From crispy fried chicken to sugared doughnuts, these deep-fryer recipes are easy to make at home, without special equipment or ingredients.
25 of Our Best Deep-Fryer Recipes
Updated on Jul. 28, 2025
1/25
Fried Chicken
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Always a picnic favorite, this deep-fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana
2/25
Apple Fritters
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is an old southern apple fritter recipe. When we got home from a trip through the South years ago, I found the recipe among the brochures I brought back. I’ve been making these easy apple fritters ever since. —John Robbins, Springdale, Pennsylvania
New to deep-frying? Here are 13 tips to help you get started.
3/25
Deep-Fried Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My kids love this delicious, indulgent treat. I like to give the batter a kick by adding a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. — Margarita Torres, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
4/25
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen doughnuts plus doughnut holes
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Have an air fryer? Make these air-fryer doughnuts instead!
5/25
Crispy Beer-Battered Fish
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A local restaurant made a similar breading for shrimp po’ boys, but we think this version’s better. I serve the beer-battered fish with a ranch dressing and hot sauce mixture as a dip. —Jenny Wenzel, Gulfport, Mississippi
6/25
Homemade Potato Chips
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Forget buying a bag of potato chips at the grocery store when you can make these at home. This quick and easy recipe will delight everyone in the family. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
7/25
Long John Doughnut
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The tattered recipe in my files is a good indication of how popular these long john doughnuts have been in our family over the years. They disappear in a hurry, so I typically double the recipe. —Twilla Eisele, Wellsville, Kansas
8/25
Chicken Corn Fritters
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've always loved corn fritters, but they weren't satisfying as a main dish. I came up with this recipe and was thrilled when my husband and our three young boys gave it rave reviews. The chicken and zesty sauce make these a wonderful brunch or lunch entree.
-Marie Greene, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
9/25
Pumpkin Doughnut Drops
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I always have a few special treats handy when the grandchildren visit. These cake doughnuts are one of their favorite snacks. —Beva Staum, Muscoda, Wisconsin
10/25
Fried Cheese Curds
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These beer-battered cheese curds are the ultimate in delicious comfort food. Some folks like to serve them with ranch dressing, ketchup or barbecue sauce for dipping. —Katie Rose, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
11/25
Funnel Cake
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 cakes
From the Recipe Creator:
These are much simpler to make than doughnuts but taste just as good. They have been a regular treat of ours ever since we came across them when we lived in the Ozarks. —Mary Faith Yoder, Unity, Wisconsin
KFC offers an interesting twist on funnel cake with their funnel cake fries.
12/25
Beef Chimichangas
Total Time
40 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loves this beef chimichanga recipe! I often double the recipe and freeze the chimichangas individually to take out as needed. I serve them with shredded lettuce and sour cream. —Schelby Thompson, Camden Wyoming, Delaware
13/25
Fried Okra
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Golden brown with a little fresh green showing through, these okra nuggets are crunchy and addictive! My sons like to dip them in ketchup. —Pam Duncan, Summers, Arkansas
14/25
Berry-Filled Doughnuts
Total Time
25 min
Servings
10 doughnuts
From the Recipe Creator:
Four ingredients are all you'll need for this sure-bet breakfast treat. Friends and family will never guess that refrigerated buttermilk biscuits are the base for these golden, jelly-filled doughnuts. —Ginny Watson, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
15/25
Homemade Corn Dogs
Total Time
25 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Prepare corn dogs at home just like you'd get at the fair. Both kids and grown-ups will love this hearty corn dog batter. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana
16/25
Marina’s Golden Corn Fritters
Total Time
30 min
Servings
32 fritters
From the Recipe Creator:
Just one bite of these fritters takes me back to when my kids were young. Nowadays for our get-togethers, I sometimes triple the recipe. Serve fritters with maple syrup or agave nectar. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
17/25
Sweet Potato-Cranberry Doughnuts
