Published: · By: Kylie · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment
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These chili cheese fries are one of the easiest recipes ever! Seasoned waffle fries are smothered in melty cheese, homemade chili, and a mix of fresh toppings to create an appetizer the whole family will love! With only 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes from start to finish, these chili cheese fries can be ready - with minimal prep work - for your family movie night or game day celebration!
Table of Contents
1 You Will Love These
2 Ingredients and Substitutions
3 Instructions
4 Tips
5 Variations + Toppings
6 Easy Homemade Chili Recipes
7 FAQ
8 Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
9 More Easy Appetizer Recipes
10 Recipe
11 Chili Cheese Fries
You Will Love These
- No soggy chili cheese fries here! That initial layer of shredded cheese on top of the crispy fries is going to prevent the chili from soaking into the fries and making them soggy. Don't skip this first layer of cheese!
- This chili cheese fries recipe is the appetizer of your dreams! Not only do these cheesy fries satisfy your comfort food craving, but they're super easy to throw together and a great way to use up that leftover homemade chili in the fridge!
- It’s perfect for game day! Make these chili cheese fries for your game day gatherings where they are sure to become an instant crowd favorite.
- If you loved this cheesy fries recipe, be sure to check out some of my other tasty appetizer recipes like my Easy Loaded Fries, my Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Fries, or my Homemade Pizza Bagel Bites.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Frozen Seasoned Waffles Fries - You can find seasoned waffle fries at the grocery store in your frozen food aisle. Try to find the seasoned fries as they'll have more flavor. Otherwise add your own favorite seasonings or make your own with my super easy baked fries recipe. With just potatoes, olive oil, and spices you can have your own delicious homemade fries.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese - I like using sharp cheddar because it’s the perfect balance to any spice or smokiness in the chili, plus it melts perfectly. You can buy pre-shredded, or buy a block and shred it yourself.If you're more into cheese sauce on your chili fries, try my homemade crockpot cheese sauce!
- Chili - Choose your favorite chili! Whether this is store bought, or homemade, you can’t go wrong. Check out my recipes for Beef and Beer Chili, Short Rib Chili, and 30 Minute Instant Pot Chicken Chili if you need a new recipe.
- Sour Cream - I prefer to use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture.
- Green Onion, Sliced Jalapeno, Red Onion - Slice or dice these fresh veggies and add them to your piping hot chili fries when they come out of the oven.
Instructions
Bake fries according to package directions. While the fries are baking, simmer your favorite chili recipe in a large pot on the stove over medium heat. Add about ⅓ of the shredded cheese in an even layer across the fries.
Spoon chili mixture over the cheese.
Then top chili with the remaining cheese.
Bake at 425 degrees for about 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Add sour cream, green onions, jalapenos. and onions, and enjoy!
Tips
- This chili cheese fries recipe works best with a thick chili. That's what makes leftover chili perfect for this recipe! As your chili sits in the fridge, it's going to thicken up. Thick chili will have the perfect texture for these delicious chili fries!
- To keep the mess to a minimum, line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Variations + Toppings
Don't be afraid to get a little wild with these chili cheese fries. Use this recipe as a blueprint and add all your favorites! Some of our family favorites include:
- diced tomatoes
- crispy bacon
- diced avocado
- diced bell pepper
- fresh chopped cilantro
- easy homemade salsa
- homemade cheese sauce
Easy Homemade Chili Recipes
Chili is one of those recipes that requires very few ingredients - typically a protein like ground beef, kidney beans, tomato paste or tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin and garlic powder - and even the most novice of home cooks can make it with ease! If you've never made chili before, I highly recommend you check out of my super easy recipes!
Whether you're looking for a meaty chili filled with shredded beef or a plant-based chili with black beans and lentils or a game day favorite made with a hoppy IPA, I've got you covered! Here are some of our family's favorites:
- One Pot Shredded Beef Short Rib Chili
- Easy Ground Beef and Beer Chili
- Vegan Black Bean Lentil Chili
- Easy One Pot Three Bean Chili
- Instant Pot Chicken Chili
FAQ
What are chili cheese fries made of?
Chili cheese fries are made of crispy French fries that are then topped with chili and melted cheese, along with a variety of other toppings like green onions and jalapenos.
Who has the best chili fries?
You do when you make this recipe! I’m sure everyone has their favorite restaurant-made chili fries, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with homemade. Being able to customize your toppings is a total game changer!
What kind of cheese goes on chili?
A cheddar cheese is typically paired with chili. I prefer sharp cheddar as it's strong flavor stands up to the all the spices of the chili. You can also use mild cheddar or even Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese!
