Take loaded fries to the next level with all the goodness of cheeseburgers!
How often do your children ask for drive-thru cheeseburgers and French fries? I wouldn’t be surprised if you said often, because next to chicken nuggets and fries, that’s probably one of the most requested meals. It only makes sense to skip the drive-thru and prepare these tasty, all-in-one cheeseburger fries at home.
Yes, you heard me right—I said cheeseburger fries! After all, there are cheeseburger pizzas, so why not do the same with fries? Besides, loaded fries are one of the best meals you can serve. Everything you need is all in one tasty platter. And, just like a cheeseburger, you get lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a special sauce. Of course, if you love bacon cheeseburgers, feel free to add some chopped, cooked bacon to your fries. You can also substitute any ground poultry, meat, or plant-based meat substitute in this recipe. I also like to shred cheese from a block rather than buy pre-shredded cheese, as it melts better without the anti-caking agents often added to pre-shredded cheese.
How do these fries taste, you ask? If you’ve ever added fries to your cheeseburgers, you know. You get those crusty on the outside, fluffy on the inside potatoes, smothered in savory beef and cheesy goodness. Add the crisp freshness of the veggies and that sweet and tangy sauce, and you have a hit in the making.
This is also a fun dish that children can help make. Once you take the potatoes out of the oven, your kids can add the toppings. Although I personally like to top my fries on the baking sheet—to avoid using another dish—it’s best to transfer them to a baking dish to prevent your children from accidentally touching the hot sheet and getting burned. They will have lots of fun “decorating” the fries by adding all the toppings.
What are the best types of frozen fries to use for loaded fries?
If it seems that the varieties of frozen potatoes are never-ending, you’d be correct. Grocery freezers are full of packages of potatoes in every shape, size, and type. It’s always one of my biggest dilemmas when choosing a side dish for a meal. And while most options will work for cheeseburger fries, a few might not be the best choice, such as shoestring and curly potatoes. These fries are often too thin to hold the many toppings added to the potatoes.
In my humble opinion, the best types are steak fries, crinkle fries, and waffle fries. I also like to use Tater Tots to make loaded fries—totchos. Waffle fries are probably my favorite, with their lattice-like holes just begging to be filled with toppings. Classic straight-cut fries will also work, as long as they are not too thin. Oh, and if you want to make them truly special, consider swapping regular potatoes for sweet potatoes or another veggie option available today.
How do I store leftovers?
Cheeseburger fries are best enjoyed right away when the potatoes are crisp and the toppings are fresh. Leftovers are best stored without the cold toppings of sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions. It’s best to keep all toppings separate, loading only the fries you expect to eat in one sitting. If you have leftover beef-and-cheese-topped fries, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a 350-400°F air fryer or 400°F oven until warm. Do not microwave leftovers, as they will become soggy.
Serving suggestions
Now that we’re serving cheeseburger fries for dinner, let’s talk about making it feel like we’re at your family’s favorite fast-food restaurant. That can mean only one thing—milkshakes! Perhaps a Strawberry Milkshake, Peanut Butter Milkshake, or Banana Milkshake is a family favorite. You can get fancy with a Cookies And Cream Milkshake, boost the protein with this Chocolate Protein Shake, or skip the dairy and make a Vegan Milkshake that is utterly delicious. And, nothing finishes the meal off like a big platter of Kitchen Sink Cookies, Iced Oatmeal Cookies, or Almond Flour Cookies loaded with chocolate chips.
Cheeseburger Fries
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 3/4 teaspoon sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bag frozen fries thick cut
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Shredded lettuce for topping
- Diced tomato for topping
- Diced red onion for topping
- Diced pickles for topping
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, sugar, white vinegar, and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Bake the frozen fries in the oven according to the package instructions until golden and crispy.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lean ground beef. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and no pink remains.
- Place the cooked fries in an oven-safe dish. Top with the browned beef and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Drizzle the chilled burger sauce over the dish and garnish with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, diced red onion, and diced pickles.
- Serve immediately while warm and enjoy your delicious cheeseburger fries!
Leave a Comment