Healthier Chili Cheese Fries

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Make Chili Cheese Fries a little bit “good for you” with homemade chili, oven fries, and shredded cheddar.

When I was in high school, chili cheese fries were a staple of life. Our high school cantine offered french fries, slathered with movie theatre-style cheese sauce and canned Hormel chili. And honestly? I loved it.

I don’t think I would love it today, but back then I did.

Based on that experience, one could expect to rank Chili Cheese Fries in the Halls of Junk Food forever. But, what happens when you top oven fries with homemade chili and shredded cheddar cheese?

Well, you get the novelty and fun factor of Chili Cheese Factor with a lot less processed and a helping extra of “good for you”.

This chili is simple to pull together with regular kitchen staples. Feel free to serve it without the fries. My girls each ate two bowls full. The chili is freezer friendly; you can make a double batch and freeze the extras for another night. It also goes great on hot dogs, over chips, and anytime you just want “a bowl of red.”

Recipe: Healthier Chili Cheese Fries

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed garlic
one-half 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 cup salsa verde
two 15-ounce cans black beans, drained
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
one 32-ounce package frozen french fries or 1 batch Simple Dill Potatoes (omit the dill if you like)
Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream or greek yogurt, chopped scallions, sliced black olives

Instructions

In a large stockpot, brown the beef, onion, and garlic until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are clear.
Add the tomato paste, salsa verde, beans, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to blend. Simmer 20 to 40 minutes, uncovered. At this point you can package and chill the mixture for freezing, if desired. Thaw and reheat and then continue with the steps.
Meanwhile prepare the potatoes.
Serve potatoes and chili with toppings.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Cooking time: 45 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 4

To make a freezer meal kit: Freeze the cooled chili, alongside a package of frozen fries and a small bag of shredded cheese. To serve, thaw and reheat the chili, bake the fries per directions, thaw the cheese to use as a topping.

About Jessica Fisher

I believe great meals don't have to be complicated or expensive. There's a better way, and it won't take all afternoon.

Comments

Erin says
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Yum. You know, I spent 30 years in Ohio and there they like to eat chili on spaghetti with onions and cheddar cheese. I bet you could even use whole wheat pasta, might have to give it a try…
- Jessica says
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  Great idea!
Lia says
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Yum! The Texas Chili from your freezer cookbook would be great on fries, too. In fact, I made and canned some to use for quick chili dogs, so now I may just be making some chili cheese fries this week.
- Jessica says
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  Yes! Hubs would have preferred that for the spice. The kids like this one better; the tomato paste makes it just a bit sweet.

Healthier Chili Cheese Fries