Description
Spice-packed Taco Bell Nacho Fries bring Mexican-inspired comfort straight to home kitchens with crispy potato magic. Cheese sauce and zesty seasonings elevate this classic fast-food favorite into a crowd-pleasing snack you can now create with simple ingredients and bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 cup taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Potatoes and Base:
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Sauces and Toppings:
- 0.5 cup nacho cheese sauce
- 0.25 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 0.25 cup diced tomatoes
- 0.25 cup diced green onions
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Slice russet potatoes into thin, french fry-shaped strips, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent cooking.
- Create a seasoned coating by mixing flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a shallow dish.
- Thoroughly coat each potato strip in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off excess for a light, crispy exterior.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 375°F, maintaining a consistent temperature for golden-brown results.
- Carefully lower flour-coated fries into hot oil, frying in batches to prevent overcrowding and ensure crispiness.
- Fry potato strips for 3-4 minutes until they turn a rich, golden brown and develop a crunchy texture.
- Remove fries with a slotted spoon, draining excess oil on paper towels to preserve crispness.
- In a separate skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over beef, stirring to distribute evenly and develop robust flavor.
- Warm nacho cheese sauce in a small saucepan, keeping it smooth and spreadable.
- Arrange crispy fries on a serving platter, creating a base for toppings.
- Drizzle warm nacho cheese sauce generously over the fries.
- Sprinkle seasoned ground beef across the cheese-covered fries.
- Top with shredded cheddar cheese, allowing residual heat to slightly melt the cheese.
- Garnish with diced tomatoes, green onions, and chopped cilantro for fresh complexity.
- Add dollops of sour cream and drizzle hot sauce for additional flavor and heat.
- Serve immediately while fries remain crisp and toppings are warm.
Notes
- Achieving uniform potato strip thickness guarantees even cooking and consistent crunch throughout the fries.
- Maintain oil temperature precisely at 375°F to prevent soggy or overly greasy results, using a digital thermometer for accuracy.
- Pat potato strips completely dry before coating with seasoned flour to ensure maximum crispiness and better flour adhesion.
- Experiment with alternative protein options like shredded chicken, plant-based crumbles, or black beans for dietary flexibility and diverse flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 760
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg