8 Amazing Poutine Recipes

From its Canadian origins as explored by the BBC to its adaptations across the globe, poutine is a beloved dish and often serves as a versatile canvas for culinary creations. Whether you are a poutine purist or simply intrigued by other ways to use cheese, potatoes and gravy to create a delicious dish, there are many poutine recipes to explore. From creative combinations using items from the Freddy’s near you to dishes made traditionally (or less so) from scratch, learn more about making poutine recipes and discover some variations to try!

What are the basic components of a poutine recipe?

While it may not be the most colorful dish, it is a deceptively simple one that is known for offering warmth and comforting deliciousness in every bite. As further analyzed at America’s Test Kitchen, the taste and texture of poutine depends on the careful preparation and balance of three key ingredients: cheese curds, french fries and gravy. Below, learn more about typical approaches to these components as well as what each ingredient brings to the finished poutine recipe:

Cheese Curds

While fresh cheese curds may not be a staple in your home, data from the USDA’s Economic Research Service highlights that the average American consumes around 40 pounds of cheese per year. Consequently, even if you haven’t yet experienced the fresh white cheddar cheese curds that often frequent the more authentic poutine recipes, the presence of cheese in this recipe may entice you to try it. Based on the Food Network’s discussion of cheese curds, here are three facts about cheese curds that may contribute to their visual and textural role in poutine, as well as its overall taste:

● Fresh cheese curds are the form of cheese that is typically used in poutine recipes. This freshness also accounts for the potential squeak you may hear when biting into a cheese curd.

● They may be varied in color.

● Cheese curds mainly taste like milk with a slight saltiness.

Fries

Whether baked, mashed, fried or prepared in any other way, potatoes are an even more beloved staple than cheese, though both often appear on weekly grocery lists and together in dishes. While cheese curds offer both unique texture and flavor, the french fries in poutine serve a similar purpose. Enhancing the saltiness of the dish and its crunchiness, french fries function as the platform for building the rest of the complete dish. The food specialists at Saveur recommend russet potatoes for the fries and frying them not once but twice.

Gravy

Like poutine itself, making gravy can be a simple process or a more complex one. While gravy recipes may pass from one generation to the next without change or alteration, gravy is also an opportunity for various ingredients to come together and create a variety of flavors. As explained by Food & Wine, making gravy requires very few ingredients. However, to create more flavor and greater depth to this sauce, there are a variety of tips and tricks to use in addition to options for the base ingredients themselves. For example, broth is accessible on any grocery store shelf, but a gravy that uses homemade stock or pan drippings may increase the intensity and richness of that meat flavor.

Regarding the gravy for poutine, Serious Eats provides tips on making a traditional brown gravy, as well as guidance for making your own cheese curds and appropriately thick and crispy fries. Typically, brown gravy is a beef-based gravy that often incorporates the drippings resulting from roasting meat. A basic gravy often includes the following ingredients: butter (with or in place of meat drippings), broth and flour, as well as salt and pepper. In addition to the preparation of or options for these main components, additional herbs, condiments or other ingredients may be added. Whether added to the fries before or after the cheese curds, this gravy helps soften and warm the cheese curds and unify the dish as a whole.

Frequently Asked Questions about Poutine

Do I have to make or use beef gravy?

No on both counts! While you certainly can make your own gravy (beef or otherwise) from scratch, your enjoyment of the finished poutine and the process of its preparation should guide this culinary endeavor (and others!). In fact, some poutine recipes intentionally swap gravy for other sauces or dressings, or use a mushroom, chicken or turkey base.

Can I still make poutine without a deep fryer?

Absolutely! From the potential risks of deep frying at home to the desire to reduce fat content, there are many reasons to tailor your french fry preparation to your preferences. Frozen french fries baked in the oven or air-fried are certainly a faster option in comparison to cutting, prepping and frying potatoes from scratch. Ultimately, you may even prefer the lighter flavor of different cooking preparations, different fry cuts or even types of potato.

Do I have to use cheese curds?

While this ingredient is traditionally used in poutine recipes, there are many alternatives that may not have the squeak but may serve similar flavor and textural purposes. Fresh mozzarella and shredded cheddar are two possible options. Unless you are intentionally going for a looser cheese component, as with a cheese sauce, consider choosing a cheese that can be in similar chunks to the usual curds.

8 Poutine Recipes to Try

Make my own cheese curds? Double-frying hand-cut french fries? Roasting meat to have the gravy’s necessary pan drippings? Yes, poutine recipes can require a substantial amount of work, but the dish is also rather flexible and adaptable to the kind of approach you want to or are comfortable taking with the dish. For inspiration, discover some poutine recipes that range from the more authentic to the exploratory.

1. Try an authentic poutine recipe! Given poutine’s Canadian origins, consider trying a recipe from a local, as shared at Seasons & Suppers. Learn more about deep-frying the fries, as well as potential ingredient substitutions and other notes to help you enjoy this dish.

