Homemade Pizza Fries

Making this amazing cheesy pizza fries dish from scratch is quite simple. Serve them as a finger food appetizer for a gathering, and they'll be more than suitable for sharing during your typical movie night with your family. It is also a good side dish for a weeknight dinner! These loaded fries are made with only a few simple ingredients and baked in the oven until crispy, so it will surely be okay for you to make it at home after a long day at school or work.

Fries and pizza have been some of the dishes that most people turn to when they are running out of meal options. They are widely available from different fast-food chains and diners, hence you can instantly buy some and munch it right after. This recipe is a safer and more delicious twist on your favorite pizza and fries.

In this recipe, instead of typical pizza crust, the fries become the crust to hold the cheesy and gooey toppings together. It is safe to say that this recipe is a two-in-one dish; a combination of two different popular snacks.

This is one of those dishes you will never get tired of making because everyone seems to be satisfied with it. Plus, you can't just really get enough of one serving, you come back again and again for more. You place it in a table for special gatherings, and it will be soon gone a few moments later.

Why Does This Recipe Work?

Here are some of the reasons why this recipe is a must-try in every household:

This is a vegetarian recipe. There is no meat in it, and if you are on a strict and healthy diet, you can allow yourself a serving or two of this dish.
Quick and easy to bake, it takes no longer an hour to serve this cheesy overloaded baked dish.
The whole recipe is budget-friendly, and it only requires six ingredients to perfect the dish! All these ingredients can be easily found in the nearest convenience store as well.
Enjoy a Friday night watching an entire show with the comfort of this dish.
Although this dish is best for snacks and treats, it can still make a delicious weeknight meal idea for the family.
This recipe is the perfect snack, lunch or dinner for game day.

What are pizza fries made of?

French Fries. Choose any french fries you prefer for this recipe, they will be baked first and then again with the rest of the ingredients. French fries will serve as the pizza crust for this recipe instead of using actual pizza dough.

Pizza Sauce. Despite the lack of pizza dough, this recipe is still a pizza and a pizza is never complete without pizza sauce. Pizza sauce allows for a more gooey and savory taste. You can use either store bought or homemade pizza sauce.

Grated Mozzarella. The stringy and stretchy feels of pizza will only be perfected with the help of grated mozzarella. Don't leave this one out!

Grated Cheddar. For a more cheesy and creamy texture in your dish, don't forget to add grated cheddar.

Thyme. It is one of the few herbs that go well with cheese. Mozzarella and cheddar are present in this recipe, and thyme whips up smashingly delicious cheese and herb pairing. Earthy, minty, slightly lemony flavor, thyme is a perfect herb for this recipe.

Green Olives. Green olives, just like thyme, pair well with different cheeses too. Hence green olives seem to be an excellent addition to the toppings in this recipe alongside cheddar and mozzarella.

Step by step instructions

First Step: Preheat the oven to 180C/ 356F and spray your casserole dish with cooking spray or grease with some butter.

Second Step: Put the fries in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.

Third Step: Pile all the baked fries into a deeper oven-safe dish. Pour the pizza sauce on top of the fries.

Fourth Step: Then, sprinkle over salt, dried thyme, mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

Fifth Step: Add the olives slices on top. Bake again for 4-5 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve warm!

Top Tips!

Choose and use young and fresh cheddar cheese in this recipe for a very mild, creamy, and smooth taste and texture. Using aged or old cheddars gives a nutty, crumbly, sharp taste with a hint of bitter taste, which you would not like in your fries.
Make sure to thoroughly dry the french fries by tapping them with a paper towel before baking them to avoid them steaming and becoming squishy or soft. Soft french fries will make soggy fries.
You can add all your favorite toppings.
You can cook this dish in the air fryer instead of the oven.

Recipe Variations

Store-bought fries will make this recipe easier. However, if you want to make this recipe from scratch, you can swap french fries with Yukon Gold potatoes and slice them into a shape akin to fries. Yukon Gold is a floury potato that creates the greatest fries. It also crisps up nicely on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy on the inside.
Use tomato sauce or BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce.
To make it spicy, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chili powder. You may also add some Italian seasoning, garlic powder or onion powder.
Make this dish extra cheesy, and add some parmesan cheese as well.

Different Toppings for Pizza Fries

To make Italian pizza fries, top it and add some fresh herbs such as basil and some cherry tomatoes.
Add some cooked chicken, sauteed mushrooms or cooked ground beef.
Top your fries with beef pepperoni for a strong, spicy flavor with a smoky kick! A pizza with fries, cheese, and beef pepperoni is always a good pizza.
Top it with some fresh fruits such as pineapple or strawberry.
Add to your pizza some veggies, such as onion, zucchini, tomato, bell pepper or corn.

Serving Suggestions and sides

This dish can be served alone with just a simple cold drink to pair it with. However, for a more intricate and complete meal, a vegetable salad is a good side dish along with roasted chicken or hamburger. A cold strawberry or chocolate milkshake is good for children to enjoy this dish with as well.

Storage

To Make-Ahead: This dish is best served warm. However, keep your ingredients ready just to assemble when needed.

How to Store: Store any leftover fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

How to Freeze: Keep in a well-sealed container in the freezer for up to 2 months and thaw overnight.

Reheating: To reheat this dish, transfer it to a baking pan and bake in the oven at 350F/180C for about 5-10 minutes; you can also reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe FAQs

How can I make my french fries crispy in the oven?

Making your baked fries crispy is quite easy. Make sure your fries are well dried, and make use of parchment paper to keep them from sticking together. Brushing the fries with oil can also be done to ensure a crispy texture.

Is this dish keto-friendly?

Although you can use vegan-friendly french fries, french fries are still high in carbohydrates; hence french fries cannot be included in the keto diet making this dish non-keto-friendly either.

How to make Homemade Pizza Sauce?

Mix the following:
1 cup of passata
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of dried basil

What are the best potatoes for homemade fries?

Both Russets and Yukon Golds both will give you delicious fries with good texture and lovely golden color.

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