I’ve got to brag for just a second, my husband took one bite of these fries and told me that they were one of the best things I’ve ever made! It made me really happy, although I secretly wanted to eat the whole pan for myself, but it makes me certain that you will love them too!
Do you remember that creamy butternut squash mac n’ cheese I made a few weeks ago? Well, I was so smitten with that “cheese” sauce that I just had to use it again. And since I am being forced into watching football games every single night (when did football start being played every single night?!) I might as well have my football snacks and eat them too.
I think what I love most about this dish is that I feel really sneaky eating it, like I’m getting away with something big. These chili cheese fries definitely have lot of taste, but they don’t have all the oil and grease that come with a big basket of chili cheese fries that you might get at the pub. You can actually feel pretty good about yourself after eating these!
I started making my own oven baked french fries a few years ago and I have never turned back to the frozen ones. Homemade fries are so much better and you can mix things up and flavor them with any spices you wish. All you need to do is cut a russet potato into french fries and bake in a 400 degree oven for about 25 – 30 minutes until they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
You could always use frozen french fries and canned chili to make things a little easier, but the extra time that you take to cut your own potatoes and mix up your own chili is totally worth it! Trust me, you won’t regret it, and if you are anything like my husband you will be telling yourself that these vegan chili cheese fries are one of the best things you have ever made š
Vegan Chili Cheese Fries
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
French Fries:
- 2 large russet potatoes
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Chili:
- 1 1/2 cup beans, I used 3/4 cup kidney beans and 3/4 cup pinto beans, or 1–15 oz can of beans
- 2 tablespoons diced red onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 medium size tomato, diced small
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon water or vegetable broth
Cheese Sauce:
- 2 1/2 cups diced butternut squash
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup water, or more depending on desired consistency
Optional Toppings:
- Jalapeno slices for topping
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced black olives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place diced butternut squash onto a large sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, toss to coat. Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until fork tender, flipping once.
- Place the buttnernut squash and the remaining cheese sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until a smooth sauce forms. Set aside.
- Heat a medium size pot over medium heat. Coat the bottom with a small amount of olive oil and add the onion and garlic. Stir fir a few minutes until onion begins to soften. Then add the tomato, beans, tomato paste, water, and all of the seasonings. Stir together and let mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn the oven up to 400 degrees F. Cut the potatoes in half, lenthgwise, and then cut each half into french fries. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a large sheetpan and place potatoes on top. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, toss to coat. Place fries into the oven and bake for about 30 minutes until tender on the inside and crisp on the outside, flipping once.
- Once fries are done, spoon on the chili and cheese sauce and place back into the oven for 5-10 minutes until everything is warmed though. Top with jalapenos and sliced green onions, if desired.
- Category: Appetizer, Side, Gluten Free, Vegan
Find Cheeto! (and try not to judge me too much for my messiness)
DANG! These are so good!! I just made this recipe and it is amazing! WOW. WOW. I subbed red potatoes and they were just as delicious. Thank you!
Thank you so much!! I was just thinking about making them again! I’m so glad you enjoyed them š
Dear Isadora, These look like the ultimate party food! What a fun dish to serve up. Looks absolutely delish. xo, Catherine
Izzy! These look so delicious, and that says something coming from someone who eats A LOT of cheese! I love the addition of the butternut squash to the cheese sauce, that’s brillz!
Haha, I found Cheeto, that little devil. š
Hi Lauren! I do love my cheese too, haha, but I also happen to love butternut squash so this worked out perfectly! Cheeto’s new favorite hiding place is behind the Christmas tree š
OMG this looks incredible. I haven’t eaten cheese fries since 2009 and I didn’t know I was craving them so much! I can’t get butternut squash here in Chile, do you think that a regular pumpkin will do the trick?
Thank you, Valentina! I’ve been eating way too many these days! I think you could definitely use pumpkin for these! I would just taste as you go and adjust seasonings if needed. I hope you enjoy these fries š
I can see why your husband said this is one of his favorite things you’ve ever made! Looks so good! And healthy too. I’d love some chili cheese fries without the guilt : )
Haha, I love the no guilt part too! I think that means we can eat a few trays of these š
Ohh my goodness, these fries are undoubtedly bragging material! Hello, Superbowl 2015 snack, it’s nice to meet ya. Aw, forget that, I want to make this recipe tonight’s dinner;-) Thank you for sharing, Izzy!
I had them for dinner and I can tell you that you won’t regret it! I have also put them on the menu for the superbowl! These fries and a bottle of wine will help me get through the game for sure š
this is such a great idea — I love everything about this! butternut squash as a chili/fries topping is just brilliant!
Thanks, Marcie!! I can’t stop thinking of things to put this creamy butternut squash all over š
Wow this looks like the ultimate comfort food! I’m so craving this right now! Definitely making tomorrow for dinner š
Thank you Lilli! It really does make a great comfort food! I hope you enjoyed it š
Oh my gosh, these fries are CRAZY! All that chili-cheesy goodness is literally making me drool. These have Monday written aaall over ’em! š
Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, haha! I’m now thinking of making some nachos out of this chili cheesy goodness!
Wow, Isadora. This is crazy impressive! No wonder your husband was into it! I can’t believe how inventive you are.
Thank you so much, Mir! It is always a win when the husband approves of the food!
Oh my goodness Izzy, this looks amazing!!! Cheesy fries are one of my guilty eats so I absolutely love that this is healthier. The butternut vegan cheese sauce sounds amazing and I love how creamy and tasty it looks! I would never have guessed this is vegan – such a great idea! Pinning and can’t wait to try this!
Thank you, Kelly! Cheesy fries are one of my guilty pleasure eats too! I used to eat them all the time when I was younger! The butternut squash sauce really is so creamy and adds the perfect touch to these chili fries š
I adore you food photography! Love the spices you used for this recipe!!
Hi Nicole!! Thank you so much! I tend to put cumin and paprika in pretty much everything I make these days š
Holy moly, these look amazing! I can’t wait to try these next weekend (I’m watching way too much football myself!)
Thank you! I know I’ve been watching too much football when I start recognizing names of players and coaches!
I just love these potatoes and can eat them every day! You’ve done a great job with the vegan sauce, because the regular kind can be fattening! Pinning and will try them !
Me too, Mira! Potatoes are my favorite, especially in french fry form! I hope you enjoy them š
Oh yaaa!! These look so delicious, and I’m so impressed and love that they’re vegan!
Thanks Rachel!! They really do taste so good that it is hard to tell they are vegan š