Description
Crispy, melty, cheesy, and spicy loaded nacho cheese fries made with simple ingredients, perfect for snacks, game nights, or as a side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) frozen straight-cut French fries
- 1 cup (100g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (120ml) nacho cheese sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
- Sliced jalapeños (fresh or pickled, optional)
- ½ cup (120g) black beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
- Sour cream, for serving
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil or cooking spray (for fresh potatoes)
- Optional add-ins: bacon bits, fresh cilantro, avocado or guacamole
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Spread frozen fries in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway through. For fresh fries, toss with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper before baking.
- While fries bake, make the nacho cheese sauce: melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
- Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk, stirring constantly until sauce thickens (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add a splash of milk if too thick. Keep warm.
- Transfer baked fries to an oven-safe dish or leave on baking sheet. Pour warm cheese sauce evenly over fries. Sprinkle with green onions, jalapeños, and black beans if using.
- Return fries to oven at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes to let cheese sauce set and toppings warm.
- Remove from oven and add final toppings such as extra green onions, sour cream, bacon bits, or fresh cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use frozen fries for best crispiness. Grate cheese fresh for smooth sauce. Customize toppings to your preference. Store leftover cheese sauce up to 3 days in fridge and reheat gently with milk. Fries can be reheated in oven or air fryer to regain crispness. Avoid freezing loaded fries due to sauce and toppings separation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 14
Keywords: loaded nacho cheese fries, cheesy fries, snack recipe, game night food, easy fries, family favorite, comfort food