Alternative Fries That Will Make Everyone Want to Eat Their Vegetables

Related To:

TGIF isn't only for kicking off the weekend — any day can be fry day if you put your mind to it. Classic french fries are deep-fried until crisp, sprinkled with salt and devoured instantly, but other vegetables can be made equally craveworthy for side dishes with less guilt.

Check out five of our favorite alternative fries, like Tia Mowry's zucchini sticks with ranch dip (pictured above) — which are still fried, but made of squash instead of potatoes — and oven-fried potato wedges that may convert you from your fast-food favorites. They're also a great way to coax your kids into eating vegetables without even realizing what's under the crunchy batter. Ladies and gentlemen, start your ovens.

Salt, pepper and olive oil are all you need to make crispy oven fries, but you can elevate them with spicy flavors (cayenne, turmeric and onion powder) or refreshing lemon zest, garlic and oregano.

Frame 151

Frame 151

Photo by: Stephen Johnson ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

These super-meta onion rings are actually coated in crushed baked potato chips. The rings can be eaten alone or on top of burgers and sandwiches.

Beauty shot of Sweet Po-tater Tots during Mini Munchies, as seen on Cooking Channel's Dinner at Tiffani's, Season 2.

Beauty shot of Sweet Po-tater Tots during Mini Munchies, as seen on Cooking Channel's Dinner at Tiffani's, Season 2.

Photo by: Jessica Brooks ©© 2016 Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Jessica Brooks, © 2016 Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Tiffani Thiessen's party-food favorites use heart-healthy sweet potatoes and only get a quick fry in oil so they don't come out greasy. Plus, how cute are tots?
Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar
Cooking Channel
Large Red Beets, Olive Oil, Black Pepper, Salt, Avocados, Cilantro, Limes, Tomato, Red Onion,
Sea Salt

Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar Cooking Channel Large Red Beets, Olive Oil, Black Pepper, Salt, Avocados, Cilantro, Limes, Tomato, Red Onion, Sea Salt

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos call these beet chips a "labor of love," but the hour of baking time is well worth it. Once you dip the crunchy, vibrantly colored vegetables in guacamole, regular tortilla chips and fried potatoes will pale (literally) in comparison.

More kid-friendly sides from our friends:
Creative Culinary: Cheesy Hashbrown Waffles

Next Up

Fall Fest: Cozy Up With In-Season Potatoes

Creamy, cheesy or crispy, potatoes are delicious any way you cook them and the perfect comfort food. Serve one of our top potato recipes for dinner tonight.

6 Twists on Mashed Potatoes That'll Have You Dancing in the Kitchen

Get interesting mashed potato recipes for side dishes like mashed sweet potatoes, twice-baked potatoes and more on Cooking Channel.

5 Ways to Cook Potatoes

Versatile and filling, potatoes can be baked in the oven, steamed on a stove or even cooked in a slow cooker. Try your hand at each method and pick your favorite way of cooking these starchy tubers.

On TV

Cheap Eats

7am | 6c

Cheap Eats

7:30am | 6:30c

Cheap Eats

8am | 7c

Cheap Eats

8:30am | 7:30c

Good Eats: Reloaded

9:30am | 8:30c

Good Eats

10am | 9c

Good Eats

10:30am | 9:30c

Good Eats

11am | 10c

Good Eats

11:30am | 10:30c
6pm | 5c
6:30pm | 5:30c
7pm | 6c
7:30pm | 6:30c
On Tonight
On Tonight
8pm | 7c
8:30pm | 7:30c
9pm | 8c
9:30pm | 8:30c
10pm | 9c
11pm | 10c
12am | 11c
12:30am | 11:30c
1am | 12c
1:30am | 12:30c
2am | 1c
3am | 2c
What's Hot

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Sundays 10|9c

So Much Pretty Food Here