Copycat Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries are crispy seasoned fries tossed with Old Bay and served with a rich, creamy cheese sauce for dipping. This easy copycat recipe lets you enjoy the Philly area game day favorite at home whenever the craving hits.

If you’ve ever been to Philly, you know the casual food scene is basically cheesesteaks and Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries.

Step off the plane in Philadelphia airport and you can buy them there.

And of course, they are a staple at the Linc and Citizen’s Bank Park and so many other locations throughout the city.

They are such a fan favorite for good reason.

The combination of crispy fries, Old Bay seasoning, and that warm, creamy cheese sauce is one of those simple combinations that’s almost impossible to stop eating.

And what do these copycat Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries have in common with cheesesteak?

The cheese sauce.

Both steak sandwiches and crab fries get served with a smooth, creamy cheese sauce.

And this cheese sauce is smooth, creamy, and rich.

It’s the perfect balance to the bold Old Bay seasoning.

Give this recipe a try whenever you want some Philly flavor for game day and be prepared to make it over and over again.

Ingredients

To make these you’ll need:

Frozen fries– A 32 ounce bag of crispy crinkle cut fries.
Old Bay seasoning
American cheese– Get the white American cheese from the deli and roughly chop it.
Milk– Whole. Don’t substitute a lower fat milk or the sauce won’t come together properly.

How to Make

Copycat Chickie & Pete’s crab fries are so easy to make!

Just cook the fries according to the package directions for your preferred cooking method.

While the fries cook, warm the milk in a small sauce pan over medium heat, being careful not to boil or scald the milk.

When the milk is warm, stir in the chopped cheese until the cheese completely melts.

Season the fries evenly with Old Bay, tossing them to coat them.

Serve on a serving dish with the cheese sauce on the side for dipping.

Enjoy!

Storing Leftovers

This is one of those dishes that tastes best the day you make it.

However if you have leftover crab fries, I recommend storing the fries and cheese sauce in their own separate airtight containers in the fridge.

Reheat the fries in the oven or air fryer to crisp them up again and reheat the cheese sauce on the stove top, stirring in more milk if needed.

Is there crab in Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab Fries?

No!

People think there is but they are called crab fries because of the Old Bay seasoning, which is commonly used on seafood and has a crab on the spice jar.

There’s no actual crab, or seafood, in this recipe.

Tips and Tricks

While you can make these with any cut of fry, crinkle cut fries are the authentic way. The restaurant’s dish uses crinkle fries and the combination of crispy exterior and softer interior is part of what makes this so delicious.
Do not scald or boil the milk. It doesn’t improve the texture of the sauce and you risk burning the milk.
Whole milk is a must! If you use lower fat milk, the sauce won’t be as thick.

Other Game Day Recipes

Copycat Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries are a delicious, Philly style game day snack or appetizer.

Make them and enjoy!

Looking for other game day recipes?

Try these:

If you’ve tried this COPYCAT CHICKIE’S & PETE’S CRAB FRIES RECIPE, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

Chickie & Pete’s Crab Fries (Copycat Recipe)

Copycat Chickie's & Pete’s crab fries are crispy seasoned fries tossed with Old Bay and served with a rich, creamy cheese sauce for dipping. This easy copycat recipe lets you enjoy the Philly area game day favorite at home whenever the craving hits.

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Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings:

Calories: 411kcal

Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us

Ingredients

1 32 oz bag frozen crispy crinkle cut fries
1 1/2 - 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
1/2 lb sliced deli white American cheese roughly chopped
1/2 cup whole milk

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook the fries per the package directions for your preferred method.
1 32 oz bag frozen crispy crinkle cut fries
While the fries are cooking, heat the milk in a sauce pan set over medium heat. Do not let it boil or scald.
1/2 cup whole milk
Once the milk's warm add the chopped cheese. Stir continuously until it's completely melted and the sauce is smooth and thickened.
1/2 lb sliced deli white American cheese
Sprinkle the seasoning evenly out overtop of the cooked french fries. Gently toss until evenly coated.
1 1/2 - 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
Transfer the fries to a serving plate, and serve with the cheese sauce in a bowl on the side.

Notes

While you can make these with any cut of fry, crinkle cut fries are the authentic way. The restaurant's dish uses crinkle fries and the combination of crispy exterior and softer interior is part of what makes this so delicious.
Do not scald or boil the milk. It doesn't improve the texture of the sauce and you risk burning the milk.
Whole milk is a must! If you use lower fat milk, the sauce won't be as thick.