Every year on October 25, food lovers across the United States have an excuse to forget about counting calories for a moment and enjoy something crispy, cheesy, fried, buttery, or wonderfully indulgent. It is National Greasy Foods Day, a celebration dedicated to some of the most satisfying comfort foods around.

Think about sizzling bacon coming out of a frying pan. Imagine a cheeseburger piled high with toppings, a hot pepperoni pizza with bubbling cheese, or a basket of freshly fried chicken with a crispy golden crust. Maybe your weakness is French fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, nachos, or a plate of loaded potato skins.

Whatever your favorite happens to be, National Greasy Foods Day is all about enjoying those foods that might not make the everyday healthy-eating list but certainly know how to satisfy a craving.

When Is National Greasy Foods Day?

National Greasy Foods Day is celebrated annually on October 25.

It falls right in the heart of autumn, making the timing especially appropriate. As temperatures begin dropping across much of the country, people naturally start reaching for warmer and heartier comfort foods.

October is already filled with seasonal favorites, from pumpkin desserts and apple cider to chili and hearty casseroles. National Greasy Foods Day gives us another reason to enjoy something warm and indulgent.

Of course, greasy food probably should not become an everyday meal plan. But an occasional treat can certainly be part of enjoying food and celebrating the flavors we love.

What Is National Greasy Foods Day?

National Greasy Foods Day is an unofficial food holiday celebrating fried foods and other rich, indulgent dishes.

There aren’t many complicated rules.

You simply pick your favorite guilty pleasure and enjoy it.

For some people, that might mean ordering pizza for dinner. Others may head to their favorite burger restaurant or make homemade fried chicken.

And “greasy” does not necessarily have to mean dripping in oil. The celebration has come to include all kinds of rich comfort foods.

That means plenty of delicious possibilities.

Why Do We Love Greasy Food So Much?

There is a reason foods like French fries, pizza, cheeseburgers and fried chicken have remained enormously popular.

Fat plays an important role in flavor and texture.

It helps create the crispy exterior on fried chicken, the satisfying richness of melted cheese and the golden crunch of perfectly cooked French fries.

Then there is the comfort factor.

Many greasy foods are connected to memories.

Maybe your family ordered pizza every Friday night when you were growing up.

Perhaps hamburgers remind you of backyard cookouts.

Maybe fried chicken brings back memories of family gatherings, picnics or Sunday dinners.

Food is rarely just about hunger.

It is connected to people, places, traditions and experiences.

Sometimes a particular meal can take you back decades with a single bite.

25 Greasy Foods Worth Celebrating

If you need inspiration for National Greasy Foods Day, there is certainly no shortage of options.

Here are 25 favorites that fit the occasion:

1. Cheeseburgers — A juicy burger covered with melted cheese is one of America’s classic comfort foods.
2. French fries — Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside and nearly impossible to stop eating.
3. Pepperoni pizza — Melted cheese, pepperoni and a hot crust make pizza an obvious choice.
4. Fried chicken — Few things beat that combination of juicy chicken and crunchy breading.
5. Bacon — Crispy, salty and smoky, bacon can turn breakfast into something special.
6. Onion rings — Sweet onions surrounded by crunchy fried batter make a perfect burger companion.
7. Mozzarella sticks — Breaded cheese fried until the inside becomes wonderfully stretchy.
8. Chicken wings — Whether Buffalo, barbecue, garlic Parmesan or another flavor, wings were practically made for indulgent food celebrations.
9. Loaded nachos — Tortilla chips covered with cheese, meat, sour cream and other toppings.
10. Corn dogs — A fair and carnival favorite combining a hot dog with fried cornmeal batter.
11. Chili cheese fries — French fries are already delicious. Add chili and melted cheese and they become even more indulgent.
12. Fried mozzarella — Cheese and frying are a combination that is difficult to resist.
13. Potato skins — Crispy potatoes loaded with cheese, bacon and sour cream.
14. Fried pickles — Tangy pickles surrounded by crunchy breading have become a restaurant favorite.
15. Grilled cheese sandwiches — Buttered bread and melted cheese prove simple foods can sometimes be the best.
16. Philly cheesesteaks — Thinly sliced beef, melted cheese and a soft roll make this Philadelphia classic incredibly satisfying.
17. Macaroni and cheese — Rich, creamy and cheesy comfort food at its finest.
18. Fried shrimp — Seafood becomes even more irresistible when coated and fried until golden.
19. Tater tots — Crispy little potato bites that work as a side dish, snack or base for loaded toppings.
20. Breakfast sausage — A savory addition to eggs, pancakes, biscuits and other breakfast favorites.
21. Chicken-fried steak — Breaded beef covered with creamy gravy delivers serious comfort-food appeal.
22. Jalapeño poppers — Peppers filled with cheese and typically breaded or wrapped in bacon.
23. Fried dough — Whether you call it fried dough, funnel cake or something similar, it is hard to resist fresh from the fryer.
24. Donuts — Fried dough covered in glaze, sugar, frosting or other toppings certainly deserves a place in the celebration.
25. Loaded burgers — Bacon, cheese, fried onions and special sauces can transform a basic hamburger into a towering feast.

