Make perfect chili cheese fries in your air fryer! Crispy golden potatoes loaded with hearty chili and melted cheese make the ultimate easy dinner everyone will love.
You may have been seeing plenty of French friesrecipes on the blog lately. If you’re subscribed to me on YouTube, then you know I’ve been hosting a #funfries collab encouraging YouTube cooks to share their awesome French fries recipes! I know it’s August now but I just had to extend the collab by another week and end it with a bang! I’ve always wanted to make chili cheese fries at home (and to be fair I’ve only tried them for the first time at Taco Bell a few months ago!), and wow was I blown away with these! I guarantee that these will be The BEST Chili Cheese Fries you’ve ever had, and I’ll show exactly how to make them!
Having the theme of French fries has totally motivated me to explore fries in ways I’ve never thought of before! If you need some motivation to get cooking, then check out my free guide called 5 Tips To Make Cooking Fun! I’ve also got a complementary one-month challenge to get your creative juices flowing, Live to Cook, so be sure to sign up to my newsletter to get those awesome goodies and tag me on Instagram to show me your fun fries - or any dish I’ve inspired you to make!
Why You Need to Make This Chili Cheese Fries Recipe!
Fries are NOT soggy: No limpy French fries here! Our fries are super crispy and crunchy, even when you load up the toppings on them!
An epic and special appetizer: This sure will be an app to remember! We’ve got fun waffle fries MADE FROM SCRATCH, a hearty and flavorful chili chicken, and a super luscious creamy cheese sauce! It’ll be great for game day or any large (or small!) gathering where you need to serve hungry mouths! These fries are amazing for any occasion, and they’ll be the talk of the event!
Easy to make: While it seems like there’s a lot going on here, preparing the individual components isn’t difficult. I’ll give some time-saving tips later on in this post so you can make these chili cheese fries efficiently and enjoy them as fresh and hot as they can be!
Insanely delicious for everyone: Young or old, everyone will love these Chili Cheese Fries! I guarantee this will be gone in a flash, so you’ll really want to load up because people will be coming for second and perhaps thirds!
I’ll go over the three components for our Chili Cheese Fries. To learn more about the specific ingredients in each of these components, then check out the complete recipes! Be sure to check out FULLPRINTABLERECIPE CARD at the bottom of this post for all ingredient quantities and the complete recipe instructions to save for later! You can also scale the recipe based on how much Chili Cheese Fries you want to make - whether you’re serving these on the side for a main or need to make a ton of fries to serve a huge crowd at a game day party, everything will automatically be adjusted for you so you know exactly how much of all our components you need to make awesome chili cheese fries!
Chili: I’ll quickly go over how to make the chicken chili in this recipe. For more details and storage instructions if you have extra or want to make a big batch to enjoy the chili on its own, I recommend you read the full recipe here.
Cheese sauce: This cheese sauce will be based off of my classic Béchamel Sauce. This cheese sauce has mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and cayenne pepper. I use this cheese sauce in myCreamy Cheese Fries recipe!
Rinse the beans and add to the pot of the Instant Pot. Fill the pot with water such that the water covers the beans by 1 inch. Add 1 bay leaf and season with salt
Close the Instant Pot lid and set the Instant Pot to Sealing mode. Select Pressure Cook setting and cook for 20 minutes. Let pressure release naturally once done cooking.
Drain the beans and set aside for later.
Start with the Chili:
Set a pan on medium heat and once warm, add the olive oil. Add chopped garlic and onions. Cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
Add in the minced meat and break any large chunks of meat into smaller pieces. While the meat cooks, add the dried spices (chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper) and the can of Mexican green chilies. Add a pinch of salt and stir well. Cook until the mixture is fragrant and the meat is no longer pink.
Add diced tomatoes, all of the beans (add canned, rinsed beans if using), broth, sugar, tomato paste and 1 Tbsp of fresh oregano. Season with some more salt, stir well and bring to a simmer.
