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Easy Loaded Chili Cheese Fries: Best Sheet Pan Dinner

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Crispy golden fries topped with savory chili, melted cheddar, and fresh toppings, all baked on a single sheet pan for an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner or game day snack.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup beef broth or water
  • 1 bag (28 ounces) frozen french fries (crinkle cut, steak fries, or shoestring)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions (both white and green parts)
  • 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños (optional)
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Dice onion, mince garlic, drain and rinse kidney beans.
  2. Spread frozen fries in a single layer on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder and salt, and toss to coat. Bake for 15 minutes until starting to crisp.
  3. While fries bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned (6-8 minutes). Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  4. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute to toast spices.
  5. Pour in diced tomatoes (with juices) and beef broth. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Stir in kidney beans and cook 2 more minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  6. Remove par-baked fries from oven. Spoon chili evenly over fries. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
  7. Return to oven and bake 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and fries are deep golden brown.
  8. Let rest 2 minutes. Dollop sour cream over the top, then sprinkle with green onions, diced tomato, pickled jalapeños, and cilantro.
  9. Serve immediately, straight from the sheet pan.

Notes

Par-bake the fries first to keep them crispy. Use freshly shredded cheese for best melt. Toast spices for deeper flavor. Let rest briefly before adding cold toppings. For vegetarian version, swap ground beef for plant-based crumble or extra beans. For sweet potato fries, bake a few minutes longer.

Nutrition

Keywords: loaded chili cheese fries, sheet pan dinner, easy dinner, game day food, comfort food, one pan meal

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