You’ll Crave Valerie Bertinelli’s Disco Fries Recipe: It’s Rich, Cheesy and Full of Comforting Deliciousness

Hearing the name “disco fries” will likely make you want to dance and cause your taste buds to water. No need to fight those feelings as this dish is as fun as it sounds. It’s simply French fries smothered in gravy and topped with cheese (typically Mozzarella). This trio of ingredients creates a rich and salty snack that actress and cookbook author Valerie Bertinelli has the perfect recipe for. Read on to learn more about disco fries, plus Bertinelli’s simple recipe that uses a convenient shortcut!

What are disco fries?

It’s easy to mix up disco fries with Canadian poutine as they both consist of fries covered in gravy and cheese. But, poutine uses cheese curds while disco fries use shredded mozzarella. Disco fries are a New Jersey diner staple that many believe originated in the 1970s  as a post-nightclub snack. Though, even if you don’t plan on hitting the dance floor, these smothered fries are a delicious snack option to enjoy right at home.

Easy shortcut for crispy oven-baked fries

Instead of peeling and slicing potatoes into fries, Bertinelli opts for frozen store-bought steak fries. These fries are thicker than a regular fry, which allows them to hold more of the gravy and cheese. Also, the fries bake up extra crispy when they’re cooked on a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. You don’t need to thaw the fries beforehand so you can whip up this snack at a moment’s notice!

Bertinelli’s speedy and tasty recipe for disco fries

Below, you’ll find Bertinelli’s disco fries recipe from her former Food Network show, Valerie’s Home Cooking. It’s great for times when you’re craving a comfort snack with a variety of flavors and textures.

Disco Fries

Ingredients:

• Nonstick cooking spray, for the baking pan
• One 28-oz bag frozen steak French fries
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter 
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour 
• ½ tsp garlic powder 
• ½ tsp onion powder 
• ½ tsp paprika 
• 1½ cups beef broth 
• 2 tbsp heavy cream 
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella 

Directions:

• Active: 20 mins
• Total time: 35 mins
• Yield: 4 servings

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (or the temperature indicated on the package of french fries). 
2. Spray a large rimmed baking pan with cooking spray.
3. Spread the fries in the pan in a single layer and spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake according to the package directions or until very crispy.
4. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Slowly add the broth while whisking constantly and occasionally stirring with a rubber spatula, making sure to get into the edges of the pan, until all of the broth has been incorporated. Add the cream and increase the heat to medium-high to bring to a rapid simmer. Simmer, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Transfer half of the fries to a small rimmed baking pan or oven-safe platter. Top with half of the cheese, then add the remaining fries and the rest of the cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Drizzle the fries with some of the gravy. Serve immediately.