Midwest
Deep-fried ranch a big hit at Minnesota State Fair: 'I wanted to hate it'
With the Minnesota State Fair in full swing, one particular food item has proven to be a hit: deep-fried ranch.
Served at Lulu’s Public House, the deep-fried ranch has drawn lines hundreds of people deep, as customers – perhaps out of curiosity – wait for the fair dish that has gotten everyone talking.
Described by the Minnesota State Fair as “ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder,” deep-fried ranch is accompanied by “a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce.”
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A sign on Lulu’s Public House indicates the item is made of Hidden Valley Ranch and ranch flavorings.
“People in Minnesota love their ranch dressing,” Charlie Burrows, co-owner of Lulu’s, told Fox News Digital in an email in July, noting that “diners will ask for a side of ranch with almost everything.”
Deep-fried ranch, shown up close at right, has become one of the most talked-about items at the Minnesota State Fair this summer. (Jacqueline Hanson; Minnesota State Fair)
Burrows worked on the concept of deep-frying ranch dressing for more than a year and a half, he told Fox News Digital in July.
Despite the unusual nature of the dish, Burrows predicted that people were going to love it, saying he was “really excited.”
“We wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t think it tasted great,” he said.
As it turns out, Burrows was correct. He told Fox News Digital that just two days after the fair opened on Aug. 22, he had to place an order for 150% of what he’d originally planned.
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The item has been described by Lulu’s marketing team this way: It’s as if “Hidden Valley Ranch and a cheese wonton had a baby.” But Burrows told Fox News Digital that he likened his dish to a fried ravioli tossed in panko breadcrumbs.
The dish has been tasted – and enjoyed – by ordinary fair-goers as well as politicians and celebrities.
Deep-fried ranch dressing was described this way: It’s as if “Hidden Valley Ranch and a cheese wonton had a baby.” (Minnesota State Fair)
Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, a native of Minnesota, posted a video recap of her trip to the fair on Aug. 26, when she tried various food items.
Her first taste of deep-fried ranch left her wide-eyed and saying, “Oh my God.”
One of her security guards can be heard in the background saying, “Deep-fried ranch was awesome.”
“What is wrong with us? I loved it.”
Country singer Blake Shelton also enjoyed deep-fried ranch, even giving it a shoutout during his Sunday night concert at the fairgrounds.
“I ate it and it’s awesome,” Shelton said. “I mean, look at – What is wrong with us? I loved it.”
Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, at left, and country music superstar Blake Shelton, right, count themselves as fans of deep-fried ranch. (Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images; Minnesota State Fair; Getty Images)
Shelton added that a person has “gotta be a hillbilly” to like something like that.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who had previously referred to ranch as “the Midwest’s most sacred condiment,” also sampled deep-fried ranch.
“It’s really good,” she said. “The hot honey makes it.”
“Ranch is a condiment for pretty much everything, but this might be its best execution yet,” she said.
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Kelly Morrison, a congressional candidate for Minnesota’s 3rd District, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “LuLu’s deep-fried ranch dressing was even better than advertised,” along with a picture of herself holding a half-eaten triangle.
Minnesota State Fair-goers sample the deep-fried ranch, which will be available until the fair closes. (Jacqueline Hanson)
“Chef Reactions,” a TikTok food creator with more than 3 million followers, also found himself among deep-fried ranch’s fans – even if a bit unwillingly.
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“I just had deep-fried ranch and I must begrudgingly admit it was not bad at all. I wanted to hate it. But I don’t,” he said in an Aug. 23 post on X.
The Minnesota State Fair runs through Labor Day.
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After being selected No. 53 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, Ugonna Onyenso signed a two-way deal with the Detroit Pistons.
Amid speculation of a possible Jalen Duren departure, the Detroit Pistons signed recent No. 53 overall pick Ugonna Onyenso to a two-way contract following the 2026 NBA Draft. Considering Detroit finished atop the Eastern Conference last year, playing time may be tough to come by for Onyenso; however, that doesn’t change his status as an intriguing prospect.
Despite nearly falling out of the draft entirely, the Virginia product was viewed as one of the top shot-blocking prospects, standing at 7’0″ with a 7’5″ wingspan. Last season in the ACC, Onyenso had a block percentage of 17.4 and averaged 2.9 blocks in less than 20 minutes per game. In the ACC Tournament, Onyenso gained notariety for his defensive prowess, averaging seven blocks per game in a three-game span, including nine blocks against Cameron Boozer and Duke.
For these reasons, Onyenso has potential to carve out a solid career as a defensive specialist if given the opportunity.
With the Bucks having 17 rostered players, cuts were going to have to happen at some point, and Pete Nance is the first casualty. Nance was always the most obvious player to cut because of his non-guaranteed $2.5m contract, which would have become guaranteed if they kept him past Saturday. Also, Milwaukee acquired a fair few guys who play his position via the Giannis trade (Ware, Jaquez, Ament). I should mention that this technically does not proclude the Bucks from signing the big man to another deal, but it feels unlikely, given the aforementioned lack of spots.
This is something of a kick in the guts for many fans, including myself, who really thought Milwaukee had found a diamond in the rough with Nance. The number of times we would remark on Deer Diaries about how he was “always in the right spots” and “did all the little things” was… pretty large! After coming to the Bucks late in the 2024-25 season, Nance had a breakout 2025-26 campaign (although his numbers certainly don’t jump off the page), averaging 5.4 PPG and 2.7 RPG on 51.5% from the field and 42.0% from three. Assuming it isn’t with the Bucks, let’s hope he lands somewhere that gives him a real shot.
This weekend downtown Minneapolis is hosting the Taste of Minnesota, offering free music performances and more than 100 food trucks and artist vendors. FOX 9’s Leon Purvis is onsite with a preview of what’s to come.
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