This is not subtle food. It is golden funnel cake fries piled high, drenched in silky white queso, topped with ultra-crispy tempura chicken, then finished with a glossy hot honey garlic drizzle that somehow balances sweet, spicy, creamy, and crunchy in one forkful. It is basically chicken and waffles reimagined for a football stadium and turned up to Houston volume.
This copycat version brings that exact NRG madness straight into your kitchen.
No ticket.
No standing-room-only crowds.
No juggling a tray while someone spills beer behind you.
Just warm funnel cake fries, creamy queso, sticky hot honey chicken, and the kind of chaos that feels exactly right on game day.
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Funnel Cake Fries (NRG Stadium Style)
You’ll start with the funnel cake fries, because they are the foundation. Lightly sweet, crisp on the outside, soft and airy inside. They need to be sturdy enough to hold queso and chicken, but still unmistakably funnel cake. Pipe them straight into hot oil and pull them as soon as they turn golden. Overcooked fries lose that tender center.
Next comes the chicken. At NRG, the chicken is tempura-style for a reason. That light, shattery crust grabs onto sauce without going soggy. Ice-cold batter. Minimal mixing. Hot oil. Once fried, the chicken gets tossed in a sticky hot honey garlic sauce that clings without drowning it.
Then comes the queso. Smooth. White. Stadium-smooth. This is not chunky dip queso. It’s pourable, creamy, and built to coat fries evenly without breaking.
Assembly is where this becomes unmistakably Texans food. Funnel cake fries down first. A generous ladle of warm white queso. A pile of glossy hot honey chicken on top. Maybe an extra drizzle of sauce if you are feeling bold. It should look a little ridiculous. That’s the point.
Sweet. Spicy. Creamy. Crunchy. Completely Houston.
Quick Stats
Ready in: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
Serves: 4 fans
Best for: Texans watch parties, game nights, tailgates, bold sweet–savory cravings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 610 kcal
Total Fat: 28 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 65 mg
Sodium: 820 mg
Carbohydrates: 68 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugars: 26 g
Protein: 22 g
Ingredients
For the Funnel Cake Fries
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1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
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1 ½ tsp baking powder
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2 tbsp sugar
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½ tsp salt
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1 large egg
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¾ cup milk
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1 tsp vanilla (optional, but recommended)
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Neutral oil for frying
For the Tempura Chicken
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1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
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½ tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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½ tsp garlic powder
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½ cup cornstarch (for pre-dredge)
Tempura Batter
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¾ cup all-purpose flour
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¼ cup cornstarch
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1 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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1 large egg
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¾ cup ice-cold sparkling water
For the White Queso
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1 tbsp butter
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1 tbsp flour
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¾ cup milk, warm
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8 oz white American cheese, chopped
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4 oz Monterey Jack or Oaxaca cheese, shredded
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Pinch of salt
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Pinch of cumin (optional)
For the Hot Honey Garlic Sauce
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½ cup honey
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¼ cup hot sauce
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3 tbsp butter
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3 cloves garlic, finely minced
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1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
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Pinch of salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Make the White Queso
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in warm milk until smooth and slightly thickened. Lower the heat and add cheeses in handfuls, stirring until melted and silky. Season lightly and keep warm on low.
2. Fry the Funnel Cake Fries
Heat oil to 375°F (190°C). Whisk dry ingredients together, then add egg, milk, and vanilla. Batter should be thick but pipeable. Transfer to a squeeze bottle or piping bag. Pipe 4–5 inch fries into the oil and fry until golden, about 60–90 seconds total. Drain on a rack.
3. Fry the Tempura Chicken
Season chicken and lightly coat with cornstarch. Whisk tempura batter ingredients just until combined. Dip chicken pieces and fry at 350–365°F (175–185°C) until crisp and cooked through, about 3–5 minutes. Drain on a rack.
4. Make the Hot Honey Garlic Sauce
Simmer honey, hot sauce, butter, and garlic for 1–2 minutes until glossy. Stir in vinegar and salt. Toss the hot chicken in the sauce right before serving.
