21 Recipes for People Who Really, Really Love French Fries (2024)

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BySue Stetzel

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Nov. 30, 2023

Take your french fries to a whole new level with these snack, side and main dish recipes.

1/21

Short Rib Poutine

This dish combines the hearty, spicy flavors of my beloved slow-cooker short ribs with my all-time favorite comfort food: fries and gravy. With a little prep in the morning, it’s just about ready when I come home from work (plus, the kitchen smells amazing!). If you are sensitive to spice, reduce the amount of Sriracha chili sauce. —Erin DeWitt, Long Beach, California

Also check these best frozen sweet potato fries when you’re looking for an easy side to go with weeknight dinners.

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2/21

Taste of Home

BBQ Chicken Waffle Fries

This is one of those dishes that sounds so wrong but tastes so right! Trust me—barbecue chicken leftovers are fantastic with the fries. We like it with lettuce, tomato and pickle, but you can add almost any toppings you like. —Janet Telleen, Russell, Iowa

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3/21

4/21

Garlic-Chive Baked Fries

Yes, you do want fries with that—especially these crispy, golden fries, full of garlic flavor and just a little bit of heat. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin. Find out the secret technique for making crispy oven-baked fries.

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5/21

Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole

Kids love this cheeseburger french fry casserole because it combines two of their favorite fast foods. And I like the fact that I can whip it up with just four ingredients. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana

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Cheese Fries

I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina

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7/21

Taste of Home

Loaded Waffle Fries

Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois

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If you’re a fan of loaded fries you can also try making animal style fries from In-N-Out.

8/21

Taste of Home

Parmesan Potato Wedges

I recommend serving these Parmesan potato wedges alongside a salad for a light lunch or serving them as a side dish with a chicken or beef entree. —Beth Ask, Ulster, Pennsylvania

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9/21

Taste of Home

Baked Chops and Cottage Fries

Convenience items like frozen vegetables, cottage fries and a jar of cheese sauce make it a snap to assemble this comforting pork chop supper. It's a simple one-dish meal. —Gregg Voss, Emerson, Nebraska

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10/21

Taste of Home

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I can never get enough of this baked sweet potato fries recipe! Even though my grocery store sells them in the frozen foods section, I still love to pull them out of my garden and chop them up fresh! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas

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11/21

Taste of Home

Waffle Fry Nachos

My husband and two grown sons really enjoy these fun nachos—they can devour a platter of them in no time. They're also fun to make when friends come over. —Debra Morgan, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Reuben Waffle Potato Appetizers

I love Reubens, so I turned the classic sandwich into a fun appetizer with corned beef and sauerkraut on waffle fries. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois

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13/21

Curried Sweet Potato Wedges

Sweet potatoes roasted with curry and smoked paprika delight everybody at our table. The mango chutney makes a tangy dip. —Simi Jois, Streamwood, Illinois

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14/21

Taste of Home

Ultimate Pastrami Sandwiches

This peerless pastrami sandwich was adapted from a menu favorite at Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Pittsburgh. We took the basic ingredients—grilled cold cuts, cheese, fried potatoes and tomatoes—and created a tasty replica that includes our version of their secret coleslaw topping. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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15/21

Taste of Home

Oven Fries

I jazz up these baked french fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a punch. The leftovers are even good cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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16/21

Cheesy Chili Fries

My family is all about chili fries, but restaurant versions pile on the calories. For a healthier approach, bake the fries and serve them with green onions and avocado. —Beverly Nowling, Bristol, Florida

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17/21

I'm a small-business owner, so most of my recipes are a result of not having time to run to the store, and doing with what's on hand. Here's a perfect example. Dip these wedges in anything. —Dana Alexander, Lebanon, Missouri

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18/21

Steak and Fries Salad

This is a very popular dish at restaurants in central Pennsylvania. Prepared sweet-and-sour dressing is good on this salad, too. —Nancy Collins, Clearfield, Pennsylvania

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19/21

Two-Tone Potato Wedges

Better than french fries, these tasty potatoes have just the right touch of garlic and Parmesan cheese. This is the only way my daughter will eat sweet potatoes, and she loves 'em!. —Marie Nicolau Schumacher, Larchmont, New York

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20/21

21/21

Taste of Home

Parmesan-Romano Potato Wedges

I taught my nieces to make these easy, cheesy oven-baked potatoes. When the whole family comes over, we triple the recipe—and have no leftovers. —Ann Brown, Niles, MI

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Originally Published: July 15, 2020

Author

Sue Stetzel

Sue has been working with Taste of Home since 2011. When she isn’t writing, she’s answering your burning cooking questions and working with our team of Community Cooks. She spends her free time cooking, crafting, and volunteering for various organizations in her home town.

