If you thought cheese fries couldn’t get any better, wait until you try this Loaded Fries Recipe! Crispy potatoes are smothered in a creamy ranch-flavored sauce, melty cheddar and mozzarella, crumbled bacon, and fresh green onions to create the ultimate French fry experience. Serve these fully loaded fries at your next party and watch them disappear!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: These bacon cheese fries come together easily with simple ingredients and steps for the perfect party appetizer or side dish.
- Customizable: It’s easy to change up these loaded fries’ toppings to suit your preferences.
- Flavor-Packed: What’s not to love about crispy potatoes, a creamy ranch sauce, melty cheese, and savory bacon? These loaded French fries have got it all!
For more crowd-pleasing party appetizers, check out these bacon wrapped water chestnuts, Mongolian meatballs, and rice paper rolls.
Loaded Cheese Fries Ingredients
- Potatoes: I like russet potatoes for making bacon ranch fries, but feel free to use Yukon gold if you prefer.
- Olive Oil: Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Seasoned Salt: I like it over plain salt for seasoning the fries. Feel free to use any brand you’d like.
- Ranch Sauce: You’ll need a combination of sour cream, ranch dressing, and milk to make the creamy ranch sauce. You can swap the ranch dressing for a few tablespoons of a packet of ranch mix.
- Cheese: You’ll need both shredded cheddar and mozzarella for these cheese fries with bacon. I recommend shredding your own for the best flavor and melt.
- Bacon: Use fresh bacon for best results, not pre-cooked bacon or bacon bits.
- Green Onions: These add a pop of color and subtle oniony flavor. Feel free to use chives instead if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Buffalo Ranch Fries: Give these loaded cheese fries a kick by drizzling on some buffalo sauce. Then, use blue cheese crumbles in place of the mozzarella for the perfect flavor combination.
- BBQ Cheesy Bacon Fries: Pour on some of your favorite barbecue sauce, and add extra bacon plus a touch of smoked paprika.
- Jalapeno Ranch Fries With Cheese and Bacon: Add sliced jalapenos along with the bacon, and swap the mozzarella for pepper jack cheese.
How to Make Loaded Fries
Here are the instructions for how to make loaded French fries. To get started, preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 1: Cut and season the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into fries, about ½” thick or steak fry size, whichever you prefer. Toss the cut potatoes with olive oil and seasoned salt, and arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Step 2: Bake. Place the uncooked fries in the oven and bake until tender and golden brown, about 40 minutes.
- Step 3: Make the sauce. Add the sour cream, ranch dressing, and milk to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Step 4: Assemble and broil. Spread the ranch sauce onto the cooked fries and top with the shredded cheese. Sprinkle on the crumbled bacon and green onions. Broil until the cheese is melted, keeping an eye on the fries so they do not burn.
Serving Suggestions
This loaded fries recipe is perfect for serving as a party appetizer or as a side dish. Here are some great ways to enjoy it:
- Add these tasty fries to your game day lineup along with buffalo chicken nachos and sweet and sour meatballs.
- Serve them with a side of fresh salsa or guacamole for dipping.
- Try them as a side with bone-in chicken or pulled pork sandwiches.
Expert Tips
- Cut Evenly: Cut the potatoes into similar-sized pieces so that they cook up evenly and are all done at the same time. Using a fry cutter will make this easier!
- Arrange in a Single Layer: Avoid overlapping the cut fries on the baking sheet so they get nice and crispy.
- Don’t Use Too Much Milk: Be sure not to thin the sauce out by using too much milk. It should be thicker than ranch dressing, but spreadable.
- Storing: While these cheesy fries are best served immediately to prevent sogginess, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 375°F oven for 5-10 minutes.
Loaded Fries Recipe FAQs
You can absolutely cook the potatoes in the air fryer, but I recommend finishing them in the oven to avoid a mess. Cut and season the potatoes as instructed in the recipe. Then, air fry them in a single layer at 380°F for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they’re crispy and golden brown. You may need to work in batches. Then, transfer the fries to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and continue with the recipe as directed.
You can prep the potatoes and make the ranch sauce up to 24 hours in advance to save time. Cut the potatoes and toss with oil and seasonings. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, mix up the sauce and keep it in a separate sealed container in the fridge. Just be sure to give it a stir before using. When you’re ready to serve, cook the potatoes, assemble the toppings, and broil as directed in the recipe.
