Game Day Loaded Fries with Cheese (Printable version)

Golden fries smothered in melted cheddar, bacon, and sour cream. A savory crowd-pleaser perfect for game day gatherings.

# Ingredient list:

→ Fries

01 - 1.75 lbs frozen French fries or homemade potato fries
02 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

→ Cheese and Toppings

03 - 7 oz shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 3.5 oz cooked bacon, crumbled
05 - 2 green onions, finely sliced
06 - 1/2 cup sour cream
07 - 1 small tomato, diced
08 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss fries with vegetable oil and spread evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crispy.
03 - Remove fries from the oven and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the hot fries, then scatter crumbled bacon on top. Return to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
05 - Transfer loaded fries to a large serving platter. Top with green onions, dollops of sour cream, and optional diced tomato and jalapeño.
06 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of crispy exterior and gooey cheese creates that irresistible contrast that makes your taste buds do a happy dance with every bite.
  • You can customize the toppings based on whatever youve got in your fridge, making this the perfect rescue recipe when unexpected guests show up.
02 -
  • If you pile the fries too high on the baking sheet, the ones in the middle will steam instead of crisp, leading to a soggy disappointment that no amount of toppings can rescue.
  • Freshly grated cheese melts infinitely better than pre-packaged shredded cheese, which contains anti-caking agents that can make it oily and separated rather than creamy and unified.
03 -
  • Pat the frozen fries dry with paper towels before tossing them with oil to remove excess moisture that would otherwise prevent proper crisping.
  • For the ultimate crispy-outside, fluffy-inside texture, let the baking sheet preheat in the oven for 5 minutes before adding the oil-tossed fries.

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