5. Build the Fries
Pile funnel cake fries onto a platter. Spoon warm white queso over the top. Add hot honey chicken. Finish with an extra drizzle of sauce if desired. Serve immediately.
Ingredient Substitutes
Funnel Cake Fries
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All-purpose flour → gluten-free flour blend
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Milk → buttermilk for extra richness
Chicken
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Chicken breast → boneless thighs for juicier bites
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Frozen popcorn chicken (shortcut option)
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Plant-based chicken alternatives
White Queso
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White American → processed queso blanco
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Monterey Jack → mozzarella (milder melt)
Hot Honey Sauce
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Honey → agave or maple syrup
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Hot sauce → chili crisp oil
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Garlic → roasted garlic paste for deeper flavor
Game Day Tips & Variations
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Extra Heat: Add chili crisp or cayenne to the hot honey.
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Tex-Mex Twist: Sprinkle chopped pickled jalapeños on top.
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BBQ Crossover: Swap hot honey for spicy Texas BBQ sauce.
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Tailgate Hack: Keep fries warm in a low oven and assemble just before serving.
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Kid-Friendly: Serve chicken plain with honey on the side.
What to Serve With
These fries are rich, so pair them with something refreshing or salty.
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Ice-cold lemonade
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Classic kettle chips
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Grilled corn with lime and salt
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Pickle spears
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Simple slaw with vinegar dressing
If you are going full stadium spread, add nachos or loaded fries and call it a day.
Stadium Story / Fun Fact
Hot Honey Chicken Funnel Cake Fries became a standout at NRG Stadium as part of the Texans’ push toward bold, Instagram-ready concession food. Fans immediately compared it to chicken and waffles, but with a Houston twist. Sweet heat, queso, and crunch all in one tray. It is one of those items people try “just to taste” and then end up guarding like a touchdown celebration.
FAQ
Are funnel cake fries sweet or savory?
Both. They are lightly sweet, which balances the heat and salt perfectly.
Can I make parts ahead of time?
Yes. Make queso and hot honey ahead. Fry chicken and fries fresh for best texture.
Do I need sparkling water for tempura?
Highly recommended. It keeps the batter light and crisp.
Can I bake instead of fry?
You can air fry the chicken, but funnel cake fries need oil for authentic texture.
Is this exactly like NRG Stadium?
It’s extremely close. Stadium kitchens use industrial equipment, but flavor-wise, this hits the same notes.
Storage & Reheating
Store:
Chicken and queso keep refrigerated for up to 3 days. Funnel cake fries are best fresh.
Reheat:
Chicken: air fry 3–4 minutes to re-crisp.
Queso: reheat gently with a splash of milk.
Do Not Store Assembled:
Once built, eat immediately. This is peak stadium food and does not wait politely.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla (optional)
- Neutral oil for frying
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup cornstarch (for pre-dredge)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup ice-cold sparkling water
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp flour
- ¾ cup milk, warm
- 8 oz white American cheese, chopped
- 4 oz Monterey Jack or Oaxaca cheese, shredded
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of cumin (optional)
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Melt the butter in a saucepan, whisk in the flour, and cook briefly, then slowly add the warm milk while whisking until smooth and slightly thickened. Lower the heat and stir in the cheeses a handful at a time until fully melted and silky, seasoning lightly and keeping the queso warm. Heat oil and mix the funnel cake batter until thick but pipeable, then pipe short strips into the hot oil and fry until golden before draining on a rack. Season the chicken, coat lightly with cornstarch, dip into the tempura batter, and fry until crisp and cooked through, then drain. Simmer the honey, hot sauce, butter, and garlic until glossy, finish with vinegar and salt, and toss the hot chicken in the sauce. To assemble, pile the funnel cake fries onto a platter, spoon the warm white queso over them, top with the hot honey chicken, add an extra drizzle of sauce if you like, and serve immediately.
Notes
Calories: 610 kcal Total Fat: 28 g Saturated Fat: 7 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 65 mg Sodium: 820 mg Carbohydrates: 68 g Fiber: 2 g Sugars: 26 g Protein: 22 g
