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Best Ultimate Chili Cheese Fries Casserole for Game Day

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This Ultimate Chili Cheese Fries Casserole layers crispy frozen fries with a rich, homemade chili, a blanket of melted cheddar and Monterey Jack, and all the fixings. It’s a fork-required, crowd-pleasing dish that stays crunchy on the bottom, gooey in the middle, and perfectly scoopable from start to finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 bag (28 ounces) frozen french fries (thicker cut, like steak or crinkle)
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
  • 4–5 green onions, sliced
  • ½ cup sour cream (for serving)
  • 2–3 jalapeños, sliced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a 9×13-inch baking dish on a baking sheet to catch drips.
  2. Make the chili: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned (6-8 minutes). Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  3. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Stir constantly for 1 minute to toast spices. Add tomato paste and stir for another minute.
  5. Pour in crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Stir, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chili thickens. Stir in kidney beans and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Par-bake the fries: Spread frozen fries in an even layer in the baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes at 425°F (220°C) until edges start to crisp.
  7. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). Spoon chili evenly over par-baked fries. Sprinkle grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top.
  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes at 375°F (190°C) until cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown. For a deeper golden crust, broil for the last 2 minutes, watching closely.
  9. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and jalapeños. Serve with sour cream on the side.

Notes

Don’t skip the par-bake of the fries to keep them crispy. Grate your own cheese for best melting. Make chili ahead of time for deeper flavor. Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving to set layers.

Nutrition

Keywords: chili cheese fries casserole, game day recipe, loaded fries, comfort food, party food, Super Bowl recipe

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