Chili Cheese Fries Recipe
This Chili Cheese Fries recipe is the perfect appetizer or main dish for parties, game day, or any time the craving hits. Crispy French fries are topped with a smoky chili and a rich, melty homemade cheese sauce. These are a crowd favorite!
There’s nothing more tempting than a big tray of gooey chili cheese fries when you need an easy appetizer recipe. With options like Pepperoni Pizza Dip, Roasted Guacamole, and Meatball Crescent Cups, you’ll never run out of ideas for your next gathering.
Are you drooling yet? I mean, these melty, gooey, chili smothered French fries are what indulgent foodie dreams are made of!
When I dropped this tray of french fry heaven in front of my family, it all but disappeared within mere minutes.
Everyone was a fan, and they’ve asked for it many times since! It’s perfect for game days, Super Bowl parties, and even for weekend movie nights like we enjoyed it for.
Not only are these chili cheese fries incredibly delicious, they’re easy to make. The chili topping and the cheese sauce are both homemade, making every luscious bite rich and so flavorful.
Ingredients for Chili Cheese Fries
frozen French fries // ground beef // onion // minced garlic // chili powder// cumin
salt + pepper // tomato paste // can of Rotel // can of kidney beans // butter
flour // onion powder // garlic powder // heavy cream // sharp cheddar cheese
How to Make Chili Cheese Fries – Step by Step
Step 1: Bake the Fries
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper then add the French fries in an even layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even baking.
Step 2: Brown the meat
In the meantime, add the ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the beef and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Step 3: Simmer
Stir in the tomato paste, Rotel, and kidney beans and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15 minutes or until it has thickened.
Step 4: Prepare the cheese sauce
While the chili is simmering, prepare the cheese sauce by melting the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until it starts to turn a light brown color. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, pepper, and salt.
Step 5: Whisk the cheese sauce
Gradually pour in the heavy cream, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk until the sauce starts to thicken. Add cheese to the pan one cup at a time. Allow it to fully melt before adding another cup. Once all the cheese has been added to the pan, continue to whisk until fully melted then remove the pan from the heat.
Step 6: Assemble and serve
Add 4-5 large scoops of the chili to the fries then pour the cheese sauce over the top. Serve with freshly chopped parsley or green onions for garnish if desired.
Tips and Notes
- You can substitute the French fries for frozen tater tots, or even tortilla chips for chili cheese nachos!
- The chili can be made with ground turkey or chicken in place of the beef.
- This tastes best when served immediately. If the fries sit for too long they can get soggy, but they probably won’t last long enough for that to happen!
- If making the chili ahead of time or to store on its own, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
More Delicious Game Day Recipes You Might Enjoy!
- Game Day Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball
- Baked Buffalo Chicken Fingers
- Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mini Peppers
Recipe: Chili Cheese Fries Recipe
Ingredients
Chili
- 32 ounces frozen regular or steak cut French fries
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 10 ounce can of Rotel, spice level to your preference
- 16 ounce can of red kidney beans, drained
Cheese Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper then add the French fries in an even layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even baking.
- In the meantime, add the ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the beef and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste, Rotel, and drained kidney beans and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15 minutes or until it has thickened.
- While the chili is simmering, prepare the cheese sauce by melting the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until it starts to turn a light brown color. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, pepper, and salt.
- Gradually pour in the heavy cream, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk until the sauce starts to thicken. Add cheese to the pan one cup at a time. Allow it to fully melt before adding another cup. Once all the cheese has been added to the pan, continue to whisk until fully melted then remove the pan from the heat.
- Add 4-5 large scoops of the chili to the fries then pour the cheese sauce over the top. Serve with freshly chopped parsley or green onions for garnish if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute the French fries for frozen tater tots, or even tortilla chips for chili cheese nachos!
- The chili can be made with ground turkey or chicken in place of the beef.
- This tastes best when served immediately. If the fries sit for too long they can get soggy, but they probably won't last long enough for that to happen!
- If making the chili ahead of time or to store on its own, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
OH man, I haven’t had chili cheese fries in soooo long – I had to make them! Absolutely delicious, and the cheese sauce was AMAZING.
Made these yesterday and everyone loved it! Perfect appetizer! So good!
The fries came out super crispy, and that smoky chili on top was to die for.
Hi Ashlyn. I am a huge fan of Chili Cheese Fries. I live in Australia, and used to order a bowl of them at an American burger joint every Saturday, when I went in to work. I have since moved interstate, and can no longer buy anything but cheap imitations of the real thing. I found your recipe, and am really keen to try it out. I am just wondering though, whether the cumin in this recipe is whole seeds or powder?
Hi James, it’s cumin powder. I hope you enjoy it!
They are pretty good and yummy 😋😋
awesome
I love this! It sounds delicious and perfect for my weekend night
These were AMAAAAZING! And perfect for a cold rainy day outside – love me some good comfort food! Thank you for the recipe!
I’m ALWAYS in the mood for a hearty helping of stick to your ribs chili cheese and bacon cheese fries! And this recipe is just screaming my name, so u better believe I’m gonna be trying it out and SOON!
It was alright but not great. I really didn’t like the taste of the chili.
It doesn’t say to drain the beans, so I just dump all the canned contents in the pan?
Hi Kristi, they should be drained. Thank you for catching that, I’ll update the recipe.
I am a big fan of chili cheese fries! I may have to make these this weekend. I ahaven’t had any in awhile.
I am totally drooling! What an incredible recipe! I haven’t had chili cheese fries in ages!
Okay, I realize it’s four in the morning, but now I want to make chili cheese fries! LOL
I’ve been craving cheese fries lately. Adding chili sounds even better.
Oh yes, I just love chili cheese fries. I will be making these for sure.