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This looked so delicious that I ran out to get potatoes the very next day! And it lived up to my expectations. I used a sharp white cheddar in the sauce and it was savory and delicious and perfect and my goodness, someone hide those potatoes from me!!! 🙂
AKAlicious
Hot, fresh, baked spicy fries are going to come out of your oven tonight. They just are. And I’m putting you under citizen’s arrest if you don’t cover your face in garlic cheese sauce.
Did I say face? I meant fries. Fries, face, maybe both.
As you can see from my extreme close-up photos, I’m having trouble keeping my face away from these little guys.
Here’s the deal, you guys. I LOVE FRENCH FRIES. I would go so far as to say that French fries are currently my number one restaurant food. Which is saying a lot because I go to a lot (probably too many) restaurants and I eat a lot of (probably too much) delicious food.
When we go out to eat, there are three possible French fry scenarios.
- I order an innapropriately large platter of fries (waffle, please) and the waitress asks would I like some seasoned sour cream? And yes I would. YES. I. WOULD.
- I restrain myself from ordering fries which causes me to get the shakes and break out in a cold sweat, so I eat all of my husband’s fries instead.
- I don’t order fries, and my husband doesn’t order fries, and we have to stop at McDonald’s on the way home. Regrettable.
When doing fries at home, I’ve always relied heavily on the frozen fries in a bag (Alexia Spicy Sweet Potato Fries, anyone?). Then I realized that those frozen fries in a bag are supposed to serve 8 people, not 2. Thanks a lot, frozen fries in a bag. Thanks a lot.
So for the last few weeks, I have been testing homemade French fry recipes like crazy. Sampling all those fries and all…. well, let’s be real. It was pretty strenuous. But all that sacrificial work has come to a close now that I’ve found my all-time best and favorite French fry recipe.
These fries are spicy, but not actually spicy, just loaded with salty flavor. They’re crispy, but not too crispy, just golden brown and soft on the inside. They’re healthy, but not too healthy, just baked so you can eat a few extras. YUMYUMYUM!
And the garlic cheese sauce? Seriously. No explanation needed. YUM.
Baked Spicy Fries with Garlic Cheese Sauce
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
These baked spicy fries use egg whites to get the fries crispy and golden on the outside. Topped with a lighter garlic cheese sauce.
Ingredients
- 7–8 medium Idaho baking potatoes
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- coarse sea salt to taste
- 2 ounces light cream cheese
- a splash of milk
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 ounce good quality shredded cheese of choice (I used a sharp white French cheese… honestly I can’t remember the name! woops.)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 430.
- Wash and dry the potatoes. Cut them into french-fry sized strips – about 3/4 inches wide. Pour egg whites over fries, pour seasonings over fries, and stir to combine.
- Place a large sheet of parchment paper over each baking sheet (I used 2 baking sheets). Scoop the potatoes onto the parchment paper. Do not dump the whole bowl out because there will be some leftover egg whites in the bottom of the bowl and you don’t want that on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, take the baking sheets out and remove the parchment paper and slide the fries directly onto the baking sheet. They should slide off easily. Bake for another 5-8 minutes; remove from oven and stir, being careful to keep the shape of the fries. Continue this (bake, stir, bake, stir) until the fries have a puffy golden brown outside that is dry to the touch. They should be a little crispy but soft on the inside. Total bake time will be about 25-35 minutes.
- For the cheese sauce, melt the cream cheese in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Whisk in the milk, garlic, seasoning salt, and oil until smooth. When smooth, add the cheese. Melt for another 20-30 seconds and whisk again until totally smooth, adding more milk to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency. Pour over fries and enjoy!
Notes
I used a microwave for the sauce because I was short on time, but you could also use a regular saucepan on a stovetop.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: french fries, baked fries, garlic cheese, spicy fries
PS. Remember when they were called Freedom fries?
PSS. Garlic Cheese Sauce loves you.
Garlic cheese sauce?! I’m dying. Love your blog! 🙂
Thanks Bianca!
