These Bacon Cheese Fries make the perfect appetizer, side dish, or snack. Crunchy fries topped with gooey cheese and crispy bacon. What’s not to love?
If you're looking for a side dish or appetizer that's both easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a hit, you can't go wrong with bacon cheese fries.
Seriously, just say those three words out loud.
Bacon...Cheese...Fries.
Individually, each of those is outrageously delicious. And when you put them together you've got something magical on your hands (or in your belly).
How To Make Bacon Cheese Fries
The thing I love most about this recipe is that it's so simple to make, but when its all done it will look like you spent hours preparing it. Scroll down for the full recipe with detailed instructions, but here's the short version.
You start with a bag of frozen French fries and bake them in the oven or air fryer until crispy and golden brown. Shred some cheese and sprinkle it on top of the fries and then pop them back in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. Then top with some crumbled bacon and parsley and serve with a side of ranch dressing or zesty fry sauce.
Pour yourself a glass of beer and enjoy!
Tips, Tricks, And Variations
I've made bacon cheese fries at home many times so I've learned what works best. Here's some tips to help you:
Getting in Shape - I'm a big shoestring fry guy myself, but this recipe will work with pretty much any shape fries. Crinkle cut, steak fries, curly fries, even tater tots work well. Feel free to use whatever kind you like best.
Say Cheese - There are lots of good melting cheeses that will work well with cheese fries. Cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey jack, gouda, and gruyere are all great options. Experiment and see which variety you like best.
Time to Shred- Those pre-shredded bags of cheese you can buy at the grocery store are super convenient, but they'll never be as good as using a block of cheese that you shred yourself. You see, those pre-shredded bags contain anti-caking agents like cellulose or potato starch. They're there to help keep the cheese from sticking and clumping, but they also mean the cheese won't melt as smoothly. When you shred cheese yourself you'll notice the difference.
Presentation Matters - You can bake the fries right on a cookie sheet and then just add the cheese and melt it all right there. But if you want to make a nicer presentation you can switch the fries to an oven safe dish or skillet. I like to serve them in a 6 inch cast iron skillet loaded up with fries, bacon, and cheese. It looks cool, like something you'd get at a steak house.
The Big Dipper - Bacon cheese fries are great all by themselves but they're even better when you have a sauce or two to dip them in. Ranch dressing pairs perfectly with cheese fries, but other options include a fry sauce, barbecue sauce, or honey mustard.
To Fry or Not to Fry - In our house we almost always bake our fries in the oven or the air fryer. They're delicious and a healthier option than deep frying would be. That said, if you want to deep fry your fries in oil I won't argue because they certainly taste amazing.
Discover Disco - Want to try something a little different? Disco Fries are a New Jersey diner classic. Cook the fires as you normally would and then top with mozzarella cheese and pop in the oven for the cheese to melt. Remove them from the oven and pour warm gravy on top.
Bacon Cheese Fries
Ingredients
- 16 ounces frozen French fries
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- ⅓ cup cooked bacon chopped
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- Bake the French fries in the oven or air fryer according to the instructions on the package.
- While the fries are in the oven, chop your bacon and parsley and shred the cheese.
- Remove the fries from the oven and set the heat to 400 F.
- You can either leave the fries on a sheet pan or in an oven safe dish. I prefer finishing them off in a cast iron skillet because it looks like something you'd get in a restaurant.
- Sprinkle the fries with cheese and place in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle with the bacon and parsley.
- Serve immediately with a side of ranch dressing or dry sauce. You can also drizzle the sauce over the fries.
Notes
- You can make these bacon cheese fries with any kind of fries you have on hand. Crinkle cut, steak fries, shoestrings, even tater tots work with this recipe.
- For a little extra blast of flavor, finely mince a garlic clove and sprinkle on top along with the bacon and parsley.
Nutrition
I'm not a trained chef, just an average guy who taught himself how to cook. I make easy meals that anyone make themselves. If I can cook it, so can YOU!
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