Chili Cheese Fries (Printable)

Crispy fries smothered in seasoned beef chili and melty cheddar, creating the ultimate loaded dish for sharing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Chili

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 9 oz ground beef
05 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - 14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
11 - 7 oz canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ For the Fries

13 - 1.3 lbs frozen French fries (or homemade, if preferred)
14 - Vegetable oil, for frying or baking

→ For the Topping

15 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
16 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
17 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)
18 - Sour cream, for serving (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the saucepan and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add chopped tomatoes and kidney beans. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat, and cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
05 - While the chili simmers, cook the French fries according to package instructions (bake or fry until golden and crisp). Preheat oven to 400°F.
06 - Arrange cooked fries on a large ovenproof platter or baking sheet. Spoon hot chili evenly over the fries, then sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
07 - Bake for 5–7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from oven and garnish with spring onions and fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve hot, with sour cream on the side if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The homemade chili puts canned versions to shame with layers of spice that build slowly rather than hitting you all at once
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day making it
  • It's the kind of comfort food that turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth celebrating
02 -
  • The chili must be thick enough to mound on a spoon, if it's too loose it will slide right off the fries and leave you with a puddle at the bottom of the pan
  • Let the fries cool for literally 30 seconds after the oven before adding toppings, this tiny window makes the difference between fries that stay crisp and ones that turn to mush
  • Room temperature cheese melts better than cold cheese straight from the fridge, pull it out while the chili simmers
03 -
  • Make the chili a day ahead and reheat gently, the flavors develop overnight and you'll taste the difference
  • If baking fries, toss them with a little oil and salt first even if the package says not to, that extra step is what makes them restaurant-quality crisp
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