Chili Cheese Fries Ground Beef (Printable)

Golden fries layered with rich chili, melted cheddar, and sautéed onions for a satisfying main dish.

# What You Need:

→ Fries

01 - 1.75 lbs frozen or fresh potato fries
02 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

→ Chili

03 - 14 oz ground beef
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 1 can (14 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1 tsp chili powder
11 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
12 - ½ tsp salt
13 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Toppings

14 - 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
15 - ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
17 - 2 tbsp sliced jalapeños

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss fries with vegetable oil and spread evenly on a baking sheet. Bake according to package directions until golden and crispy, approximately 25–30 minutes.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until browned thoroughly, about 5 minutes.
03 - Add finely chopped yellow onion to the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Mix in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook for 10–15 minutes until thickened.
05 - Transfer cooked fries to an oven-safe serving dish. Pour hot chili evenly over the fries and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
06 - Return the dish to the oven for 3–5 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven and garnish with sliced red onion, fresh cilantro, and jalapeños if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The homemade chili comes together in one pan and freezes beautifully for future cravings
  • You can customize the spice level and toppings to match everyone's preferences
02 -
  • Never skip draining excess fat from the beef before adding the onions, or your chili will end up greasy
  • Let the chili rest for 2 minutes after assembling so the cheese sets slightly and doesn't slide right off the fries
03 -
  • Make extra chili on Sunday and freeze portions for quick weeknight meals
  • Warming your serving dish in the oven while the fries bake keeps everything hotter longer

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