• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Blogghetti logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
    •  Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Search
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Home » Lightened Up Fast Food Sides Made at Home

Lightened Up Fast Food Sides Made at Home

Oct 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment

This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read our privacy policy.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up the fast food sides like french fries, onion rings and cheese sticks.  Here are a few ways to lighten up fast food sides by cooking them at home and as a bonus, it’ll be cheaper too!

Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to give up the fast food sides like french fries, onion rings and cheese sticks.  Here are a few ways to lighten up fast food sides by cooking them at home and as a bonus, it'll be cheaper too!

As fans of this oven-fried chicken recipe will know, home-cooked alternatives to fast food are healthier — and can taste much better — than the fast-food option. We’ve all played around with those healthy alternatives, such as tortilla pizza and homemade burgers, but there is one thing that still isn’t so easy to replicate at home: the side orders.

If you’re used to adding cheese sticks, dips, or fries to your order, you can easily end up craving them even when you’re enjoying healthy alternatives to the main meal itself. The sides are hard to replace– or are they? The good news is that you can create sides at home; in fact, you can even make them a dash healthier, if you follow the simple recipes below.

Light Red Onion Rings

Who doesn’t love a good onion ring?  I absolutely love the onion rings from a local fast food restaurant but totally can’t have them too often.  With this recipe you can feel a bit better about having  onion rings since they are baked and not fried.  They can be made with white or yellow onions, but the sweetness of antioxidant-rich red onions make them the perfect choice. Again, Panko breadcrumbs and a mandoline will come in very handy for this recipe.

Grab your onions and

  • Chop the rings to a thickness of around half an inch
  • Soak the chopped onion in buttermilk. The longer they soak, the better; the crumbs will stick better as a result, and it helps the texture. Prepping this the night before cooking is therefore advised.
  • Roll the soaked onion rings in flour and then in Panko crumbs. Look for a good coating of crumbs; it will make them crispier when served.
  • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 400F
  • Alternatively, if your oven is already occupied with the main, you can use a frying pan. Spray a skillet with olive oil and then heat to a high temperature, then add the rings. Lower the heat to medium after about thirty seconds.
  • Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to give up the fast food sides like french fries, onion rings and cheese sticks.  Here are a few ways to lighten up fast food sides by cooking them at home and as a bonus, it'll be cheaper too!

Delicious Sweet Potato Fries

Full disclosure: no one enjoys chopping potatoes with a knife, only to end up with misshapen and unevenly cooked fries as a result. The solution is to invest in a cheap little gadget that saves time and gives even cuts on every occasion; the mandoline. Check out a few mandoline slicer reviews, make your choice, and then you’re in business. Use your new gadget to perfect this sweet potato fries recipe; it’s easier than you might think.

Heat a lightly oiled baking sheet in the oven at 425 degrees F and then…

  • Take one and a half sweet potatoes per person
  • You can peel the potatoes if you prefer, or leave the skins on for a rustic twist
  • Use the mandoline to cut the potatoes to your size preference
  • Spritz the potatoes with a low-fat olive oil until moist
  • Add spices to taste; paprika and turmeric both work well
  • Line the fries on the preheated sheet
  • Bake for around 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Healthier Coleslaw

You may not be used to thinking of slaw as a non-healthy option, but the fast food option does tend to be heavy with preservatives and sweeteners. Doing a home version means you control what goes into it, meaning it’s healthier and you can experiment with your recipe.

The essentials are: cabbage (combination of purple and green is great); carrot or apple; a creamy or light dressing; and finally, something to shred the veg.  A mandoline or a grater will work well here. You can then add other ingredients as you see fit, remembering to keep them healthy. It’s all about adding the ingredients you like and choosing a lighter, healthier version of the dressing. Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavor combinations or adding foods that aren’t typical of the traditional recipe.

  • Shred the cabbage into a large mixing bowl, followed by the apple or carrot.
  • Shred anything else that needs shredding (chili, red onion, etc.) into the mix, then stir to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, mix any liquid ingredients such as a lemon dressing, light mayo, vinegar or Dijon mustard until they are well combined. Add seasoning to your preference.
  • Pour the liquid mix over the other ingredients and give everything a thorough stir until evenly coated.
  • Refrigerate for a couple of hours in a covered container to allow the salad ingredients to marry with the dressing.

One of my favorite lightened up coleslaw recipes has this delicious light lemon dressing.

Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to give up the fast food sides like french fries, onion rings and cheese sticks.  Here are a few ways to lighten up fast food sides by cooking them at home and as a bonus, it'll be cheaper too!

Healthy Panko Mozzarella Sticks

If you’ve done the chicken recipe mentioned in the opening paragraph, then you should still have some Panko breadcrumbs around. These are beautifully versatile and are also healthy, working as a great alternative to the nice-but-fattening takeout mozzarella sticks.

Heat a baking sheet again; 400 degrees F will suffice this time, and then…

  • Grab a package of Mozzarella cheese sticks and cut each one in half If you want a healthier cheese, try using Gouda – just slice the Gouda into one-inch thick sticks.
  • Dip each cheese stick into some milk or a beaten egg white.
  • Then roll the cheese sticks in a handful of seasoned Panko crumbs, pressing hard to ensure as good a coating as possible.
  • Place the sticks on the lightly greased baking sheet, around half an inch apart
  • Spritz the tops of the cheese sticks with non-stick spray so they will crisp up while baking. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve hot with a side of marinara sauce or try mash some avocado with lemon juice and pepper for a delicious, zesty dip to accompany the sticks.

When the craving for fast food hits, rest easy knowing you can make your favorites at home, healthier and for less money.

Don’t forget to enter the Easy Homemade Cookie Cookbook giveaway! It ends October 27, 2017.

You can enter here.  

Enjoy!

 

More from Blogghetti

Cooking Tips, Vegetables baked, coleslaw, fast food side dishes, mozzarella sticks, not fried, onion rings, sweet potato fries

Previous Post: « Delicious Honey Pumpkin Smoothie with Cinnamon
Next Post: Happiness is Homemade: Spooky Halloween Tricks and Treats »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I’m a self-proclaimed foodie, avid reader, crafter, wife, mother, and always a student. Click here to read full profile.

TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

mini turkey meatloaves close up

Mini Turkey Meatloaves Recipe

tray of sausage balls appetizers

Air Fryer Sausage Balls

close up of creamy squash soup with garnishes in white bowl

Creamy Autumn Squash Soup

cherry cobbler served on white and gray plate

3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Cherry Cobbler

hard cinnamon candy in glass bowl

Hard Cinnamon Candy

the best slow cooker chili - served in a white bowl

The Best Slow Cooker Chili Ever

Rosemary bread sliced on wooden cutting board

Easy Homemade Rosemary Bread

Valentine's M&M Cookie Bar squares - close up

Valentine’s M&M Cookie Bars

Recipe Key

AppetizersBakingCasseroles

Crock Pot MealsMeal PlansOne Pan Meals

Cooking TipsSoupsVegetables

Get Tried and True Recipes Straight to Your Inbox!

Copyright © 2023 • All rights reserved • All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy
All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission.
If you want to share this recipe, please provide a link back to the post for the original recipe.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT