Must-Try Poutine Toppings: What to Order Beyond Gravy and Curds

The best poutine toppings beyond gravy and curds fall into three groups: hearty meats like smoked meat, ground beef, chicken, and hot dogs; savory extras like sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers, and pepperoni; and bold sauces like buffalo, General Tao, and salsa. Each one turns the classic Quebec side dish into a full meal with its own character.

If you only try one, make it smoked meat. At Dunn's, it's the topping that turns poutine from a side into the whole deli experience, and it's why our menu goes well past the classic, with smoked meat, Italian, hot dog, Mexican, and buffalo poutines all on offer.

Below, we break down the must-try toppings in each category, and what each one brings to the plate.

Category 1: The Signature Meat Toppings

The first way to revolutionize your poutine is to treat it like a hearty, main-course plate by piling on substantial meat toppings. These additions fuse the comfort of a classic diner meal with the traditional poutine experience.

The Essential: Deli-Sliced Smoked Meat

If you’re looking for the number one topping upgrade, look no further than smoked meat. This involves generous, hand-sliced portions of seasoned deli beef layered right over the cheese curds. It brings a savory, deeply seasoned flavor that perfectly counteracts the richness of the gravy and cheese. This transformation ensures the poutine is no longer just a side dish; it becomes the entire, indulgent deli experience.

Hearty Diner Proteins

Beyond specialty deli meats, poutine is the perfect vehicle for other classic diner proteins, which instantly turn the dish into a complete meal.

• Ground Beef: This versatile topping is essential for poutines that mimic other comfort foods, such as those made with a rich bolognese-style meat sauce or those seasoned with chili spices.

• Hot Dogs: Sliced, grilled all-beef hot dogs turn the poutine into a savory, classic street-food experience, adding a familiar snap of flavor.

• Chicken: This can be incorporated in various forms, including crispy tenders for a crunchy texture or simple white meat pieces for a hot-chicken style poutine, topped with extra gravy.

These meats are crucial because they ensure the poutine is fully satisfying, providing the protein and bulk of a traditional main course.

Category 2: Savory and Classic Additions

Moving past the main proteins, the next step in perfecting poutine involves incorporating the savory extras you’d expect to find on a great hot sandwich or classic burger.

The “All Dressed” Mix

This category is all about bringing the flavors of a fully loaded dish to your fries.

• Sautéed Vegetables: Adding a trio of mushrooms, onions, and peppers introduces earthy flavors and necessary moisture. Sautéing them gives the toppings a rich, caramelized taste that complements the savory gravy beautifully.

• Pepperoni: Often paired with the sautéed vegetables, this popular topping provides a salty, slightly spicy flavor similar to a loaded sub sandwich.

Sauces and Garnishes

To truly round out the texture and flavor profile, classic comfort food garnishes are key.

• Peas: In classic diner dishes like hot chicken sandwiches, peas are essential. When added to poutine, they provide a slightly sweet, vibrant contrast to the heavy, savory sauce and meat components.

• Extra Dairy: While cheese curds are mandatory, you can amplify the dairy element for flavor and texture. cheddar cheese adds a sharper, saltier flavor profile, and a dollop of sour cream provides a cool, tangy finish, cutting through the richness of the meat and gravy.

Category 3: Bold and Global Flavor Twists

The most inventive poutine toppings move beyond the expected diner ingredients, drawing inspiration from international cuisine. Specialty sauces and global spices are used to dramatically change the dish’s taste profile, offering true fusion meals.

Spicy and Tangy Sauces

These sauces are frequently paired with crispy chicken pieces, creating a popular cross-cultural favorite.

• Buffalo sauce: Applying this tangy, slightly spicy sauce transforms the poutine into a version of buffalo wings. The vinegar and heat cut through the richness of the gravy, offering an immediate and familiar kick.

• General Tao sauce: This sweet, savory, and sticky sauce introduces an asian-inspired fusion. It typically coats crispy components, providing a complex flavor layer that is both comforting and unexpected in a poutine.

Mexican Influence

Ingredients from Mexican-inspired dishes offer a distinct profile centered on fresh heat and acidity.

• Salsa and Banana Peppers: Combining these toppings, often alongside seasoned ground beef, injects a necessary acidic brightness and a subtle heat. The salsa offers a fresh tomato base, while banana peppers deliver a mild, tangy spice that truly differentiates this poutine style.

Find your perfect poutine at Dunn’s Famous

These three distinct categories prove that poutine is one of the most versatile dishes available, capable of satisfying virtually any craving. 

If you are looking for a classic, hearty experience, you can try the essential smoked meat poutine, which features the restaurant’s premium sliced deli meat. For those who prefer a familiar, savory comfort, the Italian poutine with its rich meat sauce, or the hot dog poutine, are ideal choices.

However, the true versatility lies in the bold and international options. These include fusion dishes such as the zesty Mexican poutine, which features salsa and sour cream, or the tangy buffalo poutine, topped with chicken and savory sauce. This extensive menu highlights the wide range of flavors, guaranteeing that Dunn’s famous offers a poutine option to fit every palate and meal requirement.

Conclusion

The true versatility of poutine lies in its ability to adapt to almost any flavor profile, successfully pairing the comfort of fries, curds, and gravy with bold, unexpected, and savory additions. By using signature meat toppings for heartiness, savory & classic additions for depth, and bold & global flavor twists for excitement, poutine transcends its humble origins. 

If you’re ready to taste poutine at its most ambitious, stop by Dunn’s Famous on your next trip. Grab a classic smoked meat poutine or venture into the unexpected with their bold Mexican or tangy buffalo twists; your next comfort food obsession is waiting.

FAQs

Q1. What is the best topping for poutine?
Smoked meat is widely considered the best poutine topping. Its savory, peppery flavor cuts through the richness of the gravy and cheese, and it turns poutine into a hearty main course rather than a side.

Q2. Does poutine always have cheese curds?
Yes, traditional poutine is defined by fresh cheese curds, which soften but don't fully melt in the hot gravy.

Q3. What are some alternatives to cheese curds for poutine?
If you can't find cheese curds, fresh mozzarella torn into small chunks is the closest substitute, since it softens in gravy without fully melting. Shredded mozzarella, white cheddar, or Monterey Jack also work, though they melt more and won't have the same squeaky texture.

Q4. What are some popular flavors of poutine?
Beyond the classic, popular poutine flavors include smoked meat poutine, Italian poutine with meat sauce, "all-dressed" poutine with mushrooms, onions, and peppers, and galvaude, a Quebec favorite topped with chicken and green peas. Fusion versions like buffalo, General Tao, and Mexican poutine are also common on Montreal menus.

Q5. What pairs well with poutine?
Poutine pairs well with classic deli and diner fare, like a Montreal smoked meat sandwich, hot dogs, or a crisp side of coleslaw and pickles, which help balance its richness. A cold soda or beer is the traditional drink to go with it.