Turn the heat to low to maintain a lazy simmer. Gently cook for at least 20 minutes to 45 minutes until the gravy has thickened slightly to your liking. Check and adjust for seasoning.
While the Chili Is Simmering, Start the Fries:
Rinse and wash the potatoes well. You may peel the potato or keep the skin on.
Place the potato lengthwise on a cutting board and using a crinkle cutter, slice 1 edge of the potato. Then rotate the potato 90 degrees and make another cut with the crinkle cutter to create a cross hatch waffle pattern. Repeat the same for the remaining potatoes.
Add the cut potatoes in a large bowl and fill with cold water and soak for about 25 minutes (see tip for a shortcut). In the meanwhile, set a large pot of water to boil.
Add soaked potatoes to the boiling water and boil for 3-5 minutes, or until the potatoes are partly cooked but still firm. Add only enough potatoes that will comfortably fit in your air fryer basket in a single layer.
Drain the potatoes onto paper towel and gently pat dry. Then, transfer them to a large bowl and coat with olive oil. Gently toss the potatoes in the oil and arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Set Air Fryer to Air Fry mode at 400F and cook for 15 minutes.
If making multiple batches, transfer the fries from the air fryer basket to a bowl/baking sheet and repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining potatoes.
Once all the fries are crispy, you can toss all the fries in a single basket to refresh the fries at 375F-390F for 3-5 minutes.
When the Fries Are Almost Done, Start the Cheese Sauce:
Heat a pan on medium heat and add butter. Once the butter melts, mix in the flour and whisk for 2-3 mins until the rawness of the flour is cooked out. The rue will begin to smell nutty, which is a good indicator.
Pour in your milk, little bit at a time while whisking to work out any lumps. Once all your milk is mixed in, wait until your sauce starts to come up to a simmer.
As soon as the sauce comes to a simmer, it will begin to thicken. Once the béchamel is thick enough to evenly coat the back of a spoon, season with cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
Remove the pan off the heat and add in all of the cheese. Whisk well to combine until the cheese is molten.
For the Chili Cheese Waffle Fries
Arrange the fries in your serving platter. Add a generous scoop of chili all over. Top with the fresh cheese sauce and finally garnish with finely chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Tips for Awesome Cheese Fries with Chili
Be consistent with the thickness of the fries as you cut them. The more even the shape and size of the fries, the better consistency you will see with the doneness.
Soak the fries in cold water to rinse off excess starch to help get the fries crispy.
Boil the potatoes in batches large enough to comfortably fit in your air fryer basket in a single layer.
If making multiple batches of fries, once the last batch is ready, you can toss all the fries in a single basket to refresh the fries at 375F-390F for 3-5 minutes. Voila!
Have fun with the beans, use your favorite kind and feel free to use any combination of beans.
Adjust the consistency of the chili to your preferred consistency after the pressure. Also, the longer and gentler the chili simmers, the more intense the flavors will be.
Substitute the meat and the base of the broth to your liking and preferences.
Make sure to prepare the sauce only when you are ready to serve for the best dining experience.
Avoid reheating the cheese sauce if you can, the texture will not be the same for a reheated sauce.
Load the chili cheese fries as you want with toppings like bacon, scallions, guacamole, and so much more!
Is The Chicken Chili Spicy?▼
The spice can easily be adjusted to match your liking. For a milder version, you can substitute the Mexican green chilies with green peppers, or jalapeño. Or for a hotter version, use chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and additional chili powder and cayenne.
