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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Easy Cheesy Chips Recipe

    Published: Jan 25, 2022 · Modified: Jan 25, 2023 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 11 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Cheesy chips pin image.

    A British chip shop classic, easy cheesy chips are comfort food in a bowl, and can be made with very little effort at home! They also go down well with teenagers and their friends!

    The cheese sauce is made with a classic roux base, before milk, grated cheddar, garlic powder, turmeric, mustard powder, and smoked paprika are added, to give it a deliciously cheesy taste! Try my pepperoni pizza fries recipe too!

    A plate of cheesy chips with salt and ketchup.
    Cheesy Chips

    This is the cheesy chips recipe that gets requested by my kids when they have their friends over to stay!

    Apparently, these are the 'best cheesy chips EVER', even better than our local chippy (quite the accolade!).

    Homemade cheesy chips (or cheesy fries) are made with good old frozen chips, which I always have a stash of in my freezer.

    I prefer cooking the chips in an air fryer, for extra crispiness, but you could also use a deep fat fryer! Basically, just cook the chips the way that you would normally do so!

    Then, it's just a case of making a really quick cheese sauce (which takes less than 5 minutes!), and pouring the glossy oozy sauce over the hot chips!

    A sprinkle of salt, and of course ketchup, is all you need to make these cheesy chips fit for a bunch of teenagers (and adults coming home from the pub!).

    👩‍🍳 Love chips? Try my air fryer sweet potato chips too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🥄 Equipment
    • 🔪 How to make cheesy chips with frozen chips
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋 More potato recipes!
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    Here's why these are the best homemade cheesy chips around!

    • Quick and easy cheesy chips recipe.
    • Uses frozen oven chips.
    • Great for a post-pub snack.
    • Cheap and frugal.
    • Better than chip shop cheesy chips.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make cheesy chips.
    • Chips - I use frozen chips and cook them in my air fryer. You can also oven-bake the chips if you don't have an air fryer, or deep fry them! Make your own chips if you prefer, but I always use frozen because it's much quicker!
    • Sauce Base - you'll need butter and plain flour to make a roux.
    • Milk - to create the sauce. I usually use semi-skimmed milk but whole or skimmed can also be used.
    • Cheese - I like to use extra mature cheddar for the ultimate cheesy chips experience. If you prefer your cheese on the milder side, use a mild cheddar instead!
    • Seasonings - I use a combination of turmeric, smoked paprika, garlic powder, English mustard powder, and a sprinkle of cayenne and sea salt to finish!
    A plate of cheesy chips with ketchup.

    🥄 Equipment

    I like to air fry my chips and I use the Ninja Foodi Health Grill and Air Fryer. It not only air fries food but also grills, bakes, and dehydrates too. It's a super useful kitchen gadget and one that I definitely wouldn't be without.

    You can also oven-bake the chips on a baking sheet, or use a deep fat fryer.

    A grater, saucepan, and whisk are needed to make the cheese sauce.

    🔪 How to make cheesy chips with frozen chips

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Melt the butter in a heavy-based saucepan.

    Two: Stir in the flour.

    Three: Cook the roux for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.

    Four: Add the milk and use a whisk to get rid of any lumps. Simmer on a medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sauce has thickened (it should coat the back of a wooden spoon).

    How to make cheese sauce for cheesy chips.

    Five: Take the pan off the heat and add the grated cheese and seasonings (apart from the cayenne and salt).

    Six: Mix with a spoon until the sauce becomes smooth, glossy and all the cheese has melted.

    Seven: Take your chips out of the air fryer or oven and put them on a serving plate.

    Eight: Pour over the hot cheese sauce and sprinkle over the cayenne and some sea salt.

    Assembling cheesy chips.

    💭 Top tips

    • Don't be tempted to try and melt grated cheese in the microwave to add to the chips, it doesn't work!
    • Don't skip the seasonings either! The mustard powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika add an extra level of flavour, and the turmeric gives the sauce that glorious yellow colour!
    • Eat the cheesy chips hot! If you leave them too long the cheese will go hard!
    • Roast potatoes and sweet potato fries are also delicious with the cheese sauce!

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    We usually eat cheesy chips as a snack. However, you could serve them with some hot sausage rolls, veggie burgers, or sausages, for a more substantial meal!

    📖 Variations

    • Make cheesy bacon chips by adding some crumbled bacon bits on top of the cheese sauce.
    • Add half a teaspoon of chilli powder for spicy cheesy chips!
    • Make loaded cheesy chips and add leftover chilli or slow cooker bolognese on top of the chips (reheat the chilli or bolognese in the microwave first), before pouring over the cheese sauce.
    • Add half a teaspoon of curry powder for cheesy curry chips!
    • Use French Fries instead of chips for cheesy fries.
    • Garnish with parsley for a bit of colour!
    Cheesy chips with salt and ketchup.

    ❓ FAQs

    Are cheesy chips healthy?

    Not particularly, but if you air fry your chips rather than deep fry them, and use reduced-fat cheddar cheese, they will be much healthier than if you bought them from a chip shop!

    What cheese is used in takeaway cheesy chips?

    Any cheese that can be grated and melts well can be used to make cheesy chips. Mature cheddar, mild cheddar, Red Leicester, Mozzarella, and Parmesan for example.

    😋 More potato recipes!

    • Easy Roast Sweet Potatoes
    • Polenta Roast Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Baked Potato
    • Parmentier Potatoes
    • Mini Hasselback Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Chips

    Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's cooking in the Effortless Foodie kitchen! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!

