Seasoned French fries are a popular side dish, but it isn’t necessary to spend extra money on the pre-seasoned variety. I love seasoned French fries, and I bake them in the oven using inexpensive shoestring potatoes. For a mere seventy-five cents or less, you can make a baking pan filled with seasoned French fries to serve with grilled sandwiches or any other appropriate main course dishes. Save yourself a great deal of money, and make them at home. The following ideas will show you how.
Seasoned Fry Preparation
Spices won’t stick to frozen potatoes, so before adding any type of seasoning to French fries, it’s important to allow them to bake in a preheated oven for a few minutes before adding the seasoning. After the fries have begun to thaw as they bake, remove the pan from the oven, and generously sprinkle on one of the following toppings. You’ll never buy pre-seasoned potatoes again!
Basic Seasoned Fries
To make seasoned potatoes that are very similar to those sold in stores, sprinkle on a coating of your favorite seasoned salt. Even store brand seasoned salt will add a lot of flavor for just a few pennies. Serve them with your favorite dips such as mayonnaise, ketchup, or a mixture of both for something very tasty and different.
Pizza
If you love pizza, cover potatoes with a generous coating of pizza seasoning and parmesan cheese. Serve them with a side dish of your favorite pizza sauce, or top them with shredded mozzarella cheese for a tasty appetizer that’s sure to please. Add extra pizza toppings for a complete and filling meal.
Barbeque
Those who love the flavor of barbeque can add kick to their French fries with a coating of their favorite barbeque seasoning. When served with a mixture of half barbeque sauce and half ketchup they’re really tasty. Cool it down with a little blue cheese dressing for a sweet and tangy barbeque flavored dip. Buffalo potatoes are great for parties!
Italian
If you’re partial to Italian seasoning, cover partially baked French fries with a generous coating of Italian seasoning. Sprinkle on parmesan or Romano cheese if desired, and provide spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce for dipping. These are great when served with Italian beef on crusty rolls.
Cheese
Cheesy French fries are extra tasty, but they’re also extra fattening. Cut calories by sprinkling a mixture of macaroni and cheese powder and parmesan cheese over partially baked potatoes. Add a little Italian seasoning for color and additional flavor. You’ll save calories while enjoying the rich flavor of cheese. Combine mayonnaise with parmesan cheese for a very tasty and unique dipping sauce, or provide single-serving cups of cheese sauce.
Taco
If you love the flavor of Mexican spices, don’t save it exclusively for tacos or other Mexican dishes. Sprinkle taco sauce over potatoes for seasoned French fries unlike any you’ve ever had. Serve your favorite salsa and cheese dip on the side, or top them with a layer of taco meat, refried beans, cheese, black olives, and all of your favorite taco toppings. You’ll never look at seasoned French fries the same way again!
