Description
A quick, indulgent weeknight meal that combines crispy baked fries with a rich, homemade-style chili and melted cheddar cheese. It’s a crowd-pleasing comfort food that takes about 25 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds frozen crinkle-cut french fries
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3–4 stalks green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños (optional)
- 1 can black beans, drained (optional)
- 1/4 cup crumbled bacon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss frozen fries with olive oil and seasoning salt. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake fries for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- While fries bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook for 1 minute to toast spices.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove fries from the oven. Divide among serving plates or a platter.
- Ladle hot chili over the fries.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese generously over the top.
- Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with green onions, sour cream, and jalapeños. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use parchment paper for easy cleanup. Do not crowd the fries on the baking sheet to ensure they crisp up. If using canned chili, add tomato paste and cumin to upgrade the flavor. Store chili and fries separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; do not freeze the fries as they will become mushy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
Keywords: chili cheese fries, tailgate food, weeknight dinner, easy recipes, comfort food, game day food, ground beef chili, baked fries