Chili Cheese Fries Beef (Printable)

Golden fries topped with rich beef chili and melted cheddar, finished with fresh garnishes.

# What's Needed:

→ Fries Base

01 - 1.75 pounds frozen or fresh French fries
02 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
03 - Salt to taste

→ Chili Components

04 - 14 ounces ground beef
05 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes
09 - 9 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
10 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
14 - 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
16 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
17 - 0.5 cup beef broth or water
18 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Toppings

19 - 5 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
20 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
21 - 1 small jalapeño, sliced
22 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
23 - Fresh cilantro, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven to 425°F for optimal frying temperature.
02 - Toss fries with vegetable oil and salt until evenly coated. Arrange in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake following package directions, typically 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
03 - Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in garlic and bell pepper. Continue cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Add ground beef to skillet. Sauté until fully browned, breaking apart with wooden spoon, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
06 - Blend in tomato paste, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to develop flavors.
07 - Pour in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and beef broth. Bring to simmer, reduce heat, and cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally.
08 - Sample chili and adjust seasoning as needed.
09 - Arrange crispy golden fries on large ovenproof platter or baking dish.
10 - Distribute hot chili evenly over fries. Cover completely with shredded cheddar cheese.
11 - Return dish to oven for 5 minutes until cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
12 - Top with spring onions, jalapeño slices, sour cream, and fresh cilantro as desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • The homemade chili is so much better than anything you will get from a can, and it comes together in under an hour
  • Everything bakes on one sheet pan, so cleanup is surprisingly manageable
  • This is the kind of comfort food that makes people linger around the kitchen longer than usual
02 -
  • Crowding the baking sheet is the enemy of crispy fries, so use two sheets if necessary to keep them in a single layer
  • The chili continues thickening as it rests off the heat, so do not reduce it too much or it will become pasty
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese from a block for that perfect melt that pre-shredded cheese never quite achieves
  • Let the chili rest for 5 minutes before spooning over fries so it thickens up and does not make the fries soggy

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