    Recipe

    A plate of cheesy chips.
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    5 from 14 votes

    Easy Cheesy Chips

    A British chip shop classic, these easy cheesy chips are comfort food in a bowl, and can be made with very little effort at home! They also go down very well with teenagers and their friends!
    Course Snack
    Cuisine British
    Keyword best cheesy chips, cheesy chips, easy cheesy chips, homemade cheesy chips
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 18 minutes
    Total Time 23 minutes
    Servings 3
    Calories 714kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Jug
    • Baking Sheets
    • Air Fryer optional
    • Cheese Grater
    • Whisk
    • Large Saucepan

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 500 g Frozen Oven Chips
    • 20 g Butter
    • 20 g Plain Flour
    • 250 ml Milk
    • 120 g Extra Mature Cheddar grated
    • ½ teaspoon Turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon English Mustard Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne for sprinkling
    • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt for sprinkling

    Instructions

    • Cook your frozen chips as per packet instructions, either in your air fryer, oven, or deep fat fryer.
      500 g Frozen Oven Chips
    • Whilst the chips are cooking, make the cheese sauce by first, melting the butter in a saucepan on the hob
      20 g Butter
    • Stir in the flour then cook the roux paste for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
      20 g Plain Flour
    • Pour in the milk and use a whisk to get rid of any lumps. Simmer on a medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sauce has thickened (it should coat the back of a wooden spoon). This should only take a few minutes.
      250 ml Milk
    • Take the pan off the heat and add the grated cheese and seasonings (apart from the cayenne and salt). Mix with a spoon until the sauce becomes smooth, glossy and all the cheese has melted.
      120 g Extra Mature Cheddar, ½ teaspoon Turmeric, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon English Mustard Powder, ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • Take your chips out of the air fryer or oven and put them on a serving plate.
      500 g Frozen Oven Chips
    • Pour over the hot cheese sauce and sprinkle over the cayenne and some sea salt.
      ¼ teaspoon Cayenne, ½ teaspoon Sea Salt

    Video

    Notes

    The ingredient quantities I give in the recipe feed my 3 children as a snack.
     
    Top Tips:
    • Don't be tempted to try and melt grated cheese in the microwave to add to the chips, it doesn't work!
    • Don't skip the seasonings either! The mustard powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika add an extra level of flavour, and the turmeric gives the sauce that glorious yellow colour!
    • Eat the cheesy chips hot! If you leave them too long the cheese will go hard!
    • Roast potatoes or sweet potato fries are also delicious with the cheese sauce!
     
    Variations:
    • Make cheesy bacon chips by adding some crumbled bacon bits on top of the cheese sauce.
    • Add half a teaspoon of chilli powder for spicy cheesy chips!
    • Make loaded cheesy chips and add leftover chilli on top of the chips (reheat the chilli in the microwave!), before pouring over the cheese sauce.
    • Add half a teaspoon of curry powder for cheesy curry chips!
    • Use French Fries instead of chips for cheesy fries.
    • Garnish with parsley for a bit of colour!
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Cheesy Chips
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    714
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    44
    g
    68
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    18
    g
    113
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    19
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    50
    mg
    17
    %
    Sodium
     
    1490
    mg
    65
    %
    Potassium
     
    909
    mg
    26
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    63
    g
    21
    %
    Fiber
     
    8
    g
    33
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    20
    g
    40
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    773
    IU
    15
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    11
    mg
    13
    %
    Calcium
     
    409
    mg
    41
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily

      January 25, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      You can't go wrong with cheese, I'm excited to try adding curry powder!

      Reply
    2. Ana F.

      January 25, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      I made these chips recipe over the weekend and it was a hit with the family! Can't wait to make it again and thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    3. Louise

      January 25, 2022 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      Oh My! These are the ultimate comfort food. Making a roux as the cheesy sauce is next level genius IMO!

      Reply
    4. Ieva

      January 25, 2022 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      Cheesy Chips is one of my guilty pleasures, but I never tried making the cheese sauce myself before. Loved the spices that went in and tasted so much better than the ones from my takeaway shop. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    5. Kate

      January 25, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this cheesy chips recipe! The spices really elevated them! I can't wait to make these again.

      Reply
    6. Kate

      January 26, 2022 at 9:38 am

      5 stars
      Oh my, cheesy chips are just an epic chip shop treat after a night out - I love this 'gourmet' version with all the extra flavourings, definitely trying this during the week!

      Reply
    7. Katherine

      January 26, 2022 at 11:22 am

      5 stars
      Ooooh yes! Got to love cheesy chips! It's a treat when we're out places, so great that we can now make them at home. Yum!

      Reply
    8. Nora

      January 26, 2022 at 12:53 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, yeah! That's comfort food! Loved it! Perfect for the cold days we have right now!

      Reply
    9. Dannii

      January 26, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      You can't beat cheesy chips. It takes me back to my student days!

      Reply
    10. Heidy

      January 26, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      These easy cheesy chips were perfect for a quick and tasty snack last night. We all enjoyed them and I will be making them again!

      Reply
    11. Cathleen

      January 26, 2022 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      I also make my chips in the air fryer! Probably what I use my air fryer for 90% of the time haha. I have been on a cheesy chips kick this past month, but for some reason I have never made it at home! Thank you so much for this, it will save me so much money!

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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