If you’re searching for something decadent and cozy, nothing beats a dish of handmade fries slathered in a creamy, wonderful cheddar sauce. The good news (and maybe terrible news) is that you can make this at home with only a couple of russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, and some fridge and pantry basics. You can use frozen fries if you have them on hand, but these oven-baked handmade fries are *really* tasty and really simple to make.
A few potatoes, a few minutes to cut them into wedges and sprinkle them with olive oil, and approximately 30 minutes in the oven, and they’ll be golden and lovely, with crispy edges and creamy insides, ready to be drizzled with cheese sauce.
Notes about the Ingredients
Russet potatoes create the greatest traditional potato wedges. I prefer to peel them, but it’s not required. If you want your fries with skin, just scrub your potatoes and cut them into wedges.
Milk: You may use any percentage of milk in this recipe, but the higher the fat content of the milk, the smoother and creamier the sauce will be.
I recommend using freshly shredded cheddar cheese. The anti-caking chemicals in pre-shredded cheese might cause your sauce to become lumpy. Sharp cheddar is my preferred cheese for cheese sauces, although mild to extra sharp would do.
Recipe for Cheese Fries
Make your wedges as follows: Toss potato wedges with olive oil, season, and bake until crispy on the exterior and tender on the inside, approximately halfway through, flipping once.
Begin making the cheese sauce: Melt the butter and mix in the flour to make a thick paste. Cook until the paste becomes golden (this will cook the raw flour taste out of the sauce). Slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is thickened and frothy around the edges.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the cheese, a heaping handful at a time. When the cheese is entirely melted, season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.
Pour the cheese sauce over the fries: Serve and have fun!!