Pizza Might Be the Perfect National Greasy Foods Day Food

Few foods represent indulgence quite like pizza.

There is something special about opening a pizza box and seeing melted cheese stretching across a freshly baked pie.

Pizza also offers nearly endless customization.

You can choose pepperoni, sausage, bacon, extra cheese, mushrooms, onions, peppers, olives, jalapeños or just about anything else.

Want to make your pizza particularly appropriate for National Greasy Foods Day?

Try combining several meat toppings with extra cheese.

It might not be something you eat every night, but October 25 is probably as good an excuse as any.

Burgers and Fries: An American Classic

Another obvious choice is the classic cheeseburger and fries.

A good burger does not need to be complicated.

Start with a juicy beef patty, add melted American or cheddar cheese, and finish it with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and your favorite sauce.

Or take things further.

Add bacon.

Add another burger patty.

Throw on fried onions.

Maybe even add a fried egg.

Serve it alongside a pile of crispy French fries and you have a National Greasy Foods Day meal worthy of the celebration.

Don’t Forget Breakfast

National Greasy Foods Day does not have to wait until lunch or dinner.

Breakfast offers plenty of opportunities.

You could make a traditional breakfast with:

• Bacon
• Sausage
• Fried eggs
• Hash browns
• Biscuits and gravy
• Buttered toast
• Breakfast potatoes
• Pancakes with butter

Or combine several favorites into a giant breakfast sandwich.

Eggs, cheese, bacon and sausage on a biscuit or toasted roll can make October 25 start deliciously.

Make Your Own Greasy Food Feast at Home

Going to a restaurant is certainly an easy way to celebrate, but cooking at home can be even more fun.

You could create an entire comfort-food menu.

Start with mozzarella sticks or onion rings as an appetizer.

For the main course, make homemade cheeseburgers or fried chicken.

Serve French fries, macaroni and cheese or loaded potato skins alongside them.

Then finish everything with donuts, funnel cake or another indulgent dessert.

If friends and family are joining you, turn it into a potluck.

Have everyone bring one favorite comfort food and create a buffet.

You may end up discovering a new favorite.

Have a Greasy Foods Taste Test

Here’s another entertaining idea.

Choose several versions of the same food and conduct a blind taste test.

For example, buy French fries from several local restaurants.

Put them into unmarked containers and have everyone rate them for:

Crispiness

Seasoning

Texture

Flavor

Overall score

You could do the same thing with pizza, chicken wings, cheeseburgers, onion rings or fried chicken.

Declare a winner at the end of the night.

It turns a simple food holiday into an activity everyone can participate in.

Try Something You Have Never Eaten Before

National Greasy Foods Day can also be an excuse to become a little adventurous.

Instead of ordering your usual burger or pizza, try something different.

Depending on where you live, you might find regional specialties such as fried cheese curds, fried green tomatoes, fried catfish, poutine, beignets or different styles of fried chicken.

