• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Seasonal Kitchen
menu icon
go to homepage
  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • HOME
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home > Recipes > Appetizer

    Loaded Cheese Fries

    2024-02-26 by Ellena @ The Seasonal Kitchen Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Loaded Cheese Fries are such a fun and shareable dish that make for a great appetizer or snack. The crispy French fries are evenly coated with a blend of cheeses, so every bite is packed with flavor. The rich, thick cut bacon adds the perfect salty crunch to the fries. While the bacon and cheese may be the stars of the dish, the pickled jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro bring a much needed freshness and spice to round out your palette. These fries are definitely decadent, so sharing with your favorites is a must.

    A close up of Loaded Cheese Fries with a side of ranch dressing.

    The great thing about these fries as that the combinations of toppings are endless. Feel free to experiment with some of your favorite toppings.

    A mis-en-place of the ingredients for Loaded Cheese Fries.

    Spread the  frozen fries on a baking sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

    Raw fries on a pan.
    Cooked fries on a pan.

    While the fries bake, in a pan, fry the bacon on medium heat until it is crispy. Place on a paper towel lined plate and remove excess grease. Chop the bacon into pieces and set aside.

    Raw bacon in a pan.
    Cooked bacon in a pan.
    Cooked bacon on a wooden cutting board getting chopped into pieces.

    Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese evenly over the fries. Sprinkle with the chopped bacon. Place back into the oven and bake for another 4-6 minutes until the cheese is melted.

    A pan of cooked frieds topped with cheese.
    A pan of cooked fries topped with cheese and bacon.
    A pan of cooked fries topped with cheese and bacon.

    Top the fries with the other toppings, green onions, cilantro, pickled jalapeños and drizzle with ranch dressing.

    A fully dressed tray of Loaded Cheese Fries with a side of ranch dressing in a cup.

    Garnish with additional sliced green onions and cilantro. Serve hot while the cheese is melted. This dish is sure to delight!

    A close up of a fork picking up a bite of Loaded Cheese Fries.

    FAQS:

    What will I need to complete this recipe?

    You will need the following ingredients: frozen French fries, cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, bacon, green onions, pickled jalapeños, cilantro, red onion, ranch dressing
    You will need the following supplies: a sheet pan, a skillet, cutting board, knife

    What are the storage instructions?

    Store any leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I would not recommend freezing these. 

    Should I eat these warm or cold?

    These Loaded Fries are best served hot, while the cheese is still melted and gooey. 

    What other toppings can I put on the Loaded Cheese Fries?

    The toppings can really be endless for these fries, like pico de Gallo, pickled onions, shredded chicken, beans, sour cream, etc.

    Notes:

    • We find that getting restaurant style or seasoned fries work the best. They tend to stay crispy the longest and won’t get soggy with all of the ingredients. We used the Ore-Ida Restaurant Style Fries in this recipe. 
    • We like to get blocks of cheese and grate them fresh for these fries. The cheese will melt more evenly and just melt better altogether. We find that pre-grated cheese doesn’t fully melt always but if that doesn’t bother you, then it can be used too. 
    • Air frying the French fries initially works great too. We love the air fryer for things like fries because it really gets them crispy in a shorter amount of time. 400° for about 8-10 minutes and shake about half way through. 
    • This recipe calls for cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese but your favorite cheeses will work too. Just make sure they melt easily. 
    • The toppings can really be endless for these fries, like pico de Gallo, pickled onions, shredded chicken, beans, sour cream, etc. 
    • Using different French fries, like waffle fries, sweet potato fries, curly fries, steak fries can also make for some delicious dishes. 
    A close up of Loaded Cheese Fries with a side of ranch dressing.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Loaded Cheese Fries

    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time17 minutes mins
    Total Time27 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 bag French fries, frozen (about 24 ounces)
    • 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
    • ½ cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
    • 8 ounces of bacon, thick cut
    • ¼ cup sliced green onions
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, optional
    • ¼ cup diced red onions
    • ¼ cup pickled jalapeno peppers
    • ¼ cup ranch dressing

    Instructions

    • Preheat your to 450°F (230°C).
    • Spread the  frozen fries on a baking sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
    • While the fries bake, in a pan, fry the bacon on medium heat until it is crispy. Place on a paper towel lined plate and remove excess grease. Chop the bacon into pieces and set aside.
    • Remove from the oven and sprinkle the cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese evenly over the fries. Sprinkle with the chopped bacon. Place back into the oven and bake for another 4-6 minutes until the cheese is melted.
    • Remove the fries from the oven and top them with the other toppings, green onions, cilantro, pickled jalapeños and drizzle with ranch dressing.
    • Garnish with additional sliced green onions and cilantro. Serve hot while the cheese is melted.

    Notes

    We find that getting restaurant style or seasoned fries work the best. They tend to stay crispy the longest and won’t get soggy with all of the ingredients. We used the Ore-Ida Restaurant Style Fries in this recipe. 
    We like to get blocks of cheese and grate them fresh for these fries. The cheese will melt more evenly and just melt better altogether. We find that pre-grated cheese doesn’t fully melt always but if that doesn’t bother you, then it can be used too. 
    Variations and substitutions:
    Air frying the French fries initially works great too. We love the air fryer for things like fries because it really gets them crispy in a shorter amount of time. 400° for about 8-10 minutes and shake about half way through.
    This recipe calls for cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese but your favorite cheeses will work too. Just make sure they melt easily.
    The toppings can really be endless for these fries, like pico de Gallo, pickled onions, shredded chicken, beans, sour cream, etc.
    Using different French fries, like waffle fries, sweet potato fries, curly fries, steak fries can also make for some delicious dishes.

    Did you make this recipe?

    If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment, a review, or a rating.

    Related Recipes:

    • Air Fryer Chicken and Cheese Taquitos
    • Easy Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

    More Appetizer

    • A close up of a Peach and Prosciutto Crostini.
      Peach and Prosciutto Crostini
    • A small dish of Olive Oil Bread Dip
      Olive Oil Bread Dip
    • A serving plate of Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread with marinara sauce next to a plate with a smaller serving of it.
      Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread
    • A plate of Watermelon Feta Skewers
      Watermelon Feta Skewers

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to The Seasonal Kitchen

    We're two sisters who love quick, healthy meals that don't require too much time or too many ingredients.

    More About Us

    Trending Recipes

    • A mason jar of Smoky Poblano Ranch Dressing.
    • A Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Garlic Aioli .
    • Two Chopped BLT Sandwiches.
    • Three Nutella Fluff Brownies stacked on top of each other with parchment paper between them

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Buffalo Chicken Dip with Franks Buffalo Sauce in a ceramic serving dish
    • A sliced Air Fryer Pork Roast on a cutting board.
    • A bowl of Chicken and Leek Soup next to a couple dinner rolls and some fresh leeks.
    • A plate of Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Brown Butter Sauce.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 The Seasonal Kitchen