• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • Privacy Policy, Disclosures & Disclaimers
    • Contact / PRs / Review Policy / Link Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Ingredients
  • As Seen
  • Credit Crunch Munch
  • Extra Veg
  • Work With Me
Fuss Free Flavours

Fuss Free Flavours

Easy recipes you will make again | Travel | Reviews

  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Quick & Easy
    • Recipes by Course
      • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
      • Main Meal
      • Side Dishes
      • Drinks
      • Starters & Light Bites
      • Desserts & Puddings
      • Baking
        • Biscuits and cookies
        • Bread Recipes
        • Cake
        • Cupcakes
        • Muffins
        • Pie
      • Soup
      • Salad
      • Dips, Dressings, & Sauces
      • Easy Jam, Jelly & Preserve Recipes
    • Recipes by Cuisine
      • American
      • Chinese
      • French
      • Italian
      • Other Cuisines
      • Vegetarian Recipes
      • Vegan Recipes
  • Recipes by Main Ingredient
    • Beef
    • Poultry
    • Pork
    • Lamb
    • Game
    • Fish & Seafood
    • Beans & Lentils
    • Pasta
    • Grains & Rice
    • Fruit
    • Vegetables
    • Dairy
    • Booze
  • Travel
    • Rest of Europe
    • French
    • Rest of the world
    • Food Origins and Stories
You are here: Home / Recipes / Recipes by Cuisine / British / Easy Cheesy Chips

Easy Cheesy Chips

Published on January 25, 2021 by Helen Best-Shaw 11 Comments
Last Updated on May 21, 2021

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
Bowl of fresh cheesy chips

 Cheesy chips (or cheese fries, if you prefer) is a comforting British chip shop classic. Beat the blues by making my cheesy chips recipe at home for a treat that’s just as tasty and a lot lower in calories!

A black dish full of yellow cheesy chips covered in rich sauce.

Everything You Need To Know

  • Cheesy Chips 
  • Why Make My Cheesy Chips Recipe?
  • Why Use Cornflour to Thicken a Sauce? 
  • Cheesy Chips Ingredients
  • How to Make Cheesy Chips 
  • Hints, Tips & Variations
  • More Chip Recipes
  • Easy Cheesy Chips
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Notes
    • Video

Cheesy Chips 

Cheesy chips are one of life’s little indulgences. A portion of piping hot chips from the deep fryer, covered with melted cheese and sprinkled with salt, fills me with joy. 

It’s the perfect comfort food, ideal for a late night snack walking home from the pub. I probably had cheesy chips at least once a week in my university days – hot, salty and just so so good. 

Of course, they are not so good for you when they are dripping with fat from the fryer. My cheesy chips recipe keeps the calories at bay by using oven chips, which are lighter, crisper and less messy.

It is essential, of course, that the cheese is melted. There is nothing more disappointing than cheesy chips (or a baked potato) covered in a mound of cold grated cheese. The chips need to be coated with melted cheese. Microwaving doesn’t work, as you just end up with soggy chips.    

So I make a simple fuss-free cheese sauce, with no roux and no fuss. A properly made roux is a great way to thicken a sauce, but for a shortcut I LOVE my easy cornflour method. 

Why Make My Cheesy Chips Recipe?

  • A delicious indulgence
  • Using oven chips means these are better for you than deep fried chips 
  • Portion control – takeout portions are HUGE with calories to match. And once I’ve paid for it, I’ll invariably eat the entire lot! 
  • Cheesy chips at any time at home!  
  • This cheesy chips recipe is as cheap as chips to make!  

Why Use Cornflour to Thicken a Sauce? 

Cornflour is my secret weapon for thickening anything. Simply add some liquid to the cornflour, stir to make a paste and add to whatever you want to thicken. 

It is especially good for takeout-style dishes as it makes a good thick, glossy sauce. Unlike a classic roux you can simply add more cornflour mixture to thicken a sauce you have already made. 

With a roux, you need to melt butter, add the flour, stir it in, cook the flour and then slowly add the liquid. The process cannot be rushed, and it is so easy to get a lumpy sauce that tastes of flour.  No one wants that on their chips!  

I use the same easy no roux method of making a cheese sauce in my hot cheese dip, and easy macaroni cheese recipes.  

Cheesy Chips Ingredients

An annotated photo showing oven chips, cornflour, garlic, mustard and turmeric, grated cheese and milk - cheesy chips ingredients.

