10 of the Best DIY Loaded Fries Recipes
Did this dish evolve from loaded potato skins or baked potatoes? Are loaded fries the result of further customizing cheese fries? Regardless of the exact origins of this dish, one thing is clear: loaded fries are a current culinary trend, as celebrated at Gordon® Food Service. Whether the availability of loaded fries is key in choosing the best lunch near you or you are looking to get creative in your own kitchen, here are some common questions about loaded fries:
● What exactly are loaded fries?
● Why should I try loaded fries?
● How do I make loaded fries at home?
Keep reading for an explanation of this dish and some of the reasons for its popularity, as well as several loaded fries recipes to try at home!
What are Loaded Fries?
Loaded fries are crispy fries that have a whole bunch of other delicious ingredients on top of them. Although loaded fries can be a fairly straightforward dish that’s quick and easy to make, the possible preparations and flavor combinations of this dish are vast. From specific types of loaded fries like poutine and chili cheese fries to global flavors and elevated creations, variations on loaded fries appear everywhere from fast food restaurants to food truck festivals to gourmet dining establishments. Check out the fundamentals of making loaded fries below:
The Fries: Fries serve as the foundation of this dish. While you can certainly make your own homemade fries, frozen fries work too. Russet potatoes are a popular choice for fries in general, but you can also choose another potato you like or even use sweet potatoes. You also have several options for cooking the fries, including baking and air frying.
While fry shape is often a matter of preference, the cut of the fries also contributes to your eating experience, especially with a dish like loaded fries. Between the melted cheese or cheese sauce that often covers the fries and the other (and potentially heavier) toppings stacked above them, a fry cut that both holds up to what’s stacked above and offers a sturdy scoop for all of the scrumptious toppings is ideal. As Tasting Table notes, waffle fries are a great choice. However, there are no hard and fast rules about the type of fries needed.
The Cheese: Part of the fun in making and enjoying loaded fries is the wide range of cheese sauces and cheeses to try. While it is often included but not mandatory for loaded fries, the inclusion of cheese provides a cooling creaminess against the saltiness or other savory seasonings on this dish. One easy choice for your loaded fries is to use whatever cheese is on hand, like the rest of an open jar of nacho cheese or the last of that block of cheddar. On the other hand, exploring the best cheeses for loaded cheese fries based on their characteristics, such as how well they melt and their flavor, both individually and in combination with other toppings, may further enhance your overall dish.
The Meats: Loaded fries often incorporate meats that are frequently paired with potato-based sides, such as crispy bacon bits or ground beef. Besides the many assorted meat possibilities, the use of different cooking approaches also brings varied textures and flavors to the fries, such as grilling the steak or smoking a pork butt for pulled pork. Sauced preparations like buffalo chicken and the incorporation of different seasonings into any marinades further enhance the overall flavor of the meat and the loaded fries in their entirety. As with the cheese, meat isn’t required for loaded fries to fulfill their layered and delicious destiny.
The Toppings: Toppings, like the other components of loaded fries, continue to be open to both comforting choices and experimentation. From fresh and pickled vegetables like jalapeños to sour cream and other condiments, the toppings alone can transform loaded fries from one experience to the next, even if the fries, cheese and meat selections remain consistent. As you explore recipes for loaded fries, you may find some unsurprising toppings, like bacon and green onions, as well as some more unexpected selections!
Why are Loaded Fries a Great DIY Meal Option?
With crispy fries as its base and endless opportunities for creativity and customization with its components, a platter of loaded fries is likely to entice and excite people of all ages. As such, it’s a great option not only for a crowd-pleasing side or appetizer but also as a complete DIY meal idea. Here are 5 reasons to enjoy loaded fries for your upcoming breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
It’s versatile. Do you have leftover ground beef or other odds and ends from the dish you made earlier in the week? Are you in need of just one quick meal on the fly? Loaded fries can be tailored to serve parties of one or more. They can also be made with many different ingredients. For some meals, your loaded fries may be a thoughtfully crafted construction of assorted layers. For others, your approach to this dish may seem more like the savory version of a kitchen sink cookie!
Loaded fries can incorporate multiple food groups. Letting the choice of protein and vegetables take the lead in your loaded fries helps make it a complete meal idea. From using lean ground beef to adding fresh tomato, green onions and avocado, the potential is there for making a fairly balanced meal in a single plate or bowl!
It can be quick to prepare. By using frozen fries or a few orders of Freddy’s Fries, this part of the dish can take approximately 20 minutes or less, depending on the cooking method. The remaining time depends on the toppings that you want to include and any preparation that they require. So, if you already have the cheese sauce, leftover rotisserie chicken, pre-cut veggies, and other condiments on hand, then you’ll only need a few minutes more until it’s mealtime!
Cleanup is minimal. Especially when using already prepared ingredients, making this dish often requires very few items from start to finish. For example, if making loaded fries in the oven, the initial cooking of the fries and melting cheese on top can happen on a single baking sheet. Similarly, if you are using precut or shredded meats, cheeses, sauces or veggies right out of their store-bought containers, you may only need utensils and plates or bowls aside from the cookware you use for your fries.
