Cheesy BBQ Fries with Ranch (Printer View)

Crispy fries with smoky BBQ seasoning, melted cheddar, and cool homemade ranch dip for dipping perfection.

# Components:

→ Fries

01 - 28 oz frozen French fries
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 teaspoons BBQ seasoning blend

→ Toppings

04 - 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

→ Homemade Ranch Dip

06 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 1 teaspoon dried dill
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
13 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Method steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss the frozen fries with olive oil and BBQ seasoning until evenly coated. Spread fries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake fries for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
04 - While fries bake, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, dill, garlic, lemon juice, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
05 - Once fries are crispy, remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return fries to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
06 - Transfer fries to a serving platter and sprinkle with sliced spring onions.
07 - Serve hot with a side of homemade ranch dip.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole thing comes together in under 40 minutes, which means you can actually pull this off on a weeknight without losing your mind.
  • There's something almost magical about melted cheddar on hot fries that makes people forget they're eating something technically simple and totally forgive you for not cooking something more complicated.
  • You get to make your own ranch dip, so you'll taste the fresh herbs and garlic instead of that slightly plastic flavor from the packet.
02 -
  • Don't skip flipping the fries halfway through baking, because the bottom will stay pale and soggy if you just leave them sitting there, and you'll end up disappointed and blaming the recipe instead of your technique.
  • Add the cheese immediately after pulling the fries out of the oven while they're still steaming, because the residual heat is what melts it properly, and if you wait even five minutes they'll cool down and the cheese will just sit there like a sad cold blanket.
03 -
  • Buy quality frozen fries from a brand that actually cares about potato texture, because the difference between mediocre fries and good ones is literally the difference between this being okay and it being something people remember.
  • Make the ranch dip a few hours ahead of time so the flavors have time to meld together and taste even better than if you serve it immediately after mixing.
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