It is summer but we still want fun comfort food. These Chili Cheese Fries are just that. They would make a great Friday night feast for your family or fun for any night of the week.
Made with a quick homemade chili and store-bought frozen french fries you will have dinner on the table in no time. Just load it all up on a baking sheet and serve.
Other great meals we have using chili in quick fashion are Turkey Chili Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Chili, or Easy Chili Mac Skillet Dinner. For chili fans, these recipes can’t be beaten.
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Farmhouse Cast Iron Pre Seasoned Fry Pan
How to Make Chili Cheese Fries
Simple ingredients, but when combined, are a fantastic meal. You will probably have most of them in your house right now, but all are easy to find at your local grocery store.
Ingredients
Olive oil
Onion
Garlic
Chili powder
Cumin
Hot sauce
Salt and pepper
Lean ground beef
Crushed tomatoes
Sweet red pepper
Green onions
Frozen fries
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Toppings of your choice: fresh cut tomatoes, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole
Let us get started on making this delicious meal that your family is going to rave about. Here are the easy steps.
In a large pot over medium heat add in the olive oil, and cook the onion until soft and slightly golden. Stir in garlic and chili powder.
Now add in the cumin, hot sauce, and salt and pepper, and cook for 30 seconds. This is a very easy and fast chili to make any time. It doesn’t need all-day simmering to make it great.
Easiest Fastest Chili Ever
Stir in the lean ground beef and cook for about 5 min. until it is no longer pink. Add in the crushed tomatoes and stir well.
Add half the green onions and all the red pepper, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and cook for about 5 min. until thickened. That is it; the chili is ready.
Meanwhile, bake the frozen fries in a preheated oven according to the package.
Serve the chili over the top of your favorite fries on a platter or right on the baking sheet. You can use potato wedges but my favorite is crispy delicious french fries with this recipe.
Add the shredded cheese and the toppings of choice plus the remainder of the green onions, serve immediately. You can make your own cheese sauce, but I say grated cheese works great, melts fast, and is no bother at all.
Plus you can find it already shredded in a package at your grocery store, what could be easier? Put on as little or as much as you like. Serve with the additional toppings and enjoy!!
Who Invented Chili Cheese Fries?
As with most recipes, there are always a couple of claims to fame. As per Wikipedia, the dish originated in the United States. Don A. Jenkins is said to have invented a variation of the cheese fry (the chili cheese fry), at the age of 16, in Tomball, Texas. Another report claims that a young fry cook named Austin Ruse was the first to serve this dish while working at Dairy Queen.
Besides being still popular to this day at Dairy Queen they are also a pub grub staple for the late-night crowd but I see them as a family-friendly meal that will get the kids gathering around the table.
What Goes With Chili Cheese Fries?
To continue with an easy meal I would add in some veggies and dip. It also completes the pub grub feel too. You could serve it with a big salad or go all out and have wings too! You can make this a feast to remember.
Pin it HERE!!
Pin it HERE!!

Chili Cheese Fries
Chili Cheese Fries are a great family feast that is made up quickly. Our chili doesn't need to be cooked for hours to be great. The added fries and cheesy topping make this a dinner the family will crave for.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp. hot sauce or to taste
- 1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 sweet red pepper, diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 large package frozen fries of your choice, cooked as per package instructions
- Grated Cheddar Cheese
- Toppings of your choice: fresh cut tomatoes, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole
Instructions
Cook the onion until soft and slightly golden, in olive oil, in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, and salt and pepper, and cook for 30 seconds.
Stir in the hamburger and cook for about 5 min. until it is no longer pink. Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Add half the green onions and all the red pepper, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 min. until thickened.
Meanwhile, bake the frozen fries in a preheated oven according to the package.
Serve the chili over the top of your favorite fries on a platter or right on the baking sheet. (pile the fires up and put the chili on top)
Add the grated cheese topping and put the pan under the broiler to melt the cheese, Add the remainder of the green onions and any other topping s you wish and serve immediately.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 640Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 644mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 6gSugar: 7gProtein: 54g
Recipe calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
Comments & Reviews
Tara Pittman says
This would be a dish that my boys would be drooling over. They do love cheese on their fries.
Lyanna Soria says
I have always been fond of spicy food and this one is on the spot! Can’t wait to try this out.
Catalina says
Who doesn’t love fries? To make fries with chili is such an awesome idea. My family will go crazy over these!
Toni says
My family will surely love these!! Will be a huge hit at my house!
Gervin Khan says
We love fries a lot and I am sure my husband would love to try this, YUM!