Pachos with Emerald Isle Dipping Sauce
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Waffle fries covered in cheese with Emerald Isle Dipping Sauce (Pacho Sauce!) ā can you name a better duo? Pachos will magically disappear before your eyes and you'll be left thinking about them for days. It's really all in the sauce, this is the best french fry dipping sauce ever!
If you're in a saucy mood, try this curry dipping sauce or this chipotle mayo. You may even want to give this creamy avocado sauce a go!
Pachos are the ultimate indulgence for birthdays, game nights, backyard BBQs, and more. They are super satisfying crunchy lattice fries with the ultimate dip. Everyone will be asking you where to get the recipe! Promise, you'll get rave reviews for this one, no matter if you're serving kids or adults!
The secret's in the sauce, which you can make ahead of time. Just remember to squirrel some away for yourself for later! Pachos are an easy, crowd-pleasing plate that comes together in 3 steps and just 25 minutes.
What are pachos?
If potatoes and nachos came together and had a baby, its name would be pacho!
If you search for pachos on the internet, a wonderful restaurant called Kelly O'Bryan's will probably surface, and this is because pachos are one of their famous dishes.
Pachos are lattice or waffle fries topped with cheese and green onions and served with a side of this incredible sauce. The dipping sauce that is served with Pachos is officially called Emerald Isle Sauce, but everyone refers to it as Pacho Sauce. This Pacho Sauce Recipe comes from Mama Wheel and it was her mother who is the genius who created the recipe. So please stop by Mama Wheel and thank her mother for letting us all eat Pachos whenever we feel like it!
Ingredients needed
For the fries:
- Waffle or curly fries: These fries work best because they can carry toppings well. You can use gluten-free fries, if needed.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Buying cheese pre-shredded will save you time but you can also grate it over the fries yourself. Cheddar adds a nice sharp taste, but other types of melty cheeses will work also.
- Green onions:Ā Slice the green onions into rounds to add some freshness to the plate.
For the Emerald Isle Sauce/Pacho sauce:
- Miracle Whip: This forms the base of the dipping sauce, but note, DO NOT use Hellman's as it won't taste the same!
- Prepared yellow mustard: this adds a little tang to the sauce.
- White vinegar: Similar to the yellow mustard, vinegar adds some zing or acid to the sauce.
- Granulated sugar: You can use brown sugar instead, just know it will alter the color of the sauce.
- Spices: This sauce uses ground basil, ground tarragon, ground pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Fresh herbs are not ideal to include in the sauce, ground/dried are best. If your dried herbs aren't ground, simply put them into the palm of your hand and crush them with your fingers!
How to make pachos with Emerald Isle Sauce
Making pachos is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Start by putting your fries into the oven. Then, when they're nearly cooked, cover them in cheese.
- Make the pacho sauce by mixing together the ingredients ā easy!
- Serve the cheesy fries topped with green onions and plenty of pacho sauce on the side.
What to serve with pachos
While you could easily crush a plate of these on your own, if you're serving a crowd, pachos make for a killer addition to any spread. Here are some ideas of what you can serve with pachos:
- Grilled corn salad with bbq sausage
- Baked bbq chicken
- Guacamole burger
- Classic broccoli coleslaw
Recipe FAQs
Can I use another type of fry?
Sure! Waffle fries provide a nice surface area, but curly fries are another great option!
What else can I add as toppings?
Fresh herbs, chopped bell peppers, spicy peppers, ground meat like beef, other types of cheeses, crumbled bacon, or tomatoes would all be nice toppings.
How long does pacho sauce last?
If stored in an airtight container, the sauce will last at least a week in the fridge.
