Easy Loaded French Fries

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These Loaded Cheese Fries are a total game-changer! Crispy, golden fries smothered in melted cheese, topped with crispy bacon and fresh green onions, it’s pure comfort food!! Whether you’re watching the big game or kicking back on a Friday night, this crowd-pleaser is ridiculously easy to make and impossible to stop eating!  

Are you looking for more Game Day Snacks? Try our Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, Velveeta Sausage Dip, or our amazing Chili Soup.

A close-up of loaded fries topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, and chopped green onions, drizzled with ranch dressing. A small cup of ranch dressing is placed on the side.

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I absolutely love French fries! They’re already amazing on their own, but when you add crispy bacon and tons of melty cheese, they become the perfect appetizer! For my kids, I keep it simple with just bacon, cheese, and onion, but when it’s my plate, I load them up with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, a dollop of sour cream, red onions, and sometimes do ground meat.

It’s seriously the best appetizer, a big pile of delicious French fries covered in all the toppings. Yum! I need to go make these again right now, and so do you, LOL!

A forkful of loaded fries topped with crispy bacon bits, melted cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, and drizzled with creamy ranch dressing on a baking tray.

What you’ll love about this French Fries Recipe:  


  • COMFORT FOOD: Crispy fries topped with gooey cheese and bacon make this a recipe everyone loves.
  • QUICK & EASY  -Perfect for a faster snack using pantry staples.
  • CROWD-PLEASER – This delicious recipe is the ultimate snack for the big game or a fun Friday night.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make these amazing Loaded Cheese Fries:

  • Bag of frozen french fries
  • Bacon
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Green onions
  • Garlic salt- You can use garlic powder and salt instead. 
Ingredients for a loaded fries recipe are arranged on a light background. They include a bowl of frozen fries, shredded cheddar cheese, diced bacon, chopped green onions, and a small dish of garlic salt. Each ingredient is labeled.

INGREDIENT NOTES:

  • Frozen French Fries: Choose your favorite style, like steak fries, crinkle cut fries, or waffle fries, for variety. I LOVE all French fries, LOL!
  • Cheddar Cheese: A classic choice for cheesy fries, but feel free to use a cheese blend for added flavor.
  • Bacon: Crispy, chopped bacon brings savory crunch to every bite, so yum! Or you bacon bits instead. 

HOW TO MAKE LOADED FRENCH FRIES STEP-BY-STEP:      

Check out the quick visual guides below. For full instructions and ingredients, see the printable recipe card at the end.

Step 1: Spread the frozen french fries in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined sprayed with cooking spray, or use aluminum foil. Bake according to the package directions until golden french fries are crispy.

Step 2: While the fries bake, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain excess oil and set the bacon bits aside.

Step 3: Remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle with garlic salt.

A six-step process of making loaded fries. Top left: bacon frying in a pan. Top middle: fries spread on a baking sheet. Top right: fries topped with cheese. Bottom left to right: cheese melting, adding bacon bits, and garnishing with green onions.

Step 4: Top the hot fries with shredded cheese, then return to the oven for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese creates that gooey layer of cheesy goodness!

Step 5: Remove from the oven and do a drizzle of ranch dressing and sprinkle with crispy bacon, and green onions.

Step 6: Serve immediately as a game-day snack or a great option for parties.

A close-up of loaded fries on a baking sheet, topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon pieces, drizzled white sauce, and garnished with chopped green onions. A striped cloth is partially visible at the bottom.

PRO TIP:

For extra crispiness, bake the fries on a large baking sheet and flip halfway through cooking.

Close-up of loaded fries topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, sliced green onions, and drizzled with creamy sauce on a metal tray.

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It can be kept for up to 3 days.

Reheating:  Heat in the oven at 350°F or in an air fryer basket to crisp the fries back up.

Freezing: Not recommended, as fries lose their texture when frozen and reheated.

Close-up of a hand picking up loaded fries topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped green onions, and drizzled with creamy sauce. The fries are on a metal tray.

Additions & Substitutions

ADDITIONS:

  • Meat Toppings: Add lean ground beef, ground turkey, or shredded chicken for a heartier dish.
  • Cheese Sauce: Drizzle with a homemade creamy cheese sauce for even more cheesy goodness.
  • Veggies: Top with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, or jalapeños for a fresh twist.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

  • Cheddar Cheese: Use mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for a different cheesy twist.
  • French Fries: Swap with steak fries, tater tots, or Greek fries for a different base.
  • Ranch Dressing: Replace with hot sauce, your favorite big mac sauce, or sour cream.

Try American cheese, Monterey Jack, or a spicy pepper jack cheese blend for variety.

A tray of loaded fries topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped green onions, and drizzled with creamy white sauce. The fries are golden and seasoned, with vibrant toppings adding color and texture.
A plate of golden fries topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, sliced green onions, and a drizzle of creamy sauce.

What Can I Serve with these Baked French Fries?

Serve French fries loaded as a side dish with burgers, chicken wings, sloppy joes, or hot dogs. They also make a great appetizer for parties or game days!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Five golden stars image.

I’m excited for you to try these Easy Loaded French Fries! After you make it, please leave a rating to let me know your thoughts on it – I’m eager to hear if you loved it as much as we do!

Close-up of loaded fries topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped green onions, and drizzled with ranch dressing. A small cup of ranch dressing is visible in the bottom corner.

Easy Loaded French Fries

Vicky Hadley~Little Chef Within
These Loaded Cheese Fries are a total game-changer! Crispy, golden fries smothered in melted cheese, topped with crispy bacon and fresh green onions, it's pure comfort food!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 276 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 26 ounce bag frozen french fries
  • 8 slices bacon chopped
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup diced green onions
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • Ranch dressing for serving optional

Instructions
 

  • Bake french fries according to package directions until golden brown and crispy.
  • While fries are baking, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove with slotted spoon to paper towel-lined plate.
  • Remove fries from oven and sprinkle with garlic salt.
  • Top hot fries with shredded cheese and return to oven for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts.
  • Remove from oven and top with crispy bacon, green onions and ranch, if desired.

Notes

Pro Tip:

For extra crispiness, bake the fries on a large baking sheet and flip halfway through cooking.
Note: I used Ore Ida Extra crispy fast food French fries, but feel free to use your favorite fries. 

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 12gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 634mgPotassium: 87mgSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 388IUCalcium: 268mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword 30 minute meals, appetizers, easy, game day, kid favorite, snack
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5 from 1 vote

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