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Chili Cheese Fries Recipe: Loaded Fries with Spicy Beef and Melted Cheese

These Cajun chili cheese fries combine crispy homemade french fries, spicy chili, and two kinds of cheese for an irresistible side dish. This recipe is sponsored by Tony Chachere’s; all opinions and recipe content are my own.

french fries topped with beefy chili, shredded cheese, and green onions in a white square dish.

Chili cheese fries are one of my favorite crowd-pleasing sides. They’re loaded with flavor and texture, perfect for game day or alongside burgers or hot dogs.

Why You’ll Love These Fries

  • Super Crispy: Use the double-fry method for fries that are crispy outside and tender inside.
  • Quick Chili: Ground beef seasoned with Tony Chachere’s Chili Seasoning Mix creates a flavorful chili in much less time than traditional recipes.
  • Two Cheeses: A creamy cheese sauce plus shredded cheddar delivers maximum gooeyness and texture.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

  • Potatoes: Russets are ideal — their high starch and low moisture yield a fluffy interior and crisp exterior.
  • Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning: A great all-in-one seasoning to add bold flavor to the fries and cheese sauce.
  • Condensed Cheese Soup: Use undiluted as the base for the cheese sauce for an easy, velvety finish.
  • Tony Chachere’s Chili Seasoning Mix: Simplifies chili seasoning and produces consistent, tasty results. Choose the Original or Mild variety based on preference.
  • Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded varieties that often contain anti-caking agents.

homemade french fries topped with chili with beef.

cajun double fried french fries topped with chili and cheese.

How To Make Chili Cheese Fries

  1. Make the fries: Slice and soak the potatoes, then use a double-fry method — a lower-temperature fry to cook through, followed by a hotter fry to crisp. Finish with Creole seasoning while hot.
  2. Make the cheese sauce: Combine condensed cheese soup, milk, and Creole seasoning in a saucepan and simmer briefly until smooth.
  3. Make the chili: Brown ground beef with diced onion, then add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili seasoning, and beef broth. Simmer until thickened and flavorful.
  4. Assemble: Pile fries on a platter, spoon on cheese sauce and chili, then sprinkle with shredded cheddar. Serve immediately.

Tips

  • Make-ahead: Prepare the cheese sauce and chili up to a day in advance and gently reheat before serving.
  • Double fry: Frying twice yields the best texture — a low-temperature pre-fry, then a hot finish for golden, crisp fries.
  • Serve immediately: Fries are best right after assembly to keep them crisp under the toppings.

a large plate of cajun chili cheese fries garnished with green onions.

More Appetizers To Try

  • Seven Layer Dip Cups
  • Irish Nachos
  • Chile Con Queso Dip
  • Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

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📖 Recipe

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Cajun Chili Cheese Fries

Crispy fries, spicy chili, and a creamy Cajun cheese sauce come together for a craveable appetizer or side dish.
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: Cajun
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Calories: 560 kcal
Author: Krystle Smith

Ingredients

For the Fries:

  • 4 Russet potatoes
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning (to taste, about 3 teaspoons)

For the Cajun Cheese Sauce:

  • 1 can condensed cheese soup
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning

For the Chili:

  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 box Tony Chachere’s Original Chili Seasoning Mix
  • 2 cups beef broth

Putting It All Together:

  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

For the Fries

  1. Slice potatoes into roughly 1/2-inch sticks.
  2. Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for about 1 hour, then rinse and drain.
  3. Heat oil to 300°F (150°C). Fry the potatoes for 5–7 minutes and remove.
  4. Increase oil temperature to 400°F (204°C) and fry the potatoes an additional 5–7 minutes until golden and crisp.
  5. Drain on paper towels and immediately sprinkle with Creole seasoning.

For the Cheese Sauce

  1. Combine the condensed cheese soup, milk, and Creole seasoning in a small saucepan and simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring until smooth.

For the Chili

  1. Sauté the diced onion and brown the ground beef until cooked through.
  2. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili seasoning mix, and beef broth. Simmer for about 30 minutes to develop flavor.

To Assemble

  1. Place the hot fries on a serving platter, drizzle with Cajun cheese sauce, spoon the chili over the top, and finish with shredded cheddar. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 560 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 44 g
| Protein: 49 g
| Fat: 22 g
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