Cheesy Loaded Waffle Fries with Bacon
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Do you love fries? Do you love cheese? Then you need to make these cheesy loaded waffle fries ASAP! With bacon, jalapeños, red chilis, and fresh chives, they’re loaded with flavor and taste amazing with a side of ranch and a cold beer. Plus, the recipe is ridiculously easy thanks to a shortcut – frozen fries! Make this snack for parties, game days, and get-togethers with friends.
Earlier this week, I said the actual sentence, “WOW, it’s been a week”. And it was only Tuesday. So needless to say, I needed something covered in cheese by the time Friday rolled around.
For me, the only cure for a long week involves inviting my friends over for wine and early 2000s teen movies. Plus a variety of snacks like garlic butter chicken wings, this super easy spicy ranch snack mix, or cheesy fries!
Anyone who tells you that cheesy fries aren’t one of the best foods ever is honestly? Lying. These fries are a superior bar food and one of my go-tos for casual get-togethers at home. They’ve been one of my fave late night orders ever since I was in college spending my weekends bar-hopping.
But they’re also a super easy snack to make at home thanks to frozen fries! Honestly, I spent enough time when I was in culinary school frying actual potatoes, and I’m good on that forever. Frozen fries all the way.
Seasoned waffle fries
Frozen, seasoned waffle fries are my secret for adding a ton of flavor without extra work. Of course, if you want to use plain salted and add your own seasoning, that’s totally fine too! For the toppings, you will need sharp cheddar, Monterey jack cheese, thick-cut bacon, jalapeños, red chili peppers, chives, and ranch dressing for dipping.
These fries are the perfect way to use up leftovers! Some of my go-tos are leftover pulled pork, roasted chicken, tri-tip, or roasted veggies. So delicious!
Cook the bacon
Layer & bake the fries
You’ll want to bake the fries until they’re nice and crispy or they will get soggy when you add the toppings.
Feel free to assemble the fries in a single layer on a sheet pan instead of a serving dish. Just line the sheet pan with parchment paper so the cheese doesn’t stick to the pan!
Air fryer instructions
To make loaded fries in the air fryer:
- Spread the waffle fries in a single layer and air fry according to package directions.
- Once the fries are nice and crispy, spread the cheese, bacon, jalapeños, & red chilis on top.
- Then, air fry at 390°F (198°C) for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the chilis are lightly charred.
Storing leftover fries
I think these fries taste best fresh but if you have leftovers, they’ll still be good! Just spoon them into an airtight container and refrigerate the fries for up to 3 days.
3 ways to reheat
To reheat the fries, you have a few options!
- Air fry – reheat the fries in the air fryer at 350°F (177°C) for 3-4 minutes until hot. This is my favorite method. They get nice and crispy!
- Bake – place the fries on a greased sheet pan. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 10-15 minutes. This is my second favorite way to reheat the fries. They still get crispy, it just takes longer.
- Microwave – transfer the fries to a plate and microwave for 1-2 minutes until they’re heated through. I definitely don’t prefer this reheating method because it makes the fries a bit soggy but it will work in a pinch!
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Cheesy Loaded Waffle Fries with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound thick-cut bacon (226 grams)
- 20 ounces frozen seasoned waffle fries (566 grams)
- 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (84 grams)
- 3/4 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese (84 grams)
- 1 jalapeño pepper, very thinly sliced
- 1 red chili pepper, very thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives (6 grams)
- Ranch dressing, for serving
Equipment
- Parchment paper
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
Instructions
Cook the bacon
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Then, line the bacon on the sheet pan side-by-side, leaving a bit of space between each slice of bacon. Bake the bacon for 10-18 minutes, until it's crisp and cooked through. The total cook time will depend on the thickness of the bacon.
- Once the bacon is cooked, transfer it to paper towels to soak up any extra grease. Let it cool for a few minutes. Then, finely chop the bacon. Set aside.
Bake the fries
- Evenly spread the waffle fries on a sheet pan. Bake the fries until crispy, according to package directions.
Assemble & bake
- Turn the broiler on HIGH. Transfer half of the fries to an oven-safe serving dish. Sprinkle the fries with half of the cheddar cheese, half of the jack cheese, and half of the bacon.
- Add another layer of waffle fries. Top the fries with the remaining cheese and bacon. Spread the sliced jalapeños and red chilis on top. Broil the loaded fries for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the peppers are lightly charred.
- Remove the loaded fries from the oven and immediately sprinkle them with fresh chives. Serve the fries with ranch dressing & enjoy!