21 Recipes for People Who Really, Really Love French Fries (2024)

FAQs

Why do I love French fries so much? ›

Fries combine essentials of diet which trigger our pleasure centers. Potatoes are loaded with starchy goodness and the fry oil is chock full of fats and oils, all of which are a caloric bomb that gives our bodies enough energy to do anything. Fries also are salted, so your adding a critical electrolyte into the mix.

Who eats the most French fries in the world? ›

According to The Wall Street Journal and experts, Belgians consume more French fries than Americans, and French fries are the national cuisine of Belgium.

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What is the secret to good fries? ›

The secret to crispy on the outside/fluffy on the inside is to cook them twice. Use russet (starchy) potatoes. Cut your fries and put them in an ice water bath to rinse off excess starch and prevent them from turning brown while you finish cutting. Try to keep the fries uniform in size so they cook evenly.

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What happens to your body when you eat fries everyday? ›

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , people who consume French fries more than twice a week have a higher risk of developing heart disease than those who consume them once a week or less. Consuming French fries daily can also increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Is it OK to eat fries everyday? ›

In fact, eating them regularly can put you at a higher risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Therefore, it's probably best to avoid or severely limit your intake of commercially fried foods.

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What does 🍟 mean? ›

It is often used to express happiness, excitement, and satisfaction. It can also be used to express a craving for French fries, or to show that someone is feeling hungry. The French Fries emoji is also used to express a sense of fun and playfulness.

What country has the best fries? ›

Even if they didn't actually invent the French fry, Belgians probably do make the world's best. Incidentally, fries have two names in this country too. They're called “frieten” in the northern Dutch-speaking part of the country and “frites” in the French-speaking south. Belgian fries.

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Is French fries healthy or junk? ›

French fries contain a significant number of carbohydrates. These molecules provide energy to your body, but too many carbohydrates can cause high glucose levels and lead to type 2 diabetes. This food also contains a large portion of fat, including 4.24 g of monounsaturated fats and 1.66 g of saturated fats.

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What is the healthiest type of fries? ›

Sweet potato fries are slightly higher in calories and carbs but also more nutrient dense than French fries. The greatest nutrient difference is that French fries have no vitamin A, while sweet potato fries are high in this nutrient. Vitamin A is important for your vision and immune system ( 2 ).

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What is the healthiest way to eat French fries? ›

By using heart-healthy olive oil and baking your hand-cut fries, you'll be getting all of the nutrients potatoes naturally have to offer, according to the USDA, without all of the unhealthy fats and preservatives so common in fast food fries, per McDonald's.

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What potato makes the best French fries? ›

And the clear winners are Idaho or russet potatoes.

These potatoes are dense and have less moisture, which is key to avoiding soggy fries. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes, which are an all-purpose potato that can be used for frying. You should avoid waxy potatoes like red-skinned, new, or fingerling potatoes.

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How does Mcdonald's make their fries taste so good? ›

When our suppliers partially fry our cut potatoes, they use an oil blend that contains beef flavoring. This ensures the great-tasting and recognizable flavor we all love from our World Famous Fries®. The Fries are cooked in our kitchens, seasoned with salt, and served hot to you.

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Why are French fries so addictive? ›

Your brain on McDonald's fries

"Eating salty foods triggers the release of dopamine, a happy-hormone, brain chemical that stimulates feelings of pleasure and satisfaction," she explained. So you've got sugar, you've got salt, and then you also have fat, Miller pointed out. This is the grand trifecta.

Why do French fries taste so good? ›

The Maillard reaction happens when foods like potatoes have just the right amount of glucose and amino acids and are heated to above 302 degrees Fahrenheit. A big part of the flavor in fries also comes from the oil we use to fry them. A little salt also adds to the taste.

What does French fries do for your body? ›

Because of their starch content, french fries are a high-glycemic food, posing a cardiovascular and metabolic health risk. However, they are high in fibre, water, and nutrients, which are beneficial. Therefore, limiting them and viewing them as an unhealthy once-in-a-while treat rather than a staple may be wise.

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