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Chili Cheese Fries

Have you ever treated yourself to chili cheese fries? For a fun and delicious dinner, why not take your leftover chili and smother some crispy fries for a quick weeknight meal!

fries topped with chili on white and blue dotted plateYou know how food can sometimes trigger memories and bring back all the good feelings of a time when life was maybe a little more care free? I remember going to the Sonic Drive-In and getting either chili cheese fries or tots and calling it dinner.  Those were the days for sure!

Now days a treat like that is a rarity, but I decided to recreate the feeling in my own kitchen.  

This is such a great use for leftover chili! These chili cheese fries use either fresh cooked or frozen fries cooked to crispy perfection, your favorite leftover chili, and topped with cheese and sour cream for a dinner for your family will devour.  Also? Good for game day.

smoky chicken chili topped with cilantro in a red and white dutch oven

What do I use for chili cheese fries? Do chili cheese fries have meat?

There may be plenty of fast food places where you can grab some chili cheese fries, but the point here is to use up your own favorite leftover homemade chili to make yet another delicious meal.  Meat or meatless, you won’t go wrong.

I’ve got several chili recipes on my site, and any one of these would work perfectly for this!

They key is to pair up whatever flavor you use with a high quality cheese and sour cream along with the best fries you can find!  

 

fries on plate smothered in chili cheese and sour creamWhat are the best toppings to use for chili cheese fries?

My advice, keep it simple.  You can always go with a cheese sauce, but really a nice shredded cheese works perfectly and is so much easier. I like a sharp cheddar for tons of flavor, but a milder cheese would be great too.

Don’t forget some sour cream and maybe a garnish of some fresh chopped cilantro.  And, if you are ever in a bind and really want that fresh cilantro flavor but don’t have any on hand, Litehouse Freeze-Dried Cilantro.

forkful of chili cheese fries

Chili Cheese Fries

Print Recipe
I have no idea who invented chili cheese fries, but what I do know is that they are one of the best indulgent treats out there! Want to feel like a kid again? Use my delicious Smoky Chicken Chili and smother up some delicious potato wedges for the best chili cheese fries experience of your life!
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Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:20 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 oz frozen potato wedges or home fries
  • 3 cups leftover chili
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

  • Cook fries according to package directions (I like to add a little extra seasoned salt or other seasoning blend if fries are plain, this is optional)
  • Reheat chili to piping hot
  • Serve fries topped with chili, cheese, sour cream and cilantro

Notes

Use my Air Fryer French Fries and Instant Pot Beef Chili to make easy work of this recipe!
Top with cheese, sour cream and cilantro or as desired
Also delicious with tater tots instead of fries

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 962mg | Potassium: 574mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 6.9mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 3.5mg
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 412kcal

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