National Cheddar Fries Day Date in the current year: April 20, 2024

Cheddar fries are just what it says on the tin: French fries topped with melted cheddar cheese, with the possible addition of bacon, fried onions, jalapeño slices, chives, olives, chopped tomato, chili con carne, and other toppings. The dish is a variation of cheese fries, also called cheesy chips in the United Kingdom.

Cheese fries originated in the United States, although it is unclear when and where this happened. The dish was popularized in the early 1950s by Cheese Whiz, a brand of processed cheese products owned and produced by Kraft Foods.

Cheese fries can be made with different types of cheese: American or other kinds of processed cheese, mozzarella, Swiss cheese, Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack, cheddar, and even nacho cheese sauce. Cheddar is one of the most popular options because it is easy to come by, being one of the top produced cheeses in the United States, melts well, and has a distinct flavor that complements the taste of the fries.

Cheddar fries are especially popular in the American Southwest, where French fries are topped with melted cheddar cheese, bits of bacon, jalapeños, and chives, and served with ranch dressing on the side. The dish can be found in many restaurants and fast food joints, but it is actually very easy to make at home. All you need to do is deep fry or oven-bake frozen fries, sprinkle them with shredded cheddar, and put the fries in the oven to melt the cheese. Sprinkle additional toppings if you want and serve while hot with a side of ranch dressing.

National Cheddar Fries Day has been celebrated annually since 2016. It was founded by Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar, a Dallas-based establishment that claims to be the home of the original cheddar fries. Snuffer’s make their cheddar fries from hand-cut Idaho potatoes and top them with freshly grated aged Wisconsin cheddar cheese.

If you live in the Dallas area of Texas, you can celebrate National Cheddar Fries Day by checking out the closest Snuffer’s location and ordering their famous cheddar fries. If you don’t, well, there are many other ways to observe this amazing holiday! You can go out to your favorite fast food restaurant or diner that has cheddar fries on the menu, make your favorite version of cheese fries at home, host a fries and cheese party or a cheddar fries cook-off for your friends, and post about the holiday on social media using the hashtags #NationalCheddarFriesDay and #CheddarFriesDay.

By the way, National Cheddar Fries Day is not the only holiday celebrating a food pairing that includes French fries. Champagne and French Fries Day, observed annually on January 10, is dedicated to an unlikely pairing that actually works! The crisp and acidic taste of sparkling wine and the fat and salt in French fries balance each other out perfectly, creating a divine culinary experience.