  • Oven Chips – You can make your own, but I love the ease and speed of frozen oven chips. All the work is done for you and they come out perfectly every time. Spend a few more pennies on a branded, or supermarket mid range, as the cheapest ones tend to have more broken and tiny broken chips. 
  • Cheddar Cheese – I like a good strong supermarket block of cheddar. This is going in a sauce to be served on chips, so save the expensive artisan cheddar for your cheeseboard!  If you prefer use a mild cheddar – your chips so make it how you like!  
  • Cornflour/Cornstarch – The secret to a silky smooth no-roux takeaway-style sauce. Once you start using cornflour to thicken sauces, you will never make a roux again.  
  • Milk – Your choice of whole, skimmed or somewhere in between. I don’t recommend plant milk here.  

Optional (but they make your cheesy chips far better!)

  • Dijon Mustard – A mild mustard has wonderful affinity with cheese, enhancing the flavour without making it taste of mustard. Think of it as making your cheese go further. 
  • Garlic Powder – Adds a layer of extra flavour, without being over powering.  
  • Turmeric – Adds an attractive golden colour to the sauce.  

How to Make Cheesy Chips 

Gather the ingredients as described above.  

Oven chips on a mesh tray, ready to cook in the oven.

Step one – Put the chips in the oven following the packet instructions. Alternatively, cook your chips in an Acrifry or airfryer if you prefer. 

For perfect crispy chips we always use a mesh oven tray. These are a bargain, costing just a couple of pounds. They go through the dishwasher time after time and are seemingly indestructible.     I’ve had mine for years. 

a small orange bowl of cornflour being mixed to a paste with milk

Step two – Put the cornflour into a small bowl, add a splash of the milk and mix until you have a smooth paste. 

Making cheese sauce in a white enamel saucepan for cheesy chips

Step three – Add the remainder of the milk and grated cheese to a saucepan. Heat gently until the cheese has melted.  

Cheesy chips - making the sauce. Stirring the sauce ingredients together in a white enamel saucepan.

Step four – Add the cornstarch mixture, and the mustard, garlic powder and turmeric. Carry on cooking, stirring all the time, and the mixture will thicken.  

Fuss Free Tip

The cheese sauce will thicken on the sides and the bottom of the pan first, so when stirring take care to scrape the thick sauce off the sides and bottom of the pan, mixing it it.

A saucepan of thick sauce for cheesy chips, coating the back of a spoon.

Step five – The cheese sauce is ready when it is thick and glossy, and coats the back of a spoon. 

Pro Tip 

To make a thicker sauce, make a little more cornflour paste in a small bowl and stir in to the pan.  DO NOT add cornflour directly to the hot sauce as it will clump and you will never get the lumps out.  

A top down picture of a round cast iron dish full of cheesy chips in rich yellow cheese sauce.

Step six – When the chips are ready, reheat the sauce for a minute. Transfer the chips to a serving dish and pour over the cheese sauce. Serve and enjoy your cheesy chips hot! 

Hints, Tips & Variations

The only thing that can possibly go wrong with this recipe is to add the cornflour directly to a pan of liquid. Don’t do it. Always add a little liquid to the cornflour in a separate bowl, stir, then add to whatever you want to thicken.   

  • The turmeric, mustard and garlic are optional, but they add a glorious colour and extra flavour. 
  • Substitute some of the cheddar with mozzarella for a really stringy cheesy chips!  
  • You could add curry powder for a hint of heat, resulting in a delicious cheesy curry sauce for chips.
  • The sauce would be equally delicious on sweet potato or other vegetable fries. 

A hand holding a cheese sauce coated chip

More Chip Recipes

If you love jazzed up chips (fries) why not try:- 

  • Masala Chips
  • Salt & Pepper Chips
  • Pizza Fries
  • Loaded Pub Chips
  • Garlic Parmesan Fries
  • Chip Shop Curry Sauce
  • Swede Fries
Tried this recipe?If you try this recipe please tag #FussFreeFlavours on Instagram or Twitter. It is amazing for me when for me when you make one of my recipes and I really do love to see them. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thanks for reading Fuss Free Flavours!
Close up of cheesy chips being taken from a serving dish full.
Print Recipe
BookmarkSaved!
4.91 from 10 votes

Easy Cheesy Chips

My cheesy chips recipe is a treat that's just as tasty as the chip shop version, and a lot lower in calories!
Servings: 2 people
Author: Helen Best-Shaw
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 250 g oven chips
  • 2 tsp cornflour
  • 100 ml milk
  • 70 g cheddar cheese (grated)
  • ¼ tsp turmeric (optional)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
  • ½ tsp Dijon mustard (optional)

