Cheesy Loaded Waffle Fries with Bacon
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. Make this snack for parties, game days, and get-togethers with friends!
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!
Notes
For easy cleanup, line the sheet pan with parchment paper or tinfoil. It's such a lifesaver against melty cheese!
Always shred your own cheese. I promise, it's super worth it! Not only does the cheese taste so much better but it also melts nicer. Pre-shredded cheese will end up being grainy.
Feel free to assemble the fries in a single layer on a sheet pan instead of on a serving dish. Just line the pan with parchment paper so the cheese doesn't stick!
Double layer the ingredients for max coverage! If you just pile the cheese and bacon on top, you'll end up with a bottom layer of fries sans toppings.
Serving a crowd? This recipe is super easy to double or triple! Just spread everything out between 2 sheet pans so the fries come out nice and crispy.
I would keep any cold and hot ingredients separate. Put chilled dips (or other ingredients) in small bowls for serving on the side. If you drizzle the chilled ingredients over the top of the fries, they'll make the fries soggy and the cheese hard.
These fries are the perfect way to use up leftovers! Some of my go-to toppings are leftover pulled pork, roasted chicken, tri-tip, or roasted veggies. So delicious!
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 288kcal, Carbohydrates: 10.6g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 20.2g, Saturated Fat: 8.5g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 757mg, Potassium: 282mg, Fiber: 1.1g, Sugar: 0.3g, Calcium: 211mg, Iron: 1mg
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