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Loaded with seasoned halal beef, crispy fries, melted cheese, and flavorful sauces, these street-food-style loaded fries are the ultimate comfort snack for movie nights or late-night cravings. halalfoodsanti

Loaded Halal Beef Fries with Homemade Cheese Sauce

Loaded with seasoned halal beef, crispy fries, melted cheese, and flavorful sauces, these street-food-style loaded fries are the ultimate comfort snack for movie nights or late-night cravings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings: 3
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the fries
  • 4 large russet potatoes cut into fries, OR a bag of frozen fries if you're being real with yourself tonight
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt to taste
For the beef
  • 1 lb halal ground beef 80/20
  • 1 small white onion diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup water
For the cheese sauce
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or half cheddar half mozzarella
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Toppings — add whatever chaos you want
  • Sliced jalapeños
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Sour cream or plain yogurt
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Hot sauce obviously

Method
 

  1. Make the fries. If making from scratch, preheat your oven to 425°F. Toss the cut potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway. You want them properly golden and crispy, not pale and sad.
  2. Cook the beef. Brown the ground beef in a hot pan, breaking it up as it cooks, then drain the fat. Add the onion and garlic, cook 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste, all the spices, and the water. Stir and simmer on low for 5 minutes until everything comes together and smells incredible. Taste and season accordingly.
  3. Make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the milk slowly while whisking, and keep going until it thickens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Pull off the heat, add the cheese and garlic powder, and stir until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Try not to eat it straight from the pot.
  4. Assemble. Pile the fries high. Spoon the beef over generously. Pour the cheese sauce over everything. Add your toppings in whatever chaotic arrangement feels right.
  5. Eat immediately. Serve right away while the cheese is still warm — this does not reheat well, so eat it right away, which honestly has never been a problem.

Notes

  • 80/20 ground beef. The higher fat content keeps the beef flavorful and juicy through browning and simmering. A leaner blend will work but may taste slightly drier once seasoned and simmered down.
  • Whole milk for the cheese sauce. Lower-fat milk can work in a pinch, but whole milk gives the sauce the richness and body that makes it cling properly to the fries instead of running straight through them.
  • Cheddar vs. a cheddar-mozzarella blend. Straight cheddar gives you a sharper, more classic flavor; adding mozzarella makes the sauce noticeably stretchier if that's the texture you're after.