It's been a long day and the only thing I really feel like doing is sitting by the TV in a catatonic state after I tuck the little lady in for the night, but I have to get through dinner first. I'm not feeling adventurous as far as culinary creations go and I just want something comforting and, well, unhealthy. Sometimes you just gotta have chicken nuggets and french fries for dinner. And that's okay. Though Natalie (who is quickly approaching the age of 3, oh gosh) never has eaten fast food, fried, processed chicken nuggets or french fries, she still is a kid who likes eating things that are crunchy, small and can be dipped in various sauces. I've made several different baked french fries, but they all seemed to come out floppy, bland, overcooked, or some combination of the three. These are different. They are well-seasoned and crunchy, yet tender in the middle. And the cheese sauce? Yeah that just pretty much seals the deal on these baked fries being the best ever. So good. So comforting. And loved by everyone. It's comfort food you can feel good about since you know and control exactly what's going into it. And believe me, these fries are just as -- nay -- more satisfying than their drive-thru counterparts.
Baked Spicy Fries with Garlic Cheese Sauce
Keywords: bake side appetizer potato french fries
Ingredients (Serves 6)
- 4 large 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
- Salt to taste
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- A splash of milk
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 ounce shredded cheese of choice
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425.
Wash potatoes and cut into friench-fry sized pieces.
Place fries into large bowl, pour egg whites and seasonings over fries. Stir to combine.
Place a large sheet of parchment paper over two baking sheets. Scoop the potatoes onto the parchment paper.
Bake for 10 minutes, take the baking sheets out and slide the fries directly onto the baking sheet. Bake for another 6 minutes; remove from oven and stir, being careful to keep the shape of the fries.
Continue to bake and 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 30 minutes.
For the cheese sauce, melt the cream cheese in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Whisk in the milk, garlic, salt, and oil until smooth. Add the cheese. Melt for another 20 seconds and whisk until completely smooth. Add more milk to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency.
Pour directly over fries or into a dipping container.
