Description
A hearty and flavorful Chili Cheese Fries recipe featuring crispy oven-baked French fries topped with a spicy plant-based chili, vegan cheese sauce, and fresh toppings. Perfect for a comforting meal or snack with a delicious smoky kick from chipotle peppers.
Ingredients
Chili
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red pepper, diced
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Pinches freshly ground black pepper
- 12 ounces plant-based ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 (14-ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
- 3 tablespoons adobo sauce
- 1 cup water or broth
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Fries and Toppings
- 1 (16 to 20-ounce) bag oven French fries
- ½ cup vegan cheese sauce
- Desired toppings such as tomatoes, jalapeños, red onion, cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the Chili: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced red pepper, sea salt, and ground black pepper, cooking for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the plant-based ground beef and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon while it cooks. Stir in chopped garlic, canned fire roasted tomatoes, drained black beans, chipotle chiles and their adobo sauce, water or broth, and lime juice. Reduce heat to low and let the chili simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Bake the Fries: Spread the oven French fries on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Bake according to the package directions, usually around 20 to 25 minutes, until the fries are crispy and golden brown.
- Assemble and Serve: Plate the crispy fries and spoon generous scoops of the smoky chili over them. Drizzle evenly with vegan cheese sauce and garnish with your choice of fresh toppings like diced tomatoes, sliced jalapeños, red onion, and chopped cilantro for extra flavor and texture.
- Storage: Save any leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for lunch the next day, or freeze it for longer storage. Reheat thoroughly before serving.
Notes
- For spicier chili, add more chipotle peppers or include some fresh jalapeños as toppings.
- You can substitute plant-based ground beef with cooked lentils or textured vegetable protein for a budget-friendly alternative.
- If vegan cheese sauce is unavailable, drizzle with your favorite vegan shredded cheese or a cashew-based cheese sauce.
- Ensure fries are baked until crispy to provide a satisfying contrast to the creamy chili and cheese sauce.
- Leftover chili freezes well; store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
