Chili Cheese Fries Recipe
Piled High with Homemade Chili & Melted Cheddar Cheese, served with Sour Cream.
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Ingredients
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Fries
Homemade Chili
Assembly & Garnish
Method
Fries
- 1
Prep potatoes
Wash and peel the russet potatoes if desired. Cut into 1/4–1/2-inch thick sticks for fries. Place cut fries in a large bowl of cold water and soak for 20–30 minutes to remove excess starch.
- 2
Dry fries
Drain the potatoes and pat completely dry with clean kitchen towels or paper towels. Moisture will cause oil splatter and soggy fries.
- 3
Fry potatoes
In a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer, heat vegetable oil to 325°F (use a candy/deep-fry thermometer). Fry the potatoes in batches without browning, about 3–4 minutes per batch, until soft but not colored. Remove to a wire rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet. Increase oil temperature to 375°F. Fry the potatoes again in batches until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper while hot.
Homemade Chili
- 4
- 5
Brown beef
Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
- 6
Simmer chili
Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Cook 1 minute to bloom the spices. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and 1/2 cup beef broth. Stir to combine. If using, add drained kidney beans. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Assembly & Garnish
- 7
Assemble fries
Preheat the oven broiler to high or set oven to 400°F. Arrange the hot fries in a single layer on an oven-safe platter or baking sheet. Spoon the hot chili evenly over the fries, leaving some fries exposed at the edges.
- 8
Add cheese
Scatter the shredded sharp cheddar evenly over the chili-topped fries.
- 9
Melt cheese
Place under the broiler for 1–3 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese melts and starts to bubble (or bake at 400°F for 4–6 minutes). Remove carefully from the oven.
- 10
Garnish and serve
Top with dollops of sour cream, sprinkle with chopped green onions and optional pickled jalapeños. Serve immediately while hot.