Instructions

  • Cook the oven chips according to the instructions.
  • Put the cornflour into a small bowl, add a splash of milk and mix until you have a smooth paste. 
  • Put the rest of the milk and grated cheese in a saucepan. Heat gently until the cheese has melted.  
  • Add the cornstarch mixture, and the mustard, garlic powder and turmeric. Carry on cooking, stirring all the time, and the mixture will thicken.
  • To make a thicker sauce, make a little more cornflour paste in a small bowl and stir in to the pan.  DO NOT add cornflour directly to the hot sauce as it will clump and you will never get the lumps out. 
  • The cheese sauce is ready when it is thick and glossy, and coats the back of a spoon. Serve immediately, or if chips need a little longer, reheat when you are ready.
  • Transfer the chips to a serving dish and pour over the cheese sauce. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Hints, Tips & Variations
The only thing that can possibly go wrong with this recipe is to add the cornflour directly to a pan of liquid. Don't do it. Always add a little liquid to the cornflour in a separate bowl, stir, then add to whatever you want to thicken.   
  • The turmeric, mustard and garlic are optional, but they add a glorious colour and extra flavour. 
  • Substitute some of the cheddar with mozzarella for a really stringy cheesy chips!  
  • You could add curry powder for a hint of heat, resulting in a delicious cheesy curry sauce for chips.
  • The sauce would be equally delicious on sweet potato or other vegetable fries. 
Nutritional Information 
  • This recipe is 23 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion 
• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Cheesy Chips
Amount Per Serving
Calories 508 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 42mg14%
Sodium 866mg38%
Potassium 655mg19%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 433IU9%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 322mg32%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Side
Cuisine: British
Keyword: cheesy chips

Video

Delicious Recipes Emailed To You!Get easy, tasty recipes for FREE when you subscribe! Click to Subscribe Now!!

 

Related Posts

  • Close up of fully loaded dirty chips
    Fully Loaded Dirty Chips
  • Seriously Easy Cheese Dip
  • Masala chips on a marble board
    Easy Masala Chips
  • Taking a chip from a serving of salt and pepper chips.
    Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe

Filed Under: British, Dairy, Quick & Easy, Recipes, Side Dishes Ingredients: Cheese, Oven Chips

Previous Post: « Easy Chocolate Orange Fudge
Next Post: Easy No Mayo Coleslaw »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Donna G

    5 stars
    I totally agree with the portion size of takeaways, far too much. Love the idea of making my own and I won’t feel so guilty as they appear to be healthier.

    Reply
  2. Sophie

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy idea for some perfect comfort food. Just the kind of thing I could so with as the weather seems to be doomed at the moment!

    Reply
  3. Indie Punton

    5 stars
    These were just the thing to have this week. Delicious and warming, easy and tasted amazing,

    Reply
  4. Florrie

    5 stars
    Such a good comfort food, and great to make at home. I much prefer oven chips to greasy ones from a takeaway.

    Reply
  5. William Harris

    5 stars
    I’ve been feeling cold and miserable for the last couple of weeks, and it was this cheeky recipe that perked me up. Great comfort food and really easy to knock up.

    Reply
  6. Kirralee Purdy

    5 stars
    Ah, the memories of student nights out. Greasy cheesy chips, with lashings of mayo on top. It sounds awful, but it was the food of several gods. Undoubtedly this is a much healthier recipe that I have indulged in and will enjoy again.

    Reply
  7. Sally

    I want to just write yum, but that feels a little lacklustre in terms of the amount of yum that this deserves. I love the idea of thickening up with cornflour.

    Reply
  8. Paul W

    5 stars
    This is the food of weekend nights and binge watching box sets. Delicious and cheesy.

    Reply
  9. Francis

    4 stars
    This is a tasty way of enjoying oven chips. Just like those halcyon student days.

    Reply
  10. Vikki

    5 stars
    Great fakeaway food that is actually better than how I remember it. This is a great way to enjoy chips.

    Reply
  11. Heather

    5 stars
    Proper comfort food that I really can’t feel guilty for. Nice idea and was easy to make.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Headshot of Helen Best-Shaw, Food Blogger at Fuss Free Flavours I'm Helen, full time freelance food writer, photographer and blogger. On this site you will find my fuss-free recipes, travel and reviews. Learn more here
Twitter Logo, bluw circle with a white bird Facebook logo, blue square with a white F inside You Tube Logo, a red box with the words You Tube on the inside Pinterest Logo, a red circle with white P on the inside Instagram Logo, a rainbow box with a square and circle inside of it Flipboard Logo - Red square with a white F on the inside

Press/As Seen On

Image-1

Subscribe

Footer

Latest Posts

Best Easy Fudge Recipes

Best Easy Fudge Recipes

Easy Parsnip & Apple Soup

Easy Parsnip & Apple Soup

Easy Slow Cooker Fudge

Easy Slow Cooker Fudge

Easy Coffee Fudge

Easy Coffee Fudge

Pea & Mint Soup

Pea & Mint Soup

Hot Cross Bun Bread & Butter Pudding

Hot Cross Bun Bread & Butter Pudding

Privacy Policy, Disclosures & Disclaimers

Copyright © 2022 Helen Best-Shaw / Fuss Free Flavours - Easy Recipes You Will Make Again