Description
Crispy baked French fries topped with savory cooked bacon, melted Colby Jack cheese, and a creamy jalapeno cilantro ranch sauce. This recipe combines classic flavors and textures for a deliciously indulgent appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Fries
- 1 26-ounce bag of frozen French fries
Bacon
- 1 pound bacon
Cheese
- 1 8-ounce bag shredded Colby Jack Cheese
Jalapeno Ranch Sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Additional Toppings (Optional)
- Extra sour cream
- Chives
- Freshly diced tomatoes
- Banana peppers
- Black olives
Instructions
- Prepare the fries: Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spread the frozen French fries in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
- Bake fries: Cook the fries according to the package directions, usually until golden and crispy, which generally takes about 20-25 minutes at around 425°F.
- Cook bacon: While fries bake, chop the bacon into small pieces and cook in a frying pan over medium heat until crisp and crumbly. Drain on paper towels to remove excess grease.
- Make jalapeno ranch: In a food processor, combine sour cream, 2 tablespoons of the diced jalapenos, lime juice, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and chopped cilantro.
- Blend sauce: Process the ingredients on high speed until fully smooth and integrated, creating a creamy jalapeno ranch sauce.
- Preheat oven: Once fries are baked, set them aside and reset the oven temperature to 400°F for melting the cheese.
- Add toppings: Spread the shredded Colby Jack cheese evenly over the baked fries, then sprinkle the cooked bacon pieces on top.
- Melt cheese: Return the loaded fries to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish dish: Remove fries from the oven, drizzle with jalapeno ranch sauce as desired, and sprinkle the remaining diced jalapenos over the top for added heat and freshness.
- Serve: Optionally add extra toppings such as sour cream, chives, diced tomatoes, banana peppers, or black olives. Serve the fries hot for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Make sure to cook the bacon thoroughly until crisp to prevent sogginess when added to fries.
- Adjust jalapeno quantity based on your heat preference.
- Using foil or parchment paper helps with easy cleanup after baking fries.
- The jalapeno ranch can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and add extra cheese or vegetables as toppings.