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
- Make-Ahead: You can make the chili ahead of time, but these chili cheese fries are best when fresh from the oven.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- Reheating: To reheat your chili cheese fries, put them on a sheet pan in the oven at 350 degrees until they are warmed through and the cheese is melted.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Questions?
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Recipe
Chili Cheese Fries
These chili cheese fries are one of the easiest recipes ever! Seasoned waffle fries are smothered in melty cheese, homemade chili, and a mix of fresh toppings to create an appetizer the whole family will love! With only 5 ingredients and less than 30 minutes from start to finish, these chili cheese fries can be ready - with minimal prep work - for your family movie night or game day celebration!
- Author: Kylie
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 oz. bag frozen, seasoned waffles fries
- 12 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1.5-2 cups chili
- sour cream
- thinly sliced green onion
Optional Garnishes
- sliced jalapeno
- diced red onion
Instructions
- Bake fries according to package directions.
- While the fries are baking, warm chili over medium heat.
- Add about ⅓ of the cheese in an even layer across the fries.
- Spoon chili over the cheese. Then top chili with remaining cheese.
- Bake at 425 degrees for about 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Add sour cream, green onions, jalapenos. and onions, and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 361
- Sugar: 9.8 g
- Sodium: 568.1 mg
- Fat: 24.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 10.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.3 g
- Fiber: 4.2 g
- Protein: 14.9 g
- Cholesterol: 53.1 mg
Keywords: chili fries, chili cheese fries recipe
Reader Interactions
Comments
Luke
Sunday football isn't complete without these chili cheese fries! They're perfect for dinner or as an easy appetizer.
★★★★★
Reply
Leave a star rating and review or ask a question!
Greetings, food enthusiasts! As someone deeply passionate about the culinary arts, particularly in the realm of appetizers and comfort food, I am thrilled to delve into the delectable world of chili cheese fries with you. My expertise stems from years of hands-on experience in experimenting with diverse flavors and crafting delightful recipes.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts embedded in the article about the mouthwatering chili cheese fries by Kylie, published on Feb 3, 2022:
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Chili Cheese Fries Overview: Kylie's chili cheese fries recipe stands out for its simplicity and deliciousness. The dish features seasoned waffle fries adorned with a layer of sharp cheddar cheese, homemade chili, and an array of fresh toppings. Notably, the recipe emphasizes the importance of preventing soggy fries by strategically placing shredded cheese as the initial layer.
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Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Frozen Seasoned Waffle Fries: Kylie recommends using seasoned waffle fries for enhanced flavor. Alternatively, one can add their preferred seasonings or even opt for homemade baked fries.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Kylie favors sharp cheddar for its perfect balance against the spice or smokiness in the chili. Pre-shredded or block cheese, shredded at home, are suitable options.
- Chili: The recipe allows flexibility in choosing your favorite chili, whether store-bought or homemade. Kylie provides additional chili recipes for those seeking variety.
- Sour Cream, Green Onion, Sliced Jalapeno, Red Onion: Fresh toppings that elevate the dish's flavor profile.
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Instructions:
- Bake the fries according to package directions.
- Simmer your favorite chili recipe while the fries are baking.
- Layer shredded cheese on the fries, spoon chili over it, and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake until the cheese melts, then add sour cream, green onions, jalapenos, and onions.
-
Tips:
- The recipe works best with thick chili, making leftover chili an ideal choice.
- To minimize mess, line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
-
Variations + Toppings:
- Encourages creativity with toppings such as diced tomatoes, crispy bacon, diced avocado, diced bell pepper, fresh chopped cilantro, homemade salsa, and cheese sauce.
-
Easy Homemade Chili Recipes:
- Kylie shares that chili is a versatile recipe with minimal ingredients, catering to both meat-based and plant-based preferences. She provides links to various chili recipes, including shredded beef, beef and beer, and instant pot chicken chili.
-
FAQ:
- What are chili cheese fries made of? Answered with a description of crispy fries topped with chili, melted cheese, and various toppings.
- Who has the best chili fries? Playfully asserts that you have the best when following this recipe, highlighting the customization aspect.
- What kind of cheese goes on chili? Recommends cheddar, preferably sharp, due to its robust flavor, but suggests mild cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack as alternatives.
-
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating:
- Advises that while the chili can be made ahead, the chili cheese fries are best when fresh. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated in the oven.
-
More Easy Appetizer Recipes:
- Kylie invites readers to explore additional appetizer recipes, including loaded fries, pepperoni pizza fries, and pizza bagel bites.
-
Recipe:
- Provides a detailed recipe for the chili cheese fries, including ingredients, instructions, and nutritional information.
In conclusion, Kylie's article is a treasure trove of information for anyone seeking to master the art of crafting irresistibly delicious chili cheese fries, making it an invaluable resource for both novice and experienced home cooks alike.
