Craving cheese fries? Here’s how to make them at home! This gooey cheese sauce smothers the crispy baked potatoes in sumptuous goodness. It’s the best way to transform frozen french fries into your favorite diner side for a tasty midnight snack. Here’s how to make a great platter of cheese fries…without having to leave your house.
Ingredients for cheese fries
Cheese fries are French fries covered in a cheese sauce. Of course, you can always add other toppings like chili for chili cheese fries. But the classic cheese fry is simply sauce and potatoes. To make a great homemade cheese sauce, you’ll just need a handful of ingredients you might already have on hand: as long as you’re stocking a block of cheddar cheese. Here’s what you’ll need:
Frozen Fries or Homemade Baked Fries: We prefer using frozen fries here for ease of preparation. Find a great brand you love: our favorite brand is Alexia. FlourButterMilkCheddar cheese, gratedOnion powder, garlic powder and kosher saltApple cider vinegar (or red wine or white wine vinegar)Hot sauce (optional)Fresh parsley or chives, for garnish
Tips for the cheese sauce
There are a few tricks to a great cheese homemade cheese sauce: otherwise, it can turn out gloppy or grainy. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your cheese fry sauce:
Use block cheese if possible. Bags of shredded cheese have additives that can make your cheese sauce grainy. If you can, shred your own cheese off a block. Use low heat and add the cheese gradually. You’ll want to add a handful of cheese, then whisk it in until it’s smooth and then add another handful. Vinegar makes a glossy finish to the sauce. It makes for a glossy sheen and rounds out the flavors.Hot sauce is optional but delicious. Use 1 teaspoon and it gives a subtle complexity without much heat. Another option for the cheese sauce? Top with our Nacho Cheese Sauce!
Serving cheese fries
Once you’ve got your cheese sauce and baked fries, you’re ready to assemble! Here’s a tip: serve immediately if you can. This sauce has the best consistency immediately, so try to have the fries done as close to when you finish the sauce as possible. Generously pour on the cheese sauce, and you’re ready to eat! Add chopped parsley or chives for a garnish if you’re feeling fancy. Some people love to sprinkle with crumbled bacon as well. But there’s no need to get too fancy: this is a straightforward dish. Cheese plus fries always equals delicious!
Reheating the cheese sauce
Cheese sauces made with butter and flour don’t reheat well: the sauce is not nearly as creamy and stretchy as on the day it is made. (Trust us, we’ve tried it!) For that reason, we recommend consuming most of it the day it’s made! Consider making a half recipe if you don’t plan to use the entire 1 cup.
More fries recipes
Love fries? Us too! Here are a few more seasoned fries recipes you’ll love:
Try these Classic Chili Cheese FriesGo for Home Fries or seasoned Cajun FriesOpt for Greek Fries or grab Garlic FriesTry fan-favorite Baked Sweet Potato Fries
This cheese fries recipe is…
Vegetarian. 5 from 3 reviews **Don’t use an aged cheddar: the flavor is much too strong.