Chili Cheese Fries Variations & Toppings
Swap the chicken chili for my Instant Pot Beef Chilior use a canned chili if you’d like. For a vegetarian option, omit the chicken and either replace it with another 15 ounce can of your favorite type of bean or with tofu or a plant-based minced meat alternative, such as Beyond Meat. Furthermore, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. Change up the cheeses in your cheese sauce! You could use gruyere, Swiss, Parmesan, or Monterey Jack. See how I make garlic Parmesan cheese sauce in my Creamy White Sauce Chicken Lasagna recipe!I’ve topped my fries with green onions! However, feel free to add the toppings of your choice! Try the following:
Serving Suggestions Toppings for Chili Cheese Fries
These are The BEST Chili Cheese Fries for a reason: they’re super loaded! You could honestly eat these as a meal, and I definitely did! However, if this is going to be part of a game day party, then perhaps you’ll want to pair this with other tasty snacks. Here are some options that you could mix and match with:
Can I Make These Cheese Chili Fries Ahead of time?▼
No, please don’t do that! Your fries will certainly get soggy, the cheese sauce will curdle, and these just won’t reheat very nicely.
However, if you are making these for a party and need to make these strategically and efficiently, then I do have some time-saving tips:
Make the chili in advance
Cut the fries in advance and let them soak until ready to cook
Have your ingredients for the cheese sauce prepped and keep the grated cheeses in the refrigerator in an airtight container or on a plate covered with plastic wrap
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cooking.with.anadi. Thank you!
Recipe by Anadi Misra
Ultimate Guide to Making Perfect Chili Cheese Fries
Make perfect chili cheese fries in your air fryer! Crispy golden potatoes loaded with hearty chili and melted cheese make the ultimate easy dinner everyone will love.
If using dried beans rinse the beans and add to the pot of the Instant Pot. Fill the pot with water such that the water covers the beans by 1 inch. Add 1 bay leaf and season with salt
If using dried beans rinse the beans and add to the pot of the Instant Pot. Fill the pot with water such that the water covers the beans by 1 inch. Add 1 bay leaf and season with salt
2
Close the Instant Pot lid and set the Instant Pot to Sealing mode. Select Pressure Cook setting and cook for 20 minutes. Let pressure release naturally once done cooking.
Close the Instant Pot lid and set the Instant Pot to Sealing mode. Select Pressure Cook setting and cook for 20 minutes. Let pressure release naturally once done cooking.
3
Drain the beans and set aside for later.
Drain the beans and set aside for later.
To prepare the chili
1
Set a pan on medium heat and once warm, add the olive oil. Add chopped garlic and onions. Cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
Set a pan on medium heat and once warm, add the olive oil. Add chopped garlic and onions. Cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
2
Add in the minced meat and break any large chunks of meat into smaller pieces. While the meat cooks, add the dried spices (chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper) and the can of Mexican green chilies. Add a pinch of salt and stir well. Cook until the mixture is fragrant and the meat is no longer pink.
Add in the minced meat and break any large chunks of meat into smaller pieces. While the meat cooks, add the dried spices (chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper) and the can of Mexican green chilies. Add a pinch of salt and stir well. Cook until the mixture is fragrant and the meat is no longer pink.
3
Add diced tomatoes, all of the beans (add canned, rinsed beans if using), broth, sugar, tomato paste and 1 tbsp of fresh oregano. Season with some more salt, stir well and bring to a simmer.
Add diced tomatoes, all of the beans (add canned, rinsed beans if using), broth, sugar, tomato paste and 1 tbsp of fresh oregano. Season with some more salt, stir well and bring to a simmer.
4
Turn the heat to low to maintain a lazy simmer. Gently cook for at least 20 minutes to 45 minutes until the gravy has thickened slightly to your liking. Check and adjust for seasoning.
Turn the heat to low to maintain a lazy simmer. Gently cook for at least 20 minutes to 45 minutes until the gravy has thickened slightly to your liking. Check and adjust for seasoning.
For the waffle fries
1
Rinse and wash the potatoes well. You may peel the potato or keep the skin on.
Rinse and wash the potatoes well. You may peel the potato or keep the skin on.
2
Place the potato lengthwise on a cutting board and using a crinkle cutter, slice 1 edge of the potato. Then rotate the potato 90 degrees and make another cut with the crinkle cutter to create a cross hatch waffle pattern. Repeat the same for the remaining potatoes.
