Chili Cheese Fries
One night, I needed to make dinner for my husband and I but our fridge and pantry were looking a little less full than normal. I had a good start, potatoes, cheese and a can of Chilli. I wanted to elevate the chilli so it would not taste like it came from a can. With a couple fresh ingredients added, Chilli Cheese Fries were born. This is how I took a simple can of chilli and some fresh ingredients to make an outstanding dinner.
Supplies
- Can of Chilli
- 1 Poblano pepper or medium sized green pepper
- 2 cloves of chopped Garlic
- 1 Shallot diced
- Oil- what you use for cooking. I use Olive oil
- Potatoes- 1 larger one per person or 2/3 small ones
- 1 Chopped Jalapeño- depending on how much heat you like, you can cut it down to half a pepper or add more. It is up to you.
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Mozzarella Cheese - or cheddar
Tools Needed:
- Large Skillet Frying pan
- Cutting board
- Chef Knife
- Large Wooden Spoon
- Grater
- Baking Sheet or Cooking Sheet
- Can Opener if needed
- Medium Sized Bowl
- 1 Poblano pepper or medium sized green pepper
- 2 cloves of chopped Garlic
- 1 Shallot diced
- Oil- what you use for cooking. I use Olive oil
- Potatoes- 1 larger one per person or 2/3 small ones
- 1 Chopped Jalapeño- depending on how much heat you like, you can cut it down to half a pepper or add more. It is up to you.
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Mozzarella Cheese - or cheddar
Tools Needed:
- Large Skillet Frying pan
- Cutting board
- Chef Knife
- Large Wooden Spoon
- Grater
- Baking Sheet or Cooking Sheet
- Can Opener if needed
- Medium Sized Bowl
Make the Fries
- Preheat your oven to 400*
- Wash potatoes and dry them.
- We like the skin on our fries and there is added nutrients in the potato skin however, if you like to remove the skin; peel them at this step.
- Using your Chef Knife, slice your potato into 1 inch strips and place into your medium bowl.
- Drizzle oil (about 1-2 TBSP depending on how many fries you have) all over the fries.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix with you hands.
- Place fries , single layer onto your baking sheet.
- Place baking sheet in the oven and cook for about 15-20 minutes.
- Once your fries are cooked turn off the oven.
- Wash potatoes and dry them.
- We like the skin on our fries and there is added nutrients in the potato skin however, if you like to remove the skin; peel them at this step.
- Using your Chef Knife, slice your potato into 1 inch strips and place into your medium bowl.
- Drizzle oil (about 1-2 TBSP depending on how many fries you have) all over the fries.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix with you hands.
- Place fries , single layer onto your baking sheet.
- Place baking sheet in the oven and cook for about 15-20 minutes.
- Once your fries are cooked turn off the oven.
Take the Chilli to the Next Level - the Vegetables.
- Take the garlic and the shallot and thinly slice.
- Using your large skillet pan add about 2 TBSP of oil.
- Add the sliced garlic and shallots to the oiled pan.
- Cook on medium heat for about 4-5 minutes or until they start to brown a little.
- Taking the poblano pepper, cut off the top and clean out the seeds.
- Dice the pepper into 1/2 inch pieces.
-You may need to add another 1 TBSP of oil at this point.
- Add the Poblano and Jalapeño pepper to the skillet.
- Cook until the peppers are soft.
- Using your large skillet pan add about 2 TBSP of oil.
- Add the sliced garlic and shallots to the oiled pan.
- Cook on medium heat for about 4-5 minutes or until they start to brown a little.
- Taking the poblano pepper, cut off the top and clean out the seeds.
- Dice the pepper into 1/2 inch pieces.
-You may need to add another 1 TBSP of oil at this point.
- Add the Poblano and Jalapeño pepper to the skillet.
- Cook until the peppers are soft.
Adding the Canned Chilli
- You can use any type of chilli, with or without beans, it is your choice.
- Open your can of Chilli and add it to the cooked vegetables.
- Stir well.
- Simmer on low for about 15-20 minutes whites the potatoes are cooking.
- Stirring occasionally.
- Open your can of Chilli and add it to the cooked vegetables.
- Stir well.
- Simmer on low for about 15-20 minutes whites the potatoes are cooking.
- Stirring occasionally.
Grate the Cheese
- I grated 60 grams of cheese for each person.
- But it is up to! You may wish to use more cheese per person or a different kind of cheese such as Cheddar or Swiss.
- But it is up to! You may wish to use more cheese per person or a different kind of cheese such as Cheddar or Swiss.
Putting It Altogether
- Bring all the ingredients together.
- Start with a little bit of chilli on the bottom of your oven safe dish, then some cheese and a handful of fries.
- Second layer - repeat same as the first layer.
- Third layer - chilli and cheese.
- Start with a little bit of chilli on the bottom of your oven safe dish, then some cheese and a handful of fries.
- Second layer - repeat same as the first layer.
- Third layer - chilli and cheese.
Nearly Done
- Now that your Chilli Cheese Fries are nearly done it is time to melt the cheese.
- Place your oven safe dish into your warm oven.
- Keep the dish in the oven until the cheese is melted for about 4 minutes.
- Place your oven safe dish into your warm oven.
- Keep the dish in the oven until the cheese is melted for about 4 minutes.
Dig In!
* Be careful when eating your Chilli Cheese Fries as the container will be warm from the oven.
- You can enjoy this homemade meal from a can!
- You can enjoy this homemade meal from a can!