Air Fryer Cheesy Chips: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryers are a great way to make delicious, crispy, and healthy chips. But what if you want to make them even better? Enter: cheesy chips. This classic British dish is typically served at chip shops and kebab shops across the UK and can be easily recreated at home with an air fryer and a few simple ingredients.

Choosing the right potato

The type of potato you use is key to achieving the perfect chip. Potatoes fall into two basic types: floury and waxy. Waxy potatoes are great for boiling as they hold their shape, but for crispy chips, you'll want to use a floury variety. Floury potatoes, also called mealy potatoes, are high in starch and low in moisture, which is ideal for frying.

Varieties to Look Out For

The most common floury potatoes are Russets, Shepody, Idahos, and Sweet Potatoes. Maris Piper is another excellent option, and the traditional chip favourite in the UK. With its creamy white flesh and fluffy texture, you're guaranteed a tasty crunch on the outside, while the inside remains light and fluffy. Maris Piper potatoes are also conveniently available in most supermarkets. Other varieties that work well for chips include King Edwards, Rooster, and Saxon.

Preparing Your Potatoes

Before cooking, it's a good idea to rinse your potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch, which can cause your chips to stick together or burn too quickly. You can also soak your potatoes in a bowl of cold water for a few hours, or even just a few minutes, to help draw out the starch. Be sure to dry your potatoes thoroughly after rinsing or soaking, as wet potatoes can cause oil to spit.

Preparing the potato

Ingredients

Depending on your preference, you can use frozen French fries or make your own chips from scratch. If you're making your own, floury potatoes such as Maris Piper or Rooster are recommended for a fluffier chip interior and a crispier exterior. You will also need oil, salt, and pepper, as well as cornflour and seasonings of your choice (e.g. paprika, garlic salt, chilli flakes, or herbs).

Cutting the Chips

Peel the potatoes and cut them into chip shapes. If you want neat, straight chips, trim the potatoes into rectangular blocks first and then cut them into batons. If you don't mind a more rustic shape, you can skip the trimming step and cut the unpeeled potatoes directly into chips. The chips should be somewhere between fries and thick chips in thickness; if they're too thin, they might break, and if they're too thick, they won't cook through.

Pre-Cooking Preparation

Rinse the chips and pat them dry with a clean tea towel. Then, toss the chips in cornflour, coating them evenly. After that, coat them in oil and seasonings. You can add extra flavourings such as Cajun spice, garlic salt, chilli flakes, or dried herbs.

Cooking the Chips

Place the chips in the air fryer and cook at 190C/375F for about 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to prevent sticking. If you're using frozen chips, you can cook them at 200C/390F for 12 minutes, shaking the basket at least once.

Adding flavour

While the cheese is the star of the show, you can add extra flavourings to your chips before air-frying.

Herbs and Spices

A sprinkling of herbs and spices can go a long way. Try dried herbs like rosemary, or spices like Cajun spice, curry powder, or paprika. If you're using dried herbs, add them halfway through cooking so they don't burn.

Garlic

Garlic is a great way to add flavour to your cheesy chips. You can use garlic powder, garlic salt, or fresh garlic cloves. Just be aware that garlic can burn easily, so add it towards the end of the cooking process.

Onions

Onions, especially red onions, can add a nice crunch and extra flavour to your cheesy chips. Slice them finely and add them to the air fryer for the last few minutes of cooking.

Oil

Using a flavoured oil, like garlic oil, can add a nice depth of flavour to your chips. You can also use a neutral-tasting oil and add your own flavours to it. For example, you could infuse the oil with herbs, chilli, or other spices.

Cheese

Of course, the cheese itself will add a lot of flavour to your chips. Experiment with different types of cheese to find your favourite. A combination of mozzarella and cheddar is a classic choice, but you can also try parmesan, blue cheese, or any other cheese that melts well.

Melting the cheese

The type of cheese you use is important. A combination of mozzarella and cheddar is a popular choice, as the mozzarella provides the cheese pull and the cheddar provides the flavour. Pre-grated mozzarella is best, as it's coated in potato starch, which helps to prevent the chips from becoming soggy. You can use pre-grated cheddar, but it's recommended that you grate it yourself, as pre-grated cheese often contains caking agents that can impact the melting process.

Once your chips are cooked, and your cheese is grated, it's time to melt the cheese. Place your chips in a silicone cake pan, and add a layer of mozzarella cheese. If you're using spring onions, chop some up and sprinkle them over the mozzarella. Then, add another layer of grated cheese. Place the pan in the air fryer basket and air fry for around 5 minutes at 180°C, or until the cheese is melted to your liking.

If you don't have a silicone cake pan, you can place the cheese directly on top of the chips in the air fryer basket, and cook for 3-4 minutes at 200°C.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer cheesy chips are a versatile dish that can be served as a snack, side, or even a meal. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• As a snack: Cheesy chips can be a delicious late-night snack after a night out or a tasty treat for movie night. You can also serve them as an appetiser or party food for your guests.
• Side dish: These cheesy chips are the perfect side for a variety of meals. Try them with chicken wings, nuggets, or burgers. They also go well with chicken, beef, or vegan chilli. For a true comfort food experience, serve them with gravy or load them up with sour cream and guacamole.
• Meal: For a heartier meal, pair your cheesy chips with air fryer chicken nuggets, halloumi fries, green beans, or garlic bread. You can also serve them with a dip like mayonnaise, blue cheese sauce, garlic mayonnaise, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, BBQ sauce, or ketchup.
• Customise your toppings: Feel free to add extra toppings to your cheesy chips. Some options include chopped spring onions, crispy onions, bacon bits, shredded chicken breast, jalapeños, or chilli flakes.
• Different types of cheese: While the classic combination is cheddar and mozzarella, you can experiment with different types of cheese. Just make sure the cheese melts well and avoid low-fat cheese, as it may not melt properly.
• Different types of potatoes: You can use straight-cut chips, curly fries, seasoned wedges, or any other type of potato you prefer. Sweet potato fries are a great option if you want to switch things up.
• Different types of fries: If you're feeling adventurous, try making loaded fries or cheese fries. Loaded fries are topped with various ingredients like bacon, cheese, and spring onions, while cheese fries are smothered in a cheese sauce.

Frequently asked questions