There’s something undeniably exciting about combining two beloved comfort foods: pizza and french fries in one recipe. Pizza Waffle Fries feature an irresistible crispy waffle fry base, topped with rich marinara, melted cheese, and classic pizza toppings.
Easy lunch recipes, like this one - especially for busy weekends, are always needed at my house. Pizza fries are one of those recipes where it's easy to have ingredients on hand for when we are all starving and need something to eat right now!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Stupid Easy!
- Perfect for Sharing at a Party
- Customize to What You Love
Featured Ingredients
- Frozen Waffle Fries - They provide the crispy, textured foundation essential for holding the toppings without becoming soggy.
- Pizza Sauce - A rich, flavorful sauce forms the base for the pizza toppings. Make homemade pizza sauce without garlic or use your favorite store brand.
- Mozzarella Cheese - It melts into beautiful, gooey cheese that defines pizza flavor.
- Pepperoni - This classic pizza topping brings a smoky, slightly spicy note and crisp edges when baked.
- Seasoning Mix: Sprinkle the baked fries with garlic salt and Italian seasoning to add a little flavor to the crispy fries.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Bake a sheet pan of waffle fries for 5-10 minutes longer than the package instructions. No soggy fries! Use parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Step 2: After baking the fries, sprinkle with garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Toss until evenly coated.
Step 3: Next, smush the waffle fries, yes that is a technical term, together to create a “crust” like shape.
Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the fries. This will create a barrier between the pizza sauce and the fries - helping to prevent “soggy fries”
Step 4: Spoon the pizza sauce over the shredded cheese.
Add little amounts of sauce instead of big spoonfuls. This will help distribute it over the fries and make each bite have a bit of pizza sauce.
Step 5: Top the sauce with sliced pepperonis in a single layer.
If you want any additional pizza toppings, such as olives, mushrooms, or Italian sausage, now is the time to add them.
Step 6: Then sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese over the pepperoni. Add a few pepperoni slices on top of the cheese. These pepperonis will crisp up and create a great texture to the melty cheese.
Return the fries to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
If feeling really fancy - toss the fries under the broiler once the cheese has melted for the ultimate golden brown, melty cheese-crispy pepperoni combo!
Top the pizza fries with grated parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, and chopped fresh basil leaves. This is totally optional, but delicious!
Tips and Tricks
Picky Eaters? Use the same trick pizzerias do - split the "pizza fries crust" in half and build a custom pizza. Everyone Wins!
Ranch Dressing: We love dipping pizza and fries in ranch dressing, so of course, we are going to be dipping pizza fries in ranch! It might be a Midwest thing to dip everything in ranch - but we are not wrong about how delicious the creamy dressing is with EVERYTHING!
Ingredient Swaps
- Fries: No waffle fries - not a problem! We tested this recipe with steak fries - delicious. Regular cut fries - also delicious! The key is whatever fries you are using to make sure they are crispy!
- Sauce Options: No pizza sauce - not a problem either! Swap in spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce - both will work.
- Cheese Options: We tried fresh mozzarella, and it was a cheesy, gooey delight! Cheese curds were also great! We basically love all types of cheese!
- Toppings: Don’t stop at only pepperoni - love Supreme pizza - top with sliced green peppers, mushrooms, homemade Italian sausage, black olives! Loaded pizza fries are not a bad idea.
Special Diet Variations
Vegetarian Pizza Fries: Skip the pepperoni and add veggies like artichokes, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, or baby spinach for a fresh, flavorful twist.
Gluten Free Pizza Fries: Verify the waffle fries are indeed gluten free. I have made this mistake before, just assuming all fries are gluten free - WRONG. At least I caught it before eating the "not wheat-free" fries. Ugh.
Low FODMAP Pizza Fries: Using ingredient guidance from Monash University Food App it is possible to enjoy pizza fries on a low FODMAP diet! Use gluten free waffle fries. For the garlic salt, purchase garlic free garlic salt made by Smoke and Sanity or before baking, lightly coat the waffle fries in garlic infused olive oil. Use a low FODMAP pizza sauce, shredded parmesan cheese, and garlic free pepperoni!
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat thoroughly in the oven (for best results) to restore crunch and warmth.
Reheating Options:
- Oven Method:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the pizza waffle fries in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese becomes melty again. This method maintains the crispness of the fries best. - Microwave Method:
Place the fries on a microwave-safe plate and cover lightly with a paper towel. Heat on high in 30-second increments until warm, noting that the fries may lose their crunch and become softer. - Air Fryer Method:
Heat the air fryer to 350 degrees F. Place the fries in the basket in a single layer and heat for 5-7 minutes, shaking halfway through. This helps crisp up the fries and cheese without drying them out. - Skillet Method:
Warm a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place the fries in the skillet and cover with a lid for 4-5 minutes. Check on it often to avoid burning.
Reader Love
"This is such a good recipe find! From college student to babysitter to late-night family bite, it fits for everyone!"
- Stacy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FAQs
Yes, sweet potato fries add a subtle sweetness that pairs nicely with savory pizza toppings. Keep an eye on cooking times as sweet potato fries may cook slightly faster.
Yes! Use BBQ sauce for the pizza sauce, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and shredded already cooked chicken instead of pepperoni. Rotisserie shredded chicken would be a great shortcut.
Because you didn’t shred the cheese with a cheese grater. Sad but true, already shredded cheese has a coating on it that prevents a good melt.
Of course, this pizza fries recipe would be a great way to use up leftover fries! Crisp up the soggy fries in the oven and then proceed with the cheese, sauce, cheese, pepperoni layers.
Yes! I love using tater tots and think they would be a great substitute.
What To Serve With Pizza Fries
A fresh garden lettuce salad with ranch dressing would be a great way to add veggies to this meal. I also love the idea of a scoop of coleslaw with homemade tangy dressing. The crunch of the coleslaw would be a great contrast to the pizza fries.
Additional Pizza-Inspired Recipes
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Pizza Waffle Fries
Ingredients
- 22 ounces frozen waffle fries (Note 1)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt (Note 2)
- 2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
- ½ cup pizza sauce (Note 3)
- ½ cup pepperoni sliced
- Optional Toppings: grated parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes, chopped fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Bake waffle fries according to package directions on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Add an additional 8-10 minutes so the waffle fries are extra crispy, but not burnt.
- After crispy, sprinkle the fries with Italian seasoning and garlic salt. Stir until well coated.
- Smush the waffle fries together in the pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the fries.
- Next, carefully spread the pizza sauce over the cheese. Do not add any more sauce because the fries will be soggy.
- Evenly place the sliced pepperoni over the sauce.
- Next, sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the sauce layer.
- Place a few pepperoni slices over the cheese. These will turn crispy and be delicious.
- Put the baking sheet back into the oven for an additional 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted. If wanted - after the cheese is melted, broil the pizza fries for a few minutes to get a golden brown cheese.
- If wanted, top with grated parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and chopped basil. Enjoy right away!
Venessa Mandelkow says
Another great recipe for pizza night Friday's!
Stacy says
This is such a good recipe find! From college student to babysitter to late-night family bite, it fits for everyone!
Venessa Mandelkow says
Stacy,
So happy to hear this recipe works for your family! Thanks for taking time to leave a comment. It made my day 🙂 -Venessa