Bacon and Cheese Loaded Fries

Crispy French Fries topped with Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese with bacon bits and green onions are an easy appetizer or side dish for a party or regular family meal.

Our Loaded Fries recipe is so easy that my kids enjoy making them! With a few minutes of prep they’re ready in under 25 minutes!

Loaded Fries Recipe

We love making these bacon and cheese loaded fries in the air fryer or regular oven. Also known as Pub Fries this delicious recipe is like a Loaded Baked Potato that’s much faster to make and easy to snack on!

When we set the air fryer basket full of French fries topped with two kinds of melted cheese, generous pieces of bacon and thinly sliced green onions on the table four hands immediately reach right in. All of us LOVE these bacon cheese fries, especially as a game day snack!

My son asked if these could count as his vegetables since they have green onions. I just laughed and gave him some Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli to eat along with the loaded cheese fries and turkey wrap!

We love to serve fresh loaded fries with a dollop of sour cream, for more flavor. The same reason that sour cream tastes great on a Twice Baked Potato is why it works so well on French fries loaded with bacon and cheese.

These loaded fries are a more basic loaded fry. For an over the top recipe that also works well with steak fries check out these Pulled Pork Loaded Waffle Fries!

We’ve recently gotten into using our Ninja Air Fryer Oven combo and love all of the easy recipes. Our family loves Triscuit Pizzas, roasted mushrooms, and French Fries and making them in the air fryer saves so much time.

Bacon Cheese Fries

We were celebrating a milestone birthday for my father-in-law and enjoying Stuffed Mushrooms when I first saw Bacon Cheese Fries on the menu.

So we began been practicing making our own bacon cheese loaded fries. It reminded us of how much we like our copycat restaurant recipes like Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Carbonara and Pasta E Fagioli Soup.

We know how bacon and cheese can really amp up potatoes because we’ve done it so many times in our Twice Baked Potato Casserole and Crock Pot Loaded Red Potatoes.

Fresh potatoes can be cut into fries and baked or prepared in the air fryer. We typically use frozen fries because they’re just easier and quicker!

Sometimes we like some easy recipes to snack on for small plate meals or easy appetizers for entertaining friends. These loaded fries make a great arrangement of options along with Buffalo Bacon Cauliflower, Taco Crescents and BBQ Pulled Pork Crescents.

Tips For Making Cheesy Fries

• Stirring or shaking the fries a couple of times while in the fryer or oven helps them bake more evenly
• Almost any shredded cheese will work just fine – I prefer using at least two cheeses for maximum flavor
• Pre-cooked bacon bits save time, but bacon can be prepared and crumbled as well
• Fries can be sprinkled with cheese and bacon and eaten or returned to the oven for a minute or two for the cheese to melt
• Chopped white onion or sweet onion can be cooked on top of the fries for the last 7 minutes or added raw once fries have been prepared if green onion isn’t available
• Warm cheese sauce can be drizzled over fried or baked fries if you prefer not to use shredded cheese
• Ranch lovers may enjoy dipping the fries in ranch dressing before enjoying too
• Adding some French Fry Seasoning is another way to personalize this recipe.

How to Make Bacon & Cheese Loaded Fries

We like the extra crispiness of making French Fries in our air fryer. The fries can also be prepared in the oven according to the directions on the package.

Line the air fryer tray or a baking sheet with foil. Spread fries out as evenly as possible in an even layer.

Set air fryer toaster oven to air fry and 400 degrees F. Bake for 12 – 14 minutes. Stir or shake a couple of times while baking, but keep the fries in a single layer. Shake salt on fries to reach desired flavor.

Once fries have reached desired level of doneness pile the fries up in the center of the basket or pan. I like to take blocks of cheese and shred cheese evenly over the top of the tries.

Monterey Jack and cheddar are my favorite combination, but the restaurant that inspired this recipe uses mozzarella and cheddar. Lots of combinations will be delicious!

Sprinkle bacon bits over the cheesy goodness.

Return to oven for 1-2 minutes at 350°F until cheese is melted.

Garnish with green onions and serve warm with a dollop of sour cream in the center or on the side.

What To Serve With Loaded Fries

• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
• Cowboy Baked Beans
• Turkey Sliders
• BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders 
• Caramelized Onion Hummus

Originally shared on March 24, 2020 with updates made on January 11, 2024.