Cheesy Chipotle Fries smothered in a super spicy chipotle pepper sauce and melted Monterey Jack cheese make for a great finger food appetizer! This recipe is extra easy because of the frozen store bought fries and the dipping sauce is made while the fries bake in the oven.
Why this recipe works:
Chipotle peppers are spicy, as in S P I C Y ! A little goes a very long way. I'm always amazed at how such a very small amount can just set my mouth on fire.
These fries are perfect for satisfying any cheesy-spicy-fry-desiring craving, your you can make a ton of them to set out during your game day viewing pleasure.
The sauce hits all of the flavor notes you crave: spicy, salty, sour, sweet. The honey and lime juice help tame and balance the heat and the salt balances it all out.
Here's how to make them:
- First step is to toss the frozen fries with a bit of the adobo sauce and then bake them in the oven.
- While the fries are baking you'll make the dipping sauce. Sauteed onion and garlic are blended with the remaining chipotle peppers, honey, and lime juice.
- After the fries have cooked for about 30 minutes, you'll toss them with some of the blended sauce, reserving the rest for dipping. You'll top those spicy fries with the shredded cheese and give it another 5 minutes in the oven.
The result are super spicy and flavorful cheesy fries!
Cooking tips for perfect results:
- Cook the fries in a small amount of sauce. This will give them plenty of a spicy kick but won't saturate them to the point where they won't get crispy.
- I highly recommend grating cheese from a block as opposed to buying pre-shredded. I just melts better.
- Be sure that your fries are spread out into a thin, even layer on the baking sheet during the first 30 minutes of cooking to ensure they get nice and crispy. You can push them together for the last 5 minutes since they'll be smothered in cheese.
Chipotle Recipes:
If you love the combination of cheese + chipotle + carbs, you'll for sure love my Cheesy Chipotle Pull Apart Bread.
And if you like easy, you'll definitely want to make my Southwestern Fry Sauce or Chipotle Aioli, also made with chipotle peppers.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think! I love hearing from my readers.
Cheesy Chipotle Fries
Ingredients
- 24 ounces frozen fries
- 7.5 ounces chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (juice from one lime)
- 8 ounces monterey jack (shredded)
- handful of fresh cilantro (chopped)
- salt & sour cream (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss frozen fries in about 2 tablespoons of the adobo sauce. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, flipping half way through cooking time.
- Heat oil in a saute pan over medium high heat and cook onion until just golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally. During the last minute of cook time, add the garlic and allow to cook just until its golden brown.
- Using your blender, blend cooked onion and garlic with remaining contents of chipotle peppers with sauce, honey, and lime juice until smooth. This makes just over 1 cup of sauce and it is super spicy.
- Once the fries have cooked for about 30 minutes, remove them from oven and spoon as much or as little of this sauce on top. I prefer to use it sparingly, but do this according to how hot you like your fries. Transfer the remaining sauce to a ceramic dish and set it on the fry pan to warm it up in the oven. Top fries with cheese and return baking dish to oven for about 5 minutes to allow cheese to fully melt. Top with additional salt, if desired, as well as minced cilantro. Can also be served with sour cream to help cool down the heat.
Notes
Cooking tips for perfect results:
- Cook the fries in a small amount of sauce. This will give them plenty of a spicy kick but won't saturate them to the point where they won't get crispy.
- I highly recommend grating cheese from a block as opposed to buying pre-shredded. I just melts better.
- Be sure that your fries are spread out into a thin, even layer on the baking sheet during the first 30 minutes of cooking to ensure they get nice and crispy. You can push them together for the last 5 minutes since they'll be smothered in cheese.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I was a contributor. This recipe was originally published in January 2017 and has been updated with more information and cooking tips. Don't worry - I didn't change the recipe!
Lisalia
LOVE anything to do with fries. and this is delicious! the cheese offsets the spicy chipotle. LOVE it!
Kathleen
Wow, Looks fantastic. Good idea for snack parties. Thanks for sharing.
Beth
The BEST game day food! So tasty but so easy to put together and bake up! Love it!