“Sharing food is my love language, and fries make it easier. That’s why Friesgiving is my new favorite way to bring people together! Nothing fancy, just a plate of fries, a little laughter, and my people feeling a little closer than before. It’s comfort, joy, and a little bit of home all in one!”
Cook the Bacon In a large skillet over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crispy and browned. Remove a few spoonfuls to reserve for topping later.
Make the Rotel Cheese Sauce Add the can of Rotel tomatoes directly to the pan with the remaining bacon. Stir, then add the Velveeta cubes. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is fully melted and smooth.Be careful, you don’t want it to burn! If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of milk to loosen it up.
○ Pro tip: Don’t substitute pre-shredded cheese, its coating prevents it from melting properly and will cause clumping.
Add Crawfish & Season Stir in the thawed crawfish tails, reserving about 1⁄4 cup for garnish, and season with Cajun seasoning to taste. Allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for 2–3 minutes to bring the flavors together.
Prepare the Fries While the cheese mixture comes together, bake or air fry the McCain Smiles according to package directions until golden and crispy.
Assemble the Fries Arrange cooked Smiles on a platter or plate. Spoon the hot crawfish cheese sauce generously over the top. Garnish with the reserved bacon and crawfish tails, green onion, sour cream, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley and whatever else your heart desires!
Serve & Enjoy! Serve immediately while hot and melty.
Notes
● Crawfish Tip: For extra Cajun flavor, steep the crawfish tails in Zatarain’s Crab Boil before using. Follow the concentrate’s package directions, then drain before adding to the sauce. Do NOT cook, the tails are already cooked, just steep them in warm water.
● Shellfish Substitution: If you don’t have crawfish, you can substitute shrimp, crab, or any shellfish you like, or any other protein like beef or chicken, the sauce pairs beautifully with all of them.
● Cheese Tip: Velveeta is key to a smooth, creamy sauce, other cheeses will clump.
● Serving Suggestion: Great as a game-day appetizer or a fun main dish with a side salad, or the start of the show at Friesgiving!
● Make Ahead: You can prep the Rotel cheese sauce up to a day in advance. Reheat gently over low heat, adding a splash of milk to loosen if needed.
4
15
0
