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 after serving. Who doesn’t want to devour crispy potatoes smothered in a creamy, dreamy homemade cheese sauce?
What’s in Texas Cheese Fries?
This delicious appetizer, side, or midnight snack takes just minutes to put together with these simple ingredients!
- Frozen French Fries: While you could make this recipe with homemade French fries, you will save so much time by using frozen – and they will taste just as delicious.
- Butter: I like to use grass-fed butter in my recipes, but the important thing is to use real butter and not margarine.
- Garlic: One of the healthiest foods on earth, this ingredient always adds irresistible flavor to any recipe.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is all you need to thicken the cheese sauce.
- Milk: For the best, creamiest cheese sauce, go for full-fat milk in this recipe.
- Cheese: The recipe calls for yellow cheddar cheese, but you can also use another cheese like white cheddar, Colby, or Monterrey Jack.
- Cayenne Pepper: This red spice adds the right kick to turn up the heat slightly.
- Toppings: Chopped green onions and diced jalapenos add depth and flavor to this already flavorful comfort food dish.
Variations on Cheddar Cheese Fries
If you’re looking for a bit of Mexican flair, swap the cheese sauce for white queso, poblano queso, vegan queso, nacho cheese sauce, or Rotel dip.
The best frozen fries for cheese fries are your favorite brand! Regular, shoestring, steak, or crinkle-cut fries all work well. I like extra crispy fast-food-style fries because they hold up well to the cheese sauce!
You sure can! Try my shoestring fries recipe, or pour the sauce over baked potato wedges!
Unfortunately, these cheese fries are not naturally gluten-free. Many brands of frozen french fries contain wheat flour, and we use all-purpose flour to thicken the cheese sauce.
The best cheese for cheese fries is classic cheddar cheese! However, you can always swap some or all of the cheddar for a different cheese, like mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby jack, or American.
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 in another splash of milk until it reaches the desired consistency.
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.
What to Serve with Homemade Cheese Fries
While I could eat cheesy fried potatoes as a complete meal any day of the week, they go great with Air Fryer Hamburgers, Philly Cheesesteaks, or Turkey Meatloaf.
Cheese Fries Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen french fries
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (⅛ stick)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 6 ounces medium cheddar cheese freshly grated
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Thinly sliced green onion
- Diced jalapeño peppers
- Bacon crumbles
Instructions
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Bake the fries according to the package directions.1 pound frozen french fries
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While the fries bake, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add in the garlic and cook until lightly golden.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 2 cloves garlic
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Sprinkle over the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter has absorbed all of the flour.1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
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While whisking, slowly stream in the milk, making sure to quickly break up and lumps.¾ cup whole milk
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Continue to whisk until the sauce simmers and thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
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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 ounces medium cheddar cheese
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Whisk in the cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste.⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
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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
Video
Notes
- Use your favorite frozen fries, or make your own fries!
- Feel free to swap some or all of the cheddar cheese for mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby jack, or American.
- For less spicy fries, omit the cayenne; for more spice, double it!
- 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 in another splash of milk.
- Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.
Nutrition
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