It’s unique and customizable. While fries are a comfort classic, loading up the fries may be a special treat, especially for a weeknight dinner! Given the vast range of ingredients that can be used in loaded fries, many flavorful and interesting combinations can be created. To navigate multiple flavor preferences or dietary considerations, a DIY approach to the actual assembly of these fries also makes it easy for your fellow diners to create their perfect version of loaded fries.
10 Loaded Fries Recipes to Try
For an interactive dish, a shareable appetizer or a fun addition to the usual menu, loaded fries fit the bill! While restaurants may offer this dish near you, you may also want to make it yourself. For a new variation on this popular dish or to try it out for the first time, explore some tasty loaded fries recipes.
1. Bacon and Cheese: Bacon and cheese often appear together in recipes for loaded fries and many other dishes. While some recipes use and melt shredded cheese, this recipe from Love Bakes Good Cakes features a homemade cheese sauce as well as a second creamy (and tangy) component – sour cream.
2. Feta and Herbs: This recipe for Vegan Loaded Greek Fries from The Healthful Ideas incorporates a variety of herbs, like oregano and parsley, in addition to other seasonings. These loaded fries also use vegan feta and a tzatziki sauce.
3. Pizza: For loaded fries that combine two comfort classics, pizza and fries, this recipe from the Kitchen Sink via the Food Network may be exactly what you are looking for. After preparing the frozen fries, ingredients like cheese, pepperoni and tomato sauce are then layered into the dish.
4. Carne asada: The Kitchn recommends bringing carne asada, a type of steak preparation, to loaded fries. Toppings include two types of cheese, as well as fresh cilantro and guacamole. With guidance for preparing both the skirt steak and the necessary toppings for the base of frozen fries, you may learn how to make not one but two new dishes with this single recipe!
5. Sweet Potato and Black Bean: In this recipe shared at Dinnerly, fries made of sweet potatoes and black beans take center stage. In five steps and with preparation through service estimated at around 40 minutes, this version of loaded fries may be ideal for your next weeknight dinner. Feel free to add other proteins or vegetables, if that’s your preference!
6. Sour Cream and Onion: This loaded fries recipe from Allrecipes leverages sturdy and sizable waffle fries for its preparation. If you love this flavor pairing on chips or in dips, then you’ll be especially excited to learn how to make your own homemade sour cream and onion seasoning for use in making these fries and in other dishes.
7. Burger-inspired: In this loaded fries recipe from Patterson Watkins via Mashed, the fries no longer play a supporting role for the bacon cheeseburger. Instead, the ingredients combine into a single craveable and cohesive dish. With two different cheeses and condiments, not to mention multiple fresh elements like pickles and lettuce, there’s no need for a bun with this burger, since everything is assembled and served on a bed of golden brown fries.
8. Buffalo Chicken: This recipe for loaded fries from Eat the Gains keeps healthier preparation methods in mind. For example, the fries are made from scratch, and the blue cheese dressing uses nonfat Greek yogurt as the base. This meal idea also ensures that there is plenty of protein available!
9. BBQ Chicken: If the thought of pulled chicken with rich, tangy BBQ sauce, crispy fries, and cheese already has your mouth watering, then consider a recipe like this one from Sarah’s Healthy Kitchen. With multiple creamy components and air-fried or oven-baked homemade fries, make chicken as directed here or use some from the big batch you already had on hand!
10. Poutine: Some types of loaded fries, like poutine, provide the opportunity to travel via your tastebuds. To make poutine at home, here are some poutine recipes to check out.
Frequently Asked Questions about Loaded Fries
Do the fries get soggy with all of the toppings?
While a soggy mouthful is a possibility, you can take several steps to avoid that experience! First, prepare your fries right when you plan to enjoy them. Make sure they are fully cooked and crispy, which sometimes means a few more minutes of cook time than directed. Unless otherwise noted (as with melting cheese in the final few minutes of oven time), put toppings on just before serving. Then, enjoy them immediately!
Can loaded fries be reheated?
Loaded fries can be reheated, although they may not be as delicious as when they were fresh. For the best possible experience, each component of the fries should be kept separately. Previously assembled fries are more likely to be soggy. Keeping the components of your fries separate from each other may better enable you to recreate the crispy fries that are typically preferred for this dish.
Should fries only be placed on the bottom of this dish?
In making loaded fries, some people put fries down as the bottom layer, kind of like the chips in nachos. Others choose to alternate layers of fries with the other components. You may find some trial and error to be helpful here in order to determine which approach results in the texture and flavor that you prefer!
Explore an exciting approach to fries by trying a new loaded fries recipe at home or at a local restaurant today! At the Freddy’s near you, you can enjoy your favorite shoestring fries with Freddy’s Famous Steakburger & Fry Seasoning® or one celebrated version of loaded fries – chili cheese fries. Don’t forget to join Freddy’s Rewards today to earn points with each order of fries, steakburgers and more!