Loaded Fries

Looking for a nachos alternative that will be a huge hit at your next party? These Loaded Fries layer classic toppings like cheese, bacon, and avocado atop crispy fries for a dish that’s as fun to eat as it is to share.

Jump to:

• 🍟 What are loaded fries?
• 🗒 Ingredients
• 👩‍🍳 How to make
• ⏲️ How to store leftovers
• 🎉 Variations on recipe
• 🥳 More party foods
• 💡 Best fries to use
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Nachos make one of the best party/game day/movie watching snacks because they're absolutely delicious and there are so many fun and tasty ways you can top them (clam nachos, anyone?).

But what if you swap the chips for french fries? Cue head explosion emoji here.

Loaded fries are the perfect party snack or game day appetizer and they can be customized exactly how you want them.

🍟 What are loaded fries?

Loaded fries are kind of like a cross between nachos and a loaded baked potato. The fun appetizer dish consists of a layer of crispy cooked french fries and all the toppings you can imagine... basically anything you'd top a loaded baked potato or nachos with.

You can use any type of fries you want; you can even make your own french fries from scratch! But for a simple dish, frozen french fries work well.

And you can totally customize the toppings, too. I'll share lots of ideas with you in this post.

🗒 Ingredients

Like I mentioned, there are so many ways you can make these loaded fries. Here's everything I use, but be sure to read on for lots more ideas and to check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions:

• Frozen french fries: I love using thin-cut (AKA fast food style), but you can use crinkle cut, waffle fries, steak fries, etc. You can even use sweet potato fries. If you don't want to use frozen french fries, you can make your own or even get some from your favorite restaurant
• Seasoning mixture featuring garlic powder, cayenne, and black pepper
• Shredded cheese: I like using cheddar
• Crispy cooked bacon
• Diced tomatoes
• Jalapeño sliced
• Avocado sliced
• Scallions sliced
• Sour cream

👩‍🍳 How to make

The first step is to bake your french fries. I do mine in the oven, but you can also cook them in your air fryer of you prefer.

If cooking in the oven, spread the french fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at the temperature the package states for a few minutes longer than package states so they're extra crispy (I bake my thin-cut fries at 450 degrees for 20 minutes).

Remove from oven and lower oven temperature to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle garlic powder, cayenne, and pepper over the fries. Toss to coat.

Now, transfer half the fries to a cast iron skillet.

Top with ¾ cup of shredded cheese and crumble three strips of bacon over fries.

Add remaining fries to skillet and top with remaining cheese and remaining crumbled bacon. Put skillet in oven for 4-5 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and top fries with remaining ingredients: tomatoes, jalapeño, sliced avocado, scallions, sour cream, and any other desired ingredients.

How fun do these loaded nachos look?? Dig in right away because these won't be sticking around for long!

Also, they really are best when fresh out of the oven. The french fries are nice and crispy and cheesy and "loaded" with so much other goof stuff.

I really do recommend the layering process when assembling the fries so as you dig down deeper, you'll still get all that cheesy and bacon goodness.

⏲️ How to store leftovers

As I mentioned, these fries are definitely best when enjoyed hot out of the oven with the toppings just added. Everyone knows re-heated french fries just aren't as good as fresh.... Especially when toppings have been added.

But if you do have leftovers, I recommend storing them in an airtight container in your fridge.

The best way to reheat them will be in the oven or a toaster oven. I do recommend removing the tomatoes and avocado from the fries before reheating. If you have dollops of sour cream, remove those, too.

Spread the fries out on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F until they are warmed through and a bit re-crisped. Avoid the microwave as it tends to make them even soggier.

If you prefer to use the air fryer, you can do that, too.

🎉 Variations on recipe

I shared my loaded fries recipe with all the toppings I like to use. But the options really are endless and you can customize these french fries precisely to your taste.

Here are some ideas for fun variations:

• Chili cheese fries: with warm chili, shredded cheese (cheddar or a Mexican), sour cream, and sliced jalapeños
  
• Greek style fries: with feta cheese, sliced olives, diced tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and tzatziki sauce
  
• Philly cheesesteak fries: with caramelized onions, sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, thinly sliced steak, and a cheese sauce or provolone
  
• BBQ Pork fries: with pulled pork, barbecue sauce drizzle, shredded cheddar cheese, coleslaw, and green onions
  
• Buffalo chicken fries: with shredded or chopped buffalo chicken, blue cheese or ranch dressing, diced celery, and carrots
  
• Poutine fries: with gravy, cheese curds, and parsley

💡 Best fries to use

Thin and crispy fries, like the kind at McDonald's, are my very favorite fries, so that's what I use for my loaded fries.

However, lots of other kinds work for this dish and, in fact, there are some options that are probably better for holding all the toppings without getting soggy!

Crinkle cut fries and waffle fries are thicker and they have ridges that are great for holding onto toppings. Since steak fries are wider, they also make a great base for all kinds of toppings.

And if you're a fan of sweet potato fries, you can even use those. You can even try this dish with tater tots!

Though I'm a big fan of enjoying these loaded fries as a game day food or party appetizer, I'm also not opposed to whipping up a batch and simply enjoying them for dinner.

What would you add to your ideal loaded fries?

📖 Recipe