The countdown is on. The 2026 Iowa State Fair opens August 13, bringing 11 days of concerts, competitions, giant vegetables, butter sculptures, and—arguably the main event—84 brand-new foods.
Some are exactly what you’d expect from the fair: deep-fried, cheesy, and gloriously over the top. Others had us reading the description twice. Parmesan ice cream? Chicken nuggets with caviar? Pickle cotton candy? It’s going to be a fun year.
After digging through the entire list, these are the new foods you should put at the top of your own must-eat list.
The finalists
These three dishes are competing for the Iowa State Fair’s coveted Best New Food title, and honestly, they all sound worthy of a taste test.
Porky Parm Gnocchi — Destination Grille ($14)
Destination Grille has become one of the Iowa State Fair’s heavy hitters, so expectations are high. This year’s creation combines gluten-free potato gnocchi with Graziano sausage in a rich AE Parmesan cream sauce, finished with pesto, shaved Parmesan, and parsley. It sounds hearty and so very Iowa.
Ultimate Minneapple Pie — Minneapple Pie ($14)
Deep-fried apple pie already feels like a fair staple. Add vanilla and cinnamon ice cream plus homemade apple syrup, and you’ve got a dessert that’s ready to be shared. (Or not.)
All-American Scrambled Egg Roll — Winn & Sara’s Kitchen ($15)
Breakfast lovers, this one’s for you. Bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and cheddar cheese are wrapped inside a crispy egg roll before getting a drizzle of cheesy ranch. Winn & Sara’s Kitchen has won Best New Food the past two years, so don’t be surprised if this one ends up with a ribbon, too.
The foods we’ll be talking about
Caviar & Chicken Nuggets — JR’s SouthPork Ranch ($99)
Every year there’s one item that takes over social media. This feels like the frontrunner.
JR’s SouthPork Ranch somehow made chicken nuggets and caviar coexist on the same plate. The $99 price tag is enough to stop you in your tracks, but that’s part of the fun. Ridiculous? Absolutely. Memorable? Without question. And probably quite delicious, too.
1776 Parmesan Ice Cream — Bubbly ($14)
This might be the biggest wildcard on the menu. And that’s kind of the point.
Inspired by an 18th-century recipe, Parmesan ice cream is layered with tart cherries and buttery pound cake. It sounds odd at first, but cheese has been showing up in desserts for centuries. Maybe it’s a safe bet to let someone else order it first, then ask for a bite.
Cajun Cluck ‘N’ Chaos — Cluckin’ Coop ($14)
There’s a lot happening here. Start with a Cajun chicken sloppy joe. Add pepper slaw, spicy pickles, and a pickled egg. Then top the whole thing with lime pickle cotton candy. Somehow, this very well could work.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos® Breakfast Burrito — Burrito Bobo ($16)
This feels like the breakfast equivalent of saying, “Let’s see what happens.” Scrambled eggs, tater tots, sausage gravy, and jalapeños are already doing plenty of work before Flamin’ Hot Cheetos show up to add crunch and heat. Watch out for all that spice.
Most Iowa
Iowa Sweet Corn & Popcorn Sundae — The Salad Bowl ($10)
If one dessert screams Iowa, it’s this one. Sweet corn soft serve gets layered with caramel, sea salt, toffee corn, and buttery popcorn before it’s topped with whipped cream. It sounds strange enough to be intriguing but familiar enough that it can be ordered without hesitation.
Porky Pileup — Stockman’s Inn ($15)
It wouldn’t be the Iowa State Fair without plenty of pork. Stockman’s Inn is leaning into Iowa’s favorite protein with a hearty stack of fries loaded with pulled barbecue pork, mac and cheese, cowboy beans, and bacon bits. It may not be the flashiest item on this year’s menu, but it feels like coming home.
Sweet tooth winners
Sweet Americana — Over the Top ($13)
Instead of choosing one flavor, Over the Top serves strawberry shortcake, lemon bar, and blueberry crisp ice creams together in one patriotic trio. Bonus points for creating a red, white, and blue dessert that doesn’t rely entirely on food coloring.
Banana Cream Fries — Taylor Concessions ($8)
Apparently banana is having a moment in the food world (some say it’s the next pumpkin spice), and the Iowa State Fair got the memo. Crispy funnel cake fries are topped with banana pudding, fresh banana slices, whipped cream, and crushed vanilla wafers. Think banana cream pie, but portable.
Strawberry Bliss — Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association ($8)
Fresh strawberries, shortbread, fluffy meringue, milk chocolate, and white chocolate all come together in one dessert … say less. It feels a little more polished than the average fair treat, but you won’t find any complaints here.
Oreo Overload Nachos — Dairy Zone ($10)
Dessert nachos never go out of style. Neither do Oreos. In this treat, waffle chips surround vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, crushed Oreos, and whipped cream. It’s a snack perfect for sharing—assuming you’re feeling generous.
Run, don’t walk, to these vendors
Garlic Dill Pickle Cheese Curds — Brad & Harry’s Cheese Curds ($9)
Garlic. Dill pickle. Cheese curds. Simple and perfect. It’s surprising this combination didn’t happen sooner.
Bison Cheesesteak Slider — Sleepy Bison Grill ($11)
Fair food doesn’t always have to involve powdered sugar or hot oil. This one proves it. Marinated bison, caramelized onions, American cheese, and queso piled onto a hoagie roll sounds like a solid lunch before tackling the midway.
HoQ Crunchy Lamb Wrap — HoQ ($19)
One of the more unexpected entries this year comes from HoQ. Iowa lamb, creamy risotto, and local cheese are wrapped in naan, breaded, fried, and served with watermelon ranch. It isn’t cheap, but it might be one of the most unique bites at the fair and a welcome break from all the fried goods.
Saigon Birria Pupusa — Saigonais Cuisine ($10)
Some of the best fair foods come from unexpected flavor combinations, and this is a great example. A handmade pupusa stuffed with pho-braised brisket and cheese is served with hoisin birria consommé for dipping. It’s definitely a creative mash-up that celebrates several culinary traditions in one dish. A neat option to have at the fair.
And finally…
Of course, narrowing 84 new foods down to a handful is nearly impossible. Half the fun of the Iowa State Fair is wandering the Grand Concourse, spotting something you weren’t planning to eat, and deciding, “Sure, why not?”
Just wear comfortable shoes, bring a friend who’s willing to split a few dishes, and save room for dessert. Based on this year’s lineup, you’re going to need it.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: The most scenic sunset-viewing spots in Iowa you can access for free
