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Southern Poutine Recipe

You are going to love this spin on a classic Canadian staple. Click over and grab this delicious Southern poutine recipe with crispy fries, hot gravy and melted cheese.

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If you haven’t had good poutine, you are missing out.  If you are a poutine lover, then you need to try this southern poutine recipe.  I created this recipe after discovering poutine when my family went on vacation to New England and Quebec, Canada last summer.  

It was so delicious and we ordered it as an appetizer or side dish every chance we got.

I’m always in the kitchen and working on my meal plan so I added this dish to my list immediately.

The recipe is located at the bottom of this article in the recipe card.

southern poutine on a white plate on a grey wooden table, french fries, suasage gravy and shredded chedder cheese

What is poutine?

Poutine is a popular Canadian dish and consists of french fries topped with brown gravy and cheddar cheese curds.  It’s pronounced “poo teen”.  The gravy gets mixed in with the fries and then the fresh cheese curds get melty on top!  YUM!

When we got home I wanted to put my spin on this delicious recipe and make it Southern style!  Since I’m southern and live in North Carolina I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

It’s the perfect comfort food all every season.

I’ve had a few nasty comments that I’ve deleted saying this isn’t real poutine. There are different variations out there and poutine is basically gravy on fries and I just did it with a southern twist. It’s a simple recipe with delicious homemade gravy!

Poutine’s popularity has grown over the years and evolved from a simple, rustic dish served in diners to upscale restaurants. Variations of poutine have emerged, featuring different toppings like pulled pork, mushrooms, sausages, and now southern.

If you are looking for a traditional poutine, then this Canadian poutine recipe is the best poutine recipe according to Google!

southern poutine fries on a white plate on a grey wooden table, french fries, suasage gravy and shredded chedder cheese

Southern Poutine Recipe

One of the secrets to homemade poutine is having super crispy French fries.  It helps keep them from getting soggy too quickly.

You can make your homemade French fries from scratch ( potato wedges ), but who has time for that? I don’t have time to cut up potatoes because I’m busy running from practices, games and helping with homework.

 I took a shortcut and used Grown In Idaho Super Crispy Shoestring Fries that I purchased from Food Lion.  You could also use the Grown in Idaho Super Crispy Crinkle Cut Fries too. It’s the closest grocery store in either direction when you turn out of my neighborhood.  Remember, we are looking for crispy fries for this recipe and these work perfectly.

overhead view of southern poutine fries on a square plate with a small white bowl of orange shredded cheddar cheese and a bag of hand cut fries

You can cook the Grown in Idaho fries in the oven or air fryer. For best results,  I normally do mine in the air fryer because they get extra crispy and it’s just easier for me.  I love that I can just give them a shake and they get super crispy but you can also bake fries in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer.

I’ve made some Southern cheese fries that are to die for and you can check that recipe out here!  These fries are perfect for this recipe too.

hand getting frozen french fries out of the bag to put in an air fryer

Kitchen Tools needed for this easy poutine recipe

Wooden Spoons– You can never have too many wooden spoons. I have an entire drawer full and use one almost every day.

Cheese grater– I love this box grater because there are several different blades you can use so it’s perfect for all kinds of recipes.

Air Fryer– This recipe calls for crispy fries and air fryers are perfect to make things crispy. This is the exact one I have and we use it almost every day for something. We keep it out on the counter and my kids can make their own lunches and snacks.

Cutting Board Mats– These mats are one of my favorite things in my kitchen because they don’t take up much space. They are great for adding ingredients to mixing bowls and hot pots because they can be folded and bent easily to get all your ingredients where they need to be. They can easily be wiped clean too.

Ingredients for Southern Poutine Fries

  • Pork Sausage- I usually use mild or hot to give my gravy a little extra flavor.
  • 28 oz Grown in Idaho French fries
  • All purpose flour
  • Milk
  • Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. I usually don’t cook using a lot of pepper, but this is one recipe that I actually love the pepper taste.
  • Sharp cheddar cheese- You’ll want to make sure to shred this. You can also use different kinds of cheese, such as mozzarella cheese, but I really like the taste of cheddar cheese with this a little better.
hand grabbing a french fry off a white plate of southern poutine

How to make sausage gravy and fries

Step 1

Preheat the air fryer to 390F for 3 minutes. Add your frozen fries. Cook for 18 minutes or until they are golden brown. Shaking the basket several times.

If you don’t have an air fryer then you can cook your french fries in the oven according to the package instructions on a baking sheet.

Step 2

To make poutine gravy, cook pork sausage in a saucepan over medium heat in a pot until done. Breaking up into small pieces. Make sure to use a pot because you’ll be making the gravy and you want to make sure you have enough room.

Step 3

Sprinkle in flour, salt and pepper and stir well. Cook on low/med heat for 3 minutes.

Step 4

Slowly pour in milk 1/2 cup at a time. Stirring continuously until it begins to thicken.

Step 5

Add French fries to a large bowl or plate and pour the hot gravy over the top of the fries and top with shredded cheddar cheese. You can even mix in some mozzerella cheese too.

Instructions to make Homemade Fries

If you have time, you can always make your own homemade fries with an extra-crispy texture, using your own deep fryer is key. Begin by selecting russet potatoes. After washing and peeling the potatoes, slice them into uniform strips, ensuring even cooking.

Preheat your deep fryer, adjusting the oil temperature to around 350°F (175°C) for best results. Carefully place fries into the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding which can lead to uneven cooking. Deep fry the potatoes in small batches, allowing them to turn a golden-brown.

Once done, use a slotted spoon to remove the fries and place them on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

More easy recipes you’ll like

Slow Cooker Pork Salsa Verde– This is a family favorite with only a few ingredients. I make this all the time and everyone loves it.

Chicken and Dumplings– Who doesn’t like this classic recipe? This is made in the slow cooker without much effort. It’s ready when you get home from work.

Apple Pie Pizza– This is great for the fall, but you can eat it any time of year. If you like apple pie, then you’ll like this.

South Carolina Bird Dog– This is a great lunch or snack and it’s one of the recipes my kids can cook on their own using the air fryer.

Southern Fried Apples– OK- I promise this is the last recipe I’m adding. I just kept thinking of all the southern recipes I have on my site and I couldn’t decide which ones to leave out! If you have ever eaten at Cracker Barrel then I’m sure you’ve had their fried apples and these are just as good, even better. You can make them for breakfast, snacks or dessert.

Don’t forget, your feedback is invaluable! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section and a fantastic 5-star rating would be truly appreciated. I’m glad I have the opportunity to provide you with top-notch recipes, and your ratings play an important role in guiding other cooks on their quest for exciting new dishes. Your support is valuable to the whole community!

Southern Poutine

You are going to love this spin on a classic Canadian staple. Click over and grab this delicious recipe for Southern poutine.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword french fries, gravy, poutine
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8
Author Holly- Keeping Life Sane

Ingredients

  • 28 oz Grown in Idaho French fries
  • 1 lb ground mild or hot breakfast sausage
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer at 390F for 3 minutes. Add french fries. Cook for 18 minutes. Shaking the basket several times.
  • Cook sausage in pot until done. Breaking up into small pieces.
  • Sprinkle in flour, salt and pepper and stir well. Cook on low/med heat for 3 minutes.
  • Slowly pour in milk 1/2 cup at a time. Stirring continuously until it begins to thicken.
  • Add French fries to a bowl or plate, top with gravy and cheese.

Let me know how you like this Southern poutine, especially if you are from New England or Canada!

Recipe Rating