Riley’s Sloppy Cheese Fries Recipe

Cook fries

Preheat oven and prepare fries: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange frozen fries on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Lightly spritz or toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bake according to package directions for extra crispiness, about 20–25 minutes, flipping once halfway, until golden and crisp. If frying: heat 1–2 inches oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C) and fry in batches until golden, drain on paper towels, season immediately with salt and pepper.

Keep fries warm: When fries are done, keep them on the warm baking sheet in a low oven (200°F / 95°C) while you finish the Sloppy Joe and cheese topping.

Cook aromatics and beef

Heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more until fragrant. Push vegetables to the side, add the ground beef and break up with a spoon. Cook 5–7 minutes until browned and no longer pink.

Build the sauce

Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and cook 1 minute to deepen flavor. Add 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup beef broth or water. Season with 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine.

Simmer

Bring sauce to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes until thickened to a saucy, scoopable consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning (add a pinch more salt, sugar, or vinegar if needed). Keep warm off the heat.

Assemble fries with Sloppy Joe

Arrange the warm fries on a large oven-safe platter or the baking sheet. Spoon the hot Sloppy Joe meat evenly over the fries, distributing so each portion gets meat. Sprinkle the 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack evenly over the meat.

Melt cheese

Melt the cheese: place the platter under a preheated broiler on high for 1–2 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling (watch carefully to avoid burning). Alternatively, place in a 425°F (220°C) oven for 3–5 minutes until cheese melts.

Finish and serve

Remove from oven, top with sliced pickled jalapeños if using, and scatter chopped parsley or green onions over the top. Serve immediately with napkins and optional extra ketchup on the side.