Scrumptious chili cheese fries are made with a hearty, slightly spicy, thick beef chili topped with a lusciously creamy cheddar cheese sauce. They are the perfect appetizer for game days and movie night munchies.
I love to serve these at our gameday shindigs with Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, Buffalo Chicken Dip, and Potato Skins. Family and friends love them, and with the ease of an air fryer, real crispy French fries are a breeze.
This chili cheese fry recipe features crispy frozen fries cooked in an air fryer topped with a tasty, thick homemade chili and creamy cheddar cheese sauce. Pickled jalapenos and crisp bacon make this the ultimate game-day food.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- French fries: For ease, I use frozen French fries, but this recipe is equally delicious, with sweet potato fries and homemade French fries.
- Ground beef: Use ground beef with a little fat in it. Fat gives the beef flavor.
- Seasonings and spices: garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, ground cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. This recipe has a lot of flavor, so you can adjust the spices and seasonings to taste.
- Diced tomatoes: I use fire-roasted diced tomatoes, but any diced tomatoes will work.
- Beef broth: Preferably low-sodium
- Kidney beans: You can substitute pinto or black beans
- Butter: Salted or unsalted
- Milk: Whole milk is best, but you can use 2% milk in a pinch.
- Cheese: For optimum flavor, purchase good quality sharp cheddar or white cheddar. The higher the quality of the cheese, the better the taste.
How to make Chili Cheese Fries
This is the nutshell version. See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and instructions.
Start with a good, robust, hearty, thick bean or no bean, ground beef, turkey, or vegetarian chili so the fries don’t get soggy. For this recipe, I included my homemade chili. Then, decide whether you want thin, crispy fast-food fries, tater tots, or homemade steak fries. For this recipe, I used frozen, thin, and crispy fast-food fries cooked perfectly in the air fryer. However, you could also bake them in the oven.
Now, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in the garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika. Whisk in the milk until it is creamy and smooth.
Simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Reduce the heat and slowly whisk in the cheddar until smooth and melted. Finally, layer first the fries, then the chili, ending with the creamy cheddar sauce. For best results, serve promptly.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- For ease, make the chili ahead of time.
- Air fryers are great for cooking fries, especially frozen French fries. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for about 10 minutes. If your cheese sauce is not quite ready, keep the fries in the air fryer, where they will stay warm. You can always re-crisp the fries for 1 minute before assembling them.
- If the cheese sauce thickens too much, add a couple of tablespoons of milk at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave. The fries will no longer be crispy, but the dish will still be delicious.
Topping Ideas
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Sour Cream
- Crispy Cooked Chopped Bacon
- Chopped Green Onions
- Diced tomatoes
- Pepperoncinis
- Pickled Onions
Recipe Variations
- Cheese: kick the heat up a few notches using Pepper Jack Cheese, or try white queso instead of the cheddar cheese sauce.
- Chili: for a lighter recipe, try turkey chili or vegetarian chili.
- Toppings: try crushed fritos, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, or sliced black olives.
More Potato Recipes
Chili Cheese Fries
Ingredients
- 1 (26 ounce) bag frozen french fries
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 15-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes NOT drained
- 1¼ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3-4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a Dutch Oven or large pot over medium heat. When the ground beef is about halfway browned, add the onion and continue cooking over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is soft.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- Stir in the fire-roasted diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, and Worcestershire Sauce. Simmer for 30-40 minutes over low heat.
- Add the drained kidney beans and simmer for another 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook fries according to package instructions. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 10-15 minutes or until crispy.
- Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in the garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika. Whisk in the milk until it is creamy and smooth. Simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Reduce the heat and slowly stir in the cheddar until smooth and melted.
- Assemble by layering first the fries, then the chili ending with the creamy cheddar sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. For best results, serve promptly.
Notes
- For optimum results use a good thick hearty chili that will help the fries stay crispy longer.
- Air fryers work great for cooking fries, especially frozen French fries. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook about 10 minutes. If your cheese sauce is not quite ready hold the fries in the air fryer where they will stay warm. If needed crisp for 1 minute right before assembling.
- If the cheese sauce thickens too much add a couple tablespoons of milk at a time till desired consistency.
- For optimum flavor purchase good quality sharp or white cheddar. The higher quality the cheese the better the flavor.
Nutrition
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Angela Campos
I love chili cheese fries and this recipe for them did not disappoint! It was so tasty…looking forward to making them again…YUM!!!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Angela! I am so glad that you liked them!
Michelle
These are awesome chili cheese fries. I made them for a football watch party and they were devoured!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Michelle! I am glad that everyone liked them!
Ana
These chili cheese fries were pure comfort food heaven! A total guilty pleasure that I’ll definitely be making again (maybe a little too often!).
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Ana! So happy that you liked them!
Molly Kumar
This is such a delicious snack!! Loooove the seasonings here, making the dish so yum. The cheese sauce is absolutely amazing .
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Molly! I am so glad that you liked them!
Cara
The homemade cheese sauce is so good, I wanted to eat it with a spoon!
Beth Pierce
I know, right? LOL
Catie
These were the ultimate comfort food! The chili was packed with flavor, and the melty cheese over crispy fries was absolutely irresistible.
Marie-Pierre Breton
This recipe made my husband so happy on game day! A must-do again!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Marie! So glad that your husband liked them!
Nanajee
I just had to say, your recipe of the chili cheese fries is spot-on! Perfect for game days or movie nights—thank you for sharing such a delicious recipe
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Nanajee!
Jenny
My teenagers love these chili cheese fries. Best part is that they are old enough to make them all on their own. Yeah!
Kat
Your chili cheese fries recipe is awesome. It was a hug hit with my teenage son. I even got him to help with the meal. Now if I could just get him to clean up his room all would be great.
Beth Pierce
Good luck! I hope you are successful.
Tammy
These chili cheese fries were absolutely DELICIOUS! I think I will make them again for superbowl Sunday! We are haivng friends over and everyone will love them.
Melanie E
Best chili cheese fries that I have had since I remember my Dad taking me to A&W. Those were some good times. Thanks for the blast from the past.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Melanie!
Tanya M
This chili cheese fries recipe is the ultimate game day treat! Crispy air-fried fries, savory homemade chili, creamy cheddar cheese sauce – it’s a winning combination. The addition of pickled jalapenos and crisp bacon takes it to a whole new level. Thanks for sharing this mouthwatering recipe! We absolutely love them!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tanya! So glad that you loved the chili cheese fries!
Lavanda
Chili cheese fries have always been my favorite and this recipe is now my new favorite. I love these creamy cheddar sauce. So much better than just topping them with shredded cheese. I will make these again!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked them, Lavanda!
Maria
Me and my family loved these chili cheese fries. Perfect for this cold weather that we are having that will not let up. I just bought the ingredients to make them again. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Maria! I am so glad that you like them!
Sammy
I love these chili cheese fries with just a tad of hot sauce added. Try a little Tobasco or Franks hot sauce. Absolutely delicious!