More Delicious Potato Recipes
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Fully Loaded French Fries
Ingredients
- 4-6 potatoes enough to cover a single layer on a cookie sheet. Potatoes vary in size so start with 4 and then add more if you want more!
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
Sour Cream/Ranch Sauce:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup milk
Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or as much as you like
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup crumbled bacon
- ¼ cup green onions
Instructions
Baked Potato Wedges
- Cut potatoes into "steak french fries" size or ½ inch fry size.
- Drizzle potatoes with olive oil and lightly toss with seasoning salt.
- Place on parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake 400 for 40 minutes or until fork tender
Ranch Cream Sauce
- In separate bowl mix: sour cream, Ranch dressing and milk.
Loaded Fries
- While fries are hot top with sour cream ranch sauce.
- Generously top with cheese. Sprinkle bacon and chives.
- Place under broiler for a few seconds to re-melt cheese.
Video
Notes
- Avoid using too much milk to keep the ranch sauce from becoming too thin.
- Use freshly-shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded, as the anti-caking agents prevent it from melting as well.
- To keep the fries from becoming soggy, enjoy them immediately after broiling.
Nutrition
ashok says
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
Christina Caasi says
I've made your recipe a few times now. They turn out perfect every time! They taste so good! I always make extra for leftovers. Then i use a square of parchment paper add leftovers on top & reheat in air frier for a couple of minutes. Not too long or p.paper might start browning so I standby as I reheat. Making this recipe again tonight! Kids request! Ty
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Emily Kemp says
Omg...I am drooling at this right now. That's my Friday night dinner sorted ha!
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Jennie says
OH MY WORD!! I made this tonight but cut the potatoes into 1 inch pieces and used store bought pork BBQ instead of bacon. My family thinks I am a Rock Star!!!
Desarae says
YAY~ I'm so so happy it turned out great! You ARE a rock star!
Jamie says
Wow! loved these!!
Thomas Jennings says
These are SOGOOD!!!!!!
Alana says
This was one of the absolute best recipes I've ever made. I divided everything in half to make it for two people instead and instead of making your own fries or using steak fries, we used frozen crinkle cut and it was still very delicious. Highly recommended!
Adri says
Oh yes, please. Thsoe look yummy!
Mariola says
Can you fry the potatoes instead and just put the sauce with cheese on them, and broil in oven after? Thanks!
Desarae says
absolutely! I bet that will be amazing!
Neisha Ruffin says
Can you use frozen steak fries instead? Will I need to alter anything if so?
Annie says
I am pregnant and this baby's favorite recipe. And since the baby is in charge around here...cheesy potato fries it is.
Stephanie says
Annie! Truly one of the best things about pregnancy...the guilt-free ability to give in to whatever baby wants. It's only maternal, right? I need to catch up on blogs, I had no idea you were pregnant again :) Congrats!
Aspen says
Can you substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream? I have a ton of Greek yogurt left over from making muffins and wanted to know if I could use it for the sauce
Desarae says
I bet you could! We have a friend who aubs Greek yogurt for sour cream all the time. Maybe a little bit more of a tangy flavor? If you try it tell me how it was!? I'm so curious.
shay says
okay i just had to comment....i've made these about 3 or 4 times and they are literally the BEST thing i've EVER eaten....i cannot even begin to explain. i will say this....i cut the recipe in half and eat the whole thing (it's so bad, yet so good) ....thank you so much for sharing!
Darren W. says
These look so good. Bacon and cheese combo; you can never go wrong. That holds true with the sourcream and ranch. I will have to show my wife these, so we can make them for football Sunday. Thank you.
Nelly B. says
Your recipes are delicious!! These looks so good! That combo of ranch and sour cream make a delicious sauce!! These would definitely be worth the 40 minute wait! Thanks for sharing!
Yepytzme says
What exactly do you mean by " !Ranch Sauce "? I know Ranch Dressing but Ranch sauce, in a 'packet'? What might that be, pray tell?
Desarae says
Thanks for bringing that to my attention! The !Ranch Sauce was a technical error by the recipe card. I re-wrote it and it worked this time. The "ranch sauce" is the combination of the ingredients of milk, ranch and sour cream. Does this make better sense?
shaela says
I'm trying these tonight, but changing it up a bit..
Instead of cutting potatoes, we're trying frozen wedges..
we'll be adding salt, pepper, garlic & onion powder to the wedges, then cooking them in a fry daddy, then adding everything else after there done.. Then of course melt the cheese! Also having 7 layer dip! Mmmm!
Anna says
Wowzer! So good!