French fried potatoes smothered in cheese sauce is not exactly classified as health food (ahem), but it’s certainly delicious.

TODAY — Pictured: Oven-Roasted Cheese Fries on Friday, October 25, 2019 — (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

This new-and-improved version removes all of the guilt, while still maintaining the drool-worthy and cheesy goodness. 

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Oven-Roasted Cheese Fries

French fried potatoes smothered in cheese sauce is not exactly classified as health food (ahem), but it’s certainly delicious.
Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
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Ingredients
 

For the fries

  • 2 large russet potatoes, cut into thin french-fry-like strips
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the cheese sauce (makes ~3/4 cup)

  • 1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon smokey paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 cup 2% reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
  • Optional red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

To prepare the fries:

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a large baking sheet with nonstick oil spray. Spread the fries out in a single layer on the baking sheet and mist the tops liberally with additional oil spray. Sprinkle the salt and pepper evenly over the fries.
  • Bake the fries for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. To finish, set the oven to broil and broil for 5 more minutes (depending on how brown and crispy you like your fries—watch closely so they don’t burn). Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

While the potatoes are roasting, prepare the cheese sauce:

  • Combine the milk, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, dry mustard, and paprika in a saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until thickened. Reduce heat to low, then stir in the cheese, and mixture until is everything is thick, well combined, and cheesy!
  • To serve transfer the fries to a platter, drizzle on the hot and melty cheese sauce, and garnish with an optional dash of paprika for color.

Notes

Nutrition provided for 1 serving of fries with 3 tablespoons of cheese sauce.
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN

Nutrition Information per serving

Calories: 200Carbohydrates: 23gProtein: 14gTotal Fat: 6g— Unsaturated Fat: 3g— Saturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 970mgFiber: 1gTotal Sugar: 8g— Natural Sugar: 8g— Added Sugar: 0g
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe! If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!