Updated
Cheese Fries are one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. Made with frozen French fries, garlic, cheddar cheese, a little flour, and some fridge staples like butter and milk, they are super easy to make and always disappear fast at my house. Who doesn’t want to devour crispy potatoes smothered in a creamy, dreamy homemade cheese sauce? I love that this delicious snack is something that my entire family enjoys and craves.
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“It was a satisfying and indulgent treat that I’d definitely recommend to fellow cheese and fry lovers!” – Shaheen
Easy Cheese Fries Recipe
These cheese fries are the kind of appetizer, side dish, or late-night snack I can throw together in just minutes with a handful of simple ingredients—and honestly, I don’t even want to admit how often we make it at my house. Anytime I’m looking to upgrade a basic bag of frozen fries, this recipe is my go-to. A generous handful of cheese already makes them great, but once I pile on the toppings and garnishes, they become absolutely irresistible.
Tips for Beginners
- Use your favorite fries. Choose frozen fries you know you love, or make homemade french fries.
- Adjust the spice. For less spicy fries, omit the cayenne pepper. If you want more spice, double it!
- Add the cheese slowly. It is important to slowly add the cheese to the sauce off heat to prevent the sauce from becoming grainy. If the cheese isn’t melting into the sauce, return it to low heat and stir constantly while it melts.
- Adjust the thickness. If your sauce is too thick, add in another splash of milk.
Cheese Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. frozen french fries
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (⅛ stick)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 6 oz. medium cheddar cheese freshly grated, or use mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby Jack, or American.
- ⅛ tsp ground cayenne pepper
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- thinly sliced green onion
- diced jalapeño peppers
- bacon crumbles
Video
Instructions
- Bake the fries according to the package directions.1 lb. frozen french fries
- While the fries bake, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add in the garlic and cook until lightly golden.1 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 cloves garlic
- Sprinkle over the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter has absorbed all of the flour.1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- While whisking, slowly stream in the milk, making sure to quickly break up and lumps.¾ cup whole milk
- Continue to whisk until the sauce simmers and thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- One handful at a time, add the cheese to the sauce. Stir until the cheese is completely melted before adding another handful. Continue until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.6 oz. medium cheddar cheese
- Whisk in the cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste.⅛ tsp ground cayenne pepper, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Arrange the fries on a serving platter. Top with the cheese sauce and garnishes, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!thinly sliced green onion, diced jalapeño peppers
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Cheese Fries Step by Step
Bake the fries: Bake 1 lb. frozen fries according to the package directions.
Cook the garlic: While the fries are baking, melt 1 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add 2 cloves of garlic, and cook until lightly golden and fragrant.
Sprinkle 1 tbsp flour over the garlic and butter and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter has absorbed all of the flour.
While whisking, slowly stream in ¾ cup milk, making sure to quickly break up any lumps of flour.
Continue whisking until the sauce simmers and thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Add the cheese and season: One handful at a time, gradually add 6 oz. cheese to the sauce, making sure the cheese is completely melted before adding another handful. Continue until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
It is important to slowly add the cheese to the sauce off heat to prevent the sauce from becoming grainy. If the cheese isn’t melting into the sauce, return it to low heat and stir constantly while it melts. If your sauce is too thick, add another splash of milk.
Whisk in ⅛ tsp ground cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper
Serve: Arrange the fries on a serving platter. Top with the cheese sauce, thinly sliced green onions, and diced jalapeño peppers, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Change up the fry type: Try my shoestring fries recipe, or pour the sauce over baked potato wedges.
- For a Mexican twist: Swap the cheese sauce for white queso, or for a touch of spice, this poblano queso is perfect. Or, try a homemade nacho cheese.
- For a heartier cheese sauce: This Rotel dip packs a punch.
How to Store
I really don’t recommend storing these cheese fries. Cheese sauce thickened with flour and butter doesn’t reheat well. I recommend halving the recipe if you think you won’t finish it all in one day.
Serving Suggestions
While I could happily eat cheesy fried potatoes as a complete meal any day of the week, you really can’t beat combining burgers and fries. So, to balance things out—because a girl can’t live on fries alone, I’ll make stovetop burgers, these juicy grilled burgers, or to add even more cheese, smash burgers.
Excellent
This did not work for me. Sauce came together and then very quickly separated again, ending with stringy cheese swimming in butter.
Hi Bella, it’s really important to add the cheese slowly and off of direct heat. Overheating cheese causes the proteins to seize up and separate from the rest of the mix. To fix a split sauce, we recommend adding a tablespoon or two of heavy cream and whisking (or blending) vigorously off the heat.
Excellent!
it was a satisfying and indulgent treat that I’d definitely recommend to fellow cheese and fry lovers!
We’re so happy to hear that, Shaheen!
Yea I’m disappointed frl😂😭! My fries ain’t look like that
I think it was great!
We’re sorry to hear that, Jack! We’d love to help you troubleshoot what may have gone wrong if you’ll provide some more details!