2. Check out this visual guide to poutine preparation. All Recipes offers another poutine recipe and provides pictures for each step to help you ensure that your poutine turns out as expected. You’ll also find some community tips to help you through the process as well as recommendations for poutine variations to try.

3. Explore a sauce swap. Exchanging traditional gravy for barbecue sauce, Ricardo Cuisine includes ground beef in the sauce in addition to the beef broth typically used in poutine gravy. This poutine recipe also recommends leaving the skin on the potato sections and baking them instead of frying them.

4. Combine two classics! Poutine and pizza work together in this recipe from All Recipes. Featuring both pizza sauce and gravy, as well as frozen fries and shredded cheese, this poutine recipe deviates substantially from the more traditional preparations. However, if you like its poutine’s primary components, not to mention pizza, this unusual combination may appeal to you!

5. Enjoy poutine for brunch! Poutine is generally considered a dish that is filling enough to serve as a meal. In this recipe provided by Kardea Brown via Food Network, poutine is transformed into a brunch item. From the addition of bacon and eggs to its choice of sauce and potato preparation, this poutine recipe may take inspiration from poutine, but its ingredients are also favorites in a variety of classic brunch preparations.

6. Make it vegan! Vancouver with Love offers a vegan variation on poutine. Including ingredients like tofu, miso paste and mushrooms, this poutine is free of animal products but includes many flavorful alternatives. Whether you are watching your meat or dairy consumption or have health or lifestyle considerations, this poutine recipe may be right for you!

7. Repurpose leftovers! Use up pulled pork, as in this poutine recipe from Sunday Supper, or one of the many other odds and ends that may be hanging around your house. Especially if you are using frozen fries or other premade potato products, combining this part of the trio with cheese or sauce alternatives and additional toppings can be a quick and easy meal.

8. Play with toppings! Yes, authentic poutine may rely on three primary ingredients. However, your creations and the poutine recipes used at restaurants and other dining options don’t have to adhere to this foundation. In fact, Canadian public broadcaster, CBC, recommends a variety of toppings including lobster, mushrooms, and scallions as part of its guide to making a poutine bar in celebration of Canada Day on July 1st.

Poutine Recipe-Inspired Creations at Freddy’s

At Freddy’s, customization is available for many of our menu items. Whether you want to add another steakburger patty or alter your choices of toppings, guests have quite a bit of flexibility with our menu. Often, the unique creations of our guests, such as their many off-the-menu custard combinations, impress and inspire us. Fans of poutine may already be aware that variations on the key ingredients for this dish are readily available at Freddy’s. Here are some ways to create poutine-inspired dishes using our menu offerings:

Make a homemade poutine with our cheese curds.

One ingredient for poutine that people may not have on hand is cheese curds. However, poutine recipe ideas, like developing unique burgers, can happen through the creative use of items in the refrigerator or pantry. Although traditional poutine uses fresh cheese curds, Freddy’s premium white cheddar cheese curds have buttery crumbs and are fried to deliciousness, resulting in a crispy crunch on the outside and an ooey-gooey interior. If you are looking to use up the gravy in your freezer and potatoes in your pantry, pick up some of our cheese curds to make a quick poutine at home. On the other hand, with a little ingredient innovation, you might create your own poutine with our cheese curds, shoestring fries and choice of sauce in place of a typical gravy.

Spice up your poutine with our cheese fries.

Many poutine recipes and variations on poutine exist, and gravy is one component that is often altered. If gravy typically made with beef or chicken broth isn’t for you, why not let a cheese sauce serve a similar purpose? Freddy’s cheese fries feature Freddy’s shoestring fries and a jalapeño cheese sauce. Once you top this side with our crunch cheese curds, you’ll be able to enjoy an even more cheese-forward variation on poutine. With no cooking required and a lot of crunchy texture and creamy cheese yumminess, get ready for a decadent dining experience!

Use tots for the potato component of your poutine!

Fries, especially ones that are cut thicker, may be standard for more authentic poutine preparations. However, poutine recipe variations could also include other potato formats to serve a similar function in the dish, such as our shoestring fries and Tots. Seasoned with Freddy’s Steakburger and Fry Seasoning® and then crisped up to perfection, our Tots are a scrumptious treat whether they are dipped in ketchup, used in kid-friendly recipes, or served as the foundation for a variation on poutine. Whether you opt for the more typical cheese curds or a cheese sauce, complete your dish with your own homemade gravy or a spicy or creamy alternative, such as chili, one of Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauces® or a dressing of choice.

Want to try cheese curds before trying your hand at making a poutine recipe? Stop by your local Freddy’s to try this dish, and maybe enjoy our new Prime Rib Steakburger or Strawberry Dreamcake Sundae while you are there! For convenience, flavor and customization with regard to your meal choice, Freddy’s invites guests to enjoy our offerings in their preferred way. Don’t forget to join Freddy’s Rewards before placing your next order, so that you earn a FREE reward for signing up and continue to earn points toward more rewards with every order!