Place the potato lengthwise on a cutting board and using a crinkle cutter, slice 1 edge of the potato. Then rotate the potato 90 degrees and make another cut with the crinkle cutter to create a cross hatch waffle pattern. Repeat the same for the remaining potatoes.
3
Add the cut potatoes in a large bowl and fill with cold water and soak for about 25 minutes (see tip for a shortcut). In the meanwhile, set a large pot of water to boil.
Add the cut potatoes in a large bowl and fill with cold water and soak for about 25 minutes (see tip for a shortcut). In the meanwhile, set a large pot of water to boil.
4
Add soaked potatoes to the boiling water and boil for 3-5 minutes, or until the potatoes are partly cooked but still firm. Add only enough potatoes that will comfortably fit in your air fryer basket in a single layer.
Add soaked potatoes to the boiling water and boil for 3-5 minutes, or until the potatoes are partly cooked but still firm. Add only enough potatoes that will comfortably fit in your air fryer basket in a single layer.
5
Drain the potatoes onto paper towel and gently pat dry. Then, transfer them to a large bowl and coat with olive oil. Gently toss the potatoes in the oil and arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Drain the potatoes onto paper towel and gently pat dry. Then, transfer them to a large bowl and coat with olive oil. Gently toss the potatoes in the oil and arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
6
Set Air Fryer to Air Fry mode at 400F and cook for 15 minutes.
Set Air Fryer to Air Fry mode at 400°F (204°C) and cook for 15 minutes.
7
If making multiple batches, transfer the fries from the air fryer basket to a bowl/baking sheet and repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining potatoes.
If making multiple batches, transfer the fries from the air fryer basket to a bowl/baking sheet and repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining potatoes.
8
Once all the fries are crispy, you can toss all the fries in a single basket to refresh the fries at 375F-390F for 3-5 minutes.
Once all the fries are crispy, you can toss all the fries in a single basket to refresh the fries at 375°F (191°C)-390°F (-234°C) for 3-5 minutes.
For the cheese sauce
1
When the fries are almost done, start the sauce. Heat a pan on medium heat and add butter. Once the butter melts, mix in the flour and whisk for 2-3 mins until the raw taste of the flour is cooked out. The rue will begin to smell nutty, which is a good indicator.
When the fries are almost done, start the sauce. Heat a pan on medium heat and add butter. Once the butter melts, mix in the flour and whisk for 2-3 mins until the raw taste of the flour is cooked out. The rue will begin to smell nutty, which is a good indicator.
2
Pour in your milk, little bit at a time while whisking to work out any lumps. Once all your milk is mixed in, wait until your sauce starts to come up to a simmer.
Pour in your milk, little bit at a time while whisking to work out any lumps. Once all your milk is mixed in, wait until your sauce starts to come up to a simmer.
3
As soon as the sauce comes to a simmer, it will begin to thicken. Once the béchamel is thick enough to evenly coat the back of a spoon, season with cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
As soon as the sauce comes to a simmer, it will begin to thicken. Once the béchamel is thick enough to evenly coat the back of a spoon, season with cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
4
Remove the pan off the heat and add in all of the cheese. Whisk well to combine until the cheese is molten.
Remove the pan off the heat and add in all of the cheese. Whisk well to combine until the cheese is molten.
For the chili cheese waffle fries
1
Arrange the fries in your serving platter. Add a generous scoop of chili all over. Top with the fresh cheese sauce and finally garnish with finely chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Arrange the fries in your serving platter. Add a generous scoop of chili all over. Top with the fresh cheese sauce and finally garnish with finely chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Nutrition per serving
580
Calories
30g
Protein
55g
Carbs
27g
Fat
11g
Fiber
11g
Sugar
2262mg
Sodium
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Tested & written in Anadi’s kitchen
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Crispy, golden, and loaded with garlic and parmesan, these air fryer fries are incredibly easy to make. A crowd-pleasing side dish ready in minutes with minimal effort.
Recipe history
April 16, 2026 — Reworked and refreshed for the 2026 relaunch — new photography, restructured and standardized ingredients & instructions.
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