza, calzones, stuffed pizza and pizza bread. The pickle pizza features fresh dill, a dill cream sauce, a blend of cheeses, and, of course, sliced dill pickles. Like pickle beer and pickle pretzels, fans of the briney cucumbers will love this dish.
The alligator corn dog is more sausage-y than gator-y, mainly because alligator is pretty mild as game goes. The ground gator meat is blended with spices and formed into sausage, and then cooked like a traditional corn dog. The Pioneer Wagon also features elk corn dogs, and if we’re all lucky, the rattlesnake corn dog and nachos will make an appearance this year.
Minnesota-based The Original Minneapple Pie has one of the standout desserts this year with their Minneblueberry pie. Served with vanilla ice cream, the pie features tangy-sweet blueberries tucked into a flaky, delicious crust. They’ll have their fried apple pies this year, too — which Mashed called the best new dish at the Oklahoma State Fair in their national rundown — so this is one vendor you don’t want to miss.
Locally owned Gram’s Sweet Treats has one of the best and most interesting sweet bites this year with their freeze-dried milk dud. They come in a plastic container, and they can be consumed in one bite, which makes them the perfect fair food.
Iowa-based Waffle Chix has waffles for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, and they have savory and sweet versions. The chicken bacon ranch should be popular with Okie fairgoers, given the ingredients, and it’s a plus that it’s a warm, savory dive into comfort food bliss. They have breakfast sausage, chicken and even a brownie waffle stick.
Roughly four dozen vendors will have vegetarian options this year, including Project Krave. They also have one of the best desserts at the fair this year with Chef Cody’s apple pie churro bites. For fairgoers seeking gluten-free options, there are more than 40 vendors listed as gluten friendly. The Oklahoma State Fair runs from Sept. 15-25.