Finally, a worthy reason to buy parchment paper…
Very worthy. Best results every time. I do have some work to do on my unrolling techniques, though.
Wow! These would definitely count as a meal, right??
Heck yes. What do you think I’ve been eating all weekend? 🙂
good gosh, gimmie some of this!! absolutely to die for. i’m obsessed with french fries lol
Why are they SO GOOD?!?!
These fries sound amazing!
I think I love garlic cheese sauce!
Amen.
Why yes, yes I will make these for dinner tonight. To go with bacon wrapped meatloaf thankyouverymuch!
Oh, geez. Just, oh geez. I need these.
p.s Those Alexia bags only feed the two of us also! Glad to hear it’s not just my husband and I being gluttons.
Darn you Alexia for making us feel healthy only to later feel gluttonous. But they are pretty good. 😉
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to make the perfect fries at home (baked) and just fail miserably. The egg whites sound like the perfect trick! Trying this asap, like tonight.
I know. Soggy fries are the worst. But these are definitely not soggy! Yay! Hope you like them Gina!
Oh, wow. Fries are my #1 pregnancy craving right now, and I just bought a fry cutter . . . so it looks like these are meant to happen.
I was JUST THINKING about buying a fry cutter. Do they have those for waffle fries?
I use a Mandolin to make waffle fries. Now I can’t wait to try these cheese fries. I totally agree that those bags of fries only should feed 2. I prefer to believe that was a misprint.
I LOVE french fries–I could eat them with every meal. Seriously. I bake mine, too, but I’ve never heard of the egg white method. I’ll have to try that. And the garlic cheese sauce?! Wow. Just wow.
Egg whites were my saving grace. Otherwise they were always too soggy.
I love garlic cheese sauce too, I already know it. I have a thing with french fries. These look so amazing!
I knew you would. 😉 It’s love at first sight.
oh my! There’s cheese, garlic and french fries involved! I’m so in!
We have a tried and true recipe for baked fries on our blog but they’re plain. Delicious, but plain. Garlic anything sounds amazing though. Can’t wait to try these!
Plain is good, though. Sometimes you need a little salty plain in your life. 🙂 I’ll have to check it out! I’ve never been one to turn down a new French fry recipe!
Um, YUM!!! I pinned them. :o)
Thanks Mindy!
That sauce sounds unreal! Love it!
Thanks Katrina! It was spoon-lickin good!
My family is going to love you for this recipe.
Ha! No, they will love you for making it! 🙂
Oh my. I want to reach through the screen SO BAD right now! I didn’t think french fries had a serving size…thought you were just supposed to eat as much as possible. no?
I am sharing this on my facebook page – it’s too delicious not to share!
LOL – I stand corrected. Fries really don’t have a serving size and I’m sorry for even suggesting such an idea. 🙂
Just when you think fries couldn’t get any more perfect!
Thanks Shawnda!
These look ridiculous! Love the egg white method for getting these crispy – so much better (and easier!) than frying.
Seriously. Pop em in the oven, a few quick stirs, and that’s it.
That sauce sounds amazing! Garlic and cheese are pretty much my favourite things. Pinning this!
Thanks Becca!
I used to not be a huge fry fan, but I’ve really grown to appreciate a good french fry. And I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to resist these with that sauce!!
That’s kinda how it went down for me. 🙂
wow. these hardly look baked. Just check out that crisp!
The egg whites are magic.
Reading through your posts always puts a smile on my face. I too eat way too much and I totally understand about having to stop at McDonalds to get your fry fix. It’s bad but in the end, we all do it.
These fries look great and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrificial work so I can make this all the time, and then gain 10 pounds 🙂
I do what I can. 😉
Oh boy you’re right. I might just have to make these for dinner. I was going to bake potato somehow anyway. This looks much better than boring cubes!
Dinner potatoes are getting a facelift tonight. 🙂 Although I kind of adore all types of potatoes… so you can’t go wrong there!