More french fry recipes
Pachos with Emerald Isle Dipping Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package waffle or curly fries (gluten-free, if needed)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 green onions (sliced into rounds)
Emerald Isle Sauce
- 1 Ā½ cups Miracle Whip (DO NOT use Hellman's as it won't taste the same)
- 1 Ā½ tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- Ā¼ cup white vinegar
- Ā½ cup granulated sugar
- Ā½ teaspoon ground basil
- Ā½ teaspoon ground tarragon
- ā teaspoon ground pepper
- ā teaspoon salt
- ā teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the package of fries according to package directions. When the fries are finished cooking remove them from the oven and sprinkle them with cheddar cheese. Return them to the oven for about 2 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.1 package waffle or curly fries, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- While the fries are cooking, prepare the sauce. Combine all of the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Mix until well combined. Store in a covered jar in the fridge until ready to use.1 Ā½ cups Miracle Whip, 1 Ā½ tablespoons prepared yellow mustard, Ā¼ cup white vinegar, Ā½ cup granulated sugar, Ā½ teaspoon ground basil, Ā½ teaspoon ground tarragon, ā teaspoon ground pepper, ā teaspoon salt, ā teaspoon garlic powder
- To serve the pachos, pile the fries on a large plate layering them with green onions. Serve the Emerald Isle Sauce on the side.3 green onions
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our sauce recipes!
This was delicious! Thank you so much, now if only there was a recipe for the mckracken rolls!Ā
Oohh that’s a good idea! Might just have to start working on one!
I wanted this to be good but it just tasted like really sweet mayo?
This is so good – I always get compliments when I make this recipe- thank you.Ā
So good! But I liked it better without any sugar added
I am making this again….it is the best recipe, thanks for posting this.
One of my favorites ever! I need to make it again myself!
Hi there thanks for this recipe!! Do you know how long the sauce is good for kept in the fridge? Thank you!!
I suspect for quite a while, but it never lasts long in our house. š
Does this recipe call for the original miracle whip or would the light version make a difference? Thatās all I have.. thank you!Ā
I haven’t tried it with the lighter version, but I think it would work just as well!
Iāve worked for Kellyāoās before and Iāll let you in on a key ingredient that you havenāt included. Ā Thatās the seasoning salt that you need to toss after the fries are cooked. Ā Not really sure what the seasoning salt contains but Iām sure you can find a sweet and salty variation of seasoning salt recipe online!!
Also this spice is used to cook off the beef with Cajun spice to make extreme Pachos, which then you would add green and red peppers, white onion and chedder baked on second layer.
Thank you so much for the insider tip! You’re amazing!
How long is the sauce good for? I would like to jar ahead time if possible!
I would think it would last up to a week in your fridge. š
Like many of the other individuals who have commented, I also grew up in the Interior, and have many fond memories of eating plates of Pachos with friends for birthdays, graduations, or just because we didn’t want to do homework… Glad I came across this recipe for the sauce, as home is almost 3000km away, and I don’t get back often… I’m curious as to whether you would use fresh herbs (basil and tarragon), or if you can use dried herbs
While I normally use fresh herbs when I cook, in this recipe I use dry herbs. It just seems like the thing to do. Happy pacho eating!
Oh how I miss pachos and the sauce. Growing up in Winfield outside of Kelowna BC my friends and I would go to Kelly O’bryans for every birthday! I’m so going to try making this! Thanks for posting.
I grew up in Kelowna, and even lived in Winfield for a short while when I was young. We also went to Kelly O’s every year for our birthdays for a big plate of pachos. Do you remember when they used to have those giant plates of pachos for 4? You’re going to love this … it’s exactly like what I remember pacho sauce tasting like. š
You had me at KellyāO’Bryans! Growing up in the interior as well I was very familiar with this restaurant and am super excited to try the isle sauce! First visit to your site and love it, will be returning for sure and sharing. I found you by googling chocolate mousse (FYI)
Cheese and fries seem to go hand in hand. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I LOVE Pachos! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Wow, this looks amazing! Cheese fries are my go to junk food, so I will have to try this. The sauce looks great, too.
Beautiful photos, and a delicious-looking recipe! Wow, I’m SO hungry right now – this isn’t helping š