Vegan Chili Cheese Fries
This Vegan Chili Cheese Fries recipe starts with frozen fries, then adds on hearty chili and melty vegan cheddar for a crowd-pleasing snack!
Ingredients
For the Fries:
- 32 ounces frozen French fries 900g
For the Chili:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil 15mL
- ½ onion chopped – 75g
- 3 cloves garlic minced – 9g
- 1 medium carrot diced – 80g
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper 70g
- ½ small fresh chili pepper finely chopped – 5g
- 1 cup vegan meat alternative crumbles 150g
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder 5g
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin 3g
- 1 teaspoon oregano 1g
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 2g
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt 9g
- 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes with liquid – 800g
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce 225g
- 1 15-ounce can red beans drained and rinsed – 425g
- ½ cup vegetable broth 120mL
For the Topping:
- 2 cups shredded vegan cheddar cheese 200g
- Optional: chopped scallions, cilantro, jalapeños, or vegan sour cream
Instructions
- Bake the Fries: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Spread the frozen French fries evenly on a baking sheet and bake according to package directions (about 20–25 minutes), flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy. For extra crispiness you can cook them in an air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes.
- Make the Chili: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic, carrot, red bell pepper, and fresh chili pepper; cook for another 5 minutes until tender. Add vegan crumbles and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and sea salt; stir well. Mix in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, red beans, and vegetable broth. Bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. If the chili seems too liquid, simmer longer to reduce.
- Assemble the Fries: Transfer the cooked fries to a cast-iron skillet or parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon the chili evenly over the fries. Sprinkle shredded vegan cheddar cheese on top.
- Return the dish to the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Garnish with chopped scallions, cilantro, jalapeños, or vegan sour cream. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers of this chili cheese fries recipe in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Note that the fries will get quite soggy, so it’s really best to make what you can eat in one sitting.
- To reheat: Warm the fries in the oven at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, until the chili, cheese, and French fries are all warmed through.
Nutrition
Calories: 624kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 2017mg | Potassium: 901mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2494IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 4mg