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I grew up near Idaho, which is famous for spudnuts—a doughnut made from mashed potatoes. I reworked a recipe using sweet potatoes and cranberries to come up with this variation. I like to serve them for dessert. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
18/25
Crispy Sriracha Spring Rolls
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
While in the Bahamas, friends suggested a restaurant that served amazing chicken spring rolls. When I got home, I created my own version. Such a great appetizer to have waiting in the freezer! —Carla Mendres, Winnipeg, Manitoba
19/25
Chili-Lime Chicken Wings
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Who would have guessed that mixing maple syrup, chili sauce and lime juice would make chicken wings taste so good? Family and guests alike will scramble to ensure they get more than one of these utterly delicious wings - so be sure to make extras! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
20/25
Butterfly Shrimp
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This refreshing, lightly seasoned, fried butterfly shrimp is easy to make and extremely versatile! Have it with a side of cocktail sauce, or serve it with steamed vegetables, rice or potatoes for a well-balanced meal. If you really want something special, place this tender, crispy shrimp on your favorite pasta! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
21/25
Springtime Beignets & Berries
Total Time
50 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've always loved beignets, but never thought I could make them myself. Turns out they're easy! Sometimes I'll even make a quick berry whipped cream and pipe it inside for a fun surprise. —Kathi Hemmer, Grand Junction, Colorado
22/25
Taylor's Jalapeno Poppers
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you own a barbecue joint like I do, you pretty much dream about barbecue in your sleep. Jalapeno poppers are also one of my favorite appetizers, and this recipe is a great way to combine those foods. They’re very popular on the menu at my restaurant. Try your own variation by stuffing the peppers with cooked chicken or beef. —Taylor Hicks, Birmingham, Alabama
23/25
Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was looking for ways to spice up traditional chicken nuggets and came up with this recipe. The chips add a crunchy texture and flavor, while the meat is tender on the inside. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York
24/25
Deep-Fried Mac & Cheese Shells
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
20 appetizers (2-1/2 cups dipping sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this deep fried mac and cheese recipe for my husband. He describes this recipe as unbelievably delicious because of the crispy deep-fried coating on the outside and the creamy richness on the inside. —Shirley Rickis, The Villages, Florida
25/25
Cider Doughnuts
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here on our 1,250-acre farm, we usually have a quick breakfast on the go. So I often keep a batch of these light and moist doughnuts on hand. They disappear quickly because no one can eat just one! —Suzanne Christensen, Defiance, Iowa
Deep-Fryer Recipes FAQ
What are the best foods to cook in a deep fryer?
Although it seems like there are constantly new options for deep-fried foods (have you heard of deep-fried ranch dressing?), the best foods to cook in a deep fryer remain some of the most classic, like french fries, chicken and doughnuts. These foods, whether dipped in a batter, crumb coating or left plain, fry to a golden, crisp exterior. Vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms and cauliflower or seafood are great choices, too, especially when coated in a light batter, like these shrimp tempura. Perk up deep-fried food with dipping sauces, flavored salts or cinnamon sugar to cut through the richness.
Can I reuse deep-frying oil?
Yes, you can reuse deep-frying oil, as long as it has been strained from previous use and hasn’t become rancid or broken down from being overheated to the point of smoking. It might seem intimidating, but you can deep fry at home with confidence if you keep a few simple tools and tips on hand. To strain used oil, fully cool it and then pour it through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve to remove debris, then store it in an airtight container away from heat and light. Reusing oil is a great way to make deep frying more sustainable, particularly when testing recipes or cooking in batches.
Are there any desserts I can make in a deep fryer?
Yes, deep fryers are ideal for making indulgent desserts like churros, doughnuts and fried hand pies. These treats develop irresistibly crispy exteriors while staying soft inside, especially when made with fluffy, yeasted doughs. Classic funnel cake is one of the best options for homemade state fair foods because the batter is quick to make and cook. Plus, it tastes best while still warm, soaking up the right amount of powdered sugar. For a shortcut dessert, fry canned biscuit dough until puffed and golden and then top with a sweet glaze for a quick doughnut in minutes.