State fairs are famous for taking this concept even further.

Over the years, fair vendors have experimented with deep-frying just about everything imaginable.

Cookies, candy bars, cheesecake and even ice cream have found their way into deep fryers.

October 25 could be your opportunity to try something you would normally pass up.

Greasy Foods Around the World

Fried and rich foods certainly are not unique to the United States.

Cultures around the world have developed their own irresistible specialties.

Britain is famous for fish and chips.

Japan has tempura.

India has samosas and pakoras.

Italy has arancini, which are breaded and fried rice balls.

Mexico has foods such as chimichangas and churros.

Canada is famous for poutine, which combines French fries, cheese curds and gravy.

Many cultures discovered the same basic truth long ago:

Putting delicious ingredients into hot oil can create something wonderful.

Greasy Food Doesn’t Have to Mean Excessive Grease

There is an important distinction worth making.

A properly fried food should not necessarily be completely soaked in oil.

Cooking temperature matters.

When frying oil is maintained at the appropriate temperature, food can develop a crisp exterior while limiting how much oil it absorbs.

If the oil is too cool, the food may absorb considerably more oil and become heavy or soggy.

This is why restaurant-quality fried foods often have a crispy texture rather than simply feeling oily.

Enjoy It in Moderation

National Greasy Foods Day is about having fun with food, not suggesting that fried foods should make up your everyday diet.

Foods high in saturated fat, sodium and calories are generally best enjoyed in moderation.

Fortunately, one celebration does not require eating every greasy food you can find.

Pick something you genuinely enjoy.

Have a reasonable portion.

Enjoy every bite.

Then return to your normal eating habits afterward.

Balance matters far more than perfection.

How to Celebrate National Greasy Foods Day

There are plenty of simple ways to celebrate October 25.

Order your favorite pizza.

Visit a local burger restaurant.

Make homemade French fries.

Cook fried chicken for dinner.

Try a new comfort-food recipe.

Have a pizza night with friends.

Create a chicken-wing tasting challenge.

Visit a local diner.

Make grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Share pictures of your meal on social media.

Or simply enjoy a food you normally reserve for special occasions.

The celebration can be as simple or elaborate as you want.

Fun Facts About Fried and Greasy Foods

French fries are one of the world’s most recognizable potato dishes, although the exact story of their origin remains debated.

Fried chicken developed through multiple culinary traditions and became deeply rooted in American cooking.

Pizza grew from Italian culinary traditions into one of the most popular foods in the United States.

Potato chips became a massively popular snack because of their combination of salt, fat and crunch.

Deep-fried foods are staples at fairs and festivals because they are relatively quick to prepare and easy to eat while walking around.

The popularity of these foods proves that humans have had a long-lasting love affair with crispy, rich flavors.

National Greasy Foods Day and Comfort Food

Perhaps the best way to understand this holiday is through the idea of comfort food.

Comfort foods are rarely complicated.

They’re often the meals we remember eating with people we love.

Pizza night with the family.

Burgers on the grill during summer.

French fries shared with friends.

Fried chicken at a family gathering.

A grilled cheese sandwich made by a parent when you were young.

Those memories give food meaning beyond its ingredients.

That is why a smell or flavor can sometimes transport us instantly back to another time.

National Greasy Foods Day can be about more than eating something fried.

It can also be about remembering the meals, traditions and people that made those foods special.

October 25 Is Your Excuse to Indulge

Most of us know we probably should not live on cheeseburgers, French fries, pizza and fried chicken.

But food does not always have to be about nutritional perfection.

Sometimes it can simply be about enjoyment.

That is what National Greasy Foods Day on October 25 celebrates.

Grab a cheeseburger.

Order the pepperoni pizza.

Make some crispy wings.

Share a basket of fries.

Enjoy that grilled cheese sandwich.

Treat yourself to the comfort food you have been craving.

Tomorrow you can return to the salads, vegetables and healthier choices.

Today?

Enjoy something delicious.

What greasy food would you choose if you could only pick one: pizza, cheeseburgers, fried chicken, French fries, or something completely different?